with BIBLE READING January - March, 2019.

Transcription

1 daybreak with BIBLE READING January - March, CONTENTS: Introduction Deuteronomy Psalms Isaiah 2 Thessalonians 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude English Standard Version (ESV) New Internaaonal Version (NIV) Life Applicaaon Study Bible (LASB) Cover photo courtesy of the Internet All Scripture is breathed out by God and prooitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).

2 PREAMBLE All Saints Cathedral Kampala (ASCK) desires to have Christians rooted in Christ, growing in faith and abounding in fruitfulness (Colossians 2:7). This is intended to help the believer trust God s will revealed and recorded in the Holy Scriptures. The Church is admonished not to be swayed by all kinds of false teachings that are common these days. As a believer engages in the spiritual discipline of Bible reading and study, she or he gets daily nourishment. We encourage parishioners to read the Bible daily - that way, they may be rooted in the Word of God (Psalm 119:7-8, 11) in order to be fruitful wherever they are planted in the Lord s world and vineyard. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway (Proverbs 8:34, NIV). Nothing is more blissfully profitable than spending time with God, daily. You do not need to have hours with God. Set aside 15 to 20, or preferably 30 minutes every day, at an appointed time, with Him, in the morning (preferably) or afternoon or evening. Then, He will spend all the hours with you. It is a cardinal error to go anywhere without God. It is like a journey without fuel. If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here (Exodus 33:15, NKJV). So, everyday, sit somewhere in inner silence and let God talk to you, through devotionals like those embodied in this booklet as you study His Word. Then pray about what is going on in your life and around you, others you care about, for your nation and for the world. In your Prayer, talk to God like a friend, because He is! And let Him speak to you. Learn to listen to God and recognise His call like Samuel did (1 Samuel 3:4-10) by reading and studying His Word. In this season, we will go through the Bible book by book guided by Psalms or wisdom literature; Pentateuch and history of Israel; Chronicles and Prophets and lastly gospels and Epistles. Thus, we shall study Deuteronomy (Pentateuch); we shall study few chapters from Psalms b DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

3 (Psalms) and Isaiah (Prophets); and 2 Thessalonians, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John 3 John and Jude (Epistles). Please be equipped with a good Bible, preferably NIV, ESV, NKJV or LASB, a pen and note book. If you can, please acquire a good Bible dictionary, Commentary and a concordance. But amidst all these remember that the BIBLE is the critical piece. Let it be known to all that the entire Bible is about God s redemptive plan for mankind. Jesus Christ Himself told His disciples that, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44-ESV). Therefore, as you read the Bible everyday, figure out what the passage teaches about the Person or work of Jesus Christ and apply that teaching to your own life. As you read the Bible, look out for a command to obey, a promise to claim, a rebuke to heed, a sin to repent of and for an opportunity to share with another person. Most importantly, the essence of this publication is to facilitate godly transformation by applying the Word of God in your life. Be expectant to hear your loving Father tenderly give you direction everyday! We thank God who has enabled us to enter and begin a New Year, 2019! We pray that God s blessings and His face may shine upon us, His children. May God s hand be upon us throughout this year and many years to come. May you enjoy time with God in the fellowship of the saints in this year 2019! Amen. Rev. Canon Geoffrey Byarugaba Vicar All Saints Cathedral Kampala BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY c

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5 JANUARY 2019 Bible Verses to start your Day The Fifth Book of Moses Called DEUTERONOMY Deuteronomy was written approximately 1400 B.C. by Moses, just before he died. The people of Israel were in the environs of the border of the Promised Land and about to enter it under the leadership of Joshua. Yahweh had refused to have Moses lead the people into the Promised Land because of a certain earlier disobedience (Num.20:7-13). Forty (40) years earlier, the people of Israel refused to enter the Promised Land. They feared the inhabitants and did not trust that God would fight for them and provide for them. So, God sent them back into the wilderness to wander for 40 years until that faithless generation had died (Num.13-14). Chapters 1-3 are a quick summary of those years. In Deuteronomy, Yahweh is re-covenanting with the new generation. In fact, Deuteronomy means Second Law, a covenant renewal document. At its most basic level, a covenant is a relationship, a gracious relationship of union, based on oath. A covenant also has stipulations (things required and things forbidden), so the bulk of Deuteronomy is about the various requirements that must be obeyed by those in covenant with Yahweh. Included in Deuteronomy is a re-statement of the Ten Commandments (chapter.5 [cf., Ex.20]), and the blessings of obeying the Covenant and the curses for breaking it (chapter,28). Tuesday, 1st January Remembering how the first generation did not trust God to give them the land; Text: Deuteronomy 1:1-46 Why is Moses reminding the new generation of Israel about the failure of the first generation? We all must learn the lessons of history. Paul says, in 1Cor.10:6, that the errors of ancient Israel were intended for our instruction. Moses reminds the people simply because the same error can be made again (vv ). Israel can still fear the people of the land, still not trust that Yahweh will deliver them, and still face condemnation. BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 1

