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Home » Bible Reading Plan for 2023
2023 Bible Reading Plan

Bible Reading Plan for 2023

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This downloadable reading plan will guide you through the entire Bible in one year.

JanuaryFebruaryMarch
Day 1:Genesis 1 – 4 Leviticus 14 – 15Deuteronomy 26 – 27
Day 2:Genesis 5 – 8Leviticus 16 – 18Deuteronomy 28 – 29
Day 3:Genesis 9 – 12Leviticus 19 – 21Deuteronomy 30 – 32
Day 4:Genesis 13 – 17Leviticus 22 – 23Deuteronomy 33 – 34
Day 5:Genesis 18 – 20Leviticus 24 – 25Joshua 1 – 4
Day 6:Genesis 21 – 23Leviticus 26 – 27Joshua 5 – 7
Day 7:Genesis 24 – 25Numbers 1 – 2Joshua 8 – 10
Day 8:Genesis 26 – 28Numbers 3 – 4Joshua 11 – 13
Day 9:Genesis 29 – 31Numbers 5 – 6Joshua 14 – 17
Day 10:Genesis 32 – 35Numbers 7Joshua 18 – 20
Day 11:Genesis 36 – 38Numbers 8 – 10Joshua 21 – 22
Day 12:Genesis 39 – 41Numbers 11 – 13Joshua 23 – 24
Day 13:Genesis 42 – 43Numbers 14 – 15Judges 1 – 3
Day 14:Genesis 44 – 46Numbers 16 – 18Judges 4 – 5
Day 15:Genesis 47 – 50Numbers 19 – 21Judges 6 – 8
Day 16:Exodus 1 – 4Numbers 22 – 24Judges 9 – 10
Day 17:Exodus 5 – 7Numbers 25 – 26Judges 11 – 13
Day 18:Exodus 8 – 10Numbers 27 – 29Judges 14 – 16
Day 19:Exodus 11 – 13Numbers 30 – 32Judges 17 – 19
Day 20:Exodus 14 – 16Numbers 33 – 36Judges 20 – 21
Day 21:Exodus 17 – 20Deuteronomy 1 – 2Ruth 1 – 4
Day 22:Exodus 21 – 23Deuteronomy 3 – 41 Samuel 1 – 3
Day 23:Exodus 24 – 27Deuteronomy 5 – 81 Samuel 4 – 7
Day 24:Exodus 28 – 30Deuteronomy 9 – 111 Samuel 8 – 12
Day 25:Exodus 31 – 34Deuteronomy 12 – 151 Samuel 13 – 14
Day 26:Exodus 35 – 37Deuteronomy 16 – 191 Samuel 15 – 16
Day 27:Exodus 38 – 40Deuteronomy 20 – 221 Samuel 17 – 18
Day 28:Leviticus 1 – 4Deuteronomy 23 – 251 Samuel 19 – 21
Day 29:Leviticus 5 – 71 Samuel 22 – 24
Day 30:Leviticus 8 – 101 Samuel 25 – 27
Day 31:Leviticus 11 – 131 Samuel 28 – 31
AprilMayJune
Day 1:2 Samuel 1 – 31 Chronicles 7 – 9Job 21 – 24
Day 2:2 Samuel 4 – 71 Chronicles 10 – 12Job 25 – 30
Day 3:2 Samuel 8 – 111 Chronicles 13 – 16Job 31 – 34
Day 4:2 Samuel 12 – 131 Chronicles 17 – 19Job 35 – 38
Day 5:2 Samuel 14 – 161 Chronicles 20 – 23Job 39 – 42
Day 6:2 Samuel 17 – 191 Chronicles 24 – 26Psalms 1 – 8
Day 7:2 Samuel 20 – 221 Chronicles 27 – 29Psalms 9 – 17
Day 8:2 Samuel 23 – 242 Chronicles 1 – 4Psalms 18 – 21
Day 9:1 Kings 1 – 22 Chronicles 5 – 7Psalms 22 – 27
Day 10:1 Kings 3 – 52 Chronicles 8 – 11Psalms 28 – 33
Day 11:1 Kings 6 – 72 Chronicles 12 – 16Psalms 34 – 37
Day 12:1 Kings 8 – 92 Chronicles 17 – 20Psalms 38 – 42
Day 13:1 Kings 10 – 122 Chronicles 21 – 24Psalms 43 – 49
Day 14:1 Kings 13 – 152 Chronicles 25 – 28Psalms 50 – 55
Day 15:1 Kings 16 – 182 Chronicles 29 – 31Psalms 56 – 61
Day 16:1 Kings 19 – 202 Chronicles 32 – 34Psalms 62 – 68
Day 17:1 Kings 21 – 222 Chronicles 35 – 36Psalms 69 – 72
Day 18:2 Kings 1 – 3Ezra 1 – 4Psalms 73 – 77
Day 19:2 Kings 4 – 5Ezra 5 – 7Psalms 78 – 80
Day 20:2 Kings 6 – 8Ezra 8 – 10Psalms 81 – 88
Day 21:2 Kings 9 – 10Nehemiah 1 – 3Psalms 89 – 94
Day 22:2 Kings 11 – 13Nehemiah 4 – 7Psalms 95 – 103
Day 23:2 Kings 14 – 16Nehemiah 8 – 10Psalms 104 – 106
Day 24:2 Kings 17 – 18Nehemiah 11 – 13Psalms 107 – 111
Day 25:2 Kings 19 – 21Esther 1 – 5Psalms 112 – 118
Day 26:2 Kings 22 – 23Esther 6 – 10Psalm 119
Day 27:2 Kings 24 – 25Job 1 – 4Psalms 120 – 133
