December 26th One Year Bible Readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Zechariah 9:1-17 ~ Revelation 17:1-18
Psalm 145:1-21 ~ Proverbs 30:32

Old Testament - I love it!  In today's readings Zechariah prophesies 500 years in advance about Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey to a hail of Hosanna's (days before his death - popularly known as Palm Sunday) in verse 9: "Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt."  Below is an image of the fulfillment of this prophesy by the Italian artist Ambrogio Bondone Giotto from the year 1303:

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Zechariah titled "Oracle Concerning YHWH's Sovereignty" is at this link.

New Testament - Today in Revelation chapter 17 we read about the woman and the beast.  Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith's "Babylon the Great riding the Beast":

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Revelation chapter 17 titled "The Judgment of Religious Babylon" is at this link and "Use It or Lose It!" is at this link.

Psalms - I love the imagery today in Psalm 145 verse 9! "The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation." Do you believe that God is good to everyone?  Do you feel God's compassion being showered upon you right this very moment?

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 30 verse 32 teaches us today: "If you have been a fool by being proud or plotting evil, cover your mouth in shame." The thing that stood out to me in this Proverb today is that being proud equals being a fool.  Plotting evil also equals being a fool - and I'm sure we'd all quickly agree on that.  But, being proud also equals being a fool!   This is so important for us to realize.  I am afraid that all too often we can default to being prideful, thinking that's appropriate, when indeed it is pure foolishness.  Being proud = been a fool.  Why do you suppose this is?  What is it about pride that is so bad?  I think it is in large part this:  when we are proud we are turning our focus away from God and toward ourselves.  We are relying on ourselves instead of God.  We are glorifying ourselves instead of God.  And when we look at Satan and the Fall, we see that pride can even get to the point of trying to equate ourselves with God!  This was Satan's great sin.  Pride.  And pride is a sin that we must be vigilant to guard against in our lives today, tomorrow and every day.  Let us not be foolish by being proud!  And when we find ourselves being prideful, let us cover our mouths in shame as this Proverb teaches and repent.  Do you struggle with pride in your life?  Do you agree with this Proverb that being proud = being a fool?

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Micah Girl]

Feliz Navidad!

Thanks for a great year of bible reading and virtual community!

[Mae]

Revelation 17:14 - "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers". Amen!!!!!! This one stood defenitaly out for me today!!! Praise the Lord for this!!! I was reading this and thinking "Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!". It's good to know that we go with Him, right? 'He's the Lord of the Lord and King of Kings'!!!! We are with Him!! We're his faithful followers!!! How cool is this ... we are mentioned in the Bible!!! "Chosen and faithfull followers". Amen!!!

Another verse that really got me today:
Psalm 145:13 - "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made". Just stay His faithful follower and you get what you asked for ... Todays Bible verse I received from Christ Notes is Matthew 6:33 "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well". God doesn't break His promise, all I have to do is not break mine and continu to live for him. I was saved, I've been baptised ... just continue living how I promised I would and I'll receive ....

[Jenny]

What stood out for me was Psalms. "I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds."

This reminds me of yestreday visiting and talking with family, my aunt had an amazing story of how God is working in their lives. Its truely amazing whats been happenening...my nonbeleiver relatives are shocked and dont understand how this can be...they try to use reason, but we of faith know this is God's doing and these are His mighty works and we praise His name! He is so glorified in this situation! Its so clear God is moving and working. Even some of my believer relatives are doubtful, i was like: cant you see this is Gods work and He can do anything!!! i wonder sometimes, where is our faith??? miracles n wonders still occur today...i see them, and the only explanation is that this is God's work and He deserves all our praise!

Also, I have an amazing story that involves my sister who got stuck in the CO blizzards. She was thinking she would die and had to rely on complete, literal blind faith. The story is amazing! It calls to glorify God. I was tellling my friends and family members about it they were awed...theres no explanation except God's hand in the situation!

God does love and care for everyone...we just dont understand God's ways. They are above and beyond our comprehension!
Like my sister's story...her faith in the Lord needed to be maximized (its a long story) but this blizzard situation God used to witness to her she needed complete faith Him. She got the message. Plus...when things went from bad to worse, thats when miracles happened and some things werent understood til after the situation had passed. I think this is a great example for everyone... we dont understand God's ways, why are we going thru this, but ultimately its to refine us and to give God all the praise and glory!