Daily Scripture Readings
Read along with us in community as we follow this daily scripture outline.
Sunday June 22nd
Isaiah 65:1-9; Psalm 22:19-28; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39​
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When Christ crossed over to the region of the Gerasenes it was to the gentiles. This was a place where all were unclean, but the demoniac was unclean even to the unclean. This man was possessed and made to live naked amongst the tombs. Yet, Jesus freed him. He saw a tormented soul and decided to act to release the man from his demonic chains. Jesus goes to the place where no one else will in order to free the ones no one else cares about. His purpose is twofold, to defeat the powers of evil and to spread the gospel. But the people ask Him to leave out of fear. Fear of what His message might ask of them. Yet, Jesus tells the former demoniac to go and tell of all the God had done for him. He asks us to do the same with our witness. Jesus came for all.
Monday June 23rd
Job 18; Psalm 64; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
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Bildab in his second speech to Job found in the 18th chapter is a stinging critique of Job’s situation. Bildab assumes that Job must be wicked and that all that has happened to him is a result of divine retribution. But he did not understand and was foolish in his assumptions. Many both in Jesus’ day and now, consider the cross to be the same thing. They say Jesus was cursed or a deserving recipient of punishment or he wouldn’t have been crucified. They question how a savior, the Messiah, could possibly ever die such a death. But for us who believe it is the power of God to save. The Spirit opens our eyes to God’s love and promises fulfilled in Jesus. May God be praised forever and eve.
Tuesday June 24th
Job 19:1-22; Psalm 64; Ephesians 2:11-22
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The gospel brings peace in every sense of the word. It reconciles, overcomes and triumphs over every obstacle that divides and separates both God from man and man from his fellow man. Job in his misery is certain that God has stricken him wrongfully and that even Job’s friends were against him. Job maintains his innocence, but fails to realize until the end that no one can be truly innocent before God Almighty. This is where Christ comes to rescue. The justice of God reveals our sins and the love of God makes a way for us to be saved from sin. Where once we ourselves were alienated from God, now in Christ we are brought back into relationship with both God and others.
Wednesday June 25th
Ezekiel 32:1-10; Psalm 64; Luke 9:37-43
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These passages may seem to not have much in common, but they both display God’s ability to overthrow the evil powers and forces that oppress the people of God. In Pharaoh's case, it is on a national level, where God judges and defeats the powers and delivers His people from their hands in a public manner. Jesus, on a more personal level, stands toe to toe with demonic forces and in a like manner conquers evil, frees the captives, and makes a public spectacle of them. In the end of each passage, the people are in awe of God’s power to save. Whenever we are in doubt or tempted to forget how powerful God really is, let us repent and trust that He is faithful and willing to save us out of the hands of those which seek to destroy us. Let our faith thrive, O Lord.
Thursday June 26th
Leviticus 9:22-10:11; Psalm 16; 2 Corinthians 13:5-10
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We all face testing and trials throughout our lives. It’s what puts our convictions and beliefs to proof. Moses set before the priesthood many commands that required the priest to follow strictly, lest they allow the common to invade the divine and be destroyed. We too are tested in holiness in the ways that we live. Paul said that the Corinthians had Christ living in them…unless they failed the test. The way that we live is a test of the One who lives within us. Do we walk in the spirit of Christ or do we follow the way of the world? It is a simple yet difficult test, one that is proven in actions not just words. May our beliefs match our way of life so that Christ is fully formed in us. Amen.
Friday June 27th
2 Kings 1:1-16; Psalm 16; Galatians 4:8-20
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Elijah had a zeal for God that is nearly unmatched in all the prophets and men of God throughout scripture. He detested the things that detest God and scorned practice that drew men away from the worship of Yahweh, the Almighty creator God. Paul too had a zeal for Christ that wanted nothing to come between the churches and their worship and knowledge of God the Father through Christ the Son. There are many things that tickle our ears and convince us to seek other ways of life outside of the gospel faith, but they all lead to ruin. The Judaizers that Paul speaks of were trying to drag the believers of Galatia back into superstition but their motives weren’t for good. Paul testifies to his ministry and its pristine character, which only brought about good. Let us cling to Jesus.
Saturday June 28th
Deuteronomy 32:15-27, 39-43; Psalm 16; Luke 9:21-27
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We do not make things alive nor do we put anything to death, for the Lord God ultimately has this power, whatever we think we have is actually His alone. He blesses and curses, gives and takes away, God is the one who delivers punishment and brings justice. This is how Jesus can teach that to seek your own life is actually to lose it, but to lose your life for the One who has the power to do both, a man will find life in Him. Our lives are not our own so to lay them at the foot of Jesus is to find what life is truly about. May we pursue Jesus the author of life and trust Him, for He has given us life eternal.