Day 28:1 Chronicles 1 – 2Job 5 – 8Psalms 134 – 140
Day 29:1 Chronicles 3 – 4Job 9 – 12Psalms 141 – 150
Day 30:1 Chronicles 5 – 6Job 13 – 16Proverbs 1 – 3
Day 31:Job 17 – 20
JulyAugustSeptember
Day 1:Proverbs 4 – 7 Isaiah 60 – 63Ezekiel 25 – 27
Day 2:Proverbs 8 – 11 Isaiah 64 – 66Ezekiel 28 – 30
Day 3:Proverbs 12 – 14Jeremiah 1 – 3Ezekiel 31 – 32
Day 4:Proverbs 15 – 17Jeremiah 4 – 5Ezekiel 33 – 35
Day 5:Proverbs 18 – 20Jeremiah 6 – 8Ezekiel 36 – 38
Day 6:Proverbs 21 – 23Jeremiah 9 – 11Ezekiel 39 – 40
Day 7:Proverbs 24 – 26Jeremiah 12 – 14Ezekiel 41 – 43
Day 8:Proverbs 27 – 29Jeremiah 15 – 17Ezekiel 44 – 46
Day 9:Proverbs 30 – 31Jeremiah 18 – 21Ezekiel 47 – 48
Day 10:Ecclesiastes 1 – 4Jeremiah 22 – 24Daniel 1 – 3
Day 11:Ecclesiastes 5 – 8Jeremiah 25 – 27Daniel 4 – 5
Day 12:Ecclesiastes 9 – 12Jeremiah 28 – 30Daniel 6 – 8
Day 13:Song of Solomon 1 – 4Jeremiah 31 – 32Daniel 9 – 12
Day 14:Song of Solomon 5 – 8Jeremiah 33 – 36Hosea 1 – 4
Day 15:Isaiah 1 – 3Jeremiah 37 – 39Hosea 5 – 9
Day 16:Isaiah 4 – 8Jeremiah 40 – 43Hosea 10 – 14
Day 17:Isaiah 9 – 11Jeremiah 44 – 46Joel 1 – 3
Day 18:Isaiah 12 – 14Jeremiah 47 – 48Amos 1 – 4
Day 19:Isaiah 15 – 19Jeremiah 49Amos 5 – 9
Day 20:Isaiah 20 – 24Jeremiah 50Obadiah 1
Day 21:Isaiah 25 – 28Jeremiah 51 – 52Jonah 1 – 4
Day 22:Isaiah 29 – 31Lamentations 1 – 2Micah 1 – 4
Day 23:Isaiah 32 – 34Lamentations 3 – 5Micah 5 – 7
Day 24:Isaiah 35 – 37Ezekiel 1 – 4Nahum 1 – 3
Day 25:Isaiah 38 – 40Ezekiel 5 – 8Habakkuk 1 – 3
Day 26:Isaiah 41 – 43Ezekiel 9 – 12Zephaniah 1 – 3
Day 27:Isaiah 44 – 46Ezekiel 13 – 15Haggai 1 – 2
Day 28:Isaiah 47 – 49Ezekiel 16 – 17Zechariah 1 – 5
Day 29:Isaiah 50 – 52Ezekiel 18 – 20Zechariah 6 – 10
Day 30:Isaiah 53 – 56Ezekiel 21 – 22Zechariah 11 – 14
Day 31:Isaiah 57 – 59Ezekiel 23 – 24
OctoberNovemberDecember
Day 1:Malachi 1 – 4John 1 – 21 Corinthians 10 – 13
Day 2:Matthew 1 – 4 John 3 – 41 Corinthians 14 – 16
Day 3:Matthew 5 – 6John 5 – 62 Corinthians 1 – 4
Day 4:Matthew 7 – 9John 7 – 82 Corinthians 5 – 9
Day 5:Matthew 10 – 11John 9 – 102 Corinthians 10 – 13
Day 6:Matthew 12 – 13John 11 – 12Galatians 1 – 3
Day 7:Matthew 14 – 17John 13 – 15Galatians 4 – 6
Day 8:Matthew 18 – 20John 16 – 17Ephesians 1 – 3
Day 9:Matthew 21 – 22John 18 – 19Ephesians 4 – 6
Day 10:Matthew 23 – 24John 20 – 21Philippians 1 – 4
Day 11:Matthew 25 – 26Acts 1 – 3Colossians 1 – 4
Day 12:Matthew 27 – 28Acts 4 – 51 Thessalonians 1 – 5
Day 13:Mark 1 – 3Acts 6 – 72 Thessalonians 1 – 3
Day 14:Mark 4 – 5Acts 8 – 91 Timothy 1 – 6
Day 15:Mark 6 – 7Acts 10 – 112 Timothy 1 – 4
Day 16:Mark 8 – 9Acts 12 – 13Titus 1 – 3; Philemon 1
Day 17:Mark 10 – 11Acts 14 – 15Hebrews 1 – 4
Day 18:Mark 12 – 13Acts 16 – 17Hebrews 5 – 8
Day 19:Mark 14Acts 18 – 19Hebrews 9 – 10
Day 20:Mark 15 – 16Acts 20 – 21Hebrews 11 – 13
Day 21:Luke 1 – 2Acts 22 – 23James 1 – 5
Day 22:Luke 3 – 4Acts 24 – 261 Peter 1 – 5; 2 Peter 1 – 3
Day 23:Luke 5 – 6Acts 27 – 281 John 1 – 5
Day 24:Luke 7 – 8Romans 1 – 32 John 1; 3 John 1
Day 25:Luke 9 – 10Romans 4 – 7Luke 2:1-20; Jude 1
Day 26:Luke 11 – 12Romans 8 – 10Revelation 1 – 4
Day 27:Luke 13 – 15Romans 11 – 14Revelation 5 – 9
Day 28:Luke 16 – 18Romans 15 – 16Revelation 10 – 13
Day 29:Luke 19 – 201 Corinthians 1 – 4Revelation 14 – 17
Day 30:Luke 21 – 221 Corinthians 5 – 9Revelation 18 – 19
Day 31:Luke 23 – 24Revelation 20 – 22

