You are invited to join us on the One Year Bible journey in 2013! We currently have over 14,600 people in 77 countries around the world signed up for our free monthly email filled with commentary, encouragement, and questions for reflection. To join us on the One Year Bible journey in 2013 click on this link for more details and to sign up! Or, you may be interested in joining us on the Chronological Bible journey in 2013 at this link: www.chronologicalbibleblog.com
Malachi 3:1-4:6 ~ Revelation 22:1-21 ~ Psalm 150:1-6 ~ Proverbs 31:25-31
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Happy New Year! Congratulations to everyone who completed the One Year Bible journey in 2012 today! It has been awesome to go through the journey this year with each of you. It is quite a blessing to realize that you've read through God's Word this past year! It has been a huge blessing for me. God has continued to transform me this past year through this journey. Reading through the Bible in a year will change us. For the better! :) For those of you wrapping up the One Year Bible today in 2012, I'd like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below. The reason for this request is because we have hundreds of new folks signing up to take the One Year Bible journey in 2013. What advice would you give them? Any encouragement? What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year? Has this experience changed you in any way? Thanks for sharing!
Old Testament - Today we finish the book of the prophet Malachi, and it is an awesome 2 chapters we read today! The first half of Malachi chapter 3 verse 1 is prophesying 400 years in advance of the coming of John the Baptist, who will prepare people's hearts for Jesus by preaching repentance of sins: ""Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me." This is a great thing to reflect on as we close out one year and begin anew. Do we need a messenger from God to encourage us to repent from our sins? Will we listen to that messenger and make way for the coming of Jesus into our hearts and lives? The second half of verse 1 then prophesies that Jesus is indeed coming to usher in the new covenant, or the new testament: "The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming," says the LORD Almighty." The Good News for us today is that Jesus has come already for the forgiveness of sins and Jesus is coming again in glory!
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.
Verse 2 tells us this about Jesus: "For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that whitens clothes." Will you allow Jesus to refine you through his holy fire? And make you pure through his holy soap? (Okay, I realize this is a bit cheesy wording here - has anyone ever called Jesus holy soap before?? :) Actually, would you believe it - I found an image of "Jesus soap" online, as you'll see below! How this all ties into our Malachi readings today I've lost track of... I apologize for my end-of-year giddiness... :)
Verses 6 & 7 are so powerful for us to reflect upon: ""I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already completely destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my laws and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty." As I reflect back upon our One Year Bible readings this year, it is so true that God does not change. He has shown so much compassion over and over again to the Israelites in the Old Testament. And he continues to show so much compassion to us today over and over again. In light of God's holy and unchanging love and compassion for us, will we return to Him? As you look back on our One Year Bible readings this year, do you agree with God's statement here that He does not change? Do you believe that all the way from the Old Testament's Genesis to the New Testament's Revelation God does not change?
Verse 10 is one of my favorites and one of the most challenging in the Bible: "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD Almighty, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!" This verse has and will continue to be interpreted so many ways. Check out the NIV translation of Malachi 3:10 (slightly different than the NLT version above) - "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." It is very rare in the Bible that God says "test me" and follows it up with an incredible promise of a blessing. This next year, will you test God with a tithe? In this new year, will you trust God with your tithe?
Chapter 4 verse 2 makes me smile with the metaphor of us being compared to a calf frolicking in a field: "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture." Do you want to be set free? Truly free from your burdens and doing things that you do not want to do? Will you entrust your life to the Sun (Son?) of Righteousness, Jesus? And then - are you looking forward to leaping with joy like a calf let out to pasture?? :) I love this metaphor... it will stick with me.
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Malachi titled "God's Justice and Faithfulness" is at this link and "Preparing for the Day of the Lord" is at this link.
New Testament - Today we finish the book of Revelation with a glorious chapter describing the New Jerusalem in heaven, and with a clear reminder that Jesus is coming again! Below is artist Pat Marvenko Smith's look "Through the Gate of the Eternal City" from Revelation 22:1-6 in today's readings:
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.
Chapter 22 verses 1 & 2 are so beautiful: "And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations." This river combines the elements of the river in the Garden of Eden - see Genesis 2:8-14 - and the river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel's vision - see Ezekiel 47:1-12. I love this idea of this "river of life". There are so many beautiful allusions to God and grace being like water or a river in the Bible - particularly in the Psalms. A river that heals us. I love this. There is a great song by Steven Curtis Chapman about diving into the river. I think it's called "Dive" on his Speechless CD. This song of his reminds me so much of these verses. One of his lyrics goes something like: "The River's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is ALIVE! So sink or swim, I'm diving in!" Do you want to dive into this holy river of God? Do you want to be healed and purified by it's waters? Will you dive in?