6 In fact, we all forget what God has done for us in the past. It s not forgetfulness of the mind, but of the soul. Every time you sin, you have forgotten and neglected your Saviour. Jesus Christ (God the eternal Son) took on human nature (without sin) and accomplished eternal life for us, He paid the death penalty for our sin, He broke the power of death, He prays for us continuously, and He sent His Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) to dwell within us all this for you! Please, when you are faced with temptation, do what Moses did for his people. Remind yourself of the goodness of God to you, and then live in grateful reverence and obedience. Meditate on verse What is God teaching you in those verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, forgive me for the many times that I have not relied on Your strength but mine. Forgive me for not trusting You fully. Amen. Wednesday, 2nd January God prevented Israel from taking the land of Edom; Text: Deuteronomy 2:1-37 When Yahweh brought Israel to the Promised Land, there were certain territories forbidden to them. One of them was Edom (v.5), another was Moab (v.9) and another was Ammon (v.19). Every territory in the world is owned by God and is given to whomever He desires. But God secludes these three lands, in special way, because they were given to people related to Abraham, and they were not to be taken away (vv.3-6). It does not mean that dwellers therein belonged to the covenant of God s saving grace that was only through Abraham, but because of God s love for Abraham, He did this for His relations. However, neither should we think that they are necessarily condemned. If any of these people trust in the God of Abraham, they will enjoy eternal life with Him. In today s setting Muslims say they descended from Abraham s son Ishmael, but that does not mean they worship the God of Abraham they do not. But if they trust in Jesus Christ and what Christ has accomplished, then they can have eternal life. Let s be very careful to respect all people groups, but also to understand that, like all of us, all of them need the Saviour Jesus Christ. Meditate on verse 4. How are you going to apply it to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, give me diligence and watch myself carefully especially in the midst of my enemies. Amen. 2 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

7 Thursday, 3rd January Yahweh gives victory to Israel over the enemies; Text: Deuteronomy 3:1-29 As Israel was moving through the wilderness they faced King Og of Bashan. Og tried to prevent Israel from moving through his land, enroute to their new homeland. However, Israel was victorious and defeated the enemy (vv.1-4). Moses says it more correctly; Yahweh gave the enemy into Israel s hand. The victory was actually God s work. In this life, we face many enemies that are trying to destroy our souls, trying to keep us away from God and away from our eternal home. But our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, has already defeated the enemies. We cannot be destroyed in battle, Christ has already won the victory, and nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Rom.8:39). However, this does not mean we do nothing. We are still required to take up the weapons of our spiritual warfare (Eph.5:10-18) and fight without ceasing. But the victory is certain because it is not by our strength, it is God s. Meditate on verses 1-4. What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Christ, may You defeat my enemies and grant me access to what You reserved for me. Amen. Friday, 4th January Do not make anything to represent God; Text: Deuteronomy 4:1-49 In the ancient days of Israel different nations worshipped false gods and made images to represent those gods. Those images became part of their worship. Surely, we all know that is wrong. But in our present era it is very common for Christians to make images of the true God and even to include them in worship. There are many books and pictures and movies that have images of Jesus Christ; there are pictures of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove; and there are pictures of the Father as a wise and strong elderly man. But today s passage clearly shows that making such images is wrong. Read verses again, Moses basically says, you did not see Yahweh s form, so do not make an image of Him. Whatever image is made, it is impossible to represent God properly. Therefore, the use of pictures is false worship, which breaks the Second Commandment (Deut.5:8). Even though the Bible uses imagery in words, the Bible provides no pictures. Please, worship the triune God only according to His word and do not go beyond that. Meditate on verses How are you going to apply them to your life? BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 3

8 Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, forgive us as a nation for we have worshiped idols. Cleanse our land. Amen Saturday, 5th January The Ten Commandments; Text: Deuteronomy 5:1-33 It is often thought that a Christian must obey the commandments (vv.6-21) for the purpose of gaining entrance into God s Kingdom. But that is not true. Salvation is only by the gift of God s grace alone. Consider Bible history in Deuteronomy. God delivered Israel from Egypt not because of their obedience but according to His promise of grace. Then after deliverance God brought them to Mt. Sinai, where He gave them the Ten Commandments and all the other laws. The commandments came after deliverance. Our salvation comes first accomplished by Jesus Christ and given to us as a free gift. After salvation, we then obey God s commands as fruit/evidence of salvation, as work of gratitude and love for the gift of salvation. Our obedience comes after salvation, not before it. Do you know what the Ten Commandments are? Most Christians do not. Take time to memorise and understand a brief form of them. They can be summarised by one word Love! Meditate on verses How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me observe Your commandments purely out of love for You. Amen. Sunday, 6th January Teach God s Word to your family; Text: Deuteronomy 6:1-25 In chapter 5 of Deuteronomy we read of Moses giving to Israel the Ten Commandments. Now in chapter 6, we read of another important law; loving God. This is the greatest command. Loving others is the second greatest command (Lev.19:18). Jesus said these two commands of love are the summary of all commands (Matt.22:37-40). God s law is not simply an outward observance, but should flow from the heart, which is the very core of our being (v6). We see in today s passage how all the commands of God are to be the guide/ context of our entire lives, which then makes it possible for us to pass the faith to our children. We are to teach the Word of God in all circumstances, wherever we go, whatever we do, in our thoughts, and in our entire lives (vv.4-4 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

