Daily Bible reading and prayer, Saturday, December 2, 2023
1 Corinthians 12-14 (chronological); Ezekiel 47-48, 1 John 1 (OT/NT)
A overview of our yearly Bible reading plan, with all edited summaries so far, can be found here.
We are reading 1 Corinthians for the second time this year. It was written during Paul’s third missionary journey, during Paul’s extended time in Ephesus, addressing sin he is aware of in the Corinthian church.
I have recently updated the summary of the book of Acts, which is relevant for context for all of these readings.
Saturday, December 2, 2023 chronological reading: 1 Corinthians 12-14
Saturday, December 2, 2023 OT/NT readings: Ezekiel 47-48, 1 John 1
Today, we finish Ezekiel for the second time this year. I still haven’t gotten it outlined. My goal was to outline all the books of the Bible this year. I am on track to do that for the remaining books of the New Testament (1-3 John, Jude, Revelation). I still need to outline Esther and Ezekiel, and I need to clean up my outline of the era of the kings of Judah and the kings of Israel. No small tasks, but we’ll see what I can get accomplished before the year ends. I wanted to stay ahead of the readings this year. That was too ambitious. However, I will be able to edit all my work from this year to be ahead of next year’s readings.
We finished 2 Peter yesterday. 1 Peter was a commentary on suffering, that our character, demeanor, and action in the face of it matters for our own souls, for the example it sets for others, and for the glory of God. 2 Peter is a letter of goodbye, warning us to be steadfast in Truth while we await the sure and promised return of our Lord.
Peter establishes himself as an eyewitness of Jesus’ ministry and of God the Father’s declaration from heaven about him, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.” He tells us to, “ remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.” He warns of the coming false prophets, false teachers, and mockers before the return of the Lord: “knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We start 1 John today. Peter and James and John were with Jesus on the mountain when He was transfigured. James was martyred by Herod, but Peter and John went on to write letters referring to their authority as eyewitnesses.
1 John 1
v1-4 “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father,and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
v5-10 “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
Dear Lord,
All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
Through You, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul taught clearly on spiritual gifts. Like all things in Scripture, help us to submit to the teaching, even if we don’t like it.
what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also
We just learned this in 2 Peter: remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. Your Scripture, inspired by the Holy Spirit, taught to men by You, is our authority. Help us to settle this in our minds so that we are not deceived and not led astray.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.