Feasting on God's Word (One Year Bible)

“An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – This inheritance is kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). We thank You, our Father, that You have sent Your Holy Spirit to live in our hearts. We thank You that the new life in the Spirit is just the beginning. You are preparing us for the greater ‘glory that will be revealed in us’(Romans 8:18). We thank You that the Holy Spirit is ‘the guarantee of our inheritance’ – He is the starter which whets our appetite for the main course! With Him in our hearts, we long for more. We long for Your glorious future. We’re not staggering along on a dead-end street. We’re walking tall. We’re travelling with You, Lord. You’re leading us on to Your glory. May we always be led by Your Spirit. May we keep on growing in Your Spirit. 1 Peter 1:1-25 What kind of people are we to be? You’re calling us to be holy. You’re calling us to be loving. It’s not holiness without love. It’s not love without holiness. It’s holiness. It’s ...

Day 326 Ezekiel 43:1-44:31 ; 1 Peter 2:4-24 ; Psalm 132:1-18 In Ezekiel, the priests are described in great detail. In 1 Peter 2:5 , the Lord’s people are described as “a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” This description continues in 1 Peter 2:9 - “a royal priesthood ... a people belonging to God. To His people, God gives this call - “Declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” To be “a holy priesthood ... a royal priesthood” is not only privilege. It is also responsibility. Concerning this privilege and responsibility, the Psalmist writes, “May Your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy ... I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall ever sing for joy” ( Psalm 132:9 , 16 ).  Day 327 Ezekiel 45:1-46:24 ; 1 Peter 3:1-22 ; Proverbs 28:18-28 In Ezekiel, we read of many sacrifices being offered to God. I...

* Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd who died on the cross for us – “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). * Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd who rose from the dead for us – “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21). * Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd who is coming again for us – “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade aw...

In Christ, we are ‘a holy nation’. Why has God made us His ‘own people’? - ‘that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him... ’ (1 Peter 2:9).‘The nations are waiting for us, waiting for the gospel we will bring’ (Songs of Fellowship, 539).

Daniel’s praise, offered to God, in Daniel 2:20-23 , highlights for us the direction from which blessing comes. It comes from above. What we do not have is given to us by God - “He gives” ( Daniel 2:21 ), “You have given me” ( Daniel 2:23 ). Daniel’s praise is echoed in Peter’s praise: “To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” ( 1 Peter 5:11 ). Again, in Psalm 134, the connection between praise and blessing is underlined: “Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord ... May the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth bless you from Zion ” ( Psalm 134:3 ).

“The sanctuary will be in the centre of it ... In the centre of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord ... the Temple sanctuary will be in the centre of them” ( Ezekiel 48:8 , 10 , 21 ). Here, we have the centrality of worship in the life of God’s people. First and foremost, God calls His people to worship Him. In all our service offered to God ( 1 Peter 4:10-11 ), there is to be the offering of worship - “To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” ( 1 Peter 4:11 ). This worship is not simply personal worship - ‘you in your small corner and I in mine.” It is the worship offered to God by His people when they gather together to praise Him. It is God’s people responding to the call, ‘Let us worship God.’ “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” ( Psalm 133:1 ). When God’s people worship Him “in spirit and in truth” ( John 4:24 ), the Holy Spirit descends upon them “like precious oil poured on the head, running down on th...

In Ezekiel, we read of many sacrifices being offered to God. In the New Testament, it is emphasized that one Sacrifice is sufficient - “For Christ died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God” ( 1 Peter 3:18 ). We are called to look to Christ for salvation. We are to trust in the Lord. This is the way of true prosperity ( Proverbs 28:25 ). It is the way of walking in wisdom, the way of enjoying salvation. This way is contrasted with the way of trusting in oneself, the way of the fool ( Proverbs 28:26 ).

In Ezekiel, the priests are described in great detail. In 1 Peter 2:5 , the Lord’s people are described as “a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” This description continues in 1 Peter 2:9 - “a royal priesthood ... a people belonging to God. To His people, God gives this call - “Declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” To be “a holy priesthood ... a royal priesthood” is not only privilege. It is also responsibility. Concerning this privilege and responsibility, the Psalmist writes, “May Your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy ... I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall ever sing for joy” ( Psalm 132:9 , 16 ).

Ezekiel emphasizes that the Temple was to be built according to God’s pattern. Our lives are to be lived according to God’s pattern - “Be holy in all you do”, “Love one another deeply, from the heart” ( 1 Peter 1:15 , 22 ). The instructions for the building the Temple were precise. The instructions for our living in obedience to the truth ( 1 Peter 1:22 ) are comprehensive. Holiness and love - these are the principles which are to guide us in the whole of life. Psalm 131 speaks of humility and hope. With a humble heart, we are to bow before the Lord. Like “a weaned child” trusts “its mother”, we are to trust our Heavenly Father. Such childlike faith is the essence of hope - trust in “the Word of the Lord” which stands for ever” ( 1 Peter 1:24 ).