Chronological Bible Reading Plan

     Welcome to River of Life, First Baptist Lake Monroe and Ridge Crest Bible Church’s Chronological Bible Reading Plan.  Over the next several years, the members of these sister churches will be reading through their Bibles together in a chronological way, following the events of the Bible in the order in which they occurred rather than in the order in which they were recorded.  In addition the pastor and adult Bible study teachers will be teaching from the same passages we read each week.  At times, additional passages from the Psalms will be provided along with the chronological reading portion.

     I hope that you will prayerfully consider making a commitment to reading through the Bible with us.  As you approach each days’ passage and questions let me encourage you to: 

Pray – Pray before you read.  Ask God to make the scripture real to you and show you how it applies to your life.

Read – Read the scripture passage(s).

Ask – Ask yourself, “in what I just read is there a lesson to learn, a truth to embrace, an example to follow, a sin to avoid, a mistake to dodge, a change to make or a promise to claim?”

Meditate – Think about what you have read.  We are to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).

Remember God’s promise and condition in Jeremiah 29:13

 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

If you miss a lesson and would like it emailed to you,

 send me an email at rolwebperson@yahoo.com

Want a link to read the Scriptures?

http://www.biblegateway.com/

Saturday, September 14 - Read for today: Psalms 131

Sunday, September 15- Read for today: Psalms 132

Monday, September 16 – Read for today: Exodus 18

Work Smarter not Harder 

    How do we receive advice?  When we have doing the same thing over and over for a long time, we tend to think that there is nothing else to learn.  Pride will blind us to truth and the wiser paths and we will become less effective in our work.  Moses had been dealing with the children of Israel for some time now and some of the work had become routine. He listened to disputes between people all day and made judgments which had to be very exhausting.  I believe in his mind he considered this his lot in life for now and was not even looking for a better way.  The saying goes “work smarter not harder” was going to find a real place in the life of Moses.  Jethro, his father-in-law, came bringing Moses’ wife and two sons to him but the trip turned out to be more than a delivery.  God has plans for us that go further than we realize.  We are to minister to one another as God enables us and thereby encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters.

     Moses was probably going on adrenaline and could soon burn out but he would have to humble enough to listen and learn.  Jethro watched the spectacle from a distance and could see with a perspective that Moses could not.  His advice was simply to delegate much of this responsibility.  He knew he was pushing himself to hard and would soon wear out and be of no use to anyone.  Moses was a very meek man which means he had much strength but could be bent and ready to submit to God and any messages sent by Him through others.  He was ready to listen and learn instead of resisting due to pride.  He heeded Jethro’s words and found capable men to assist in judging the people.  Who knows much longer Moses could have gone or what mistakes would have been made due to fatigue.  Are we meek enough to listen to God speaking through other believers or will we shorten and hinder the ministry God has given us by driving ourselves possibly to an early grave?  May we be meek in order to be helped and may we also be ready to be used by our Lord to pass along His advice in the proper way. 

Thoughts to Consider:
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” How can God use me to assist a brother or sister in need?

Ecclesiastes 4:9 --Why are two working in harmony better than one in the Lord’s work?

For Further Study:
We can learn meekness from Christ in Isaiah 53:7.  How can we apply this to our lives?

Also I Peter 2:23

Matthew 11:29—How can submitting to God bring rest to our souls?



Tuesday, September 17 – Read for today: Exodus 19

The Honor Given to Us

     As a child, I used to watch a lot of Star Trek.  Growing up, my tastes in movies did as well.  I’ve watched the military films, westerns, super heroes, etc.  I say that to say, I’ve seen a lot of special effects.  None of them, however, compare to what took place on the Mt. Sinai that day.

     Can you imagine?  Thunder.  The sound of a trumpet.  Lightening.  Smoke and fire.  Sometimes I think we take God, His power, uniqueness, and holiness for granted.   The Israelites do later, but right now they are frightened by what they see and hear.

