I have begun reading the New Testament for the 3rd time around this year, this time I decided to mix it up and even invite others to join me. I found an excellent blog post which I will be using to follow the daily plan. "Shalom in the Wilderness" It is going to be an interesting 92 days since I have never read these books in chronological order. I hope these posts inspire a few more people to begin and for others to find peace in their daily readings of the bible.
DAY ONE is Luke 1, John 1:1-14:
In Luke I highlighted the prophesy of John through the barren and advanced in years Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, Zechariah receives a revelation of his son and from servant of the Lord Gabriel. After the revelation Zechariah, husband of Elizabeth, questioned how he could believe and discern this to be true or if he could know it would come to pass and then becomes "dumb" or "Mute" until the birth of John the Baptist. The prophesy of John is that he would go before Jesus and set the path and make the way through the darkness.
v15 "for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth."
It shows that he will not drink wine or strong drink like a Nazarene in old testament times, and will be filled with the holy spirit even in the womb. Zechariah Praises Yah in verses 68-79 for his the prophet of the most high honor and glory of the father. John the baptist the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth will shine a light in the darkness of death and be a path to peace.
"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. 69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us-- 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
Also I would like to share some verses that stood out to me with Mary, her faith and trust in God, how beautiful it is reading her praises to him with her acceptance of his will. Gabriel, just like he appeared to Zechariah to profess a message, he arrives to Mary and tells her she is favored and that her cousin will bare a son in the name of the lord as well. Her response to this is marveling since most humans are for their own will and not God's alone.
v38 "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said."
What faith! Wouldn't it be great to be so enduring and accepting to what the lord tells us will happen and when? He already has and does we should know that the promises are his word and they are coming to pass. My hope is that everything the lord reveals to us through reading and studying the word each day that we are able to discern and praise him through our service. The beautiful praise of Mary reminds me of Mary's song in my youth "My soul doth glory in your love oh lord"
"My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."
In John 1:1-14 we are introduced to the light of God and his word becoming flesh to redeem all those who believe in the salvation of sin and our fallen ways. It is so crazy to me to think that we have, as humans fallen so astray that one thing we think we can't do or shouldn't do we try to find a way to do it anyway...state of rebellion, does it ever change with in our hearts? Knowing that our heavenly father is worth any sacrifice of denying those fleshy desires for a deeper relationship with him. God is life, and love, and he created humans in his image giving us blood which symbolizes our source of life which Jesus poured out for us to redeem us from this wicked and sinful world. All we are asked to do is trust and believe what is told to us, just like Mary trusted what she was told. The gift that we would become children of God and decedents of Abraham through receiving this grace. For some it is hard to believe that one person can redeem all, but with the same logic it is by one disobedient human that we were all fated for life on earth. In the section of John I would like to note that we all have the right to be Children of Yah simply by believing in the grace he has offered to us through a sacrifice by coming into the flesh and spilling his perfect and holy blood over the world.
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
These verses are showing the promise of who ever receives has the hope and promise of eternal life through Christ and will gain the rights of children of God.
The following are the rest of the days that I have so far:
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
As of 9/19/2014 I have finished reading/listening to the 92 days of NT in chronological order. I stopped creating posts due to time restraints but will work on getting the days complete until I have all pages. I hope you enjoy and find something inspiring through the notes I have accomplished. Peace and Love.
The following are the rest of the days that I have so far:
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
As of 9/19/2014 I have finished reading/listening to the 92 days of NT in chronological order. I stopped creating posts due to time restraints but will work on getting the days complete until I have all pages. I hope you enjoy and find something inspiring through the notes I have accomplished. Peace and Love.
