Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 15-16
NT: John 8:1-20
Ps: Psalm 110
Pr: Proverbs 15:8-10

Gospel Thread - OT:

But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

I Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

Sacrifices were never the means by which God bestowed His grace upon man or credited man with righteousness; sacrifices were always a foreshadow of God's ultimate sacrifice, a symbol of the Messiah Who was to come, and an outward expression of an inward heart of obedience to to Word of the Lord. Still today, God desires not the outward expression, but rather the inward heart of obedience to His Word.

Gospel Thread - NT:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 (NIV)

 

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

Psalm 110:4 (NIV)

In Jesus Christ, God establishes a new priesthood - a better priesthood. Paul speaks about this priesthood (Hebrews 6-9), and explains why the priesthood and covenant established in Christ perfects, completes, and excels beyond the Mosaic covenant and the Aaronic priesthood.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 14
NT: John 7:31-53
Ps: Psalm 109
Pr: Proverbs 15:5-7

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

Photo of the Day:

Our first family photo!
Photo © Chip Bennett; all rights reserved

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 12-13
NT: John 7:1-30
Ps: Psalm 108
Pr: Proverbs 15:4

Gospel Thread - OT, NT, Psalms/Proverbs:

I apologize if this is a cop-out, but my mind is elsewhere today. Rather than try to manufacture something to put here today, I am just going to say that I have nothing to add today, because my mind is on my daughter.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 10-11
NT: John 6:43-71
Ps: Psalm 107
Pr: Proverbs 15:1-3

Gospel Thread - OT:

No direct gospel reference in today's OT reading.

Gospel Thread - NT:

I am the bread of life.

John 6:48 (NIV)

This sometimes-difficult passage is summed up in these six words. Jesus explains the spiritual and symbolic meaning of this passage at the last supper, when He institutes the sacrament of communion: the bread and wine symbolize Jesus' body and blood - the body broken to bear the wrath that was due for man's sin, and the blood that was shed as the sacrifice for sin.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
² Let the redeemed of the LORD say this—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe

Psalm 107:1-2 (NIV)

Indeed, God has redeemed us from the hand of our foe: both from sin and from Satan himself. Our response to this truth should be one of eternal thankfulness and gratitude. May we always set our thoughts on the eternal love of our Lord, and respond in kind with our own love and gratitude.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 8-9
NT: John 6:22-42
Ps: Psalm 106:32-48
Pr: Proverbs 106:32-48

Gospel Thread - OT:

And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king."

I Samuel 8:7 (NIV)

God always intended that He alone should be our King. The tragic story of the history of mankind is that we have repeatedly chosen to turn away from Him as our King, and in so doing we have given ourselves over to be enslaved by sin. But God, in His eternal goodness, provides hope for a way out of that slavery; and in His grace, He would use even the kings He appointed to try to help mankind recognize our need to serve God alone as our One, True King.

Gospel Thread - NT:

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

John 6:29 (NIV)

We do not achieve salvation by our own works; rather, salvation is God's gift to us, according to His grace, and through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

⁴⁴ But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;
⁴⁵ for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.

Psalm 106;44-45 (NIV)

Just as God heard Israel's cries of distress, still today God hears our cries of distress as well. When Israel cried out to God, He chose to hear them and to rescue them from their oppression. When we cry out to God, He chooses to hear us and to rescue us from our oppression. His covenant with us through Jesus Christ is everlasting; we need only to believe it and to respond.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 5-7
NT: John 6:1-21
Ps: Psalm 106:13-31
Pr: Proverbs 14:32-33

Gospel Thread - OT:

No direct gospel reference in today's OT reading.

Gospel Thread - NT:

Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

John 6:21 (NIV)

I infer from this verse that, prior to Jesus' appearance on the water, the disciples were having great difficulty reaching their destination in the stormy waters. Likewise, our only hope to navigate life's stormy waters is to accept Jesus, who has authority over the winds and the waves, to take control of the "boat" of our lives.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down, but even in death the righteous have a refuge.

