Day 30 Bible Readings – Matthew 20: 21-22 (ESV)

Job 15-18, Matthew 20: 20-34, Psalm 19: 1-6

Matthew 20: 21-22 (ESV)

“And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.”

In verses 21 and 22 from Matthew 20, we see Jesus’ response when the mother of the disciples James and John asks if her son can sign on the right and left hand of Jesus. From reading Jesus’ response, I can imagine he must have been horrified by this request. Although Jesus had been dropping hints to his disciples about what would happen to him, they did not understand him. I think if they did understand how Jesus would die, James and John would have been horrified as well by their mother’s request. When Jesus asked the brothers if they were able to follow him, they answered yes. I think Jesus knew their future, and knew that James would die for being his follower. Although John did not die in the same way as James, he would suffer because he was a follower of Christ. I do feel sorry for the mother of James and John. She loved Jesus but she did not understand that his kingdom would be in heaven and not on earth. But they will all find out soon and I feel so much sympathy for mother of James and John, as she will realize just exactly what she was asking for when she made this request and will be fulfilled when James dies later after Christ was crucified and resurrected.

Day 29 Bible Readings – Job 12: 7-10 (ESV)

Job 11-14, Matthew 20: 1-19, Psalm 18: 43-50

Job 12: 7-10 (ESV)

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”

In verses 7 through 10 from Job 12, Job explains to his friend Zophar that all of God’s creatures know the power of God. They know that God made them and that he knows all about them, and that their whole life is overseen by God. I find Job’s response interesting since he seems to have forgotten that God made him as well, and that God has a hand in everything he does. Job doesn’t see his present difficulties as coming from God or a testing from God, at not yet. Job wonders why God allowed such difficulties to come into his life, and he starts to doubt in his faith in God. Job ask later what sin he committed because he knew he had committed no sins.

Job shows us that our faith in God can be shaken when we are facing great difficulties. But if Job had not gone through the suffering he did, his faith would not have been strengthened. God was testing Job and knew that Job would eventually reason through all of his doubts and come back to his faith.

Day 28 Bible Readings – Matthew 18: 23-24 (ESV)

Job 8-10, Matthew 19: 16-30, Psalm 18: 37-42

Matthew 18: 23-24 (ESV)

“And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

In verses 23 and 24 from Matthew 18, Jesus tells his disciples that it will be hard for someone who is reach to enter the kingdom of heaven. In the Bible commentaries I read, many scholars noted that riches are a problem for the people that have them because wealth makes you satisfied with life. If one is satisfied with one’s life, there is often no reason for a person to want to pursue a relationship with God because they have no needs or wants. There are also cases where people spend so much time seeking and then managing their riches, that they have no time to seek a relationship with God. But to not seek God even if you are satisfied with your wealth is wrong because wealth does not last. Wealth can be taken away from a person at any time, and if you do not have a relationship with God you will not be able to rely on Christ to help you get through life if a financial disaster should befall you.

Day 27 Bible Readings – Psalm 18: 28-30 (ESV)

Job 4-7, Matthew 19: 1-15, Psalm 18: 25-36

Psalm 18: 28-30 (ESV)

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.:

In verses 28 through 30 in Psalm 18, David talks about his confidence in the future with God on his side. David says God will help light his darkness so he can make good decision as a king. God will also give him strength to run against a troop or leap over a wall. David says God’s way is perfect, and God always fulfills his promises. David knows first hand that God is a shield and will protect all who take refuge in him. I love how David says God lights his lamp and lightens his darkness, because that is how I see God. God always lightens my darkness.

Day 26 Bible Readings – Matthew 18: 19-20 (ESV)

Job 1-3, Matthew 18: 10-35, Psalm 18: 16-24

Matthew 18: 19-20 (ESV)

“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

In verses 19 and 20 from Matthew 18, Jesus talked about the power of fellowship in the church. Jesus tells us that if two people of faith have agreement in prayer, then their prayer will be answered. And if two or three people of faith are gathered in the name of God, Jesus will be among them. Many Bible scholars have said that people who do not believe in God do not have the same opportunity for fellowship and community as do people of faith. I think Jesus is so right about the fellowship you find in a church. I have found great friendships in the churches I belonged to, and it was so inspiring to talk to people who believe in the same things. I saw so many prayers answered and miracles asked for whenever they were requested in group prayer. And in a good service, one can always feel the palpable presence of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Day 25 Bible Readings – Genesis 50: 19-21 (ESV

Genesis 49 & 50, Matthew 18: 1-9, Psalm 18: 7-15

Genesis 50: 19-21 (ESV

“But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.”

