January 31, 2015. Daily Reading: Matthew 8-10. Background: Matthew 5-7. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 8 1. Faith in Jesus’ power: This chapter focuses heavily on Jesus’ healing miracles after He came down off the mountain where He gave the sermon on the mount. In the next chapter we will see more of the purpose of…
Tag: dailydevotion
Genesis 9-14: New beginnings.
January 26, 2015. Daily Reading: Genesis 9-14. Background: Genesis 6-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 9 1. A new beginning and a new covenant: After Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood via the ark, it was time for a new beginning and a new covenant between God and man. There were a few…
Romans 7-8: Flesh versus Spirit.
January 25, 2015. Daily Reading: Romans 7-8. Background: Romans 5-6. Concepts and Connections: Chapter 7 1. Old Law and Christ: As we have seen from the previous chapters, Paul is making an argument of the difference between being under the Old Law given by Moses and being in Christ. Though the law in an of…
Matthew 5-7: The sermon on the mount.
January 24, 2015. Daily Reading: Matthew 5-7. Background: Matthew 3-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. The Beatitudes: The beatitudes are some of the most well known words of Jesus amongst Christians. They are the first words recorded at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and have had a lasting effect throughout the generations. One way…
Isaiah 12-17: Oracles of destruction.
January 23, 2015. Daily Reading: Isaiah 12-17. Background: Isaiah 6-11. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 12 Praising the Lord for His steadfast love and salvation: After oracles of the coming destruction and captivity and oracles of the Messiah, the prophet’s words turn to praise and honor for the Great King, Almighty, Lord of hosts. There is…
Psalms 6-8: Deliverance by God.
January 21, 2014. Daily Reading: Psalms 6-8. Background: Psalm 3-5. All three of these Psalms are attributed to David, a man after God’s own heart (ref. I Samuel 13:14). David was well in tune with the Spirit of God and he often expressed his emotion in the form of a psalm. These have been recorded…
Joshua 11-15: The inheritance of the promised land.
January 20, 2014. Daily Reading: Joshua 11-15. Background: Joshua 6-10. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 11 The Lord is in control: One of the most prominent themes that runs through the book of Joshua is God’s charge of “do not be afraid.” The first chapter of the book has this phrase several times as God is…
Genesis 6-8: The flood.
January 19, 2014. Daily Reading: Genesis 6-8. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 6 1. Nephilim: There is an interesting concept at the beginning of this chapter on the topic of the Nephilim, who were giants in the land. Angels are often referred to as “the sons of God” in the Old Testament, thus the Nephilim were…
Romans 5-6: Justification and baptism.
January 18, 2014. Daily Reading: Romans 5-6. Background: Romans 3-4. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 5 1. Christian peace: Continuing on with his dialog of the differences between justification by faith and justification by works, Paul explains how the paradigm shift that the Jews needed would bring the peace of Christ. Under the idea that there…
Matthew 3-4: Baptism, temptation and the gospel.
January 17, 2014. Daily reading: Matthew 3-4. Background: Matthew 1-2. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 3 1. The baptism of John: There are several references to one that would come before the Christ to prepare the way for Him. Isaiah prophesied that he would come as one crying in the wilderness “prepare the way of the…
Isaiah 6-11: Behold, Immanuel.
January 16, 2014. Today’s Reading: Isaiah 6-11. Background: Isaiah 1-5. Concepts and Connections. Chapter 6 1. The fear of the Lord and His righteousness: The sixth chapter of Isaiah opens with an impressive scene, much like the one that is described in Revelation 4, in both instances where seraphim are praising the Almighty saying things…
Job 3-5: Lament and blame.
January 15, 2014. Daily Reading: Job 3-5. Background: Job 1-2. Job has lost everything, even his health, because he was righteous and is being tested. In this section of the story of Job, there has been seven days of silence before Job begins his lament. Chapters 4 and 5 are Eliphaz the Temanite’s rebuttal to Job’s…
Twenty Eight Eighteen 