Feasting on God's Word (One Year Bible)

What kind of people are we to be? What kind of life are we to live? Lord, You're calling us to live a life of "love" (Proverbs 17:9). How, Lord, do we learn what love is? - We learn from You. You show us what love is - "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ... " (John 3:16). In Jesus, we see perfect love - "The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). The Holy Spirit fills our lives with Your love - "The fruit of the Spirit is love" (Galatians 5:22). Help us, Lord, to live a Godly, Christlike, Spirit-filled life - a life of love.

Proverbs 16:1-17 “Wisdom is better than gold” (Proverbs 16:16). Where, Lord, will we find wisdom? Your Word tells us that Jesus Christ is “our Wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:30). When we find Him, we find wisdom. Jesus says to us, “Seek, and you will find” (Matthew 7:7). Set us free from the idea that we already know what wisdom is before we start looking for it. Help us to look for Jesus – and to find that He was already looking for us before we started looking for Him. We thank You, Lord, that, when Jesus finds us, we find the “wisdom” which “is better than gold.”

What kind of people are we to be? What kind of life are we to live? Lord, You’re calling us to live a life of “love” (Proverbs 17:9). How, Lord, do we learn what love is? – We learn from You. You show us what love is – “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son… ” (John 3:16). In Jesus, we see perfect love – “The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). The Holy Spirit fills our lives with Your love – “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Galatians 5:22). Help us, Lord, to live a Godly, Christlike, Spirit-filled life – a life of love.

“He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Be wise. Win souls. “Those are the best educated ministers, who win the most souls” (Charles Finney) – It is estimated that over 250,000 souls were converted as the result of Finney’s preaching! “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

Proverbs 10:1-22 There is a wise way of living – and there is a foolish way. We’re always being pulled away from the wise way. We’re always being dragged into the way of foolishness. Sometimes, Lord, we don’t need much persuasion to turn away from following You. Our hearts are already drifting away from You – before Satan comes with his subtle – yet strong – temptations. Help us, Lord, to choose the “way that leads to life” – and not the “way that leads to destruction” (Matthew 7:13-14). Help us to choose Jesus, our Saviour. Help us to know that, in Him, we have the forgiveness of sins, given to us as Your gift of grace; the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to live for You; and eternal life, being prepared for us in Your heavenly glory.

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income” ( Ecclesiastes 5:10 ). This is the world’s way. The Lord’s way is a better way. We are to “use the things of the world” without being “engrossed in them” ( 1 Corinthians 7:31 ). What we must remember is this: “The fear of the Lord leads to life; Then one rests content, untouched by trouble” ( Proverbs 19:23 ). When our relationship with the Lord is the most important thing in life, we do not get unduly anxious about how things are going, in terms of material prosperity.

Our spiritual warfare is both outward and inward. We have enemies coming at us from without and from within. Concerning the enemies from without, God says, “This people will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you ... I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel” ( Jeremiah 15:20-21 ). Concerning the enemies from within, God says, “Put to death ... whatever belongs to your earthly nature” ( Colossians 3:5 ). We are not to “fret because of evil men” ( Proverbs 24:19 ). We are to “fear the Lord” ( Proverbs 24:21 ).

God is perfectly holy. He cannot stand sin. This is clear in both Amos and Romans. It is stressed in Proverbs, which emphasizes that sin is not so much sin against man but “contempt for their Maker” (17:5). Proverbs 17:9 tells us that we are to “promote love.” This love is to be modelled on the love of God. He is always the One who is sinned against. He is never the One who has done the sinning. Nevertheless, His love remains constant. It is the divine pattern for our living in love.

Day 29 4 Jeremiah 48:1-49:6 ; 2 Timothy 1:1-18 ; Psalm 119:81-88 “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!” ( Jeremiah 48:10 ). We should not be lax in doing the Lord’s work, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” ( 2 Timothy 1:7 ). Through the power of the Spirit of God, we are able to say, with Paul, “I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that Day” ( 2 Timothy 1:12 ). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to “obey the statutes of Your mouth” ( Psalm 119:88 ). Day 29 5 Jeremiah 49:7-50:10 ; 2 Timothy 2:1-26 ; Proverbs 25:21-26:2 Jeremiah speaks of a time of judgment upon Babylon ( Jeremiah 50:1-3 ) and a time of blessing upon the people of Israel ( Jeremiah 50:4-5 ). If the blessing, and not the judgment, is to come in our own day, we must be faithful in the ministry of God’s Word ...

Jeremiah speaks of a time of judgment upon Babylon ( Jeremiah 50:1-3 ) and a time of blessing upon the people of Israel ( Jeremiah 50:4-5 ). If the blessing, and not the judgment, is to come in our own day, we must be faithful in the ministry of God’s Word ( 2 Timothy 2:15 ). Faithful ministry of God’s Word is “like cold water to a weary soul.” It is “good news from a distant land” ( Proverbs 25:25 ). It is the Good News sent down from heaven, the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.

