Read the Bible in One Year!

Scripture December 31—Revelation 20-22: The Christ Enthroned Observation In one sentence John sums up the end of this present world order: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth (with no oceans!), for the present earth and sky had disappeared" (21:1). He then describes the breathtaking splendor of the New Heaven and Earth, God's new order in which "the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them" (21:3). Once again, God and his people live in unbroken fellowship—Creator and creation face to face (22:4). Revelation closes with Christ's thrice-repeated promise, "I am coming soon" (22:7, 12, 20) and John's refrain, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20). Yes, come quickly, Lord! Sadness in the Old, Gladness in the New : Perhaps the saddest words in the entire Old Testament are these: "So the Lord God banished him forever from the Garden of Eden . . . ...

Doom of the Harlot Scripture December 30—Revelation 17-19: Two Babylons Observation The last of the seven bowls of judgment has been poured out, and now John sees the doom of "Babylon the Great." Its disastrous end is announced by an angelic messenger, and mourned by kings and merchants alike who profited from her rich trade and false religion. While Babylon is being destroyed on earth, the heavens resound with praise in preparation for the marriage supper of the Lamb. A warrior emerges in great pomp and majesty to bring God's final destruction upon the beast, false prophet, and their armies—a warrior whose name is Faithful and True, The Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Application When you think about it, there are many portions of Scripture that—from a human point of view—never should have had to be written in the first place. Passages such as Noah's adventures on the ark ( Genesis 6-9 ) . . . Israel's wandering in the wilderness ( Numbe...

Scripture December 29—Revelation 14-16: Seven Bowls with Seven Plagues Observation Another vision of the 144,000—now singing a new song—precedes the final series of divine judgments upon the earth. As angels proclaim the gospel message, the final outpouring of God's wrath begins. Seven angels carrying seven bowls of God's judgment pour out their destruction in the form of blood scorching heat, darkness, pain, earthquakes, hailstones and warfare. Yet, through it all, men "cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores, but they refused to repent of all their evil deeds" (16:11). Application On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your singing ability? (Think of ten as "positively CeCe Winans," one as "strictly for the showers.") Your ability to sing hymns of praise to God with enthusiasm and feeling (though not necessarily with perfect pitch) is one of the best barometers of the level of joy in your spiritual life. Paul says in ...

Praise God! Weekly Devotional December 28— Psalm 147 : A Lifestyle of Praise Reflection God's amazing glimpse of the end of time and the beginning of eternity through John's eyes has no doubt sparked your desire to get even closer to your glorious Lord. The scenes of Worship in heaven have whetted our appetite for the day we can join the eternal chorus of praise. But there's no reason to wait! As our walk through the Bible in a year draws to a close, let's rejuvenate our final steps by spending some time pondering Psalm 147 and praising our worthy Lord! Hallelujah! Psalm 147:1 gives three reasons for God's people to praise him: (1) it is good in God's eyes; (2) it is delightful to the one doing the praising; and (3) it is right (appropriate) for all who share the praise experience. Praise is like a bride's wedding ring. Her husband rejoices to see her wear it, and it testifies to the appropriateness of the couple's relationship. Tie a smal...

The Sunclothed Woman Scripture December 27—Revelation 10-13: Witnesses and Wars Observation After being assured of God's control in the midst of great upheaval (the vision of the strong angel), John is told to consume a little book as divine preparation for his prophetic task. Next, John sees two witnesses who exercise astonishing powers on earth for 1,260 days, then are martyred for their testimony. The great rejoicing at their death is hushed by their resurrection and ascension in heaven. The sounding of the seventh trumpet is followed by a description of the next seven "actors" in the drama of Revelation: a sunclothed woman, a dragon, a male child, the angel Michael, the rest of the woman's children, a beast from the sea and a second beast from the earth. Is the book of Revelation a beastly book? The Greek word for "beast" occurs forty-five times in the New Testament—thirty-eight of which are in the book of Revelation! Application The best way...

