Author: Chip Bennett

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 57:15-21, Isaiah 58-59
NT: Philippians 1
Ps: Psalm 71
Pr: Proverbs 24:9-10

Today´s notable verses:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)

This is the beauty of Christianity: our piety is revealed not in our observance of rituals or outward shows, but in sacrificing ourselves for the sake of others – in bringing to others the spiritual and physical freedom we have found for ourselves in Christ.

¹⁶ He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.
¹⁷ He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Isaiah 59:16-17 (NIV)

First, we see here the recognition that none but God Himself could accomplish the redemption of humanity and our reconciliation to righteousness. Not other heavenly beings, and certainly not man himself, but God alone. Second, I must say, I never before today knew that Paul borrowed from Isaiah in his Armor of God passage in Ephesians 6. Yet again, we see the beautiful consistency between Old and New Testament.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

I absolutely love this philosophy! Our ultimate gain is not found until our death, yet while we remain alive we have the unique opportunity to demonstrate and allow the power of God to work in our lives through Christ.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 54-56, Isaiah 57:1-14
NT: Ephesians 6
Ps: Psalm 70
Pr: Proverbs 24:8

Today´s notable verses:

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)

Now that I am eagerly expecting my first child, I pray that I am able to raise him (or her) up in the training and instruction of the Lord, without exasperating him. I pray that my training and instruction are carried out with love and patience, and that this child – and all our future children – will be directed to God, and to His most perfect, High Law – that is, love.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 28 September, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 51-52, Isaiah 53:1-12
NT: Ephesians 5
Ps: Psalm 69:19-36
Pr: Proverbs 24:7

Today´s notable verses:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7 (NIV)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV)

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)

In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:28 (NIV)

Much is said of what Paul instructs wives with respect to their husbands: that wives are to submit to and to respect their husbands; but not much seems to be said of Paul’s instructions to husbands: to love their wives as Christ loved the church (i.e. love to the extent of giving one’s life for another), and to love their wives as themselves. Wives who submit themselves to their husbands deserve to have husbands who are likewise submitted to Christ, and who love their wives as themselves, willing to give up their very lives for their wives. This is how I want to love the woman who is soon to be my wife – and how I will strive every day to love her.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 48:12-22, Isaiah 49, Isaiah 50:1-11
NT: Ephesians 4:17-32
Ps: Psalm 69
Pr: Proverbs 24:5-6

Today´s notable verse:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 26 September, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 45:11-25, Isaiah 46-47, Isaiah 48:1-11
NT: Ephesians 4:1-16
Ps: Psalm 68:19-35
Pr: Proverbs 24:3-4

Today´s notable verse:

Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:22 (NIV)

² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV)

I love verse three. I wish this verse were the objective of what has become such a factioned and segregated Christian body. No matter our differences of interpretation, opinion, or belief (some of which, granted, are significant), as long as we all profess salvation through and Lordship of Jesus Christ, then we are all united. Christianity needs to concentrate more on that which unites us, rather than that which divides us.

¹¹ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 43:14-28, Isaiah 44, Isaiah 45:1-10
NT: Ephesians 3
Ps: Psalm 68:1-18
Pr: Proverbs 24:1-2

Today´s notable verse:

¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible are found in Paul’s epistles. This one, and one we will get to in a few days, are two of my favorites. This prayer always reminds me of a man whom I consider to have been a pillar of faith in my life: Ken Ellis, founder and director of Adventures In Missions, a short-term, youth mission organization. Ken lost a battle with cancer while I was in college, and is now with Christ in glory, but whenever I read this passage I think of him. During training camp for the mission teams, Ken would often preach passionately from this passage, striving to instill in each young missionary the desire to know Christ – through the Word and through prayer – so intimately as to fulfill this prayer for their lives. Aside from my own parents, Ken probably had more impact on my spiritual development and maturity than anyone. I thank God for the time I had Ken in my life, and for the mighty way in which God used him in my life, and in the lives of so many young people.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 24 September, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 41:17-29, Isaiah 42, Isaiah 43:1-13
NT: Ephesians 2
Ps: Psalm 67
Pr: Proverbs 23:29-35

Today´s notable verse:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Posted 24 September, back-dated.

Today´s reading:
OT: Isaiah 39-40, Isaiah 41:1-16
NT: Ephesians 1
Ps: Psalm 66
Pr: Proverbs 23:25-28

Today´s notable verse:

³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.