In verses 19 through 21 from Genesis 50, we read about Joseph’s answer to his brothers when they were worried about whether he would punish him for what they did to him. Joseph told them he wouldn’t take revenge on his brothers because punishing them was God’s job. But Joseph didn’t underplay what his brothers did to him and told them they meant to do evil against him. I think more importantly what Joseph understood was that God used for good what had been done to him in evil. If we look at what happened to Joseph, we can have confidence that no matter evil happens to us God will find a way to use it for good. It may not seem that way at first and it may take years sometimes for us to find our way out of difficulties, but in the end God will use everything that happens to use for the good and to fulfil his plan for humanity.

Day 24 Bible Readings – Matthew 17: 20 (ESV)

Genesis 47 & 48, Matthew 17, Psalm 18: 1-6

Matthew 17: 20 (ESV)

“He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”

Verse 20 from Matthew 17 is Jesus’ response to his disciples when they asked why they couldn’t cast the demon out from the boy. I believe that Jesus is saying that it is not the amount of faith or how much faith that we have to do great things. Jesus is saying that it is the kind of faith we have that is important. Jesus tells his disciples that if they had the faith of a mustard seed, we could do great things. A mustard seed is very small and in time of Jesus, the mustard plant was used to make medicines or to use in cooking. Mustard seeds also grow quickly and spread, and the mustard plant can grow very large. So all we need is a little faith and that faith with God’s help,  will grow quickly and spread and become large and beneficial to God’s plan for earth.

Day 23 Bible Readings – Matthew 16: 4 (ESV)

Genesis 45 & 46, Matthew 16, Psalm 17: 13-15

Matthew 16: 4 (ESV)

“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.”

In verse 4 in Matthew 16, we see Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and Sadducees when they asked for a sign from heaven. Jesus told them there will be no sign except the sign of Jonah. In the Bible commentaries I read, they outlined the similarities between the story of Jonah and the coming crucifixion and resurrection of Chrit. Jesus agreed to be crucified to pay in advance for the sins of humanity, just like Jonah sacrificed himself to saved others. Jesus died on the cross and after three days he was resurrected, just like Jonah who was swallowed by a great fish and was vomited out by the fish after 3 days. Jesus preached for people to repent, It makes me wonder if the Pharisees and Sadducees got the reference to Jonah and what would happen to Jesus. Did the disciples who seemed to know the Old Testament very well understand the Jonah reference as well? I don’t think anyone got the Jonah reference because the disciples never mentioned it in any of the Gospels or even the Book of Acts. But I love how Jesus mentioned it and no one seemed to have caught on as far we know.

Day 22 Bible Readings – Matthew 15: 10-11 (ESV)

Genesis 43 & 44, Matthew 15: 10-39, Psalm 17: 6-12

Matthew 15: 10-11 (ESV)

“And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

In verses 10 and 11 from Matthew 15, we see Jesus’ response to the Pharisees who questioned him about why his disciples did not wash their hands before they ate food. Jesus tells the people that eating with unclean hands is not what defiles. Jesus says what defiles a person is what comes out of their mouth. In this specific context where the Pharisees were asking about ceremonial cleanliness with food, Jesus said ceremonial cleanliness does not matter if a person has unclean heart. We have seen examples in our society about people who profess to be religious and strong people of faith, only to find out later that they were doing evil things and hiding behind the façade of their belief and religion. I think these verses also show that God truly knows what is in our hearts. We cannot hide from him. We might pretend to be good, and other people will believe us but we cannot hide what is in our hearts from God. And with God’s justice, the truth about our unclear hearts will eventually come out and we will be judged by the world and by God.

