Week 14

Mon 28 Jul 2008	Exodus 1-4
Tue 29 Jul 2008	1Samuel 16-20
Wed 30 Jul 2008	Psalms 39-41
Thu 31 Jul 2008	Job 27-28
Fri 01 Aug 2008	Jeremiah 7-11
Sat 02 Aug 2008	Mark 7-8
Sun 03 Aug 2008	1Corinthians 11-12

Week 13 Summary

It has been a long time where I have provided summaries of what has happened. I must confess that making a steadfast commitment to read God's word in 365 days is a very difficult task in deed. I believe it is easy if a specific time is dedicated for the Lord to spend time with him, however, once you start falling behind, it seems like a huge wrestle to try and stay on course.

Praise the Lord RL has been able to stay on course in reading God's word everyday. May we continue to remember her in prayer to provide her strength to maintain her momentum! Out of the 4 of us contributors, her dedication has definitely been able to constantly remind us in better disciplining ourselves to stay with our commitment.

As for the rest of us, we (or I at the very least) must confess that we have not been able to keep up-to-date. Sharon is around 1 week behind (after chasing up and continues to strive and close that gap), I am around 3 days behind, and Jot.. err ... I think Jot needs to put more dots behind his name to describe where he is at. I have been trying to encourage him to pick up his game to catch up, or even just "write off" what he has not read and just continue on in the schedule.

Busy lives lead to many temptation. I must admit that during the 13 weeks, it is easy to use busy lives as an excuse to set aside this commitment. May the Lord continue to guide us 4 to have wisdom in prioritising our responsibilities so there is sufficient time to read His word.

13 down, 39 to go! Don't give up ...

1 Corinthians 9-10

• the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. (9:14)
• Sharing the gospel is not something to boast about, it is our duty as a christian to share: For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (v16)
• We are challenged by Paul that while we are free, we should serve others to bring people to Christ (v19)

• All our spiritual needs are taken care of through the rock: Christ Jesus (10:4)
• V11 teaches us that we are to learn from the examples from the old testament (v8-10) in what we should or should not do
• There is always a way out of temptation because God is faithful (v13)

"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful," but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

-- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24

• So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.(v31)

Mark 5-6

• Look at the man's faith. He falls in front of him and calls him son of most high God (5:6-7)
• Poor bloke who owned the 2000 pigs it all drowned (v13)
• Jesus did something and was still not welcomed (v17)
• Jesus teaches the demon possessed man to live a living testimony and share how God has impacted his life: "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." (v19)
• The woman with blood disorders had no hope but only Jesus. She has tried all possibilities and no improvement (v26). Jesus is her only hope. (v27-28)
• "Do not fear, only believe." (v36)

Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.

-- Mark 6:10-11

• Do we leave and move on if people reject us when we share the gospel?
• There are times where we have to rest after serving the Lord: "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." (v31) But don't go lazy and not serve him after. REST A WHILE ONLY!

Psalms 36-38

• Sinners often think they are so good they don't see anything wrong with themselves (36:2)
• In God's eyes, that is not wise at all (v3) and doesn't do or think anything good at all (v4)
• God's love and righteousness is just so great (v5-6)
• He is life and our light to provide guidance (as well as showing our bad side) (v9)
• Ask God for guidance in preventing him from falling into the pits of sin (v11)

• Sometimes it may seem sinners reaping so much (earthly) benefits but we are reminded that it is not what we are after. God promises that these won't last (37:1-2, 9-10)
• He reminds us to trust the Lord and anchor yourself with God (v3-5)

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!

-- Psalms 37:7

1 Samuel 11-15

• See Saul's trust in the Lord before he gets anointed king of Israel. He believes no one will get hurt as God delivers salvation (Chapter 11)

• Samuel gives thanks to the Lord for all the things He has done (12:7-13)

If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well.