9 9). This is how Jesus Christ trained His disciples, and this is how we are to train our children. The Christian life is not one worship service per week. It is a daily, hour by hour life style, lived from the heart for God, with His Spirit in us. Mediate on verses 4 9. How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me teach Your Word diligently as I honour Your great name. Amen. Monday, 7th January God loves His people because He loves them; Text: Deuteronomy 7:1-26 When we love someone, there is usually a reason for it. Perhaps the other person is intelligent or good or wealthy, etc. Then when that other person does something that does not please us, our love begins to grow cold or die. But that is not how God loves. His ways are not like our ways (Isaiah 55:8). God is perfect and so is His love. God cannot love more or less. God s love cannot change because He cannot change. God loves His people not because they are lovable but because of His promise to love (vv. 6-11). We all are sinners, enemies of God by nature, not worthy of God s love. But He loves us still. The reason is because of Jesus Christ, God the Son. The Father and Son have perfect love for each other. Jesus loved His Father perfectly, obeyed the Father perfectly, including dying for sin. And because God the Holy Spirit has joined us to Christ, we are also loved by God. You also are able to love God, from the heart. Please, live a life of love and obedience to God as gratitude for God s love for you. Meditate on verses What is God teaching you in those verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for loving me. Give me the ability to love You. Amen Tuesday, 8th January God is testing His people by His commands; Text: Deuteronomy 8:1-20 God did great things for His people. First, He promised to be in covenant with the people, joining them to Himself. Then He delivered them from slavery, brought them through the forty (40) years, and is now bringing them into the Promised Land. He has clearly demonstrated His love for them. Now they will prove their gratitude and love for Him by their obedience to His commands. First, they BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 5

10 must not worship, trust, or serve other gods (which are false anyway). Then the people must obey the many laws and commands. Sadly, the people of Israel proved their hearts to be without God. The same is true of us and of all people. But Jesus Christ loved the Father and obeyed Him perfectly. Christ s love and obedience has been accepted by God for us. We are united to Christ and accepted by God. Let us now live as those who are united to Christ. Let us live in grateful obedience to the Word of God. Meditate on verse 3. How are you going to apply it to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me not to live on bread alone but live by every Word that proceeds from You. Amen. Wednesday, 9th January God goes ahead of His people to fight for them; Text: Deuteronomy 9:1-29 As Moses writes Deuteronomy, the people will soon be entering the Promised Land. They are aware that the inhabitants of that land and their cities are powerful. In the passage we read Moses emphasising that Yahweh will go into the land ahead of His people for the purpose of fighting for them (vv.1-3). They belong to Yahweh and nothing can destroy them if God is for them. The battle of Jericho will prove that (Jos.6). There is so much in this world that can destroy us skillful prophets of false religion, giants of worldly pleasure, and difficulties of many kinds that can pull us away from God IF we were fighting with our own strength. But the Lord Jesus Christ has already faced all the enemies, including Satan himself, and Jesus has crushed them all. His victory is given to us, and we cannot be lost. We will enter eternal life with God. In this life we fight, but we know that we are already victorious in Christ. Now live like it! Meditate on verse 3. What encouragement do you get from this verse? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, lead me as a consuming fire and defeat my enemies. Amen. Thursday, 10th January Circumcise your heart; Text: Deuteronomy 10:1-22 The passage we read today gives us instructions on how to love and worship God properly it is to be done from the heart (vv.12-16). Outward acts of love, obedience, and worship are not acceptable to God (you wouldn t accept 6 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

11 it either). Jesus quoted Isaiah when He spoke about the Jewish religious authorities, saying, This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me (Mark.7:6, NKJV); (Isa.29:13). Circumcision was the sign of Yahweh s covenant with Israel. The removal of skin was also a symbol of cleansing, the removal of the sin nature. Most Israelites had the mistaken idea that being from Israel and having the physical act of circumcision made them acceptable to God. But what God desires is spiritual circumcision of the heart, removing sin, and then loving Him with the cleansed heart. Jesus death for our sin penalty is our spiritual circumcision and cleansing. The new covenant sign is baptism, a symbol of spiritual washing. Let us love God with baptised hearts, not just with wet heads. Meditate on verses What is God teaching you in these verses? How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me circumcise my heart so that I will obey You. Amen. Friday, 11th January Do not forsake Yahweh your God; Text: Deuteronomy 11:1-32 In the Promised Land where Yahweh was taking His people, there were many false religions. The worship practices of those religions may have seemed logical and perhaps included certain pleasures. Yahweh was warning the people that they should not go after those other gods. Doing so would bring Yahweh s curses upon them (vv.26-28). We who belong to Christ face the same command today. The worship of Christ Jesus is the only true religion; all other religions are false. But in Uganda it is very easy to combine false beliefs with the truth. The most common way is consulting witchdoctors. Often when a Christian prays to the Lord and the Lord does not give the desired answer, many Christians will enlist the services of a witchdoctor. That is false worship, and in so doing many become the enemies of the only true God. Pray about all your concerns, but whatever God s answer, it is for your good, even if you may not like. Meditate on verse 27. How are you going to apply it to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray I will obey You, out of love and enjoy Your blessings. Amen. BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 7