Effective Bible Study

On February 28, 2016, Aleix Segura Vendrell claimed a Guinness World Record by holding his breath for 24 minutes and 3 seconds. Survivalists and scientists have determined that most humans can survive a few days without water and perhaps a month or more without food. While we know it’s possible, most would agree that testing these limits is not advisable. Our body needs regular doses of fresh air, food, and water for optimal health.

 

Why then, do so many Christians fast from the solid food of God’s Word (1 Corinthians 3:1-2), choosing instead to live on one meal each Sunday morning? We sing, “This is the air I breathe,” yet many of God’s people stumble through spiritual droughts because they fail to drink from the well of living water (John 7:37-39). We need a fresh supply of God’s wisdom and presence every day.

Where can we find this spiritual sustenance? Ephesians 6:17 instructs us to “take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” The well of living water flows through God’s Word.

Colossians 1:9 records Paul’s prayer for the church of Colossae—a prayer that makes an important distinction. He prays for the Colossians to be “filled with the knowledge of [God’s] will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” As we study the Bible, we receive wisdom. But Paul reminds us that there is more to our faith than wisdom; there is also spiritual understanding to be gained when we consistently study the instruction of the Scriptures.

How do we maximize our response to the Bible’s teaching? Spending time in God’s Word each day is the key to spiritual growth. We draw from its power by preparing our hearts, examining each verse, applying its wisdom, observing inner changes, memorizing verses, and demonstrating its impact.