     From the fireworks on the mountain comes an announcement from the Lord, you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation.

     Priests had unique responsibilities.  They represented God to the people and people to God.  They interceded on behalf of the people.  What an awesome privilege.  What an awesome responsibility to be one of God’s representatives on earth.  What a great honor!

     Israel was about to have priests among them to work on their behalf.  They, as a people, were about to become God’s representatives to the other nations, they were going to approach God on other’s behalf.

     At the crucifixion of Jesus, when He paid the price for our sins, our separation from God came to an end.  Believers can now approach God on their own without going through anyone else (Hebrews 4:16).  Jesus Himself acts as our one and only High Priest (Mark 16:19).  We are told in Romans 8:34 “Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us”.

      We now serve as priests of God ourselves.  We are told that we are “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (I Peter 2:9).

Questions for thought:

  1. Have you ever considered the privilege and responsibilities you have as a priest?

  2. In what ways do you serve as a priest in your community?

  3. What price had to be paid in order for a priest to be able to approach God?  What price was paid so you can?

For further study:

  1. What does 2 Corinthians 5:20 say one of our responsibilities is?

  2. How does 1 Samuel 12:23 add to our responsibilities?



Wednesday, September 18 – Read for today Exodus 20

The Basis for the Law

     In verse 2 we read, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

     This is the prelude to the 10 Commandments.  Before the Lord laid out His law He said, “Remember what I’ve done for you.  Remember where you were.  Remember what life was like.  Remember that I want the best for you.”

     Some folks feel that God is holding out on them.  They feel that He wants to keep them from having fun, from enjoying themselves.  That is not the case.  God created everything.  He is the One Who invented families.  He came up with the idea of work and parents and children, and marriage and sex, and everything else around us.  Having created everything, He knows what makes things work best.  God gives rules because He loves us, knows what will bring joy and what will bring pain into our lives, and wants us to avoid the pain.

     Parents, why do you give your children rules?  Why don’t you let them play in the street when they want to?  Why don’t you let them stay up all night when they want to?  Why don’t you let them eat cake all the time?  Is it because you are trying to be mean, or hold out on them, or because you love them?     In the New Testament we are told, But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!  When you think of the evidence we have of God’s love for us, doesn’t that suggest that the rules, laws, commands that He gives us are for our benefit?God loves you and wants the best for you.

Questions for thought:

  1. If God knows everything, loves us and wants the best for us, then why do we find doing what God asks, so difficult?

  2. In what area are you not believing God, i.e. choosing to sin?

For further study:

  1. What does John 14:15 tell us about our relationship with Jesus and obeying His commands?

  2. What benefits come to those who obey Christ’s commands according to John 14:21?



Thursday, September 19 - Read for today: Exodus 21

It All Matters

     The Lord gave general, basic laws in chapter 20.  Here in 21, He shows how the law is applied in specific situations.

     Some of the penalties the Lord gave may seem a little harsh to us; but we need to remember this was a new nation.  They were just starting out.  The Lord wanted them to understand from the beginning that He would not allow them to treat each other lightly or poorly.  Coming from a time when they had been slaves for generations and the Egyptians had required them to kill their children during different periods, life had little value for some of them.  The Lord wanted to remind them that folks are created in His image (Genesis 1:27), and life has value.

     Did you notice how extensive and expansive His law is?  “God’s law shows that He is concerned about everything; men, women, children, the unborn, property, and even animals.  This is His creation and He has the right to tell us how to manage it.” (Nelson’s Quick Reference Chapter-By-Chapter Bible Commentary, Warren W. Wiersbe, 59).

     Some have the mistaken idea that there are only certain parts of life or society that God is concerned about.  Such people are mistaken.  God created and designed it all.  He created our environment.  He created us.  He created the animals.  He created the systems by which we allowed to purchase and own property and it all matters to God.  We cannot simply be honest in our dealings in certain areas and then be mean or dishonest in others.  It ALL matters to God.

