New Testament in a Year

Hebrews 9:11-28
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Hebrews chapter 9 verses 27 & 28 today teaches us: “And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people.”  This stands in stark contrast to the old covenant where the High Priest had to atone for the people’s sins over and over and over again.  With faith in Jesus, our sins are forgiven all at once – for eternity – and Christ does not need to forgive us of our sins over and over and over again.  Faith in Christ is the one and only thing that matters.  Do you believe this?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews reminded me of the fantastic Jason Castro song “You Are:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUkCrSTYGA8

Can you sing to Jesus, “You Are the One?”  Click here and sing to the One!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” Hebrews 9:15 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that Jesus Christ is your mediator and that you have been called to receive eternal life. Pray in faith that Jesus Christ died as a ransom for your sins and that you are now living a new eternal life in Christ.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 9:1-10
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Hebrews chapter 9 is a fairly brief reading today on the Old Covenant rules for approaching God.  We also read today about the ark of the covenant. Below are a couple of good images of the tabernacle, which you’ll recall details about from our readings in Exodus chapters 26 & 27 earlier this year:

 

One thing that stands out in my mind when reading this chapter today is that just after Jesus dies on the cross there is an earthquake, which shakes the Temple in Jerusalem where the Most Holy Place was located at the time of Jesus’ death.  The curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple is torn in two.  This is incredible imagery that shows that no longer is the Most Holy Place and an earthly high priest the only way to God.  Jesus has torn that veil in two and Jesus is our new and eternal High Priest ushering in the New Covenant!

Worship Video:  Today’s readings remind me of JJ Heller’s song “What Love Really Means:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpVGiq3NssM

Do you know what love really means?  Click here for LOVE!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 8:1-13
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Hebrews chapter 8 is awesome in that it dives into some verses we read recently in the book of Jeremiah about the new covenant!  Verse 3 stands out: “And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too.”  What was the offering Christ made for our sins? Verse 13 stands out too: “When God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside.”  Something I learned recently – the old / first covenant referred to in this chapter is the “Sinaitic” covenant and not the Abrahamic covenant – the difference being not the promise to Abraham that his descendants will outnumber the stars in the sky and God will be our God and we his people (the Abrahamic covenant) – but the “Sinaitic” covenant are the laws given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and in the desert for how the Israelites were to live – including how priests would make sacrifices for sin.   The Abrahamic covenant still stands today – the Sinaitic covenant is now out of date and ready to be put aside because it was completed by the new covenant of Jesus Christ.  Our High Priest who offered His life for our lives.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews reminded me of Matthew West’s song “Save a Place for me:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbsBUf9VKyc

Have you taken the place at the table God has saved for you?  Click here and sit down!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 7:18-28
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Hebrews chapter 7 verse 27 teaches us today: “Jesus does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the other high priests. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people.” I hadn’t really thought a lot about this before.  In the Old Testament the Levitical priests had to offer sacrifices first for their own sins – and then they would be clean / pure enough to offer sacrifices for others sins.  The good news of course in the New Testament and in this chapter is that we now have the perfectly clean and pure High Priest of Jesus Christ – who does not need to purify himself first!  He never sinned.  Will you take your sins to Jesus, your High Priest?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of Casting Crowns wonderful worship tune called “Lifesong.”  Let this be our prayer today – “Let my lifesong sing to you!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEwB0pkes7U

Is your lifesong singing to God?  Click here and start singing!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 7:1-17
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Hebrews Chapter 7 is fascinating!  It’s basically an argument for why Jesus is our High Priest today – even though he is not from the tribe of Levi – the tribe of priests.  Instead, the author of Hebrews argues that Jesus is immortal and is a priest in the line of Melchizedek.  Most commentators I have read have said that Jesus is not Melchizedek nor vice versa. Basically, the author is making the case for the New Covenant – New Testament – that the Levitical priesthood line is completed by Jesus who is instituting a new covenant with Jesus as our High Priest.  We need no other.  We can go directly to God through Jesus.  Do you believe this?  Do you practice this?  Do you pray in Jesus’ name?  The name of our High Priest in heaven!