Proverbs 14:32 (NIV)

Again, the refuge of the righteous is Jesus Christ. Because of our relationship with Him, we have absolutely no fear of death - spiritual or physical - for Christ has redeemed us from spiritual death, and physical death brings us all the closer to the eternity we will spend in God's presence.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 2:22-36, I Samuel 3-4
NT: John 5:24-47
Ps: Psalm 106:1-12
Pr: Proverbs 14:30-31

Gospel Thread - OT:

The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.

I Samuel 3:21 (NIV)

God truly is consistent: just as He revealed Himself to Samuel through His Word, still today, He reveals Himself to us through His Word.

Gospel Thread - NT:

You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me

John 5:39 (NIV)

Jesus here is referring to the Law and Prophets of the Old Testament - in other words, He is referring to the Gospel thread of Scripture.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

True, life-giving peace comes only through Jesus Christ.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: I Samuel 1, I Samuel 2:1-21
NT: John 5:1-23
Ps: Psalm 105:37-45
Pr: Proverbs 14:28-29

Gospel Thread - OT:

those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.

I Samuel 4:10 (NIV)

Hannah's song of worship at the dedication of Samuel could certainly be considered to be, one at least one level, a messianic reference - especially these closing lines.

Gospel Thread - NT:

For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

John 5:21 (NIV)

Life - eternal, spiritual life - comes through Christ alone. Fortunately for us, He chose to make that life available to every one who will come to Him.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

⁴³ He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
⁴⁴ he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for-
⁴⁵ that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the LORD.

Psalm 105:43-45 (NIV)

God fulfilled His promise to Abraham through the Israelites - he redeemed and rescued and blessed them - for this purpose: that they might keep His precepts and observe His laws. It is for this same reason that God redeems and blesses us: that we might be Holy, as He is holy.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Ruth 2-4
NT: John 4:43-54
Ps: Psalm 105:16-36
Pr: Proverbs 14:26-27

Gospel Thread - OT:

Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.

Ruth 3:12 (NIV)

The book of Ruth truly is a beautiful story of love, loyalty, and redemption. The historical importance of this story is the genealogy of King David; however, I believe the story of the kinsman-redeemer is also allegorical for our kinsman-redeemer: Jesus Christ.

Gospel Thread - NT:

Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." The man took Jesus at his word and departed.

John 4:50 (NIV)

Jesus tests this man's faith in this exchange. The official demonstrates his faith in two ways: in both his words (verse 49) and in his actions (verse 50). When his servants tell him the exact time his son's fever broke, the official realizes that it is at the exact moment that Jesus tells him that his son will live (verse 53). However, I think equally important is the coincidence between the fever breaking and the man's actions that demonstrated his faith. In other words, had he not demonstrated his belief in Jesus' ability to heal his son by turning to leave, I do not believe Jesus would have healed him. It is the principle that faith without works is dead: that faith must be evidenced by the action resulting from the working of that faith (James 2:14-25).

Likewise, our salvation requires both faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, and also the confession of that faith and the deeds demonstrating the changes in our lives resulting from that faith.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27 (NIV)

"Fear of the Lord" is both reverence for God and also a sober understanding of the consequences of our sin with respect to our standing before a Holy God. Thus, when our thinking is properly aligned with reality, we understand our need for God's plan of salvation. Proper "fear of the Lord" prevents us from justifying or rationalizing our standing before God against some man-made standard. We must realize that God's standard is perfection, because God Himself is perfect and holy. Thus, we realize that we are helpless and without hope on our own - and it is in this state of realization that we are prepared for the saving work of God's grace through Jesus Christ.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.

Today´s reading:
OT: Judges 21, Ruth 1
NT: John 4:4-42
Ps: Psalm 105:1-15
Pr: Proverbs 14:25

Gospel Thread - OT:

No direct gospel reference in today's Old Testament reading.

Gospel Thread - NT:

¹³ Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 4:13-14 (NIV)

Jesus is the source of eternal life. We are created in God's image as spiritual beings. However, due to sin, we are spiritually dead, and separated from God. Through Jesus, we are given new life: a new spirit, the Holy Spirit, in and through whom we have eternal life.

Gospel Thread - Psalms/Proverbs:

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Psalm 105:1 (NIV)

Part of the obligation of salvation is to share the gospel so that salvation might be spread throughout the whole world.

The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.