Questions for thought:

  1. Are there areas in your life that you have not addressed because you’ve thought that they didn’t really matter to God?

  2. Do you feel that many of these penalties are being carried out by our legal system?  Would it make a difference with some of the statistics and cities we see today?

For further study:

  1. Read Matthew 7:12.  Would you say this teaching is reflected in this passage?

  2. Read Romans 13:8-10.  What does Paul say in Romans about these laws? 



 Friday, September 20 – Read for today: Exodus 22

He shall make Restitution

 res·ti·tu·tionˌrestəˈt(y)o͞oSHən/ noun

1. the restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner."seeking the restitution of land taken from blacks under apartheid"synonyms:Return, restoration, handing back, surrender

2. recompense for injury or loss. "he was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution"

synonyms:compensation, recompense, reparation, damages, indemnification, indemnity, reimbursement, repayment, redress, remuneration.

     “In today’s chapter, there is an awful lot of restitution, which in today’s Christian world there is far too little.  We try to make amends for what we have to another with an extraordinary amount of civility; but we are reluctant in so many words to frankly confess that we have done wrong, and make a proper reparation for the act or the speech”.  (F.B. Meyer, Our Daily Homily).

     When we have harmed or injured another person, either by our actions, our words, or our carelessness, it is important to apologize.  That is the starting point, but God did not intend or command us to stop there.  He said to “make restitution” to do whatever is in your power to undo the injury that you have caused another.

     That is not “just” an Old Testament command or idea either.  Jesus tells us that it is an appropriate act of worship.  In Matthew 5:22-24 Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’[b] will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You moron!’ will be subject to hellfire.[c] 23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

     Staying in proper relationship and fellowship with others includes, to the best of our abilities, to do whatever it takes to undo, or alleviate whatever injury we have done to another.  It is also important for maintaining a proper relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Watch your words and actions my friend and when you mess up, make it right.

Questions for thought:

  1. Have you injured someone by your words or actions?  What have you done to “undo” the injury?

  2. Do you need to “walk back” some gossip or slander or insult shared around the water cooler, or the dinner table?

For further study:

  1. What do Proverbs 11:29, 16:27, 11:12-13, and Ephesians 4:29 tell us?  2. How does Proverbs 10:19 help us avoid this problem?



 Saturday, September 21 - Read for today: Psalms 133

Sunday, September 22- Read for today: Psalms 134
 

Monday, September 23 – Read for today: Exodus 23

Tending to Justice

     Verses 1-9 are some that we could certainly benefit from seeing more strictly enforced in this country.  We are told in verse 1, to not spread a false report.  Don’t you wish that more researchers in his country were held more strictly to that command?  How is it that we have been told for years that coffee and such are bad for you, only to recently discover that there are health benefits to it after all?  Why have women successfully nursed children for millennium only to be told in the sixties that bottle feeding was better, then to have that reversed?  How is it politicians can hold and promote one position when their party is in favor of it, only to reverse their positions when their party opposes it?  Either something is right or it’s wrong.  You don’t change positions simply depending on which lobbyist has gotten to your leadership most recently.  Oh, if only we had researchers and leadership that were honest.

     I wonder how much of our press and social media would be shut down if folks did not spread false reports?  Can you imagine how much drama would be done away with?  Can you imagine how much more peaceful our work places would be, or how much easier it would be for our children to attend school?

     As long as I’m dreaming, why not dream of juries and judges who followed the rest of these verses?  The Lord says, “Do not show favoritism toward the poor or toward the rich.  Do not accept bribes.”  Why are there loop holes in some laws and regulations and placed such that only those that have special attorneys can find them?  Does that look like the equal justice the Lord commands here?

Questions for thought:

  1. Do you voluntarily serve on a jury when requested?

  2. If the just, honest, and moral do not serve, how can we expect there to be justice in our courts?

  3. Do you take the time or go to the trouble to research judges before you vote to determine if they are honest?

  4. We’ve already been told in Exodus 20:16 “not to bear false witness”.  Does the fact that the Lord has to go into such detail about honesty and justice in this chapter suggest that we are looking for loop holes in His law as well?