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of TobyMac and Blessing Offur’s song “The Goodness:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSmBuCrWs78

Do you know God’s Goodness?  Click here for True Goodness!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 6:1-20
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Hebrews Chapter 6 verse 1 definitely stood out today: “So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” I think sometimes we can get too caught up on the basics of Christianity and then never really grow in our faith.  I do believe God is calling us first and foremost to come into relationship with Him through faith in his son Jesus.  But, after that, let us grow!  Let us no longer conform to our worldly ways and passions, even though we now have faith in Jesus.  Let us become saints.  Let us love and serve God, other people, and the poor more and more with each passing day.  Let us go on and become mature in our understanding!  Let us move forward from always being “disciples” to becoming “apostles.”  How is your spiritual growth these days?  Are you growing?  Do you want to grow?

In verses 7 & 8 today we read: “When the ground soaks up the rain that falls on it and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has the blessing of God. But if a field bears thistles and thorns, it is useless. The farmer will condemn that field and burn it.”

Verse 18 is awesome: “Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.” Have you fled to Jesus for refuge? Are you holding on to God’s promise with confidence?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of the Aaron Shust song “To God Alone be the Glory:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT-QWSxV0Hs

Do you give God all your glory?  Click here to get to know your Glory!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 5:1-14
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Hebrews chapter 5 verse 10 today tells us this about Jesus: “And God designated him to be a High Priest in the line of Melchizedek.” Who is Melchizedek? He first appeared in Scripture in Genesis 14:18-20: “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Melchizedek was clearly important, as Abram gave him a tenth of everything. And Christ is a “High Priest in the line of Melchizedek.” The thing to keep in mind is that most Bible scholars do not believe that Melchizedek was literally Christ. So, for us today, it’s fine history to know. But, Christ is our High Priest, as this chapter of Hebrews makes clear.

Verses 11 – 14 today are a great reminder that as Christians we must learn to become “self-feeders.” We can’t rely only on pastors and teachers and mentors to provide us with spiritual nourishment. We must learn to grow our relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit through our own study and prayer as well. I submit that the One Year Bible is one great way to feed yourself spiritually daily!  How else are you feeding yourself spiritually these days?

YouTube: Today’s readings remind me of the Casting Crowns song “Slow Fade,” which was in the movie Fireproof.  Here’s the video for the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASREBVDsLk

Are you in a slow fade in your life?  Click here for the fast track to God!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on three verses of Scripture today: “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are a self-feeder of God’s Word and Truth. Pray that you are not dependent on others to feed you, but that you are mature and can feed yourself, distinguishing good from evil.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 4:1-16
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Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12 of course makes a One Year Bible blogger’s heart happy 🙂 – “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.” Do you believe that the Word of God is full of power? Not just power, but Living power? Does it cut deep into your innermost thoughts and desires – and expose the condition of your heart? Does the Bible expose you for who you really are? Do you believe that the Word of God can do this? Will you let the Word of God do this?

This chapter opens up with a beautiful verse: “God’s promise of entering his place of rest still stands.” On a busy day, doesn’t God’s place of rest sound nice? I like that! God has promised us a place of eternal rest if we will simply have faith in his Son. His Son whom verse 14 today tells us: “That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him.”  Are you clinging to Jesus as your High Priest? Do you trust Him?  Are you longing for your eternal rest with Jesus?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews 4 reminded me of the Third Day song “Lift Up Your Face:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij71LWwPt-w

Have you lifted up your face?  Click here to lift up your face to God!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that God’s Word is living and active in your life! Pray that God words penetrates to your soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Pray that God’s Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of your heart each and every moment of your life!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 3:1-19
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Hebrews chapter 3 today is a great look at the lives of Moses and Jesus. The text today doesn’t really dive into this point, but something I heard recently that is worth remembering – Moses introduced to Israel the Old Covenant (testament) via the Ten Commandments and laws. Whereas, Jesus ushers in the New Covenant to Israel and all of the world. So, this chapter goes into why Jesus is greater than Moses. Probably this Old Cov v. New Cov point alone would prove this to be true – but, obviously Jesus is also God in the flesh. Moses was simply a man. (albeit a great man in many ways!)