Day 21 Bible Readings – Matthew 14: 28-31 (ESV)

Genesis 41 & 42, Matthew 14: 22-36, Matthew 15: 1-9, Psalm 17: 1-5

Matthew 14: 28-31 (ESV)

“And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Verses 28 through 31 from Matthew 14 shows us the story of what happened to Peter when he saw Jesus walking on water. Peter had such faith in Christ that he tried to walk on water when Jesus commanded him. But his faith was shaken by the wind, and he began to sink. Jesus saved him when Peter cried out, but he scolded Peter and told him about his lack of faith. I can so relate to Peter’s experience of having faith to do amazing things, but then letting little things get to me and doubting God again.

When I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to move states without a job, I did it on my faith and history of God always leading me to the best paths in life. I kept hearing from Holy Spirit that I would get a job in six months. In the second month after having very little luck trying to get a job interview, I panicked and descended into a deep depression for a week. I doubted God and his direction for my life and felt so sorry for myself. But God did not give up on me, and Holy Spirit kept telling me to not give up faith in God. To make a long story short, I got a job offer and started exactly six months after I moved, just like God had promised. It wasn’t the best paying job, but it was an easy job, and a year later I got a huge bonus and paid off all my debts. God had once again set me on the right path, even though it did not seem like it at the time. God is always faithful to those who believe in him, if we do not give up faith and trust in God’s timing and his plan for our life.

Day 20 Bible Readings – Psalm 16: 11 (ESV)

Genesis 40, Matthew 14: 1-21, Psalm 16

Psalm 16: 11 (ESV)

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

In verse 11 from Psalm 16, David tells us that God makes known to him the path of life. David tells us that in God’s presence there is fullness of job and at God’s right hand there will pleasure forevermore. I have found in my life that if I follow the path of life that God has laid out for me, my life works so much better and I experience joy because somehow things come easier to me. I can also honestly say that with God in my life, my life has also become more pleasurable. And of course, I look forward to being with God when I pass from this life to the next for eternity.

Daily 19 Bible Readings – Genesis 39: 21-23 (ESV)

Genesis 38 & 39, Matthew 13: 36-58, Psalm 15

Genesis 39: 21-23 (ESV)

“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.”

At the end of Genesis 39, Joseph was bought Pontiphar as a slave. Joseph did a great job, which was appreciated by his owner. He was then thrown in prison after he was falsely accused of trying to seduce the Pontiphar’s wife. But God did not abandon Joseph when it seemed like he was at his lowest point after being thrown in prison for a crime he did not commit. In verses 21 through 23, the keeper of the prisoner put Joseph in charge of the prisoners. And again, because God was with him Joseph also did very well while in prison.

We need to always remember that if we have favor with God and he had a plan for our life, God will never abandon us. Even it seems like we are off God’s plan and we find ourselves in what seems to be the worst circumstances, God is always with us. No matter what our circumstances, if God is with us he willshow us favor so we will always succeed no matter where find ourselves in life.

Day 18 Bible Readings – Genesis 37: 19-20 (ESV)

Genesis 36 & 37, Matthew 13: 18-35, Psalm 14

Genesis 37: 19-20 (ESV)

“They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”  

In verses 19 and 20 from Genesis 37, Joseph’s brothers wanted to cause harm to him because of his dreams. Since Joseph’s dreams were a prophetic revelation from God, Joseph’s brothers were trying to defeat God’s words and plans for all of their lives. But despite their evil act, God turned what they did for the good to fulfill his plan. If God has a plan for our lives nothing can defeat God’s plans. God will turn any act to ruin his plan to his own advantage, so his prophetic words for our lives are fulfilled. So if we receive a prophecy of God’s plan for us, we should have confidence that God’s plan for us will always come to past no matter what anyone does or what we ourselves do to prevent God’s plan from becoming fulfilled.