For further study:

  1. Proverbs 12:17 tells us what about a witness?

  2. How would: Matthew 7:12 apply here?



Tuesday, September 24 – Read for today: Exodus 24

Getting Close to God

     There are different levels, or degrees of closeness to God.  The people were at one level.  The elders were at another, Joshua at another and Moses at another.  At each level they were able to see and experience different things.  The elders, Joshua and Moses were able to see the Lord and He on something that looked like a pavement of sapphire.  The people missed out on that.  Moses and Joshua were closer and Moses got to see the Lord from within the cloud in a way that the others never experienced.

       In James 4:8 the Bible says, Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!  J. Oswald Sanders has said, “We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be.”  (Quoted in Chapter-by-chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe, p. 61).  God invites us to draw close to Him, to have a relationship with Him, to learn from Him and to see Him do amazing things, including through us.  Most folks are simply unwilling to make the changes, make the sacrifices, pay the price necessary to have a close relationship with Him.  They settle for having the Bible and the blood, but missing out on His work, never experiencing His presence, nor witnessing His power.Don’t waste your life.  Don’t settle for “good enough” or “close enough”.

Questions for thought:

  1. Are you as close to the Lord as you want to be?  Are you seeing Him work in, through you, and around you, the way you’d like?  Why or Why not?

  2. Is there a price He’s asked you to pay that you’ve been unwilling to?

For further study:

  1. What does the Lord promise in Jeremiah 33:3?

  2. How about John 14:12?  Are you seeing that being fulfilled?

  3. What does James 4:8 say is necessary in order to get close to God?



Wednesday, September 25 – Read for today: Exodus 25

Why’s He Doing it that Way?

     In Genesis 1 & 2 we read that God created heaven and earth and everything in them in six days.  He increases a widow’s oil to provide for her debt.  He sends manna from heaven, water from a stone and quail with a breeze.  In the New Testament He multiplies a few loaves and fish and feeds thousands.  He gets a coin from a fish’s mouth, and He tells the disciples where to find fish when they could find none.  In Psalm 50:10 the Lord says, for every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.

     If God owns all of this, and He does; and if He can do all of this, and He can; then why in the world does He tell the Israelites to bring an offering for construction of the Tabernacle, and why does He ask for tithes and offerings from us?  Why doesn’t He just say a word and have it all built with no cost, expense, labor, or inconvenience on our parts?  Why instead, does He ask us to give?  Why does He give us the opportunity to give?  Why’s He doing it that way?

      I believe there are several reasons.

  1. By giving to God, especially when things are tight, we are demonstrating our faith in God and in His provision.  In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

  2. By giving to God, we are expressing our appreciation for what He has given us.

  3. By giving to God, we are acknowledging that it is the Lord Who gives us the strength and the ability to work and to make a living.

  4. By giving to God we are being given the opportunity to partner with God in the work He is doing here.

  5. By giving to God, we are earning treasure in heaven.

    6. By giving to God, we have the opportunity to test Him.  Malachi 3:10.

     A number of years ago, when I was a young man, I was asked to give a tithing testimony.  I told the man asking me “No!” several times.  I didn’t want to give a testimony, because I wasn’t tithing at the time.  I talked to my mom about it.  She told me that when she and my dad were first married, that they didn’t tithe because things were tight and they thought they couldn’t afford it.  She said she later discovered, after they started tithing, that the 90% they had left seemed to go at least as far as the 100% they previously kept for themselves.Moral of the story?  You can’t out give God.