6 Tips for Effective Bible Study

1. Avoid Barriers
2. Analyze Meaning
3. Transform Inside
4. Explore Attitudes
5. Increase Power
6. Demonstate Renewal

Effective Bible Study

1

Study Tip One: Avoid Barriers

Corrie ten Boom often remarked, “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” Isn’t that the truth? The idea that you’re too busy to spend time in God’s Word comes directly from the enemy of your soul. Knowing that Satan wants to deter you, your first action step is to find a time and a location where you can consistently meet with the Lord without interruption. Then before reading, pray: Invite the Lord to plant His Word in your heart and ask Him to remove anything that could stand in the way of your interaction with Him (James 1:19-21). Then open the portion of Scripture you have chosen to study.

2

Study Tip Two: Analyze Meaning

Considering that the Bible is more of a library than a book, there is a temptation to feel overwhelmed and rush through its pages. Don’t. Examine each verse of your chosen passage. As you read, think of the Bible as a love letter from God. This practice will increase your sensitivity to every aspect of its message. Do not be overly concerned with the length of the passage you are studying. Remember that your goal is not to scan large amounts of information, but to gain instruction from God’s Word.

Keep a pen, pencil, or highlighter available to mark significant words, phrases, or passages in your study. Consider utilizing a Bible commentary, a concordance, or a Bible dictionary to increase your understanding.

Meme: Think of the Bible as a love letter to God.

3

Study Tip Three: Transform Inside

James tells us, “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (1:25). After reading a passage of Scripture, identify one key concept to apply to your life today.

Meme: Drawing personal application begins with your heart and mind.

Drawing personal application begins with your heart and mind. Ask God to lead and guide you in your present circumstances, and pray that He will help you submit to His will.

4

Study Tip Four: Explore Attitudes

As you seek to apply God’s truth in your life, note the changes that need to occur in your attitude, outlook, and conduct. Explore the Word, reading and rereading what God has said about the things you need to change. God will change you! Record these meditations in a journal or in the margins of your Bible. Reflect on one thing you learned about yourself through today’s study. Ask yourself, How is God speaking to me regarding this issue? 

5

Study Tip Five: Increase Power

Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible; its 176 verses celebrate “the law of the Lord”—God’s special revelation and gracious direction for life. Verse 11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” How do you hide God’s Word in your heart? By memorizing it. When you commit Scripture to memory, the Holy Spirit will use its truth to guide your thoughts and actions.

One memorization method is to transcribe a meaningful verse from your Scripture reading onto a notecard that you can carry throughout the day. Place it where it can be seen—in your car, on the bathroom mirror, on the treadmill, or on the computer screen. If you want power in your Christian life, Scripture memorization will provide it.

6

Study Tip Six: Demonstrate Renewal

When you habitually spend time in God’s Word, you can’t help but experience renewal inside and out. Consider these words from Psalm 119: “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!… I will delight myself in Your statutes, I will not forget Your word…. I will run the course of Your commandments…. I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies…. I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes” (verses 2, 16, 32, 59, 112, emphasis added). Do you see the connection between the psalmist’s inward thoughts and his outward actions? The ideas that inhabit your mind will work their way out in the choices you make. Demonstration is an external process that reveals internal renewal.

Meme: The ideas that inhabit your mind will work their way out in the choices you make.

As you study God’s Word, its instruction and power will change your behavior. Make it your goal to share the encouragement of His Word with others whenever possible.


You Might Also Enjoy:

What Is the Greatest Promise in the Bible?

30 Reassuring Promises From God’s Word

Seven Churches of Revelation Bible Study

What Does the Bible Say About Heaven? 65 Passages to Get You Started

What Does the Bible Say About Angels? Understanding Heaven’s Mighty Warriors

What Does the Bible Say About Lucifer, Demons, and the Nephilim? Understanding the Origins of Evil

Why Did Jesus Teach in Parables?

The Undeniable Proof of Jesus’ Resurrection—Bible Study

Bible Overview: A Simple Introduction to God's Word

Introduction to The Jeremiah Study Bible

Why Study the Bible

Who Were the Old Testament Prophets?

What the Book of Psalms Is All About

Why Are There Four Gospels? Portraits of Jesus Christ

See all Bible Study articles here >

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Creation Care

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Genesis 1:28

Marine litter is a huge ecological problem. Many countries’ coastlines are littered with plastic and debris, and there is an “island” of plastic more than the twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean where currents have accumulated the debris. Fish become entangled in discarded fishing nets and lines, with bellies full of plastic debris they have swallowed.