12 Saturday, 12th January Put away the things that are false and sinful; Text: Deuteronomy 12:1-32 Before the people of Israel entered the land, Moses warned them about the things of false worship. The people of the land would be destroyed, but so must their religious things, like the altars for worshipping false gods (vv. 1-5). If the enemies and their worship things remained, the Israelites would be led away from serving the only true God, Yahweh, to worship idols, which destroy the soul. We must also be careful about the things that lead us away from God. If you once trusted in the witchcraft, and had those things in your home, you need to destroy them (Acts19:19). If you were once part of a religion that used special beads or clothes or statues, etc., then you need to get rid of those things. To worship rightly we must be united to Jesus alone, we are to be clothed with Christ (Gal.3:27; Rev.6:11; 7:14), and worship God only according to His instructions in Scripture (Deut.12:32). Meditate on verses 1 5. How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for leading me to worship You, the only true God. Heal our land of idolatry. Amen Sunday, 13th January Do not listen to the modern prophets, dreamers, or teachers of false religions; Text: Deuteronomy 13:1-18 One of the ways God tested His people was by sending false prophets who would see dreams and do miraculous signs and wonders that would come true (vv.1-5). If the truth of Scripture was not being taught, it didn t matter if dreams came true don t listen. In fact the false prophets were to be executed. Today there are many people who call themselves prophets. They say they do miracles and have dreams that come true. Should we follow them? No! The Bible is complete, nothing else will be added and nothing else is needed. All Scripture is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, He is the foundation (Matt.7:24; 1 Cor.3:11), and His apostles are the final writers of God s revelation (Eph.2:20). Let people do and say whatever they want. You stay with Jesus and the Word of God, the absolute foundation. Meditate on verses 1 5. How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for many who are lost to false teachers. Redeem them. Amen. 8 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

13 Monday, 14th January Tithing; Text: Deuteronomy 14:1-29 The principle of tithing means that ten percent (10%) of a person s earning are given to the Lord through His church. The people of Israel had some special instructions about that because of the uniqueness of their society (vv ). But the purpose of the law was the same. Whatever you earn, give ten percent (10%) to God. We should keep in mind that all of it belongs to God and is given to us by Him. The ten percent (10%) is an act of worship and trust. Today the principle of the tithe continues. The place to start the conversation is by remembering that Jesus gave Himself fully to God, gave Himself to purchase you, and He owns you completely. The ten percent (10%) is the first thing paid, even before taxes and other bills. Then remember, you are to give God your entire self. A good question then is, are we to pay the full ten percent (10%) to the local church, and then other giving is extra -or- is all our giving from the ten percent (10%)? Genuine believers who love the Lord debate that frequently. The answer is, do what you think the Lord wants you to do. So, what do you honestly think the Bible is teaching? Meditate, in verses How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me to tithe and not cheat You. Amen. Tuesday, 15th January The Sabbatical year helps poor brethren; Text: Deuteronomy 15:1-23 The Sabbatical year is the 7 th year of a seven-year cycle. Every 7 th year debts were to be cancelled. This command contributes to the alleviation of poverty (v.4), there shall be no poor among you (ESV). Loaning money to fellow Israelites was not to be for the purpose of getting wealthy, it was to help one another. The land, money, etc. were gifts from God, they were not from being a good businessman. If a man helped the poor, it did not mean the helper would also become poor. God will care for the giver, and He will care for the poor through the generosity of the giver. The Sabbatical year is no longer required, but concern and generosity are. As Jesus did His public ministry, He cared for the poor (John13:29); Paul mentions that he is eager to support the poor (Gal.2:10); and Paul collected offerings from gentile Christians to give to the poor Christians in Jerusalem (Rom.15:26). Let us be eager to help our poor brethren, either with gifts or with loans (without interest). Everything you have is from God, and He will care for you. Meditate on verses 1 5. How are you going to apply them to your life? BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 9

14 Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that I will carefully obey Your voice. Amen. Wednesday, 16th January The annual feast of Passover; Text: Deuteronomy 16:1-46 (cf. Exod.11-12) This feast commemorates when the Israelites were brought out of slavery, when Yahweh moved through Egypt and put to death the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, but not of His people. The families of Israel were instructed to sacrifice a lamb and to put the blood on the door frames of their homes. When God moved through Egypt and saw a house with blood, He passed over that house and killed no one. This feast was celebrated each year, and the people praised Yahweh for what He did for them (vv.1-3). The original Passover and the annual meal were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Once Jesus died on the cross (to pay the sin penalty) and was raised back to life, the Passover celebration was properly ended. Now we have a new covenant meal the Lord s Supper. Whether your church celebrates the supper each week, once per month, or whenever, you are celebrating what Jesus did for you, that God will pass over your sin, and that you are receiving His grace to work in your life. Meditate on verse 3. How are you going to apply it to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed to wash away my sins. Amen. Thursday, 17th January Do not sacrifice an animal with a defect; Text: Deuteronomy 17:1-20 It is true that an animal with a defect is still very valuable to a family it can still work hard, can still be used for trade, and can still provide food. Why can t it be used for a sacrifice? The reason is because of what is being symbolised. Humans are sinners (full of defect), and there is a penalty for that defect. Only a perfect substitute can pay the penalty for a defective person. To offer a defective sacrifice was to mock God and to spit at His gracious gift of a substitute (v.1). Actually, no animal can take away human sin. Those animal sacrifices were just symbols of the perfect work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was perfect (He committed no sin, He had no defect), and so He had no penalty to pay for Himself. Therefore, He was able to take the sin and guilt of sinners and pay their punishment. If you do not trust that Jesus paid your penalty, you will spend eternity paying your penalty, you will be forever apart from the joyful fellowship of God. Please, trust Jesus as your salvation substitute. 10 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