Day 17 Bible Readings for January 18, 2025 - Matthew 13: 3-8 (ESV)

Genesis 34 & 35, Matthew 12: 46-50, Matthew 13: 1-17, Psalm 13

Matthew 13: 3-8 (ESV)

“And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

I am starting to have a new appreciation for the parable of the sower from verses 3 through 8 from Matthew 13. Even though I consider myself a person of faith, sometimes the word of God falls on me and I do not absorb it like good soil. Sometimes I listen to the words of God and it’s like I don’t hear it and I feel like my stress and worries have devoured them. At other times, I do listen to the word of God but they do not really take root in my life. I remember the words of God for a week, but the day to day concerns of life comes up and they scorch them and I forget what I’ve heard and the words of God die inside of me. At rare times, I hear the words of God and they conflict so much with something inside of that the words are choked by the thorns inside me. Finally, sometimes I hear the words of God and immediately they take root and become part of my life and grow abundantly inside of me because they fell on good soil. I think what I need to do to improve the good soil inside of me is too analyze why the words of God do not take root and grow. Once I find out the “root cause”, I will ask the Holy Spirit for help to make all of me good soil so the words of God will fall on me and always take root and grow.

Day 16 Bible Readings – Genesis 32: 24-25 (ESV)

Genesis 32 & 33, Matthew 12: 22-45, Psalm 12

Genesis 32: 24-25 (ESV)

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.”

I love verses 24 and 25 from Genesis 32. God appeared to Jacob as a man and wrestled with him. Many Bible commentaries on this verse have said that God wrestled with Jacob to take his self-reliance and his scheming. I have never had the physical experience of wrestling with God, but I think sometimes God does wrestle with me in my mind when he wants me to behave better. And like Jacob I fight with God. I hate being told what to do and I know that God is often trying to get me to give up my self-reliance. I don’t scheme like Jacob, but I constantly have doubts about my faith. I know when God does win my life turns out so much better. I am improving, but the wrestling with God still goes on, and thankfully they are now short and God always wins.

Day 15 Bible Readings – Matthew 12: 11-12 (ESV)

Genesis 31, Matthew 12: 1-21, Psalm 11

Matthew 12: 11-12 (ESV)

“He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Verses 11 and 12 from Matthew is a lesson from Jesus on putting rules first before compassion. The religious leaders in the synagogue asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath, and Jesus countered by asking them if they would not help their own sheep if an accident happened on the Sabbath. Jesus knew the answer would be “yes”, so he told them that the people who worship with them are more valuable than the sheep and it was not wrong to heal during the Sabbath. I see this sometimes with myself where I don’t want to break rules to help someone out. In cases like this I know now the best thing I can do is pray to God for advice and listen for his words. If you are unsure of which direction you need to go when it comes to breaking your own rules and/or private codes, pray to God for help and he will answer you.

Day 14 Bible Readings – Matthew 11: 28-30 (ESV)

Genesis 29 & 30, Matthew 11, Psalm 10: 12-18

Matthew 11: 28-30 (ESV)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In verses 28 through 30 from Matthew 11, we read about Jesus inviting us to come to him and become his followers. We will learn from Jesus and find rest for our souls. Then Jesus says his “yoke is easy” and his burden is light. Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light because he will bear the burden with us. It doesn’t mean that being a follower of Jesus will be easy, but Jesus will bear it with us and we can rely on him to care for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. I think that the best part of being a follower of Jesus is the rest for our souls that he promises. Whenever I’ve had burdens in my life, Jesus was always there to comfort me. In midst of sometimes great pain and sadness, I felt that Jesus was holding me in the palm of his hand so I wouldn’t fall apart. I felt safe and protected, and able to bear my troubles and sorrow because they had been made lighter by Jesus.

Day 13 Bible Readings – Matthew 10: 34-36 (ESV)

Genesis 27 & 28, Matthew 10: 32-42, Psalm 10: 1-11

Matthew 10: 34-36 (ESV)

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.”

Verses 34 through 36 from Matthew 10 shows Jesus talking about what it means to be his follower. If a person makes a commitment to follow Christ, they may find that they will come into conflict with their parents, other relatives, and even their friends. Loved ones and friends may not understand a believer’s commitment to Christ and may try to sabotage the relationship with God. I think that is why Jesus told his disciples he did come to earth to bring, but to bring a sword. Faith in Christ may cause division, and Jesus wanted to forewarn his followers of what was to come. Faith may become like a sword that cuts through the relationships that families have with each other, especially I think when it comes to following God’s laws. The “sword of faith in Jesus Christ” is even more relevant today when people who follow Christ and Biblical principles are mocked and ridiculed in movies and in mainstream media. But the rewards that come from being a believer in Christ are so great, that a Christ follower must stand their ground and not be ashamed to have a committed relationship to Jesus Christ. If we are faithful to Christ and Biblical laws, we are guaranteed to have a miracle filled life from now and into eternity.