Such images are in stark contrast to the pristine beauty and glory of Eden as presented in Genesis. Though mankind was given the mandate to “have dominion over” (that is, to care for) all of creation, we have not done a good job. When God’s mandates go unfulfilled on earth, God’s glory is diminished. And that mandate extends to our personal life as well. Paul writes that we belong to God and we are to glorify Him with our care and use of our body.

When you see opportunities to care for creation—nature or your own body—do so as a way of glorifying the Creator.

The creation is both a monument of God’s power, and a looking-glass in which we may see his wisdom.
Thomas Watson

Steadfast

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul’s letter to the people at Corinth was an exhortation to remain steadfast. The church in Corinth was an undisciplined church, and he was letting them know that even though the culture around them was in flux, their faith in Jesus Christ needed to remain focused and sure. It is true for us today also. How can we remain steadfast in our faith and avoid the pressures of this ever-changing world? By devoting time each day to the study of God’s Word.

As we read the Bible and immerse ourselves in God’s truth and character, our lives are changed—we become more like Him. God’s Word is a powerful litmus test for our souls and actions. As our lives center on God, giving priority to hearing His voice and reading His Word, we become bolder in sharing our faith.

Joshua had the confidence and courage to lead God’s people into the Promised Land because He believed in God’s promise and presence. We serve the same God who said: “And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

You can place your steadfast trust in Him.

When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.
Dwight L. Moody

Ready and Willing

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9

A leper approached Jesus and said, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus touched the man, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed”—and he was healed (Mark 1:40-42).

That event is a beautiful example of the willingness of God. In fact, there are no instances of Jesus being asked to help or heal and Him answering, “I am not willing.” There is a place where the Bible says God is “not willing,” and that is 2 Peter 3:9. In writing about the timing of the Day of the Lord (the end of the age), Peter says God is waiting for all who will be saved to come to Him. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” Said another way, God is willing for any who want to be saved to come to Him (John 6:37; 7:37). The question is never whether God is willing but whether man is willing.

Have you responded to God’s willing invitation to come to Him?

God is far more willing to save sinners than sinners are to be saved.
J. C. Ryle

Treasure!

I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.
Psalm 119:162

Earlier this year, a volunteer for a charity in Arizona was going through books donated for a sale. One was an old copy of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. The volunteer decided the dilapidated volume wasn’t worth saving and was about to throw it away when she thumbed through it and found a hidden chamber. Someone had used a knife to cut a hole in the middle of the book. Inside was $4,000!

That’s nothing compared to the treasure you’ll find when opening the covers of the Bible. Perhaps it would help to think of it in those terms. Use your imagination to see every word of Scripture turning to gold as you read it. Think of every promise as a precious stone. See the words about Jesus in the Gospels as sparkling like diamonds. Visualize your daily Bible study time like a miser running his hands through a chest of gold.

The treasury of Scripture will enrich your mind, refocus your goals, replace your doubts, and redirect your path—but only if you read it and heed it. Start today!

To get the best use out of [the Bible] for daily life,...Give it the best and freshest, not the most tired and dull, hour of the day.
M. S. Kimber in The Sunday School World, 1893

Hello Heaven!

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside.
2 Peter 1:13-14, NIV

Peter wrote his final letter shortly before his execution. He wasn’t discouraged; he was looking forward to the future. He spoke of “looking forward to these things.” and “[looking] for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13-14).

Life is full of hardships and heaviness. We have the promises of God to help us in difficult days, and we have the Holy Spirit within us. We have a purpose for being here—to refresh the memory of others regarding the things of the Lord. But we’ll soon put aside the tent of our earthly body, and what a relief! Goodbye hardship and heaviness. Goodbye trials and troubles. Hello Jesus! Hello heaven! Hello golden streets, glorified bodies, endless days, and the fresh air of New Jerusalem!

During difficult times, the hope of eternity gives us strength. If you’re prone to worry yourself to sleep each night, turn your thoughts upward and close your eyes thinking of heaven and its eternal throne.

A tent or a cottage, why should I care? They’re building a palace for me over there.
Harriet Buell, in her hymn “A Child of the King”

Overcoming Temptation

Temptation. Whether we realize it or not, it is part of our past, and it will be part of our future. The moment we resolve to stand strong and walk away is when temptation grows most intense. That is why Scripture is of paramount importance. God's Word contains the answer to resisting temptation before it's too late. Consider these verses:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full–grown, brings forth death (James 1:13–15).