Today in Hebrews 3:13 we read: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” When was the last time you encouraged someone in their walk of faith?  Will you encourage someone today?  How does encouragement help us avoid sin’s deceitfulness?  Do you realize that sin is indeed deceitful?  (sin sells you nothing but lies)  Do you realize that sin can harden your heart?  Do you realize that one of the best ways to be free of the bondage of sin and a hardened heart is through encouragement of others in your church community?  Sin is too strong for us to battle on our own.  We need Jesus.  We need each other.  We need to be actively involved in a church community each week.  Don’t attempt to make a go of this life alone. . . it’s far too risky.

Verse 15 is repeated twice in today’s readings, so it probably is something important for us to remember – “But never forget the warning: “Today you must listen to his voice. Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled.”” Are you listening to God’s voice? How is the soil of your heart toward God? Will you let him plant new life within you? Will you let him pull the weeds that need to be pulled?

Worship Video:  Hebrews 3:13 today reminds me of the Jonny Diaz song “A More Beautiful You.” Here’s his thought provoking video for the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNqQUojBg84

Do you know our Beautiful God?  Click here to get to know Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are an encourager to others in your life. Pray for encouragement in your life too, from a community of Believers, the church. Pray that your heart will never be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Hebrews 2:1-18
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Hebrews chapter 2 starts strong with the first verse: "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it." This is powerful. We must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we’ll drift away from it. My thoughts here are that listening carefully in this sense also means listening often to the truth. Or reading often of the truth. Reading the Bible often. Say, every day? 🙂 I think our human nature is such that we’ll oftentimes hear something and it goes in one ear and out the other. We need repetition. We need a routine. We need the truth. Please don’t drift away from it!  On this topic of drifting away from God, Tim Challies over at challies.com (a blog I read frequently) wrote up a very interesting post titled "The Folly of Solomon".  This is a very interesting look at Tim’s thoughts on why Solomon drifted away from God in his later years and how you and I must be vigilant in our lives to not drift away – please read Tim’s post on this topic at this link.

Verse 12 is beautiful: "I will declare the wonder of your name to my brothers and sisters." Here Jesus calls those who believe in Him his "brothers and sisters." What a great thing! To be brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ! And in the gospels Jesus also calls those who believe in Him his "friends." This is incredible to consider. Who better is there to be your brother and your friend than Jesus? And verse 18 is a great reminder that "Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted." We all will go through temptations in this life. Don’t feel bad if you are "tempted." Jesus himself was tempted by the devil in the gospels. The problem comes when we give into temptation and commit the sin. However, when in the midst of temptation, this verse reminds us to turn our minds to Jesus when we are being tempted – and he will help us! He has been there – he has been tempted. Another great tool to combat temptation is bringing Scripture to mind. In fact – this is exactly what Jesus did with the devil in the desert. Each temptation the devil threw at Jesus, Jesus combated with Scripture. What a holy sword Scripture is in the midst of temptation! To help us in the midst of temptation, memorizing Scripture regularly is a very wise practice. Do you memorize Scripture? Do you think it would help you in the midst of temptation?

Worship Video:  Today’s readings remind me of the Casting Crowns song "East to West." Enjoy this live version of the song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUkTenwz_mw

How far are your sins from you?  Click here to send them as far as the East is from the West!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Because he (Jesus) himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray immediately for Jesus’ help, whenever you are being tempted. Pray that Jesus will strengthen you in your sufferings and temptations and lead you to everlasting victory.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you from today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!