Skip to main content

Reading the New Testament in a Year


This is certainly late for those of you who might have been interested, but I was urged by someone to post this to the Blog page.    Reading through the New Testament is not a difficult task as long as you keep at it on a daily basis. 
This reading plan begins in Matthew and has daily readings Monday thru Friday, with weekends free.
I don't want you to miss the early sections of Matthew but if you can catch up later on.

 This week, we're reading Matthew 14 (today), and then the rest of the week is this:

Tuesday, Matthew 15:1-20

Wednesday, Matthew 15:21-39

 Thursday,  Matthew 16

 Friday,  Matthew 17

 Weekend,  Matthew 18

 If you want more, I am posting some thoughts also on Facebook.  If you don't have Facebook and you'd like those daily "musings", send me a note and I'll email them to you.  epollasch@gmail.com

 Today's posting is below, and it's an example -
Reading through the New Testament in a year brings us to Matthew 14. Read it through and then think a bit about what is happening.
Some things to “muse” over.
Matthew 14 has three main events: The death of John the Baptist, the Feeding of 5000, and Jesus walking on the water in the storm and Peter’s attempt to do so also.
1. I’m struck by Jesus’ response to Herod’s lust-filled evil. He withdraws - a silent response. Remember, John, was his cousin, and one who was sent by God to prepare the way for Jesus’ coming. He had done that very thing, and now his life is ended by this evil ruler.
When Jesus gets wind of what happened to John, he withdraws. That’s something worth pondering on.
2. What Jesus does in the face of the news about John is to look out on a crowd of people and “have compassion on their need” (vs 14). The feeding of the 5000 is in all four of the Gospels. It happens because Jesus “sees them, and has compassion on them”. There’s a lesson in what happens. Read this section again:
Start with what you have. “All we have is five loaves and two fish - what can we do with that?” The other Gospel tells us it was a young lad who had this. God begins where we are and uses what we have.
Give what you have to Jesus. Jesus broke the bread and gave the pieces to the disciples, and they, in turn, fed the multitudes. It is God who “multiplies” what we have, not us. The old saying I remember from years ago: “Little is much when God is in it”.
Obey what He commands. The disciples had the people sit down as Jesus ordered. They took the broken pieces and distributed them, and discovered that there was plenty for everybody. When we give what we have, God will use it for his purposes.
3. The last part has two components. First Jesus “walks on the water” (vs 25). That in itself is a miracle from a human point of view. But, what I’m struck by is that Jesus came to them while they were in the storm. Jesus comes out to them while they struggle to move the boat along. They hear his words, “Do not be afraid, it is I”. Peter’s response is courageous and human. Jesus’ response to him is worth our thinking when we find ourselves in the “storms” of life. “Why did you doubt?”
We might find ourselves hearing that when we get to heaven. We look back and realize that the circumstances that overwhelmed us were sent by God to grow our faith and accomplish something in our lives we never could have happened without the storm.
Peace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hands Full of Parcels

"A Man whose hands are full of parcels can't receive a gift."   - C. S. Lewis Romans 4:13-16 (ESV) 13  For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14  For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15  For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. 16  That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all... The last four days have been best described by the word "fatigue".  It's not an uncommon word in our vocabulary.  Listless, tired, sore.  1300 miles of car travel, being sick, not sleeping well, and eating poorly all add up to the word - fatigue.   Someone onc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Tabernacle

The readings today are Exodus 36, 37, 38 I wanted to post some pictures of what these various parts of the Tabernacle looked like. It's not the easiest read in the world, but if you persevere through it, you can get a picture of all the different pieces that made up the tabernacle. It is a replica of the various parts of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness: First thing in the chapter listed is the outside of the tabernacle which consisted of curtains tied together and put on cross bars through loops. Next at the beginning of 37 is the table and lampstand: Also, the altar of incense: And, the altar for the burnt offering which was in the courtyard: Finally, the courtyard which made it all come together: Hope that helps with what it might have all looked like. Most importantly, this was their "place" of worship they were building. I hope you have a great day of worship. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
1 comment
Read more

The difference between defending and explaining

The news of recent has focused the suffering of Christians in the middle east who have been martyred for their faith in Christ at the hands of Islamic Terrorists. Through the centuries many Christians have lost their lives as a result of their faith. For us, who live in America, there is little chance that we would have this happen here - but it's entirely possibly that terrorism will strike out at Christians sometime.  But, for many Christians in the western world - especially here in the U.S. - being a Christians who believes God's word there is a form of persecution that is defined by words like "ostracized", "passed over", "ridiculed", and more. What do we do in the face of opposition to faith? When the Apostle Peter writes to the early believers who are undergoing great pressure, even persecution for their faith in Jesus, he gives them this charge. 1 Peter 3:8-18 8  Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly lov...
1 comment
Read more