Some people wonder about the value of the Old Testament in a Christian's life. The apostle Paul addressed that question in 1 Corinthians 10:11—"Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition." To what things was Paul referring? He listed them in verses 7–10. They are idolatry, immorality, infidelity, and disloyalty.

Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is.

With that background, Paul exhorted believers not to make the same choices the Israelites made—not to provoke God's discipline by willfully sinning. None of us is above God's discipline if we engage in sin. We must look for and take "the way of escape" God provides in every situation where temptation is found (verse 13). To think our temptation is unique is to believe a lie. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man" (verse 13). There are no "new" temptations in life.

The apostle James argued that if temptation becomes serious, it is because we have allowed it to do so. Our own "desires" entice us away from God and desire "gives birth to sin" (James 1:13–15). God doesn't tempt us, but He may allow temptation to enter our lives in order to give us opportunities to make obedient and mature choices.

Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and He took the same means of escape that is available to us—obedience to God's Word (Matthew 4:1–11; Hebrews 5:8). Temptation is not sin; yielding to temptation is. There is always a righteous choice to be made if we are willing to seek it.

Victory in Him

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57

To first-century leaders in the Roman world, the imagery was familiar: A victorious Roman general returning from battle leading his soldiers and their captives into the city. Citizens lined the streets applauding while the aroma of celebratory incense filled the air. Paul uses that image to say that Christ leads His followers in a victory procession through every difficulty in life (2 Corinthians 2:14-15).

The Christian’s victory is through Christ. The victory over the world, the flesh, the devil, and sin was won by the Cross and the empty tomb. He did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We have victory now and for eternity only because of the victory Christ won for us. Therefore, if we are to experience victory in this life, it will come only as we depend on Him. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, the life we now live is the life of Christ in us as we keep our faith in Him.

If you need a victory in your life, begin every day by renewing your faith in Christ in whom all our victories are to be realized.

The spiritual battle, the loss of victory, is always in the thought-world.
Francis Schaeffer

Faithful Fathers: Abraham

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
James 2:23

We can imagine a child writing an appreciative and sentimental memoir about her “perfect father,” understanding that “perfect” was not intended to be taken literally. But how about a book titled The Righteous Father? The patriarch Isaac could have written that book about his father, Abraham.

Righteous doesn’t mean sinless, of course. We know that Abraham wasn’t perfect. But he did manifest some qualities that every father should emulate. First, he believed the promises of God about the future God had planned for him (Hebrews 11:8-12). And when he believed God, “[God] accounted it to [Abraham] for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Again, not perfect or sinless, but in a right standing with God. Second, as a result of Abraham’s trust in God, he became a “friend of God” (Isaiah 41:8). Could any father set a more worthy example to his children or grandchildren than that of being friends with God? Living in right standing with God? That means communing with Him, walking with Him, living for Him, and above all, trusting Him and His promises.

Follow Abraham’s example as a faithful father by deepening your friendship with God.

Friendship is the marriage of affections.
Thomas Watson

Modern Idolatry

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:1 tells us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is.” In verse 5 we’re told to put to death the passions that come from below—"fornication, uncleanness, passion, and evil desire.” Then the Lord added the sin of greed or covetousness to the list, calling it idolatry.

That verse changes our view of idolatry. It’s not just bowing down to a small carved statue or a pagan worshiper offering incense at a shrine to Buddha. It’s the act of becoming too attached to the material things of the world—falling more in love with the things on earth than on things in heaven.

This has nothing to do with how much money you do or don’t have—a poverty-stricken person can covet just as much as a billionaire. It has everything to do with what’s at the center of our affections. Is it Christ? Is it things above? Or is it things below?

Make sure Christ is at the center of your life and that your love for Him eclipses everything else!

You don’t have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them…. Whatever you love more than God is your idol.
D. L. Moody

New Beginnings: Ezekiel

In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel 1:1, NIV

We often need fresh starts after enduring bitter disappointments. As a young man, Ezekiel had dedicated himself to be a priest. He was from a priestly family, and he undoubtedly looked forward to serving God in Jerusalem’s temple. Priests began their temple duty at the age of thirty. But when he was about twenty-five, Ezekiel was seized and taken to Babylon, and he never saw the temple again. When his thirtieth birthday came, he must have struggled with questions of “why” and “if only.”