Day 12 Bible Readings – Matthew 10: 29-31

Genesis 25 & 26, Matthew 10: 1-31, Psalm 9: 13-20

Matthew 10: 29-31

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

In verses 29 through 31 from Matthew 10, Jesus says to his disciples that God cares for all of his people. God created everything on earth, and nothing happens on earth that is not his will. Jesus gives them the example of sparrows, and told his disciples not to fear because they are more valuable than many sparrows. God knows us down the smallest detail down to how many hairs are on our head. These words from Jesus are what we need to remember when we have overwhelming fears about our future. God loves us so much that he knows everything about us, and he will always take care of us just as he cares for all the creatures on the earth. We might often think that God doesn’t loves us, nor does he know anything about us. But these feelings of unworthiness are wrong. God does know us and he loves us so much, we should fear anything. 

Day 11 Bible Readings – Matthew 9: 1-2

Genesis 23 & 24, Matthew 9, Psalm 9: 7-12

Matthew 9: 1-2

“And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

In verses 1 and 2 from Matthew 9, Jesus heals a paralyzed man because of the faith of his friends. These verses tell us how important it is to have friends pray for you when you are in need. Your own faith may not be strong enough for God to grant you a miracle, but if you have friends who will pray for you then God may decide to grant you your prayers based on the faith on your friends. Friends are so important in your journey of faith. Friends can encourage you in the faith and keep you on track to follow God’s law. When your faith is lacking, a friend can always help you to strengthen your faith. A friend can pray to God for a miracle for you, and based on their faith alone God may decide to grant you that miracle. 

Day 10 Bible Readings – Genesis 22: 15-18 (ESV)

Genesis 21 & 22, Matthew 8: 23-34, Psalm 9: 1-6

Genesis 22: 15-18 (ESV)

“And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

In verses 15 through 18 from Genesis 22, the Angel lets Abraham know what will happen to him after his complete obedience to God. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac to God. These verses reminded me of how God was willing to sacrifice his only son Jesus Christ to save us. As Isaac was saved from death by God, Jesus Christ was also saved from true death when he rose from the cross. Isaac went willingly to his death when Abraham bound him and laid him on the altar. Jesus also went willingly to his death on the cross to fulfill his father’s will. Abraham shows us what it means to be completely obedient to God, even if that obedience meant sacrificing his most precious son.

Day 9 Bible Readings – Matthew 7: 24-27 (ESV)

Genesis 19 & 20, Matthew 7: 24-29, Matthew 8: 1-22, Psalm 8

Matthew 7: 24-27 (ESV)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

When I read verses 24 through 27 from Matthew 7, I immediately thought of the song “Firm Foundation” by Cody Carnes. We sing this song at least once a month at my church. People love this song because everyone seems to know the words. Every time I am facing any kind of problem, I pray to God to help me out. I cannot imagine what it must be like to face any kind of problem or issue and not have God to rely on to help you in these moments. Not only does praying to God for help free my mind, but I have experienced so many miracles from God when I experience any kind of problems in my life.

Here's the song for your listening pleasure:

Day 8 Bible Readings – Matthew 7: 7-11

Genesis 16-18, Matthew 6: 25-34, Matthew 7: 1-23, Psalms 7: 10-17

Matthew 7: 7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Verses 7 through 11 from Matthew 7 are well-known verses. Jesus tells everyone “ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” I experienced an example of what Jesus said today. I received an email from an online shop that said if ordered $100 worth of merchandise, I would receive a $25 gift card. I went ahead and ordered an item that was over $100, but I never received the gift card. I called the online shop’s Customer Service line and Rep # 1 told me that I didn’t receive the gift card because the brand of the item I purchased was excluded from this kind of promotion. Rep # 1 suggested I order something else and see if it triggers the $25 gift card. I did as Rep # 1 suggested, but I could not get the gift card to trigger. I decided to call the online shop again and spoke to Rep # 2. I explained the situation to Rep # 2, and she decided to manually trigger the gift card for me. So I asked first and nothing happened, then I sought to see if I could get the gift card and still got nothing. Finally, I knocked on Rep # 2’s door and I received my gift card. Sometimes asking isn’t enough, and even seeking isn’t enough to get you what you want. You have to be persistent and not give up and keep knocking and knocking until you get what you want.