Verse 8 is powerful for us to reflect upon, where we see an angel speaking to John after he fell to worship the angel: ""No, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this scroll. Worship God!"" My thought here is that do we sometimes worship other people in our life? And does this worship of other people ultimately take away from our worship of God? Meaning, I think it might sometimes be tempting for us to "worship" our pastors or ministers or spiritual mentors. But, should we do this? I think we would do well to remember that these people in our life are simply servants of God, like this angel. They are not God. We are called to give our hearts and minds and souls and worship to God and God only.
Verse 20 (almost) closes out the book of Revelation with these words: “Come, Lord Jesus!” Are these three words a prayer of your heart? Should they be? It’s only recently that I started praying these words from my heart, and it is an amazing thing to truly pray and truly desire. Come Lord Jesus!
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Revelation chapter 22 titled "The Epilogue" is at this link and "Famous Last Words" is at this link.
Psalms - Psalm 150 is a wonderful end to the Psalter filled with a call to Praise God with all that we are! Give it up for God and God only!
Proverbs - Proverbs 31:25-31 are a continued great look at what a godly woman does. I really like verse 30 which seems so opposite of what our culture is often selling us today: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised." I think this holds so true for women and men - our beauty or good looks or outer appearances do not last. They are not eternal. What matters is what's inside - our relationship with and love of God and other people. So, I think this is a great reminder for us to focus on what's inside - which is what's eternal. And yes, our culture will continue to try to sell us on the latest fads to look better on the outside. Will you refuse to buy into that which will not last? Do you realize that holiness is beautiful? This picture below comes from Memphis, Tennessee:
YouTube - Today's readings in Revelation reminded me of the Steven Curtis Chapman song "Dive." However, rather than share that song with you in the video below, our readings in Revelation chapter 22 also reminded me of his powerful song about his daughter called "Heaven is the Face." Here's a great live version of this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nT88tmF5O8
Can you imagine meeting Jesus in heaven? Click here and make your imagination real!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let those who hear say, "Come!" Let those who are thirsty come; and let all who wish take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22:17 (TNIV)
Prayer Point: Pray that you are thirsty for Jesus today and every day! Pray that you are daily responding to Jesus' call to you to "Come!" Pray that you will follow Jesus and take the free gift of the water of Life He offers you, today and forevermore.
Comments From You and Question of the Day: For those of you wrapping up the One Year Bible today in 2012, I'd like to ask you to post up your reflections on this experience in the Comments section below. The reason for this request is because we have hundreds of new folks signing up to take the One Year Bible journey in 2013. What advice would you give them? Any encouragement? What has reading the Bible on a daily basis meant to you over the past year? Has this experience changed you in any way? Thanks for sharing! Also, for everyone, 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
It is with a sense of great accomplishment and gratefulness that I comment today. A year ago I started reading the One Year Bible blog without much hope of finishing, because of the times I'd failed before. Although I skipped out most of Ezekiel because I got really behind at one stage, I got through the rest. YAY!
Knowing that there was a community of readers doing this with me, and being able to interact with you all through comments was a key ingredient for me. Thank you to all who posted.
Mike, thank you so much. Your commitment to this blog is admirable, and your humility is inspiring. I think you must be one of Jesus' heros when I see how many lives you are touching daily through your obedience to Him.
Having read the whole Bible now, I have a much better idea of God as the beginning and the end, God working through history, God unravelling His love-plan and God reaching out to us. I have a much better understanding of Israel and the Jewish nation, and how they are a precious part of the fact that I am a Christian today. Praise You, Lord for drawing near to us. Praise You for The Message.
Posted by: Caryn | December 30, 2012 at 07:57 PM
Happy New Year to all my fellow bible bloggers. I would encourage new and old and bloggers to keep going. This has been my four year to read the bible through. I find that every time I read it God always gives just what I need. I have found that if I get up each day, and start my day with His word I can face ANYTHING.I encourage you to start reading first thing in the morning it will change your day. God bless you all
Posted by: peggy williams | December 31, 2012 at 03:44 AM
Like Peggy said above: Happy New Year to the One year Bible blogging nation :) and thank you so much Mike !!
To those new folks don't worry if you get behind a few days just try and catch up when you get a chance and you will !!