Woe to the People of the Earth Scripture December 26—Revelation 7-9: Sealed Saints and Seven Trumpets Observation Before the seventh seal is opened, John sees a vision in which 144,000 "out of all twelve tribes of Israel" (7:4) receive an angelic seal of protection. Next, a great multitude dressed like a grand white-robed choir, who have come "out of Great Tribulation" (7:14), present themselves before the throne of God to serve him night and day. Following a dramatic pause, the horrors of the seventh and last seal are unfolded in the form of seven trumpets, each heralding the beginning of a devastating judgment. The first hour judgments affect nature; the final three fall upon mankind in such destructive force that each is called a "woe". "Woe, woe, woe to the people of the earth" (8:13). Application "He had it coming to him!" Has that phrase ever rolled off your lips when you saw someone receive the punishment that was due...

Happy Birthday, Jesus! CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION December 25—Glory to God! A Savior is Born Observation Today we're pausing in our walk through the Bible to celebrate the coming of Jesus to earth. Matthew (1:18-2:12) recounts the angelic revelation of the birth of the Messiah to Mary and then to Joseph, a birth that fulfills the prophets' announcements of old. While Matthew tells of the wise men who later come from the East to pay homage to the newborn King, Luke's account (2:1-20) includes an angelic announcement to humble shepherds, who also come to worship the Christ child. Rich or poor, highly important or humble, Jesus comes to be Lord of all! Application Nothing is impossible with God. If you don't believe that, then just consider the obstacles he had to overcome in order to send his Son into the World. His Son had to be born in Bethlehem ( Matthew 2:6 ), and while still a child, escape the murderous attack of a deranged king ( Matthew 2:16-19 ). His So...

Scripture December 24—Revelation 4-6: Seven Seals Observation The Curious Act of Casting a Crown—the twenty-four elders who cast their crowns before God's throne (4:10) were showing their submission and surrender. In ancient times a king captured in battle would cast his crown at the feet of the victor as if to say, "I surrender completely to you." Later in chapter 4 John's attention is turned from seven local assembles on earth to one great assembly of saints in heaven. God is seated upon his throne, looking for someone who is worthy to unleash great judgment upon the earth—authority that only the Lamb of God and Lion of Judah possesses. As the Lamb receives the seven-sealed scroll of judgment, all the heavenly creatures bow in worship. The breaking of the first six seals releases war, famine, death, earthquake and cosmic upheaval, marking "the great day of their anger" (6:17). Application With a pencil in each hand, see if you can draw a circle...

Hear What the Spirit is Saying Revelation Introduction John, while exiled on the island of Patmos (1:9), receives the visions contained in the book of Revelation. As this book states, Jesus Christ is revealing to John—and to all subsequent readers—"what you have just seen, and what will soon be shown to you" (1:19). Through a dramatic series of pictures, signs and symbols, John depicts cataclysmic judgment upon the earth, the final conquest of satanic forces, and the beginning a new heaven and new earth. The Apostle John wrote about the message of life in three different kinds of Scripture: the gospel of John (biography), which speaks of eternal life; the epistles of John (letter), which speak of the Christian life; and the prophecies of Revelation (visions), which speaks of victorious life now and for eternity. Scripture December 23—Revelation 1-3: Seven Letters for Seven Churches Observation After greeting the seven churches in Asia Minor, John describes how ...

Jude Introduction Jude writes a fiery letter about the war the church must fight against destroyers in its own ranks. These corrupt teachers have a perverted view of God's grace and liberty, thinking salvation to be an opportunity to sin with safety. Preferring their own ideas to God's truths, their beliefs result in shocking immorality. Jude reminds his readers of God's severe judgment on such hypocrites. He tells true believers to do two things: keep themselves from such sin and rescue others roaming toward it. Scripture December 22—Jude: Fight for the Faith Observation Jude, the "brother of James" (v. 1) and therefore possibly the half-brother of Jesus Christ ( Matthew 13:55 , Mark 6:3 ), originally intended to write a treatise on the doctrine of salvation. But alarmed by the presence of false teachers in the church, he compelled instead to unmask them and their deadly ways, and to exhort the believers to stand firm for the way of truth. Contend...