What a transformation there is when “the Spirit is poured upon us from on high” ( Isaiah 32:14-15 ). The blessings which God pours upon us are well summed up in 2 Corinthians 13:14 - “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” How are these ongoing blessings communicated to us? - These blessings come to us through “true and reliable words” ( Proverbs 22:21 ). These blessings come to us from the God of perfect wisdom. His teaching is both present and personal - “I teach you today, even you” ( Proverbs 22:19 ).

The people of God live in a situation of conflict. We are at war with the enemy. Nevertheless, we need not be afraid. The enemies of the Lord will be brought to nothing: “ Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!” ( Isaiah 21:9 ). “Look at the land of the Babylonians, this people that is of no account!” ( Isaiah 23:13 ). There will be “false apostles”, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ” ( 2 Corinthians 11:13 ). We must not become discouraged. We must not say, “There is a lion outside!” or “I will be murdered in the streets!” ( Proverbs 22:13 ). We must remember that “the Lord ... frustrates the work of the unfaithful” ( Proverbs 22:12 ).

Who is Jesus Christ? What has He done for us? God’s answer to these questions is found in Isaiah 9:6 - “He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and 2 Corinthians 8:9 - “our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” We have true riches when we know God: “Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all” ( Proverbs 22:2 ).

“With us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles” ( 2 Chronicles 32:8 ). The battle will not be easy. “Satan” is seeking to “outwit us” ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ). Nevertheless, “we are not unaware of his schemes” ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ). In our spiritual battle for God and against Satan, we need to know both our enemy and our God who helps us and fights for us. “The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin” ( Proverbs 21:12 ). This is what Christ has done for us. This is what we are to do in Him.

There is real urgency about Daniel's prayer: "O Lord, look with favour on Your desolate sanctuary ... O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act!" (Daniel 9:17,19). We do need to pray with urgency. There are many who seek to lead us astray (1 John 3:7) - "Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright" (Proverbs 29:10). Who can help us in this situation? - Only the Lord: "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work" (1 John 3:8). He alone will give us strength to "continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His Coming" (1 John 2:28).

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...

Proverbs 11:12-31 Lord, You’re calling us to win others for You. You’re calling us to share Your love with them. You’re calling us to bring Jesus to them. Help us, Lord, not to keep Your Good News to ourselves. Help us to pray, “Here I am, wholly available – as for me, I will serve the Lord” (Chris Bowater).

Genesis 32:1-33:20; Matthew 12:22-45; Proverbs 2:1-11  In Genesis 28:10-22 , we read about a turning-point in Jacob’s life. Here, in Genesis 32:22-32 , we have another turning-point. It’s summed up in Genesis 32:28 – “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob may “have overcome”, but there is no-one who has overcome so mightily as our Lord Jesus Christ. He “drove out demons by the Spirit of God” and, in Him, we are overcomers –  ”They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” ( Revelation 12:11 ). Victory comes from the Lord – “He holds victory in store for the upright” ( Proverbs 2:7 ). He is our “shield”; He “guards” and “protects” us in the heat of the battle ( Proverbs 2:7-8 ). As we walk in the pathway of victory, we are led in “every good path” ( Proverbs 2:9 ). We are led in a way which, the Lord says, “will be pleas...

Joseph was the forgotten man. He asked the chief cup bearer to remember him ( Genesis 40:14 ). The chief cup bearer forgot Joseph ( Genesis 40:23 ). He wasn’t remembered until “two full years had passed” ( Genesis 41:1 ). As he languished in prison, these two years must have seemed a very long time. Nevertheless, Joseph kept close to God, and when the time came for him to speak for God, he was ready. Joseph didn’t seek glory for himself – “I cannot do it.” He gave all the glory to God – “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” ( Genesis 41:16 ). John the Baptist was also imprisoned ( Matthew 14:3 ). For John, unlike Joseph, there was to be no release. Whatever our circumstances, we must seek to honour God. The important thing is not the outcome of our adverse circumstances. It’s our faithfulness in these difficult times. Whatever is happening to us, we must remain in “the straight paths” and must not “walk in dark ways” ( Proverbs 2:13 ).   One Year Bible...

The purpose of God moves on with the birth of Jacob and Esau. We are told that “the older (Esau) will serve the younger (Jacob)” ( Genesis 25:23 ). The purpose of God reaches its fulfilment in the coming of Jesus Christ. In Christ, God’s purpose is fulfilled. The work of God continues as Christ’s apostles carry forward the Gospel’s advance in the world. Matthew 10 tells of the disciples being trained for their later work of being Christ’s witnesses in the world ( Acts 1:8 ). Proverbs 1:20-21 – “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech.” The Gospel is not to be kept to ourselves. Christ is to be proclaimed. Proverbs 1:33 – “whoever listens to me will live in safety.” Romans 10:13 – ”Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   One Year Bible - Day 12: Genesis 25:1-26:35; Matthew 10:1-31; Proverbs...