A brief introduction before I start. I suck at reading the Bible. I have tried and failed to stick to Bible reading plans in the past. This year, I intend to do it differently. This year, I'm going to attempt to read the NIV Soul Survivor Bible in One Year. I've chosen this plan because I already have the book. Throughout the year, I might throw in verses from different translations.
I've also chosen to blog about my Bible reading this coming year. There are a few different reasons for this, but mostly it's to keep me accountable. I realise that this will be posted on 25 June, but it's actually for 24 June. Get over it.
So, without further ado...
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Day 1
Genesis 1:1-2:17
(1 | 2:1-17)
Regardless of whether you believe in a creator or whether you believe that we defied absurd odds to make it here through the chaos, you have to admit to being a little bit intrigued as to how we all got here. Creation is one of those points where people of faith and the scientific community clash most. Personally, I feel if you're fighting over how exactly we got here, you're missing out on the awesome beauty of the universe and the infinite majesty in its formation. Now, I'm a Christian, so obviously I believe God made the universe. My opinion isn't that science offers an alternative viewpoint, rather that science explains how God did it all. But I'm going off track slightly.
I really like creation in Genesis. It's just so nonchalant. God said x, so y happened. Y'know, no biggie. If you just read Genesis 1 without thinking about it, you could be excused for thinking it's a little boring. But if you think about it, you realise God wrought this planet, its inhabitants, and the universe around us simply because he wanted to. He spoke the earth and the heavens into existence, and he formed man from the dust of the ground. It's just incredible.
The start of Genesis 2 makes the first reference to the garden of Eden, as well as man's commissioning to look after it and its contents. It also sees the command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the first hints of the fall. More on that in future blogs, I feel.
Matthew 1
(1)
Matthew 1 is also the beginning of something. However rather than the beginning of the planet and mankind, Matthew 1 speaks of the beginning of their salvation. Verses 1-17 describe the genealogy of Jesus, and attempt to show the link to Jesus from Abraham and David. Or at least, it demonstrates that Joseph is a direct descendant of Abraham and David. Mary became pregnant with Jesus by the Holy Spirit. I don't see how Jesus can therefore be a descendant. I could be missing something, though. Maybe the marriage of Joseph and Mary meant that Jesus inherited Joseph's lineage. I don't know. If anyone can explain it to me, I'd love to hear it.
Anyway, back to the point (again). The second part (that is, verse 18-25) is about obedience. When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he knew full well it wasn't his doing. Jewish law meant he could divorce Mary, but he wanted to do it quietly so as not to disgrace his new wife. But then, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph and explained the entire situation. It would've been easy for Joseph to pass the encounter off as a meaningless dream, and for him to go ahead with his plans. But he didn't. He obeyed God and his commands issued via angel; he married Mary, and he named his new son Jesus. I find it inspiring that in a situation like that, Joseph was not only able to discern God's will, but he was also perfectly willing to carry it out. If people found out Mary had become pregnant before their marriage, it could have been quite bad for the both of them. But he trusted God and went along with it. What a guy! My final thought on this passage is that I find it fascinating that God would choose to bring his son into the world from such a position of disgrace.
Psalm 1
(1)
This psalm is short and sweet, and it doesn't beat around the bushes. Essentially, if you delight in, and meditate on the law, you'll be blessed. The passage (or at least this translation) doesn't even mention following it. Blindly following God's law isn't enough. You've got to think about what it means for you in your life, and you've got to bring it before God and ask him to help you do it. You can't just follow the law because laws are there to be followed; you've got to want to follow the law, and you've got to want to be with God. However, if you ignore God, there won't be any blessing. If you listen to, and follow in the footsteps of people who aren't doing these things, you won't prosper, you won't receive any blessings. That sounds simple!
I've also chosen to blog about my Bible reading this coming year. There are a few different reasons for this, but mostly it's to keep me accountable. I realise that this will be posted on 25 June, but it's actually for 24 June. Get over it.
So, without further ado...
---
Day 1
Genesis 1:1-2:17
(1 | 2:1-17)
Regardless of whether you believe in a creator or whether you believe that we defied absurd odds to make it here through the chaos, you have to admit to being a little bit intrigued as to how we all got here. Creation is one of those points where people of faith and the scientific community clash most. Personally, I feel if you're fighting over how exactly we got here, you're missing out on the awesome beauty of the universe and the infinite majesty in its formation. Now, I'm a Christian, so obviously I believe God made the universe. My opinion isn't that science offers an alternative viewpoint, rather that science explains how God did it all. But I'm going off track slightly.
I really like creation in Genesis. It's just so nonchalant. God said x, so y happened. Y'know, no biggie. If you just read Genesis 1 without thinking about it, you could be excused for thinking it's a little boring. But if you think about it, you realise God wrought this planet, its inhabitants, and the universe around us simply because he wanted to. He spoke the earth and the heavens into existence, and he formed man from the dust of the ground. It's just incredible.
The start of Genesis 2 makes the first reference to the garden of Eden, as well as man's commissioning to look after it and its contents. It also sees the command to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the first hints of the fall. More on that in future blogs, I feel.
Matthew 1
(1)
Matthew 1 is also the beginning of something. However rather than the beginning of the planet and mankind, Matthew 1 speaks of the beginning of their salvation. Verses 1-17 describe the genealogy of Jesus, and attempt to show the link to Jesus from Abraham and David. Or at least, it demonstrates that Joseph is a direct descendant of Abraham and David. Mary became pregnant with Jesus by the Holy Spirit. I don't see how Jesus can therefore be a descendant. I could be missing something, though. Maybe the marriage of Joseph and Mary meant that Jesus inherited Joseph's lineage. I don't know. If anyone can explain it to me, I'd love to hear it.
Anyway, back to the point (again). The second part (that is, verse 18-25) is about obedience. When Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant, he knew full well it wasn't his doing. Jewish law meant he could divorce Mary, but he wanted to do it quietly so as not to disgrace his new wife. But then, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph and explained the entire situation. It would've been easy for Joseph to pass the encounter off as a meaningless dream, and for him to go ahead with his plans. But he didn't. He obeyed God and his commands issued via angel; he married Mary, and he named his new son Jesus. I find it inspiring that in a situation like that, Joseph was not only able to discern God's will, but he was also perfectly willing to carry it out. If people found out Mary had become pregnant before their marriage, it could have been quite bad for the both of them. But he trusted God and went along with it. What a guy! My final thought on this passage is that I find it fascinating that God would choose to bring his son into the world from such a position of disgrace.
Psalm 1
(1)
This psalm is short and sweet, and it doesn't beat around the bushes. Essentially, if you delight in, and meditate on the law, you'll be blessed. The passage (or at least this translation) doesn't even mention following it. Blindly following God's law isn't enough. You've got to think about what it means for you in your life, and you've got to bring it before God and ask him to help you do it. You can't just follow the law because laws are there to be followed; you've got to want to follow the law, and you've got to want to be with God. However, if you ignore God, there won't be any blessing. If you listen to, and follow in the footsteps of people who aren't doing these things, you won't prosper, you won't receive any blessings. That sounds simple!
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