Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2022
This year, instead of reading from Genesis to Revelation, we will read the Bible as the story flows, as it happened and was written. There are several plans out there and I have worked to combine them into a plan that lets the Bible tell its own story "as it happened." Remember, the Bible is inspired, but not in the order the books appear in our Bibles. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but I have divided it so that we will spend half the year in the OT, and half the year in the NT.
Bible Readings: Psalm 89, 96, 100-101, 105, 132
Background:
Today we read more Psalms, mostly Psalms of David, about worshiping the faithful God.
Daily Devotional: Faithful, but Holy
The lengthy Psalm 89 trumpets the faithfulness of our God - a faithfulness we experience by grace even though we don't deserve it. In verses 30-34 we learn two important lessons.
First, it is a serious thing to take God's faithfulness lightly and use it as an excuse to sin. The fact that God is so good, so forgiving, so faithful ought to motivate us to gratitude, to holiness, and to Christ-centered living. It ought never to make us careless, as if our sin did not matter to God.
Speaking of the sins that might come (and did) in the lives of the descendants of King David, God gave this warning, in verses 30-32.
It is no small thing to ignore God's grace and faithfulness and embrace the life of sin. God promised that if they did so, he would hold them to account for their rebellion with his rod of discipline.
Hebrews 13 tells us that God disciplines us as a father disciplines his children. He loves us too much to allow us to wander into sin and stay in it comfortably. God will come after rebellious and disobedient children with loving discipline.
But verses 33-34 go on to remind us that even in this discipline, God remains eternally faithful.
God promised that even when David's offspring failed in their end of the covenant he would stay faithful to his commitment. He will discipline, even harshly, but he will not violate his covenant or abandon his people.
God never leaves us or forsakes us. Even his discipline is designed to bless us, to draw us near to him that we might experience his faithfulness daily. I might be disciplined by God, but I will not be abandoned by him. Even when I fail, he is faithful to his covenant of grace with me.
So, this passage is both a warning and a comfort. We are reminded that sin is serious in God's eyes and he will wield the rod to correct us. But we are comforted that he will never abandon his work in us, but will always love, always restore and always work to conform us to Christ.
We are secure in Christ, but that does not mean that it is safe for us to live in sin. Our big and powerful God is not to be trifled with!
First, it is a serious thing to take God's faithfulness lightly and use it as an excuse to sin. The fact that God is so good, so forgiving, so faithful ought to motivate us to gratitude, to holiness, and to Christ-centered living. It ought never to make us careless, as if our sin did not matter to God.
Speaking of the sins that might come (and did) in the lives of the descendants of King David, God gave this warning, in verses 30-32.
If his children forsake my lawand do not walk according to my rules,if they violate my statutesand do not keep my commandments,then I will punish their transgression with the rodand their iniquity with stripes,
It is no small thing to ignore God's grace and faithfulness and embrace the life of sin. God promised that if they did so, he would hold them to account for their rebellion with his rod of discipline.
Hebrews 13 tells us that God disciplines us as a father disciplines his children. He loves us too much to allow us to wander into sin and stay in it comfortably. God will come after rebellious and disobedient children with loving discipline.
But verses 33-34 go on to remind us that even in this discipline, God remains eternally faithful.
but I will not remove from him my steadfast loveor be false to my faithfulness.I will not violate my covenantor alter the word that went forth from my lips.
God promised that even when David's offspring failed in their end of the covenant he would stay faithful to his commitment. He will discipline, even harshly, but he will not violate his covenant or abandon his people.
God never leaves us or forsakes us. Even his discipline is designed to bless us, to draw us near to him that we might experience his faithfulness daily. I might be disciplined by God, but I will not be abandoned by him. Even when I fail, he is faithful to his covenant of grace with me.
So, this passage is both a warning and a comfort. We are reminded that sin is serious in God's eyes and he will wield the rod to correct us. But we are comforted that he will never abandon his work in us, but will always love, always restore and always work to conform us to Christ.
We are secure in Christ, but that does not mean that it is safe for us to live in sin. Our big and powerful God is not to be trifled with!
Father, I thank you that your mercy and faithfulness are great. May I never treat that lightly, but walk in holiness and purity in all things.
Consider God's Word:
Do you keep these ideas in balance?
Do you seek to maintain a holy walk with Christ?
Do you rest in your unshakeable relationship with Christ?
Do you seek to maintain a holy walk with Christ?
Do you rest in your unshakeable relationship with Christ?
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