May each quote pique your interest and help you to draw near to God. The Bible, James 4:8, tells us if we do so God will draw near to us.
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Sunday, January 5, 2020
“There are various [Bible reading] guides that keep you on track. Utilize them. No matter which one you use, keep in mind where it all begins—the fear of the Lord. Scripture immerses you in the wisdom of the Lord. That prompts healthy fear. You are not mastering the Lord. Instead, fear teaches you to submit to Him. He is God; you are not. What do you learn from submissive fear? The Lord is good. His wisdom is found in human flesh, born of a virgin, serving the least, nailed to a cross, resurrected from the dead. True fear sees such wisdom and knows that it is not what we do. It is what He alone does for us.”
(Golden, 37)
Read Psalm 111:10
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Sunday, January 12, 2020
“The positive side of this commandment is that we fear, love, and trust in God. ‘To fear God’ means to be afraid of the just wrath of God upon disobedience, but especially does it mean to have a respect and an awe for Him, to revere, esteem, and honor Him, and to obey His will.”
(Koehler, 58)
Note: Koehler is teaching from the First Commandment, which states, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3).
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Sunday, January 19, 2020
“The promise of the Gospel is that Christ, through His Word, makes us new—and with newness in Christ comes definite improvement. When we are baptized into Christ, we go from death and damnation to life and salvation (Romans 6:4). That seems like a monumental improvement. When the Spirit indwells us, working in us and on us, we go from rebellion and wickedness to obedience and sanctification (Galatians 5:16-17). That’s pretty impressive as well. When God’s Word is preached to us, we are moved from darkness and depravity to light and revelation (Romans 1:21-23, 3:21-24). That, too, is nothing short of spectacular.”
(McIntosh, 62)
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17 Read Romans 6:4 Read Galatians 5:16-17 Read Romans 1:21-23, 3:21-24
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Sunday, January 26, 2020
“Do not tell me that this or that man is a runaway slave, or a robber of thief, or laden with countless faults, or that he is a beggar and outcast, or of low value and worthy of no account. Instead, consider that for his sake Christ died. This suffices you a basis for concern. Consider what sort of person he must be, whom Christ valued at such a high price as not to have spared even his own blood.”
(Murray, 26)
Note: Murray is the compiler; this quote is from John Chrysostom, Homily on Humanity, 5.
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Sunday, February 2, 2020
“The Prophet accordingly applies many kinds of names to the Word of God. He calls it a fine, pleasant, green pasture; fresh water; the path of righteousness; a rod; a staff; a table; balm, or the oil of gladness (Ps. 45:7); and a cup that is filled to overflowing. This he does quite appropriately, for the power of God is also of many kinds.”
(Luther, Works, Vol. 12, 148)
Note: Martin Luther is teaching from Psalm 23 where he describes David as giving thanks and praise to God for the preaching of the Word, as does “every other Christian heart" (147).
Read Psalm 23 Read Psalm 45:7
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Sunday, February 9, 2020
“By repenting we admit our spiritual bankruptcy and turn to God as beggars to ask for His mercy and grace. Our repentance is not just an initial act or occasional event in our journey with Christ; it is a daily event, a lifelong process. Our whole life is a process of conversion from ourselves to God, a dying to self that is complete only when we die.”
(Kleinig, 34)
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Sunday, February 16, 2020
“For especially in these last times it is no less needful to admonish men to Christian discipline [to the way of living aright and godly] and good works, and remind them how necessary it is that they exercise themselves in good works as a declaration of their faith [Matthew 5:16] and gratitude to God [Hebrews 13:15 – 16], than that the works be not mingled in the article of justification; because men may be damned by an Epicurean delusion concerning faith, as well as by papistic and Pharisaic confidence in their own works and merits.”
(McCain, 484)
Read Matthew 5:16 Read Hebrews 13:15-16 Read this from the Book of Concord online
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Sunday, February 23, 2020
“THE WORD Lent has its origin in the same root as one of the German words for ‘spring,’ Lenz. As nature awakens from the death of winter, so the Christian finds newness of life in Christ, rising from sin's death.”
(Engelbrecht, 147)
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Sunday, March 1, 2020
“Because of His resurrection, because Jesus refused to stay dead but rose on the third day, your Jesus won’t let you stay dead either. When our last hour comes, we will rest in the grave, our souls carried by the angels into heaven, but this will be only for a little while. Soon Jesus’ voice will ring out over the world and call us all from the grave. That voice will be the fulfillment of all our hopes and prayers. On that great Last Day, the Lord will have us with Him in life, beyond the reach of sin and trouble and tears, beyond the reach of death and the grave.”
(Wolfmueller, 241)
Read two verses about the Resurrection: John 11:25-26; Luke 24:6-7
Read two verses about the angels: Luke 16:22; Matthew 24:31
Note: in Luke 16:22 Abraham was in heaven
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Sunday, March 8, 2020
“Those whom the Servant has redeemed with his suffering and death will be his eternal portion and inheritance. The Servant claims us by his work; we, as believers, are his. Isaiah repeats the reason once again: The Servant poured out his life in death and was counted with sinners. Jesus, as the Great High Priest, sacrificed himself for the sins of his people and still intercedes for them before the throne of grace.”
(Braun, 236-37)
Note: Braun is teaching from Isaiah 53:12
Read Isaiah 53
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Sunday, March 15, 2020
“The season of Lent reminds us of our need for Jesus as our Savior and of the cost of our salvation. Lent is a time to put down our phones and reflect on this sacrifice. It is a quite time of service in gratitude for the gift of righteousness. When we struggle with sin, we are reminded that God has a plan to help us with that struggle. He gives us His law as our guide, and sends His Spirit to work His will in our lives.”
(Portals of Prayer, No. 446, March 7)
Read Psalm 2:11 Read Matthew 4:8-11 Read Psalm 26
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Sunday, March 22, 2020
“Jesus dies as the tears of His loved ones fell, and He rose, causing tears of joy for believers throughout the ages. When He comes back, He’d rid the world of all sorrow and grief. And Jesus will wipe away every tear of our eyes.”
(Clark, 29)
Read Psalm 6
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