That’s just when God appeared to him as he was among the exiles by the Kebar River. Ezekiel looked up and saw remarkable visions of God—the throne of God surrounded by angelic beings. Amid the strange and apocalyptic vision described in Ezekiel 1, God called the thirty-year-old exile to be a powerful prophet.

Oh, to see the glory of the Lord while in the midst of the disappointments in life. When we think life has collapsed around us, the God of glory appears above us. God always has a plan, and our false starts become His fresh starts.

Ezekiel is the prophet of the glory of the Lord…. Ezekiel looked beyond the sufferings of Christ to the glory that should follow.
J. Vernon McGee

The Conspicuous Hand

The Lord your God cares.
Deuteronomy 11:12

In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

In the middle of life’s battles, we’re tempted to question God’s ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of God’s Providence. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always.

[The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side… taking care of us in life when we can’t take care of ourselves.
W. A. Criswell

God of Second Chances

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.”
Jonah 3:1-2

It was not uncommon in the Old Testament for “the word of the Lord” to come to God’s prophets again and again. It happened to Samuel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and others. And it also happened to Jonah: The word of the Lord came to Jonah the first time (Jonah 1:1) and then the second time (Jonah 3:1). With the other prophets, the “second time” meant additional prophetic utterances they were to deliver. But with Jonah, the “second time” was because Jonah had failed to speak God’s word the first time. Jonah was a disobedient prophet.

God commissioned Jonah to go east to Assyria, to the capital of Nineveh and deliver a message of judgment. But Jonah fled west toward Spain because he feared the Assyrians. You know the story—Jonah ended up in the sea where he was swallowed by a great fish. Jonah repented and called on the Lord and was delivered. God gave him a second chance.

Don’t let your past keep you from trusting God for a second (or third, or fourth) chance. The God of grace loves to forgive.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins.
G. Campbell Morgan

All You Need Is Love: Forgiveness

When Jesus saw [the friends’] faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Mark 2:5

The hardest part of forgiving another person is acting like the offense never occurred. But that is what forgiving someone means—restoring relationships to the status they enjoyed before the offense took place. It’s one thing to say, “I forgive you,” but it’s another to act like all the effects of an offense are completely erased. After all, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13, love is known by its actions more than its words.

Jesus faced this dilemma when He healed a paralytic man. When He told the man that his sins were forgiven (and by extension, he was healed), He was criticized. He was accused of blaspheming by saying He had the authority to forgive sins—something only God can do. So, Jesus proved He had the authority to say, “I forgive you,” by doing something harder. He healed the man’s paralysis. After all, as Jesus explained, actions speak louder than words (Mark 2:8-11).

We cannot go through life without being hurt by others, so we should learn to forgive. Even more, we should practice demonstrating our forgiveness by our acts of lovingkindness. Look for opportunities to do both.

Forgiveness is to be set loose from sins.
G. Campbell Morgan

A Whole Person

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility.
Titus 2:7

In mathematics two of the basic kinds of numbers are integers and fractions: 2, 100, and 56 are integers, while ½, ¼, and 2.5 are fractions. Integers, from a Latin root meaning “whole” or “entire.” The word integrity comes from the same root; a person with integrity cannot be divided in beliefs or morality based on varying circumstances.

When the apostle Paul wrote to his young pastoral protégé, Timothy, he told him to show “integrity” in doctrine, to be incorruptible in belief and in actions. Paul wanted Timothy to hold fast to the truth of God, not allowing himself to be divided. A person of integrity obeys the whole counsel of God every day, in every circumstance. Daniel’s three friends in Babylon demonstrated integrity when they were threatened with being burned alive (Daniel 3:16-18). They told the king they would not divide their allegiance, that they would maintain their faith in God and His promises. That is integrity.

Are you a whole person or a fractioned person today? If your beliefs, and therefore your actions, have become divided, gather them back together as you commit to God and His Word.

Integrity of heart is indispensable.
John Calvin

New Earth

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
Revelation 21:1

A great misconception carried by many Christians has to do with the location of heaven. The word heaven itself implies that our eternal destiny is somewhere “up there” in the heavens. But the Bible says our eternal destiny is earthly, not heavenly. As Peter wrote, we look for a “new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

In his vision of the future, the apostle John saw that “new heaven and a new earth,” our new domain being pictured as the New Jerusalem “coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:1-2). Somehow, at the end of the age, when Christ has returned to reign and inaugurate the eternal state, this earth will be renovated and a new earth will be the result—a new earth full of righteousness in which pain and sorrow will be absent. The beautiful imagery of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 lets us know that the new earth will be a place that reflects the glory of God throughout.

Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for you if you belong to Him (John 14:1-4). The New Jerusalem, on the new earth, is that place.

Let thy hope of heaven master thy fear of death.
William Gurnall

The Conspicuous Hand

The Lord your God cares.
Deuteronomy 11:12

In a letter to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, George Washington marveled at how God’s hand had protected him and given success to the cause of liberty: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and… has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.”

In the middle of life’s battles, we’re tempted to question God’s ordering of our circumstances, but every follower of Christ can look back and see the conspicuous hand of God’s Providence. He is committed to caring for us, watching over us, and giving us strength when we are within His will.

Moses reminded the Israelites that God was taking them into a land of hills and valleys, of water and streams, “a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year” (Deuteronomy 11:11-12).

That’s the way He cares for us too—every day, all year long, always.

[The Lord] loves, and cares, and sympathizes, and understands, and seeks, and saves, and forgives, and helps, and encourages, and walks by our side… taking care of us in life when we can’t take care of ourselves.
W. A. Criswell

The Need for Prayer

Now it came to pass in those days that [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12

Officially, church historians recognize seven ecumenical church councils held between A.D. 325 and A.D. 787. The first, the First Council of Nicaea, met to agree on the nature of Jesus of Nazareth as both Son of God and Son of Man, as both fully divine and fully human.

The humanity of Christ, while at the same time divine, is hard to understand. But thankfully, Scripture gives us illustrations: Like us, Jesus suffered, experienced hunger, required sleep, ate food, and had limits on His knowledge (Mark 13:32). One of the most striking and helpful illustrations of Jesus’ humanity was His prayer life. We might think that, if Jesus was truly divine, He would have had no need to pray for knowledge, guidance, or help. Yet He did, following the example of godly men like Daniel in Babylon (Daniel 2:16-18). Jesus repeatedly said that He only did what the Father showed Him to do (John 5:19), and prayer was His means.

If Jesus, the Son of God, needed to go to His Father in prayer for strengthening and guidance, how much more do we (Psalm 32:6)?

Prayer and a holy life are one.
E. M. Bounds

What Is Humility?

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
1 Peter 5:5, NIV

What is humility? Is it the opposite of pride? If pride expands one’s importance, does humility deflate one’s importance? That’s the view given by most English dictionaries—a deemphasis on one’s own importance. But what is the biblical view of humility

If someone compliments you on a job well done, do you refuse to take credit or receive their compliment? Or do you graciously say, “Thank you,” in a spirit of genuine appreciation and humility? In Romans 12:3 Paul exhorts the believers not to think of themselves pridefully but rather to think of themselves “soberly”—that is, realistically or accurately. Paul’s topic is the grace given by God to each Christian to serve in the Body of Christ. We should neither overestimate the gift of God’s grace or underestimate it. Rather, we should think of it soberly and realistically—humbly—and minister accordingly. To think less of God’s gift would be to devalue it; to think realistically about it allows one to serve humbly.

How do you view yourself? With pride? With false humility? Or soberly and realistically according to the grace of God in your life?

A really humble man…will not be thinking about humility, he will not be thinking about himself at all.
C. S. Lewis

The Power of Confession

For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
Psalm 32:4

California is a dry state that needs water to be transported over many miles to population and agricultural centers. Snowfall in the winter and melting snow in the spring are critical factors in replenishing shrinking reservoirs. In periods of modern droughts, aerial photographs document the receding water levels in reservoirs around the state—shorelines growing wider and drier as water levels fall.

Such is the picture David paints with his words in Psalm 32—a drought of spiritual vitality brought on by his own sin. When he failed to confess his sin to God, his “bones grew old” and he groaned “all the day long” (verse 3). It was like his soul was being evaporated by the heat of his own guilt and shame. But then the rains of grace came and David confessed his sin and God forgave him (verse 5). And he encouraged his readers not to make the same mistake he had made (verses 9-10).

Confession and repentance reveal the access to restoration. Hiding sin does not remove it from God’s sight; but when we seek God’s forgiveness, the refreshing living water from the Father is poured out on us and we are restored—that is the power of confession.

The way to cover our sin is to uncover it by confession.
Richard Sibbes