-- 1Samuel 12:14

• Saul does not act within God's commands (13:9-14)

• It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few. (14:6) Is this the right attitude? God working for you rather than them working for God? Especially when Jonathan does not tell Saul.
• "Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul." (v7)
• Seems very self-centred.
• The Lord was still with Him though? (v15)
• Is Israel's plea not to kill Jonathan actually sinning against God? (v45)

• Saul disappoints God for not obeying (15:1-11)
• Built monument (v12) and didn't knew he did wrong (v13)
• Is Saul trying to find excuses to think he can decide or improve on God's commands through seizing stuff for God's offering (v20)

And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

-- 1Samuel 15:22

• God wants obedience, not acts like going to church pray or sing hymns when your heart is not there.
• Saul reveals his rebelling heart in v24, a reversal from his smart excuse in v20
• Denying God from the driver seat: He is separated in ruling God's people (v26)

Genesis 48-50

• Jacob/Israel and Joseph always give thanks to the Lord (48:3-4, 9, 11)
• Blessings to the following generations by Israel (v15-16)
• Why was Joseph so concerned about blessing the firstborn in the right way? If he trusted God, shouldn't they be blessed according to God's will, not what Israel or Joseph thinks? (v17)
• Are Joseph's sons going to walk the same path as Joseph in that the younger will rule? (v19)

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

-- Genesis 50:20

Isaiah 56-61

• Salvation for everybody (56:1-6)
• Saying the religious leaders (Pharisees?) are not doing what they are supposed to do (v10-12)

• There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." (57:21)

• God looks at the heart. Although they fast, It's for their own personal benefit (58:3-4)
• I don't understand this fasting thing (v6)
• But if the heart is right, then God promise he will be there (v9-11)

• People usually blame God for not being there (59:1), but really, it is because they want to go their own way (sin), they have chosen to hide God away. (v2)
• Is this a description of Jesus showing us he is the only one interceding and brings us salvation? (v15b-21)

• Jesus is described as the light over darkness (60:2-3)
• The 3 wise men (v6)

• These are all things that Jesus has fulfilled. (61:1-2)

Week 13

In 1 Corinthians 10:
There are examples of things we should not do, in v7 – do not worship idols, in v8 – do not commit sexual sins, in v9 – do not test the Lord, in v10 – do not grumble.

And the above is written down as warnings for us who are living at an age in which Jesus is soon to return. (v11)

The passage continued in stating God’s faithfulness – v14. He will help us through all kinds of hardship, even that means as Christians we will be tested and we will go through different kinds of trial. But God’s promise to us here in this verse clearly stated that “He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. When you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Week 12

God’s grace and His love for us is endless – we can see from Psalm 34:18 “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Often we rely on our ability when we deal with our daily things but in Psalm 16-22 tells us: that “no king is saved by size of his army or no warrior escapes by his great strength”. Even a horse “is in vain hope for deliverance despite his great strength it cannot save” but only God’s unfailing love for us and Him continually having mercy on us to deliver us from death and keep us alive!

Let us remember to fear God for “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry” and the consequences of turning away from God would be forever forgotten by God – Psalm 34: 15-16

Week 13

Mon 21 Jul 2008	Genesis 48-50
Tue 22 Jul 2008	1Samuel 11-15
Wed 23 Jul 2008	Psalms 36-38
Thu 24 Jul 2008	Job 25-26
Fri 25 Jul 2008	Jeremiah 1-6
Sat 26 Jul 2008	Mark 5-6
Sun 27 Jul 2008	1Corinthians 9-10

1 Corinthians 7-8

• It's good for man not to have sexual relations (7:1). This was raised by the Corinthian church when communicating with Paul. But is this God's intention?
• But for the sake of temptation, should just get married. (v2)
• Once married, life is not about self anymore. Husband has authority over wife's body and likewise wife has authority over husband's body (v4)

• Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (8:8-9)
• While we know these things will not distant our relationship with God, we must be aware not do these things if it will make others stumble (also v13)

Mark 3-4

• Even the uncleaned spirit acknowledged Jesus is the son of God (3:11)
• Appointing the Apostles (v14-19)
• Jesus rebukes why the logic of Jesus being part of Satan to rid unclean spirits is flawed (v22-26)
• "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" (v28-29)
• What is blasphemy against Holy Spirit?
• For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." We are all part of God's one family (v35)

And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

-- Mark 4:18-19

• There are those who do not bear fruit, who enjoy God's word but also still get attached to the earthly desires, failing to spread God's word beyond to other people.
• We are the light of the world, so we should serve our purpose and do what we are supposed to do (v21)
• They are already with the Lord, who could they perish? (v38) Even the apostles are learning to live in faith.