15 Meditate on verse 1. What is God leading you in this verse? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, teach me how to worship You with the right attitude and to honour You with all the good things You have given me. Amen. Friday, 18th January Do not do the things done by the non-christians; Text: Deuteronomy 18:1-22 Again, Yahweh, through Moses, warns His people not to do the horrible things done by those who do not belong to Yahweh. The reason why Yahweh is driving out the people of the land is because of their great sins, and Israel should not commit those sins, or Yahweh will destroy them also (vv.9-14). One of the sins mentioned is the sacrificing of children to the idols and false gods. Children are created in God s image, given as a gift and a responsibility to parents, and are members of God s covenant. This problem of sacrificing children still exists today, which we call abortion. Children are killed while still in the mother s womb. They are being sacrificed because of fears, because of careers, because of sexual freedom without responsibility, etc. But the Lord Jesus brought children to Himself and blessed them (Matt.19:14) and taught us that we must be like them, if we want to enter the Kingdom of God. Children are precious, and we must treasure them. Please don t have an abortion and help stop others from trying to have them. Be kind and gentle with those ladies and help them find a good solution for life. Meditate on verse How are you going to apply them to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Make me blameless through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Amen. Saturday, 19th January The cities of refuge; Text: Deuteronomy 19:1-21 The cities of refuge (Levite cities) were introduced to us in the book of Numbers, chapter 35. You should read those details. There were six (6) of these cities, three (3) on the west side of the Jordan river and three (3) on the east side. If a person killed someone accidentally, that person could flee to one of these cities and live there and be safe from someone seeking revenge (vv.1-3). This is a gracious provision of God that is a picture of God s grace to us in Jesus Christ. When we flee to Jesus, even though we are guilty, we are protected from God s judgment against our sin. Jesus already paid our penalty, so if we are in Him, God will not punish us a second time. We are safe. Please, if you do BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 11

16 not know whether you are safe from God s condemnation, receive what Jesus did for you; trust that He died to pay your punishment. If you trust Jesus, you will be accepted by God. Flee to Jesus, who is the eternal city of refuge. Meditate on verse 3. How are you going to apply it to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, for He is my strong Rock, my refuge. Amen. Sunday, 20th January Yahweh fights your battles; Text: Deuteronomy 20:1-20 When Israel was about to enter the Promised Land they were reminded that there would be warfare against the inhabitants. Those enemies were strong and they had powerful weapons. But Israel must not fear, because God is on their side (vv.1-4). Yahweh destroyed Egypt when Israel had no weapons and did no fighting. Even though they would now be fighting, it is still Yahweh who brings the victory. The ultimate purpose of these kinds of accounts is to point to spiritual realities. There are many things seeking to destroy us, enemies trying to destroy our souls. But do not fear. Your salvation is not dependent upon what you do. Jesus has already gone before you and accomplished the eternal victory by His life, death, and resurrection. The Holy Spirit unites you to Christ s accomplishments. Do not fear, and do not trust yourself. Though you must fight, and though the fight will be difficult, Jesus has already won. You cannot lose, you cannot be lost. Now stand firm against the enemy. Meditate on verse 1. How are you going to apply it to your life? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, forgive me for the many times I have feared my enemies. I choose to rely on You for You have power to save. Amen. Monday, 21st January Response to a rebellious son; Text: Deuteronomy 21:1-23 Often a child is rebellious because the parents do not exercise proper discipline. But sometimes a child s nature is stubborn and rebellious beyond anything a parent can correct. In those cases, the entire community is called to act. In our passage for today, the age of the son is not stated, but he most likely is in his early adulthood and living in his parent s home. The consequence is execution by the men of the community. If the son is allowed to continue in his rebellion, it will influence others (v. 21). 12 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

