September 26th One Year Bible Readings

Isaiah 48:12-50:11 ~ Ephesians 4:17-32 ~ Psalm 69:1-18 ~ Proverbs 24:5-6
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Old Testament - Isaiah chapter 49 verse 6 is sometimes referred to as "the great commission of the Old Testament"!  Here it is: "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."  Paul and Barnabas quote this verse in part in Acts 13:47.  The preceding 5 verses (1-5) in chapter 49 are considered the second servant song in Isaiah and are thought to refer to Jesus, the coming Messiah.  Isaiah chapter 50 verses 4 through 9 in today's readings are considered the third servant song (out of a total of four) in Isaiah.  It's interesting, when I initially read these verses in chapter 50 I really thought they were solely about the prophet Isaiah.  But, as we all know by now from our readings in Isaiah - and we'll see this again in big ways in our coming day's readings - Isaiah often had the coming Savior of the world, Jesus, on his mind when he was writing this incredible book of the Old Testament in the eighth century B.C.!  I love this painting below of Isaiah writing about Jesus...

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Isaiah chapter 50 titled "The Lord Can and Will Help Those Who Trust Him" is at this link.  Below is a nice image for Isaiah chapter 48 verse 17 from today's readings:

New Testament - Wow.  It is rare that I will copy & paste 8 verses in a row here on this blog - because you can simply read the verses by clicking on the link above.  However - I think these 8 verses of Paul's in Ephesians chapter 4 verses 17 through 24 bear repeating here and warrant our re-reading and really meditating on these verses.  Please take a few minutes to really reflect and pray on these verses - "With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves over to immoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true."

Powerful verses above, eh?  I love this teaching - there must be a spiritual renewal of our thoughts and attitudes!  Has there been a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes?  Is there currently a daily spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes?  Or are you maybe on "cruise control" these days?  A great teaching I heard once is that "you are either moving forward or you are sliding backwards.  There is no stable middle ground."  I believe this to be true in our spiritual life.  We are either moving forward - continually renewing our thoughts and attitudes and displaying our new nature - or we are sliding backwards.  Backsliding as some may say.  I pray that each of us today will really take to heart these teachings of Paul's in Ephesians.  Let us throw off our old evil nature and our former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception!  Let us each and every day spiritually renew our thoughts and attitudes through Christ Jesus our Lord!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Ephesians titled "Leaving Our Old Ways Behind" is at this link.  Below is a great image for Ephesians 4:25 from today's readings -

Psalms - Psalm 69 verse 16 today is such a true statement that maybe we need to be reminded of today - "Answer my prayers, O LORD, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Turn and take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful."  God does answer our prayers - perhaps not in the way we "want" Him to, but always in the way that is ultimately best for us and the Kingdom.  His unfailing love is wonderful.  His mercy is so plentiful.  But, yet, somehow I think I sometimes forget all of this.  Why?  I think I forget about God's love & mercy when I am not praying to him.  How about you?  Are you needing a reminder today about God's unfailing love and his mercy?  Are you praying to God for these very things?  Will you allow God to demonstrate both his love and mercy to you today?  Will you offer up prayers and allow God to answer in his perfect way?

Proverbs - Proverbs 24 verse 5 seems to go against some of our modern world's teachings about strength being the key to success - "A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man."  Which do you believe to be true?  The world that says strength is mightier?  Or the Bible that says wisdom is mightier?  Let us seek ever-increasing godly wisdom in our lives each day!

Worship God:  Today's readings in Ephesians reminded me of Tenth Avenue North's song "Healing Begins:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe1yKciSlT4

Has your soul been healed by God?  Click here for Healing!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that no unwholesome talk comes out of your mouth or out of your heart. Pray that the words you speak and think are helpful for others, according to their needs. Pray that you encourage and love others through your words.

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

Grace, love, peace, and joy!
Mike

p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our One Year Bible readings at this link.

p.p.s. Download a schedule of our One Year Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

Comments

[Ramona]

Isaiah 48:12-50:11

Today’s passage includes the third and final verse that spoke to me mightily when I first read through the Bible. Verses 14 through 16 spoke to me through the pain of abandonment. Although a lot of years had past since my childhood the feelings that being abandon caused still lay beneath the surface and caused me to create very superficial relationships. As suicidal thoughts raced through my head and all the destructive behaviors stemming from the mindset of those desperate thoughts,I came upon this passage and collapsed in a torrent of tears knowing that God loved me even when I didn’t love myself, even though I doubted my family loved me or even wanted me.