He is Worthy of Our Praise! Weekly Devotional December 21— Psalm 146 : Praise for the Praiseworthy Lord Reflection James, Peter, John. Beloved followers of the Lord. Pillars of the early church. And yet they still minister today through their letters. They can bring us closer to the Lord and his will for us, if we'll let them. Today, as we pause in our year-long journey through the Bible, it's time once again to praise our worthy God. Why? Psalm 146 offers a number of excellent reasons. Praise the Lord! Psalm 146 begins with a ringing call to praise: "Praise the Lord. Yes, really praise him!" And verse 2 gives us the psalmist's commitment to praise the Lord: "I will praise him as long as I live, yes, even with my dying breath." The logical question is: "Why? What has he done to warrant my praise?" Notice the psalmist's ready reply: God is praiseworthy for what he has done in the past. He made "both earth and heaven, the ...

3 John Introduction Far from being problem-free, the church of John's day had its share of shortcomings, contentious saints and false teachers. In his third letter, John makes a special note of Diotrephes, "who loves to push himself forward as the leader" and seeks to interfere with commendable saints such as Gaius, a hospitable brother who brings great joy to John and has entertained missionaries he sent. Demetrius is another faithful servant in the church, one who has a good reputation within and without. John concludes by speaking of a future visit. Scripture December 20—3 John: Fellowship with Brothers Observation The shortest of John's epistles begins with the expressed desire for Gaius' prosperity (v. 2), and ends with a longing for Gaius presence (v. 14). In between, John holds up two shining examples of commendable saints, and makes note of one disruptive individual who "loves to push himself forward as the leader" (v. 9). Gaius is...

The Antidote for False Teaching! 2 John Introduction "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." These words of Paul ( 1 Corinthians 10:12 ) could be a subtitle for 2 John, a brief letter from the Apostle John that stresses the importance of balance. The readers, a "dear woman" and her children, are standing, and John commends them for it. But he warns them not to aid the false teachers abroad who deny the true humanity of Christ. John exhorts the readers to love God and one another, obeying God's commandments, but warns that it is false charity to open the door to false teaching. Scripture December 19—2 John: Combating False Teaching Observation John addresses this brief letter to a dear woman and her children, commending them for walking in the truth and encouraging them to remain faithful in their obedience to God. John takes nothing for granted. Realizing that standing is just one step removed from falling, he issues them a reminder...

The God of Light, Love and Life! 1 John Introduction John, "the beloved apostle," has long known and enjoyed the Lord. He writes 1 John to help his spiritual brothers in their walk with the God who is light, love and life. He wants them to be grounded in assurance of their salvation, experiencing victory over sin and the full joys of the Christian life. He reminds them that all these gems can be dimmed by false teaching, so he reminds the reader that belief should be based on the facts about Christ's incarnation and that every believer has the responsibility to walk like Christ. Scripture December 18—1 John 1-5: Fellowship with God Observation Fellowship is a shared conviction, a shared commitment, a shared compassion. It is two people walking the same road, bearing the same load. Fellowship involves a vertical dimension (with the Father) and a horizontal dimension (with those who know the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ). John, who knows firsthand the...

Beware! 2 Peter Introduction In his first letter Peter taught his readers to endure external enemies with hope; 2 Peter teaches the same audience to oppose internal enemies with knowledge of the truth. Apostasy within the church can be much more devastating than persecution against the church. Peter warns against the moral perversions and denial of Christ's return that false teachers propagate, then exhorts his readers to resist errors by growing in grace and knowledge. Knowledge is the prominent theme of this letter as the best antidote for heresies. Scripture December 17—2 Peter 1-3: Holiness Amid Heresy Observation Peter writes his second letter to warn believers about the danger of false teachers who are peddling damaging doctrine. The Christian walk demands diligence in pursuing moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and selfless love. By contrast, the false teachers Peter warns against are sensual, arrogant, greed...