17 We all, men and women, by nature, are rebellious towards God, and we all deserve to be executed. That is what God promised Adam, if Adam rebelled (Gen.2:17). Rebellion is rejection of God and serving self as authority. Jesus Christ came into our existence and lived as a perfect Son. After He fulfilled all righteousness, He took our death penalty. If you trust that Jesus did that for you, then you will be received by God as His child, and you will have God the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, conforming you into the image of Christ! Meditate on verse 21. What is God teaching you in this verse? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for many parents to be available to discipline their children. I pray for stubborn children to repent. Amen. Tuesday, 22nd January 2019.The sin of adultery and the punishment; Text: Deuteronomy 22:1-30 We live in an era of sexual freedom where the world says people are free to engage in any sexual fantasy their minds conjure up. For many people our passage today will seem very harsh and unrealistic (vv.22-24). That s because sex is not rightly understood. When God created man, he took one of Adam s ribs and made a woman. He brought her to Adam, and the two became one flesh by marriage. Though they look like two, they are actually one. Marriage reflects something of the image of God three separate Persons yet one God, one Being, one Substance. Any sexual activity outside of marriage is an attack against the image of God. That is serious. Perhaps you never committed adultery. Give thanks to God that He has kept you from it. But do not think you are safe from condemnation. Jesus said adultery is a matter of the heart (lust, pornography, voyeurism, etc.), and so breaks the Seventh Commandment (Matt.5:28). Thus, we all are adulterers. But do not fear, Jesus was pure, and He paid the death penalty for your adultery. Trust Him for your Salvation, and you will not face eternal damnation. Meditate on verse What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that You kill the spirit of lust and adultery in families. Amen. Wednesday, 23rd January Not everyone may be part of God s people; Text: Deuteronomy 23:1-25 In this passage one might be disturbed that God did not allow certain persons to be a part of His nation (vv.1-3). As you read the Scriptures before Christ, you BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 13

18 should have in mind that it was a small picture of the eternal Kingdom of Christ. God is perfectly pure, and no one who is impure can be with Him. That is why Adam was sent away from God s blessed fellowship. At the same time, remember that God s people always included non-jews: Rahab from Jericho, Ruth from Moab, and many others. And after Jesus resurrection, His Church includes persons all over the world, from every tribe, language, nation, and people. All believers equally are members of Christ s body. Meditate on verses 1 3. What is God teaching you these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for choosing me to be one of Your children, part of Your chosen nation. Amen. Thursday, 24th January God is Lord over all of life; Text: Deuteronomy 24:1-22 If you will take a quick look at the entire chapter 24, you will notice that there is quite a variety of laws (vv.5-9). In fact, these laws are not even about religious things, like worship, priests, etc. The laws found in this chapter are about many different parts of life generally, not just about religion. That s because God is the Lord and Master over all of life. God is the Creator of everything, Sustainer of everything, and so He is the Lord over everything, not just of religious things. Israel is a small picture of the eternal Kingdom of God, where God is Lord over all. So it is for us today, even though we are not part of a different era. In Acts 17:28 Apostle Paul says, in God we live and move and have our existence.the apostle also teaches, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are to do all things for the glory of God (1Cor.10:31). Jesus is the Creator of everything (Col.1:16), the Sustainer of everything (Col.1:17), so Jesus is the Lord over everything. Whatever you do, you are to do it with the awareness that you are under the Lordship of Christ. Meditate on verses 5 9. What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ thank You for being God the creator of everything. You alone are Lord of all. Amen. Friday, 25th January The enemies of God will be destroyed; Text: Deuteronomy 25:1-19 As with many passages in the Scriptures before Christ, the one for today seems very cruel (vv.17-19). But we must remember that the geographical nation Israel of long ago (not today) used to be a picture of the eternal Kingdom of 14 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

19 God. There will not be enemies in His Kingdom. But we are not at that day just yet. In our present existence we deal with our enemies differently. Jesus said, Love your enemies so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven (Matt.5:44-45-ESV). All of us were at one time enemies of God, but by His grace, through the message of Christ, He made us His children by uniting us to Christ. We are now called to tell others that same message. In a day yet to come, when God declares His final judgment, there will be no enemies of God or of His people. They will be cast away, and we will live in peace with the Lord forever. Meditate on verses What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that You destroy the means of causing harm to Your Church. Amen. Saturday, 26th January You are God s treasure; Text: Deuteronomy 26:1-19 In the passage for today we read again the importance of obeying God from the heart (v.16). At one level it s easy to do God s commands, but you might hate doing them. God wants you to obey Him, to love Him from the heart. A worker does things for the boss because it s his job, but he does things for his wife out of love. Our relationship with God is a love relationship, and He wants you to obey from the heart. And here is a wonderful motivation for you to love God: If you belong to Jesus, then you are God s special treasure (v.18). What do you have as a treasure? jewelry, diploma, photos, what? Whatever it is, it s very special to you. You are God s treasure! you are His special possession. God treasures you so much that He even gave His eternal Son, Jesus, to die in your place. Does that move you to love God from your heart? Pray for grace to love and obey God with all your heart. Meditate on verses What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me to love and obey You from my heart. Amen. Sunday, 27th January Establishing/Renewing the Covenant of Yahweh with His people; Text: Deuteronomy 27:1-26 Moses now tells the people that they will write the Laws on large stones, written in plaster, to be located in the midst of the territory (vv.1-8). This symbolized BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 15