I love the way these three verses read in the Amplified or the King James Version:

But Zion [Jerusalem, her people as seen in captivity] said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. [And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands; [O Zion] your walls are continually before Me. (Isaiah 49:14-16 AMP)

I can’t say that rational thought took over when I read this but there was a warm burning deep within my very core that let me know that God was speaking these words directly to me.

This passage, Psalm 27:4 and Galatians 3:28 began a process of setting me free and renewing my mind but also propelled me to read God’s Word for myself. I now know from my experiences with these three passages that God will send His Holy Spirit to not only speak to me through His Word but bring understanding in due season.

Ephesians 4:17-32

We must be active in putting away our sin and worldy behavior. Yes we pray for strength and empowerment through the Holy Spirit but essentially we must put away the behavior that is of the world.

A lot of times we try to lay there charges that Paul writes about on unbelievers. We demand in subtle ways that they clean up their act, but they can’t because they are sinners and are only doing what sinners do. Paul’s letters, this letter was written to Christians. It is Christians that Paul is telling to stop stealing; it is believers Paul is telling to stop cursing and using coarse language. Believers are being admonished to put away bitterness, rage, anger harsh words, slander and malicious behavior.

Paul tells us to put these things away, which must mean we have to ability to do what he is asking. We cannot use the excuse, “I just can’t help myself,” or pass the buck and thus the responsibility and consequence of bad behavior by saying, “He/She/They made me do it.”

Psalm 69:1-18

When I read this Psalm, I could not help but think about all the people caught in the floodwaters caused by Hurricane Katrina or the Tsunami. Although many died in South East Asia and some died in the Gulf Coast, many had their cries attended to by God and found themselves plucked from the mire and the floodwaters up to their neck.

Proverbs 24:5-6

5 wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man. 6 So don't go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many counselors.

Nothing is every secured by brute force. The history of Israel fighting against her enemies attests to that. To be wise one must have wisdom, and perfect wisdom is the Wisdom of God. Nothing can defeat God’s Wisdom and that Wisdom is Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Richie MV]

God talks about the Gentiles' (ours) old selves (before Christ) as a different person from the Gentiles who have accepted and trust Christ. This means he probably expects us to live our lives completely different from before because our previous lives were without God.

[Jodie MV]

I pray that the Holy Spirit will empower us to live out today’s Ephesians passages all for Jesus.
‭‭

[Jessie MV]

Whenever I read passages similar to today's passage in Ephesians, I'm reminded of how much I still hold on to my old self and lack what I should be doing as a new self. So I pray that God will renew in me the Holy Spirit and a better attitude. There's a lot I need to get rid of in my life, but the Bible reminds me that I'm not supposed to do it alone! I'm glad that God offers us the Holy Spirit and unity in Jesus.

[Heidi MV]

When I read the passage today in Ephesians, the verse that stood out to me was "'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give devil a foothold." To me this verse was kind of confusing and my interpretation of this verse is that first of all, we must not act out in anger because it will do no good or benefit to anyone or yourself. Secondly, we should try to solve our problems and confront the people we need to confront, instead of letting it just marinate inside you, which gives devil a "foothold" or a root to do more evil.

[Angela MV]

The passage from Ephesians talks about how we, as Christians, should live our lives. It instructs us to be kind, compassionate, truthful, holy, and righteous. The verses that spoke to me the most was verses 25-32. It tells us several times that we should get rid of our falsehood, malice, or unwholesome talk. Instead, we should speak truthfully and build others up according to their needs, because we are all one body. If we do not stop doing sinful things and start being kind and building each other up, then how will we all grow in Christ?

[Shinya MV]

Ephesians talks about how the Gentiles walk is characterized by the futility of there mind. In the end, their thinking is futile because their understanding is darkened. The ignorance and lack of understanding is a heart problem, which shows the foolish denial of God.

[Ryan MV]

“In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold" I feel like this verse is very applicable

[Nathan MV]

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

This verse relates to a class everyone needs to take at my school. The class is called SELF and it teaches us about stress, future life, etc. Today our topic today was about gossip and the negative version of gossip is basically "unwholesome talk."

[Jack mv]

I know that I can't overcome myself, My old self. Only thru the Holy Spirit that indwells who can steer me clear of trouble and impart his wisdom. Let God's Word be our daily bread to quench the hunger of worldly desires.

[Karen MV]

In Isaiah today, the Lord reiterated His plan and purpose for the Israelites. In the same way, He has the exact plan for each one of us as well. Are we willing to let a Him take charge though?

[Sarah MV]

“throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness--righteous, holy, and true.” This passage reminded me to live my life with righteousness and to let go of my old self. I know that I have not completely thrown away my old, evil self so I hope that I will change my attitude and thoughts and “display a new nature” which is “created in God’s likeness.”