Blended Readings

Friday, February 23, 2007

February 24 Readings

Blended Reading Plan from Back to the Bible

Exodus 19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5

Exodus 19 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Exodus 20 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Exodus 19 showed the preparation the people made when God would come down in a dense cloud from Mount Sinai. The people had to wash their clothes. Moses had to consecrate the people for two days, they had to abstain from sexual relations and on the third day God would appear to them. There was a boundary set so that no one would cross the boundary or they would be killed. Why all these restrictions? Because God is a holy God and when you come to God you have to meet Him on His terms.

Exodus 20
In verse 1-17, God spoke the words for Moses which are the Ten Commandments. What was the purpose of the Ten Commandments? It was to love God (commandments 1-4) and to love our neighbor as ourselves (commandments 5-10). If we love God and our neighbor we would not be breaking any of the commandments. Another purpose of the Ten Commandments were it was a foundation for civil and religious laws for Israel. Third reason the ten commandment would prevent chaos and anarchy in the society.
Jesus went one step further with the Ten Commandments. He gave the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) in which the intent of the heart is judged even if no action is taken or any laws broken. For example, if a man is angry with his brother, he commits murder. If a man looks at a woman with lust and have not even touched the woman, he has commited adultery. We would be all guilty then even we did not commit any crimes or done the actual physical act such as murder or adultery. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount was much more difficult to keep than the Sermon on the Mount.
In verses 18-21, the people were afraid of God. in verse 20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
Finally he spoke about idols. This goes back to the first commandment, you shall have no other gods before me because I am the Lord your God.
What about us? Let us go through a period of self-examination. Do we love the Lord with all our soul, mind, heart and strength? Do we love our neigbor as ourself? Are there any idols in our lives? May God reveal the sins in our lives and that we would not only repent, seek reconciliation and restitution.

Other Links
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 2 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 3 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 4 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Deffinbaugh on Exodus
Scott Grant on Exodus
Arthur Pink: Gleanings form Exodus

1Thessalonians 5 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Paul wanted the Thesalonian Christians to know that Jesus was coming again. He would come as a thief in the night. Despite all these prophets we have to day that Jesus is coming befoe, during and after the Tribulation, no one really knows when He will come back, although we have all thes wondeful prophecy charts and timetables. Jesus will come back on time, in his own time. This is why we should wait expectantly and faithfully. If you knew that a thief was going to rob you in the middle of the night, you would be up, waiting for him! In the same way we should wait like the five wise virgins in Matthew 25.

Paul metioned parts of the armor of God, which included faith and love as our breastplate, and the hope of salvation as our helmets.

We should live a holy life because the next thing Paul talked about was the coming of the Lord (1Thes 4.13-18). We would not be ashamed when he comes back if we live a holy life. He describe how Jesus will returned, so that we should encourage each other. The world is full of bad news but the good news is Jesus is coming again and that we should rejoice in that.

He left some final instructions, amomg which are verses which are easy for us to memorize, v 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually

Other Links
Calvin on 1Thessalonians
John Chrysostom Homilies on First Thessalonians
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
J. Hampton Keathley, III on 1 Thessalonians
Index to Sermons by McArthur, Ryle, Edwards and Spurgeon on 1 Thessalonians
Sermons by Piper on 1Thessalonians

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

February 23 Readings

Exodus 16-18; 1 Thessalonians 4

Blended Reading Plan from Back to the Bible

Exodus 16-18 ; 1 Thessalonians 4

Exodus 16 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Exodus 17 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Exodus 16 and 17 showed how God provided for these some two million people. I am sure within a few days of leaving Egypt, they ran out of food and water. God had already had something planned. He provided them with manna and quail. The people were suppose to collect enough manna for each day and collect twice as much for that day and the Sabbath. The verbs grumble, complain and forgot appeared frequently in the books of Exodus and Numbers. They had forgotten how God had delivered them across the Red Sea within a few days! Now, they were hungry. They were told to collect as much as they need. Now needing is different from wanting! When they started to collect manna, some hoarded, and the manna turned into worms. The manna symbolizes to us as Christians, the word of God, it is sweet as honey (Psa 19.10). We are to read His word everyday, some day we read three and get some inspiration, other day we read a couple verses and that keep us for the rest of the day. It is like manna, exo 16.17-18.
God had also provided water for them in Exodus 17. The community were wandering in the wilderness, going from place to place and could not find water and they grumbled to Moses. God told him to go ahead of the people and he struck the rock at Meribah with the rod he used to strike the Nile. He did so and they had water to drink. He called this place Meribah which meant quarelling and Massah which meant testing.
link on manna
Spurgeon on Exo 17.9

In Exo 17.8-15, the Amakelites were defeated by God. All Moses had to do was to hold his hands high, and Joshua and the Israelite army would defeat them. When his hands were tired, Moses hands were lowered, the Amakelites is defeated. Aaron and Hur stood on each side of Moses ans supported each hands. This is like prayer in the battle of life. It is so easy to be tired when you go it alone but when you have people supporting you, you get victorious in God's strength.