20 the permanence of Yahweh s Law. Then an altar was set up, upon which were two types of sacrifices. The first was a burnt offering, symbolising that the sin of the people was removed, and their penalty paid (Lev.1:3-4). The implication here is that the Law was expected to be broken, but God was providing the way of forgiveness and reconciliation. The second offering was the peace offering, indicating that animosity between God and the people, caused by sin, was no more. Jesus Christ obeyed God s Law perfectly for His people. Then, upon the altar of the cross, Jesus was our burnt offering, He paid our death penalty for our Law-breaking. We are now at peace with God. Because of God s mercy to us, we now offer our very own selves to Him as living sacrifices, offering sacrifices of praise (Rom.12:1; Heb.13:15). Meditate on verse 1 8. What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me always to observe and obey Your commandments. Amen. Monday, 28th January Covenant blessings and curses; Text: Deuteronomy 28:1-68 The passage to be read today is quite long, so take a quick look at it. When the Laws of the Covenant are obeyed, God will pour out rich blessings. If the Covenant Laws are broken, God will likewise pour out curses. The first part, the blessings for obedience, are found in verses 1-14, and the curses for disobedience are in, v Please note, 14 verses pertaining to obedience and blessing, and 54 verses regarding disobedience and curses. The implication/ warning is clear. Failure to obey Yahweh s Covenant is deadly serious. Now consider your own life. You, Christian, have broken God s Laws daily, and you deserve curses. But let s consider again (as we always should) the great mercy and grace of God in Christ. Jesus obeyed the Covenant perfectly for His people, because we are not able, and He is set high above all nations (v.1). He then paid our punishment for our Covenant breaking. This does not give you permission to sin. Actually, you should desire to give God your life in obedience. You will not do it very well, but it is your new desire, and you will improve, because God, the Holy Spirit, dwells within you. Thanks be to God. Meditate on verses What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for the blessing that You have 16 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

21 given me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Tuesday, 29th January How God does covenant; Text: Deuteronomy 29:1-29 The previous generation would not trust God and His promises, they broke the Covenant. Now God is renewing the Covenant with the new generation, those who are about to enter the land of promise. Included in the Covenant are the children, as well as the adults. Then when they cross the River Jordan, all the males will receive circumcision (Jos.5:2-7), the sign of the Covenant. There is a very popular idea among Christians that the sign of the Covenant, baptism, should only be given to those who confess sin and put their faith in Jesus. But God has not changed the way he does covenant. He has always included the children of believers (Gen.17:1-14; Act.2:38-39). Jesus brought the children close to Himself and blessed them (Luk.18:15-17). When you have children, present them to your elders for baptism. Mark them as belonging to the Covenant God and the Covenant community. Teach them to know the Covenant Scriptures and to trust, love, and obey the Covenant Saviour. Meditate on verses What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for the truth You have taught me through Your Word. Amen. Wednesday, 30th January God s Word is in the hearts of His people; Text: Deuteronomy 30:1-29 One of the consequences of continuing in sin is being cast away from God s fellowship. But when His people realise how far they have gone, Moses encourages them to return to Yahweh, and He will bring them back into His blessed presence. Those who belong to Him have His Word in their hearts, and they can cry out for reconciliation, and He will answer. Before we come to Jesus Christ for salvation, we are like Israel long ago, wandering, exiled in the world (v1). But the Holy Spirit comes to us, dwells within us, unites us to Jesus, thus giving us new life. And if you find yourself continuing in sin, and you sense you are drifting from the Lord, cry out for help, and He will deliver you. It s a painful process, but you will always be grateful. Meditate, on verses What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, thank You for Your Word which is in my heart and my mouth. Amen. BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 17

22 Thursday, 31st January Yahweh has chosen Moses successor; Text: Deuteronomy 31:1-30 Moses has been leading the people of Israel for about forty (40) years, and now he is about to die (vv.1-3). But God has chosen the person who will be the leader when Moses is gone, Joshua, son of Nun. He has been Moses general since the time of the exodus (Ex.17:10). Humans have been created by God to need leadership. Though God is ultimately our leader, He has designed us to have other humans to lead. There are three quick lessons to pick from this. 1- Jesus is our Joshua. In fact, in the Hebrew language, Jesus would have been called Joshua. Jesus is the One who leads us into the Promised Land, eternal life on the new earth. 2- if you are a leader in the church, train someone who can continue when you retire. 3- if you sense that God is calling you to leadership, look for a leader who is willing to mentor you. Whether you are a mentor or a disciple, choose carefully, as Jesus chose His twelve (12) disciples carefully, after a night in prayer (Luk.6:12-13). Meditate on verse 3. What is God teaching you in this verse? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, lead me always. Let my steps be guided by the Holy Spirit. Amen. 18 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

