Readings for 25,26 November & comments

The Bible readings for Sunday 25 and Monday 26 November are -- 1 Sam 18:1-19:24; Ps 65:9-13; Pro 14:13-14; John 6:22-40.
Any comments on these readings? Please feel free to add them here.

Ps John has a comment on how events in 1 Sam 18 & 19 illustrate Pro 14:14.
Ps John has a comment on the situation in the psalm and in Australia today.

Readings for 17,18 November & comments

The readings for Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November 2007 are -- 1 Sam 11:1-13:22; Ps 63:6-11; Pro 14:4; Jn 4:27-54.
Your comments are welcome here.

Ps John has a comment about Samuel's changing role (1 Sam).

Readings for 4,5 October & comments

The Bible readings for Thursday 4 and Friday 5 October are -- Joshua 19:1-51; Ps 51:10-13; Pro 12:11-12; Lk 18:1-23.
Any thoughts on these passages? Share them with us here.

Gordon's comment (incl Hughes') on the Pharisee/tax collector parable in bulletin 30/9/07.
Ps John's comment on Luke about prayers of supplication and confession.
Part of Gordon's comment on Ps 51 (incl. Selwyn Hughes quote) in 6/10/07 bulletin.

Readings for 2,3 October & comments

The Bible readings for Tuesday 2 and Wednesday 3 are -- Josh 16:1-18:28; Ps 51:6-9; Pro 12:8-10; Lk 17:11-37.
Please leave your comments any time.

Ps John has a comment on the 10 lepers about thanksgiving in prayer.

Readings for 8,9 September & comments

The Bible readings for Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September are -- Deut 28:15-68; Ps 45:13-17; Pro 11:9-11; Lk 11:5-28.
Please feel free to add your thoughts.

Some more of Gordon's comments on Lk 11 and prayer from bulletin of 9/9/07.

Readings for 6,7 September & comments

The Bible readings for Thursday 6 and Friday 7 September are -- Deut 27:1-28:14; Ps 45:6-12; Pro 11:7-8; Lk 10:25-11:4.
Feel free to leave a comment any time.

Gordon's comments on prayer and Lk 11:2-4 in bulletin of 9/9/07.
Ps John has a comment on serving ("deaconing") from Lk 10.

Readings for 16,17 July & comments

The Bible readings for Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 July are -- Num 16:1-50; Ps 35:17-21; Pro 8:20-21; Mk 14:43-72.
Please feel free to leave your comments anytime.

Ps John has a comment on Num and Mk about coping with tough situations.

Readings for 14,15 July & comments

The Bible readings for Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July are -- Num 15:1-41; Ps 35:11-16; Pro 8:18-19; Mk 14:22-42.
Please feel free to leave a comment any time.

Ps John has a comment on Ps and Mk about Jesus' commitment to God's will.

Readings for 2,3 July & comments

The Bible readings for Monday 2 and Tues 3 Juky are -- Num 6:1-7:29; Ps 33:10-17; Pro 8:1-3; Mk 11:12-33.
Please feel free to leave a comment any time.

Ps John has a comment on Num about benediction.

Readings for 22,23 June & comments

The Bible readings for Friday 22 and Saturday 23 June are -- Lev 27:1-34; Ps 31:9-18; Pro 7:9-12; Mk 9:2-29.
Your comments/questions on these readings welcome.

Callum has a comment on Mk about authority.
Ps John has a comment on Mk about the Son of God.

A daily quiet time?

Mark 1:35 tells us: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He (Jesus) got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there." In the "Every Day With Jesus Bible" that we are using for "Thru in 2", Selwyn Hughes makes the following comments on that verse.

It is an exciting thought that spiritual staleness need not be so. Spiritual freshness is available to us all -- and on a daily basis. Maintaining it, however, does not mean that we will be exempt from having to face occasional trials and difficulties. It means, rather, that no matter how dry and difficult our circumstances, our experience of God can remain fresh and vibrant.
What, then, is the first principle of maintaining spiritual freshness? Establish a daily quiet time with God in order to replenish your spiritual resources.
Some modern-day Christians balk at this idea. They say, "The Lord is with us all the time. Why do we need to fence off a particular part of the day to spend with Him? A daily quiet time can soon bring one into legalism." I am well aware of this danger, but again I say -- it need not be so. There have been periods in my own life when my quiet time was nothing more than a ritual, but that was more of a consequence than a cause.
The best period for a quiet time, in my opinion, is in the morning, before the day starts. Some prefer the evening or perhaps -- as in the case of busy mothers and wives -- the late morning is better, when the family has left and the house is quiet. Each must establish the best time according to preference or convenience. I'm merely saying that a certain time of the day ought not to belong to the day, but to the getting of resources for the day. Start the day right and you will end it right."

That second last sentence in particular made me think. Also his opening comments about spiritual freshness. I think I've probably tended to emphasise more the importance of a daily QT for spiritual growth and guidance. But he's right to point out its contribution to spiritual freshness, which is something we all need. As to which part of the day, I find this varies, but I do tend to be more of a night person. What has been your experience?

26,27 Feb -- Some Radical Teaching

Readings for Mon 26 & Tues 27 Feb are: Gen 15:7-17:27; Ps 6:1-5; Pro 1:20-23; Mt 6:5-24.

In today's reading from Matthew we have the Lord's Prayer (or The Disciples' Prayer as Selwyn Hughes points out). It includes the challenging words: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." No doubt sensing the difficulties here for disciples, Jesus' first words after the prayer elaborate on precisely this aspect. Compare with these words from the weekend's Psalm reading. David prays: "Punish them, God; let them fall by their own schemes. Drive them out..." (5:10)

What a radical change of thinking Jesus calls for in his teaching!

Other readings over the last few days have also graphically highlighted this. Take the Beatitudes. Blessed are the gentle..." "Blessed are the merciful..." "Blessed are the peacemakers..." "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you..." (Bytheway, thanks Susan for your inspiring comments on the Beatitudes and the Kingdom on Sunday morning.) And on the same day that we were reading in Genesis about Abram getting an army to attack the 4 kings and their armies, we were reading these words from Jesus in Matthew --
"You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don't resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
"You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But, I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

The Law and human nature and common practice said one thing. Jesus said another. So radically different! (So radical we still struggle to apply it.) A new era was dawning. Yet, somewhat paradoxically, Jesus said he hadn't come to abolish the Law but to fulfil it.