Questions for thought:

  1. What’s the difference between tithes and offerings?

   2. Do you give to God?  Why or why not?

  3. What does what you give, or don’t, say about what you believe about God?

For further study:

  1. What is Jesus’ point in Matthew 6:19-34?

   2. What does 2 Corinthians 9:7 say about our attitude in giving?



Thursday, September 26 – Read for today Exodus 26

A True Copy of the Original

     Did you ever have plans drawn up for a house?  The architect rendered blue prints of exact details where every room and wall in that house would be.  This plan must be exact because the details of the electrical and plumbing depend on everything being where it should.  When the house is completed the architect as well as the homeowner should be satisfied that everything is where it should be.  They should be able to look at the completed house and say yes this is an exact copy of my plans from paper to the physical structure.

     When Moses was given instruction as to the construction of the tabernacle God expected him to follow His directions to the last detail.  The tabernacle was to be a copy or shadow of what was already in heaven.  Hebrews 8:1-5 explains how this construction was a copy of the tabernacle or temple above.  Verse 5 says “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Moses was not to take liberties in the building of the tabernacle because the blueprints were already completed by God and the pattern was in heaven.  God’s ways are perfect and we should never try to improve on them or impose our ideas on a plan that is already perfect.  God has established the way for salvation through His Son and no improvements can be made upon it.  To try to do so would destroy the way of salvation because there is no other way except through Jesus Christ.  God has not only provided salvation for us but also a plan for our lives in accordance with His will. Why go with plan B or C when A is God’s perfect plan for our lives. When we are surrendered to His will the plan will open up and we honor him by following the way He has chosen.  Moses was to follow God’s plans and so must we if we are to bring glory to God and live a life of purpose and joy in serving Him. God gave great detail for the tabernacle and the details for our lives will be perfect if we follow Him first and always!

Thoughts to consider:

Galatians 2:20- What does it mean to be crucified with Christ? How does this effect my daily decisions?

I Corinthians 3:16 –Since our bodies are the temple of God how are we to conduct ourselves.

For further study:

Read John 3 and consider the questions of Nicodemus.  Nicodemus as a Pharisee was accustom to performance in his life in order to please God but Jesus said ye must be born again.  Why must he come God’s way following His plan for salvation? Are we submitted to God’s plan in salvation and service?



Friday, September 27 – Read for today: Exodus 27

The needed light

     In verses 20-21 the Lord commands that lamps be lit and kept burning, in the Tent of Meeting, but outside the curtain of Testimony, from evening until morning.  What was the purpose of this light?  It was assuredly set up to provide light for the priests and such that were serving in the Tent of Meeting.

       Most of the Israelites would have had a lamp burning at least in the early hours of the evening, and to any less for the Lord’s Tent would simply be rude.  However, whereas the majority of the Israelites would have extinguished their last lamp as they turned in the for the night, lamps were to be kept burning throughout the night in the Lord’s tent for He never sleeps (Psalm 121:4).

       One is amazed, when you think about it, how the Lord must have provided trading opportunities for the Israelites as they wandered in the wilderness for the upcoming 40 years.  For, as verse 21 emphasizes, the lamps were to be kept burning all night, every night.  They didn’t slow down long enough to plant olive trees nor harvest their fruit during all the time they were in the wilderness, so not only must the Lord have provided manna and water for them, and never allowed their clothes or sandals to wear out (Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5).  As Nehemiah points out (Nehemiah 9:21), the Lord provided everything they needed.  This was before they even thought of the need and before they even knew how long they would be wandering.

     The Lord sees things long before we do.  He knows what things we need and He provides them (Matthew 6:31-32).     There was another light provided in the camp.  According to Exodus 40:38, the glory of the Lord provided that light.

     In Matthew 5:14-15, we are told that we are to be a light unto the world.  This light progresses from the presence of the Lord, to the camp, and eventually we are to share it with the world.

Questions for thought:

  1. How do we acquire the light we are to shine?

  2. How do we keep it shining brightly?

  3. What things might dim the light we shine?

For further study:

  1. Why does Jesus say, “You Are the light of the world,” instead of “You Contain the light of the world”?

  2. Might 2 Corinthians 5:17 shed any light on the subject? 



Saturday, September 28 - Read for today: Psalms 135
Sunday, September 29- Read for today: Psalms 136