New Testament in a Year

Hebrews 10:18-39
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Hebrews chapter 10 today is amazing!  In verse 22 we read: “Let us go right into the presence of God, with true hearts fully trusting him. For our evil consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.”  Great stuff!  The last few words of this verse remind me of the blessing of Baptism – as an outward sign of our inner transformation and faith in Christ. Verse 24 is just pure joy & goodness: “Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds.” Outbursts of love & good deeds indeed!  Who are you encouraging these days to outbursts of love and good deeds?  Can you think of some ways to do this?  And verse 25 reminds me of the importance of finding a church community to do life with together: “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.”  Do you meet together with others in a local church?  Have you found a small group, community group, or prayer group that you can spend some quality time with outside of regular church services?  A group where you can encourage, warn, and pray for each other? Verse 26 and the following verses are strong reminders of the one option we have for our faith – the one true God to follow: “Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins.”  Is there another sacrifice besides Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that will cover our sins?

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Third Day’s song “Call My Name:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEXXUdU–Zg

Have you called on Jesus’ Name?  Click here and call on Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are spurring on others in your life toward love and good deeds each and every day. Pray that you meet together with Christ’s body, the church, regularly. Pray that you are encouraging others and being encouraged as the Day of Christ’s return is approaching!

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

God bless,
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 10:1-17
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Hebrews chapter 10 is powerful today!  I did come across a great learning, which I hadn’t really picked up before.  In verse 9 we read this about Jesus: “He cancels the first covenant in order to establish the second.”  At first glance you might think, wow, the old / first covenant is over.  Things like the Ten Commandments don’t matter anymore.  Well, not so fast!  Tyndale’s One Year Bible companion tells us that this verse refers to the doing away (canceling) of the system of sacrifices contained in the ceremonial law.  However, this does not mean canceling / eliminating God’s moral law (the Ten Commandments).  Only through faith in Christ we can fulfill the moral law, as Jesus lives in us.  Good to know, eh?  I’d never really picked up this distinction before of Jesus canceling the ceremonial law but not the moral law.  Do you see this distinction?  As I’ve done some more reading on this, I realize this is a bit of a contentious point for many Christians.  Check out this great overview of the Mosaic Law in light of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – including a disagreement on my point above about the moral law – at bible.org at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Hebrews reminds me of the Big Daddy Weave song, “What Life Would Be Like:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdbPynNI9Xo

Do you know what life would be like with Jesus?  Click here to find out!

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

God bless,
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 9:11-28
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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!