I agree also with the reading in the morning is the best for me but whenever you get a chance you will find it rewarding and inspiring.
Reading everyday and then reading Mike's commentary has made me examine my life and it is for the better.
God Bless this ministry and I can't wait to start anew tomorrow !!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE and PRAISE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST !!
Posted by: Billy | December 31, 2012 at 05:16 AM
I spent a goodly amount of time in the hospital in late summer, taking tests, being probed for this and that, and finally being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancerous treatable but not cureable blood disease that attacks many (multiple) parts of the body. While there, I was away from my computer and away from the daily issues of oneyearbible blog. I tried to keep up by reading passages ahead on my own from each of our daily sections. When I was sent home, I was surprised to discover how close I was to being at just the right spots.
We are blessed to have this blog at our fingertips, to have Mike do all of the research and tech work, to be able to read and review with the audio section, to be exposed to wonderful music that goes so well with daily Scripture, and to be able to read the few but enlightening comments of fellow followers. Best of all, I appreciate the feeling of being part of a world-wide study and worship group; thousands, perhaps, all over the globe reading, meditating, and taking personal action on specific daily verses. I am thankful.
The new year is uncertain for me, but I feel surrounded by the love of God. I find love and peace in his Word. I am committed to the 2013 reading schedule and to the grand experience of being part of oneyearbibleblog.
Posted by: Art Davis | December 31, 2012 at 03:39 PM
Thank you Mike for your encouragement. This is my third year. Every year I have a better understanding of God's words. Your commentary and fellow readers comments help me a lot. Some still goes over my head and heart especially genealogy in the OT & NT.
I plan to do the Chronological Bible Reading in 2013.
Happy New Year to all. May we all feel the love of our Saviour which surrounds us everyday of our lives. We just need to consciously feel it. This OYBB helped me feel His presence.
God bless.
Lily
Posted by: Lily | December 31, 2012 at 04:07 PM
I print out a copy of the bible reading plan and put it in my bible. I read in the mornings on my way to work. When I get home in the evening, I go to the computer and read the blog, listened to the wonderful music.I enjoyed reading and learning about God's Word.The concentration on the word keeps my mind stable. Instead of worry and complaining about the cares of life,Gods Word comes back to me and comforts me.I am so busy focusing on memorizing the scripture for the day.I am praising God throughout the day at work on the elevator, walking down the street. When I get to church on Sundays I do not need to warm up or get in the mood for service. I have been with God all week I am ready for corporate fellowship.This is always a great experience. If you join in reading the word with Mike you will not be the same.When I slip up I get a quick read in at night 1:30 while going to the rest room I make some coffee sit down and get a quick 20 minute read on so in the morning I am caught up with the days reading. Thank U Mike. Those who's comments I read - its beautiful thank you.
Posted by: Antonietta | December 31, 2012 at 05:51 PM
Thank you thank you thank you!!! In the past, I have attempted a few of the "One Year Bible" books and never made it out of January :( Thanks to you Mike, I actually achieved it this year. This blog makes it SO easy, I never had an excuse not to keep up. I know maintaining this blog is probably A LOT of work, but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate every minute you put in it. My life has been changed this year. You are doing good work.
Thank you!
Posted by: Amanda from San Diego | January 01, 2013 at 08:51 PM
Michael - This is what I journaled on January 1, 2013 and posted as a note on Youversion:
On this rainy and cold Tuesday, the first day of 2013, at 57 years of age, I am beginning my ninth year in a row of reading the Bible from cover to cover in a year.
The early morning is my quiet time, to drink God's word and let it soak deeply in my soul. I journal my thoughts afterwards, and I now have quite a collection of filled, spiral notebooks.
I have done this at home, in hotel rooms and wherever I happen to be. I remember my doctor coming into my hospital room three years ago and "catching" me reading my Tyndale NIV one year bible. I have read across several versions, manually with the previously mentioned bible, as well as from a list printed from the one year bible online web site, and electronically on my laptops, smart phones and my Android tablet.
No, I am not bragging or puffing my chest out in pride, but I am thanking God who had made this happen! I am a sinful, imperfect man who worships a sinless, perfect God and his son, Jesus, who took on my sins and died on that cross so many years ago.
Father, thank you for your grace and for the gift of your word. Through thick and thin, sickness and health and the best and worst times of my life, you have been there for me. I do not understand everything in the Bible, but I will keep on reading and believing and hoping.
Posted by: Michael Pankonien | January 02, 2013 at 07:15 AM