Our Reward! 1 Peter Introduction The Apostle Peter writes to scattered Jewish Christians who are undergoing intense persecution for their faith. He reminds his readers that "God . . . has given us the privilege of being born again" (1:3). Therefore, they shouldn't be surprised when suffering comes their way; they should expect it, prepare for it and respond to it correctly. He also encourages them to imitate Christ through a submissive spirit toward one another. If they do, God will richly reward them when the trials of life are over. Scripture December 16—1 Peter 1-5: Pain with a Purpose Observation Peter gives his readers in the midst of persecution and suffering "a true picture of the way God blesses," encouraging them to "stand firmly in his love" (5:12). God has chosen them in Christ Jesus with the guarantee that one day they will experience the full and final enjoyment of their salvation in his presence. Buoyed up by that hope, the...

James Introduction The apostle James saw the danger of concluding from salvation by grace that "as long as I have faith, it doesn't matter how I act." He responds that a faith which produces no change is really no faith at all. He offers many tests for genuine faith: it endures trials . . . obeys the Word . . . harbors no prejudice . . . controls the tongue . . . produces separation from the world . . . provides us with the ability to resist the devil and humbly draw near to God. And, finally, faith waits patiently, without complaining, for the coming of the Lord. Scripture December 15—James: Faith That Works Observation Faith without works isn't really faith. It is dead, and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must move into action. Throughout his epistle to Jewish believers, James integrates true faith and everyday practical ex...

Only One Way There! Weekly Devotional December 14— Psalm 139 : The God Who Is There Reflection The writer of Hebrews states his case well: Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. He is our High Priest, our Atonement, our loving intercessor. Through him and him alone can we enter God's throneroom. Perhaps those facts make you feel like praying and praising your God. Let David lead you to the Lord through Psalm 139, and learn some insights concerning prayer that you can apply to your own life today. Pray! Three of God's qualities are beautifully depicted in Psalm 139: his omniscience (he knows everything about you),  his omnipresence (he goes everywhere with you), and his omnipotence (he is infinitely powerful and able to meet your every need). The question naturally arises, "If all that is true, then why should I pray?" There are many good reasons to pray, but here are just three: Pray because God has commanded it ( Jeremiah 33:3 ) Pray because God d...

Jesus Christ is the Light; Walk in the Light! Scripture December 13—Hebrews 11-13: Christ and the Application of Life Observation The letter to the Hebrews closes with an appeal to approach God by the new and living way that Jesus made possible through his death. Writing to an audience whose actions were being shaped by pressure from the world rather than promises from God, the author of Hebrews urges the kind of faith-inspired walk that characterized so many Old Testament heroes and heroines. These men and women were so convinced of God's faithfulness that they ordered their lives according to his Word. Their Commendable example is worth following! Application Some heroes gain their reputation by the life they live; others by the death they die. Down through the centuries the heroes of the church have been those who announced their allegiance to Christ and refused to be moved—regardless of the consequences. One such hero is Polycarp, disciple of the apostle John, whose...

Scripture December 12—Hebrews 8-10: Christ and the Ancient Law Observation Although the priestly work of Christ is distinctly different from Old Testament system, There are similarities as well. Every priest must have a place to minister. Aaron's priests ministered on earth; Jesus ministers in heaven (8:1). Every priest must have a life to sacrifice. Aaron's priest offered the blood of animals; Christ offers his own blood (9:12). And only the High Priest can enter behind the veil to make atonement. Aaron performed that function year by year; Christ offers his own flesh as the veil, making atonement once for all time (10:10, 20). Just as his life is infinitely important, so his death is infinitely powerful to supply everything the believer needs. Application You can learn much about the size and shape of an object by looking at its silhouette or shadow. But you can learn so much more by fixing your gaze on the object itself, which casts the shadow! You can learn much...