23 FEBUARY 2019 Bible Verses to start your Day The Book of Deuteronomy continues Friday, 1st February The song of Moses; Text: Deuteronomy 32:1-52 Very soon Moses will die, and one of the last things he does is write a song and recite it to the people. What we will notice is Yahweh s new name The Rock! Moses does not say God is like a rock but God is the Rock. God is fixed, He cannot be moved, He will not change, He is completely trustworthy, and we can be absolutely secure with nothing to fear. Many times in Scripture the Lord is called the Rock. Isaiah says of God, LORD God is an everlasting Rock (Isa.26:4 - ESV). Jesus spoke that same way about His own teachings (Matt.7:24, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount). Jesus Christ is indeed the Rock eternal. When the storms of the world attack, Satan s attacks, and even the attacks from your own remaining corruption, stay fixed on Christ and you will be safe. And when the storm of God s judgment day comes, you cannot be shaken, you will not fall. Jesus lived righteousness for you and paid your death penalty. You are safe in Jesus the Rock. Meditate on verses 1 4. What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, Your ways are just, You are God of truth and without injustice, righteous and upright You are! Amen. Saturday, 2nd February Moses speaks blessings upon the tribes of Israel; Text: Deuteronomy 33:1-29 Moses final duty as the prophet of God for the people is to speak words of blessing upon the nation (vv.1-5). Moses begins by reminding the people that Yahweh is their deliverer (v.3a), He gave them His covenant law (v.3b) and thus Yahweh is their King (v.5). He is the One who made Israel into a nation. The same is true of Christ s Church. Although we who belong to His Kingdom BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 19

24 are scattered all over the world, we are all His nation. Jesus tells the disciples, I will build My Church. And when Jesus left this earth, He raised His arms and blessed His sons, the disciples (Luk.24:50). We are Christ s people, His nation. His blessings of grace are upon us and in us. One day, we all will be gathered around the throne as the true eternal Israel, gathered from every tribe and language and people, worshipping Him forever (Rev.7:3-12). Meditate on verse 3. What is God teaching you in this verse? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, may You bless our nation, may You bring love and reconciliation in our communities to the glory of Your name. Amen. Sunday, 3rd February Moses, the servant of Yahweh, died; Text: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Moses led the people of Israel for forty (40) years and his life is now finished (vv.1-5). Because of his sin (Numb.20:10-13) Moses was not permitted to bring the people into the Promised Land. But God is not restricted. He had been preparing Joshua for that task. The people were not sure of Joshua, so God would make the people trust Joshua the same way they trusted Moses (Jos.3:7; 4:14). We who belong to Christ are moving through the wilderness of this present existence on our way to the Promised eternal life with God. But we do not need to fear that we will not be brought in, brought to the edge then abandoned, or entrusted into the care of someone unknown to us. Jesus Christ led a sinless life, He conquered death, and He has already gone ahead and prepared a place for us (John14:2-3). He cannot fail to bring us to Himself, and we will glorify His name forever (Isa.45:23; Rom.14:11). Meditate on verses 1 5. What is God teaching you in these verses? Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for Your unchanging character, I pray that You give us leaders of integrity, leaders after Your own heart. Amen The Book of PSALMS The name Psalms means songs. It comes from Greek word, Psalmoi. The author of psalms is God Himself. God composed the psalms through more than seven people. King David composed at least seventy three (73) of the one hundred fifty (150) psalms; the sons of Korah accounted for ten (10) and Asaph composed 12; Solomon 2; Moses 2; Ethan 2. The composers 20 DAYBREAK WITH BIBLE READING

25 of the remaining 50 psalms remain anonymous much as Ezra is considered to have written some. It took about 900 years to have all the psalms composed. The Book of psalms is the largest book in the Bible and most quoted Old Testament Book in the New Testament. Psalm 117 represents the middle chapter (out of 1,189) in the Bible. Psalm 119 is the largest chapter in the whole Bible. We have been studying the book of Psalms since the Apr-Jun 2018 DayBreak issue. We have since then shared Psalm 1-21(DayBreak Apr-June 2018), Psalm (DayBreak Jul-Sep 2018) and Psalm 42-72(DayBreak Oct-Dec 2018). We shall now continue with Psalms in this issue. Please refer to the above series to follow the progress of the word through the book of Psalms Monday, 4th February The wicked will perish but those who trust God will be blessed; Text: Psalm 73:1-28 Many times you are attempted to admire the wealth of others, even of those who are wicked, for they seem to enjoy life (vv. 1-16). The lives of the wicked may seem to be at ease as they enjoy the increase of their wealth (v. 12). However, this changes the moment you seek the Lord for understanding. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end, verse 17 (NKJV). In the sanctuary of God you consult Scriptures as you pray to God, the truth is revealed; the wicked people should be pitied and not envied! The prosperity and happiness of the wicked is short and uncertain, it is indeed slippery ground (v.18). Their destruction is imminent, certain, sudden and great. It is therefore good for you to draw near to God and trust Him instead of comparing yourself to the wicked (v. 28). Meditate on verse 17. How are you going to apply it to your life? My heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, help me always to be in Your sanctuary to worship You and consult Scriptures on how to behave especially when in distress. I choose to trust in You always. Amen. Tuesday, 5th February Seek relief and reconciliation from God; Text: Psalm 74:1-23 God punished the children of Israel because of their persistence in sin: He punished them inspite of their being a special tribe of His inheritance. In the same way, you as a child of God, through acceptance and believing in Jesus Christ, always live a repentant life. Remember you were purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, you are now redeemed and indeed God s BIBLE VERSES TO START YOUR DAY 21