Exodus 18 with Commentaries, verse by verse
In Exodus 18 Moses was on the verge of burning out physically and emotionally. He had to listen to all the cases and complaints brought before him. His father-in-law Jethro advise him to delegate some of the work. Sometimes in the ministry, we think we can go it alone, and we don't seem to see anyone who could help you. But this is where you get to know your people. Remember pick godly people and delegate.

Other Links
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 2 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 3 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 4 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Deffinbaugh on Exodus
Scott Grant on Exodus

1Thessalonians 4 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Paul wanted the Thesalonian Christians to live to please God (1Thes 4.1-12). The verse that spoke to me today was "It is God's will that you should be santified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should have control over his body." To santify means to be set apart. For example in your house you may have two set of silverware and chinaware. The ordinary everyday utensils and chinaware are used for everyday use. But when you have company you bring out the best chinaware and silverware. You see these are santified for a special purpose. We are like that we are set apart for a holy God and we should live a holy life.
We should live a holy life because the next thing Paul talked about was the coming of the Lord (1Thes 4.13-18). We would not be ashamed when he comes back if we live a holy life. He describe how Jesus will returned, so that we should encourage each other. The world is full of bad news but the good news is Jesus is coming again and that we should rejoice in that.
John Piper on Practical Holiness
John Piper on Lust
John McArthur on Purity, Part 1
John McArthur on Purity, Part 2
John McArthur-What Happens to Christians Who Die?--Part 1
John McArthur-What Happens to Christians Who Die?--Part 2

Other Links
Calvin on 1Thessalonians
John Chrysostom Homilies on First Thessalonians
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
J. Hampton Keathley, III on 1 Thessalonians
John Piper on 1Thess 3.11-4.2
Jesus Saves

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

February 22 Readings

Today's reading from Exodus 14-15 ; 1 Thessalonians 3

Blended Reading Plan from Back to the Bible

Exodus 14 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Exodus 14 is the key chapter. It is such a beautiful illustration of our salvation in Jesus Christ. The Israelites was leaving bondage, crossing the Red Sea into the the land of Freedom away from the clutches of Pharaoh. They had to walk through the path that God had provided them. They had to go forward and never look back. In of the greatest promise in Scripture is Exodus 14.13. They were not be afraid, stand firm, and be still. How could slaves take on one of the mightiest armies of the world at that time? It was God's battle, not theirs. That applies to us today, we not be afraid, stand firm, and be still. (Psa 46.10)

Link to Crossing the Red Sea
Red Sea parted
Spurgeon's Sermon on Exodus 14.3
Spurgeon's Sermon on Exodus 14.19-20; Isa 3.12; 57.8
Exo 15.23-25

Exodus 15 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Exodus 15 is the song of Moses and Miriam. We tend to forget that God is also a God of Judgement. We are so wrapped up with the God of love that we are cannot imagine God being a God of Righteousness. Even in the New Testament, Jesus wept for Jerusalem in Matthew 23 when he had pronounced the seven woes on the Pharisees. He had predicted the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Do not forget some of the horrible things has not yet happened to mankind. See the book of Revelation. The first time, Jesus came, he came as a Lamb to die for our sins, the second time when he comes, He will be a Lion, he will come back as King and Judge. We tend to forget that God is a warrior destroying his enemies. (Exo 15). In the time being our role as Christians is to take as many with as to heaven.

Other Links
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 2 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 3 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 4 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Deffinbaugh on Exodus
Scott Grant on Exodus

Jesus Saves

1Thessalonians 3 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Paul longed to see the Thessalonians. (1thess 2.3-5). Timothy returned from Thessalonica and gave encoraging news about their faith and love. Paul is shown here to be a man of prayer. (1thess 3.6-13). What about us? Do we tried to solve things by ourselves instead of depending on prayer like Paul did. Arthur Pink on Gleanings from Paul

Other Links
Calvin on 1Thessalonians
John Chrysostom Homilies on First Thessalonians
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
J. Hampton Keathley, III on 1 Thessalonians
John Piper on 1Thess 3.11-4.2

This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

Monday, July 10, 2006

July 10 Readings

Links to One Year Bibles; Three Years Bible blogs and Chronological Bible blogs

Today's Reading: Ruth 1-4; Acts 8.26-40

READING LIST FOR BLENDED READINGS

Today's Readings Old Testament with personal comments, commentary links and other useful illustrations, scroll until you find the references then click on link

Today's Readings New Testament with personal comments, commentary links and other useful illustrations, scroll until you find the references then click on link

Links to Commentaries and other References - Old Testament
Links to Commentaries and other References - New Testament

Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

November 9 Readings

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Monday, November 07, 2005

November 8 Readings

MERCY PRECEDES JUDGEMENT

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