Psalms 33-35

Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

-- Psalms 33:20-22

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

-- Psalms 34:13-16

1 Samuel 6-10

• Have the Philistines just made this guilt offering and its constituents up, but one thing is, they are living in fear of God (6:3-4)
• It's funny how even their priests and magicians acknowledge that their gods are below God. Then why aren't they throwing it away? (v5)

• They lament and feel bad. (7:2). Repenting always followed by your commitment to the repentance by throwing your old life out and coming back to God (v3)
• God wants us to understand that we are limited and acknowledge we can only rely on Him alone, and he will provide (v8-10)

• Israel wants Kings (8:5) now that Samuel's sons could not be successors. What happened to his sons? Why weren't Samuel blessed for the generations after him for following God? Does that mean we can't take things for granted?
• Wanting a king is rejecting God as his rule. (v6). I wonder whether that has any implications on the catholic church in particular with head of church
• God warns the consequences of departing God (v8-18), like today warns us the consequences of not submitting to Christ.

• Saul was a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, but God still chooses. O God's plans are different to what we perceive. (9:21)

• They wanted king and they got one, but them they complainedhe wasn't good enough (10:27)

Genesis 44-47

• Joseph is not angry at all but is thankful with the things the Lord has provided (45:5)
• Pharaoh looks after Joseph and leaves for him the best (v16-20)

• Israel gives thanks to God by offering to God immediately after good news (46:1). Today, if we thank God, what are we to offer?
• Jacob trusted God and took ALL family down to Egypt without any doubt about being killed by Pharaoh etc after seeing vision (v3-26)

Week 11

This week in 1 Corinthians 5-6, once again we examine about ‘worldly Christians’ and God’s judgment on Christian’s sinful behaviour.

In 5:11 warns us to flee from someone who claims themselves as brother but is someone who is sexually immoral, a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler!! For these people their heart are open both for God and for Satan!

In 6: 9-10 it specifically stated these people will not enter the kingdom of God.

This reminds me of previous week’s bible reading where it mentioned “our mind is willing (to be Godly) but our body is weak”. The only way to strengthen our body and stand firm against satan is to shut the door to satan and anything immoral including any person who would bring us close to immorality!

Week 12

Mon 14 Jul 2008	Genesis 44-47
Tue 15 Jul 2008	1Samuel 6-10
Wed 16 Jul 2008	Psalms 33-35
Thu 17 Jul 2008	Job 23-24
Fri 18 Jul 2008	Isaiah 62-66
Sat 19 Jul 2008	Mark 3-4
Sun 20 Jul 2008	1Corinthians 7-8

1 Corinthians 5-6

• Paul already "pronounced judgment" on clear sexual immorality (5:3). If we are clear of actions that are wrong, then we should voice out, not fold our hands and think its God's role to judge? (5:3)
• "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (v12-13)

• If you have disputes between brothers (and sisters), it should be done witihn the church (6:1-5)
• "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawyful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything (v12) This suggests that we are not bound by anything, so with the Holy Spirit from God, we could walk away without falling into any addictions. Further, although we possess this freedom, it does not mean we could do whatever we like. Do whatever is helpful.

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral pperson sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

-- 1 Corithians 6:18-20

Mark 1-2

• John the baptist paves way for Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah (1:1-3)
• Prepares people to repent for the forgiveness of sins (v4)
• Were the people who repent believing the fulfilment of the prophecy? (v5)
• I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit. (v8)
• Jesus is the belovede Son of God, declared by God immediately after baptism (v11)
• While Jesus is being tempted, why are there angels ministering him (v13b)
• Jesus he himself proclaims he has fulfilled the prophecy (v15), so repent!
• Demons believe that Jesus is the Holy One of God (v24)
• Simon's mother-in-law is healed (v30)
• Jesus has quiet time (v35)
• Leper implores Jesus to heal him if he will (v40)
• Jesus reaches out and touches him to heal him. He shows care (v41)
• Jesus has power to clean him, but still tells him to be endorsed by human-rule by telling him to be declared clean by priest (v44)

• Look how much they trusted Jesus in healing the paralytic, and hence so much effort just to get him to Jesus (2:1-4)
• The scribes were hard-hearted. Jesus clearly showed this "sign" and they just kept questioning (v8-12)
• Jesus helps those who are in need, those who are not righteous, that is the purpose why he is here on earth (v17)