Day 7 Bible Readings – Matthew 6: 24 (ESV)

Genesis: 13-15, Matthew 6: 1-24, Psalm 7: 1-9

Matthew 6: 24 (ESV)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Verse 24 from Matthew 6 shows Jesus telling his followers that you cannot serve two masters. As a person of faith, I know that God is my master. But I have always struggled between serving God and serving another master. Sometimes that master has been my career. Sometimes it was a relationship. And other times it was between what I wanted for my life and where God was guiding me. Jesus was right. At times I hated God and loved my other man masters. I was either devoted to one and despising the other, and sometimes switching between hate and love several times a day. Thankfully as I got older, God won out more and more. But I still struggle with serving money and God. I know that God is always right in where he is guiding me, but I always struggle if that direction involves a loss of income. But I do know my treasure is in heaven, and that the riches of this lifetime will fade or be taken away. My real treasure is and will always my relationship with God. He is the one master I want to serve for the rest of my life.

Day 6 Bible Readings – Matthew 5: 8 (ESV)

Genesis 11& 12, Matthew 5, Psalm 6

Matthew 5: 8 (ESV)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Verse 8 from Matthew 5 stood out to me. I used to think this verse meant that if you are in pure in heart, you will see God in heaven when you die. On further reflection, I believe people who are pure in heart can see God everywhere. If you are pure in heart, you will see God in nature. You can also see God in actions of others. Becoming pure in heart can be cultivated by deepening your relationship with God. If you dwell in God’s word daily, you will become closer to God. A person with a pure heart is devoted to God and single-minded in their commitment to God. My goal is to develop a purer heart so I can see God in my everyday life.

Day 5 Bible Readings – Genesis 9: 12-13 (ESV)

Genesis 9 & 10, Matthew 4: 23-25, Psalm 5

Genesis 9: 12-13 (ESV)

“And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

Verses 12 and 13 remind me that a rainbow was made by God as a sign of the covenant he made not only with Noah and his sons, but with the earth and the animals. God’s covenant was that he would never destroy the earth again with a flood. I’ve always loved rainbows because they are a rare and beautiful thing to see in the sky. Whenever I see a rainbow, I always see it as a sign of good luck. I also learned in childhood to make a wish whenever I see a rainbow. These verses remind me to be grateful to God of his promise to not destroy the earth by flood. God did a reset on humanity, and from this covenant he promised not do another reset until the circumstances described in Revelation. While we should always be afraid of natural disasters, we do not need to worry about God destroying the earth again.

Day 4 Bible Readings – Matthew 4: 1-3 (ESV)

Genesis 7 & 8, Matthew 4: 1-22, Psalm 4

Matthew 4: 1-3 (ESV)

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

In verses 1-3 from Matthew 4, a tempter came to Jesus after his 40-day fast and asked him to use his gifts to appease his hunger. Bible commentator Charles Spurgeon noted that temptations will always come to us until we die. Jesus had done a fast with encouragement from the Holy Spirit, so he was following his father-God’s plan for his life which was to be tempted. But the tempter still came to him. If Jesus was tempted, then we must expect that we will also be tempted even when we are in our most devout frame mind. I think it is mistake that just because we consider ourselves a person of faith with a devout relationship with God, that we would never be tempted. I think devout people of faith should probably expect to be experience more temptation, because Satan will try anything to shake their faith in God. I can imagine a tempter saying to me, “if you are so devoted to God, why did this bad thing happen to you? God has abandoned you. Use your own brain to get out of this situation.” We must always be vigilant and rely on God to help us when the tempter comes into our life.

Day 3 Bible Readings – Genesis 5: 5-6 (ESV)

Genesis 5 & 6, Matthew 3, Psalm 3

Genesis 5: 5-6 (ESV)

“The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.”

In verses 5 through 6 in Genesis 5 we find out that from the beginning, God knows what our intentions are and thoughts that are in our hearts. We also find out that because God loves us so much, like a good father, God grieves in his heart when his children misbehave. I sometimes used to think that God was not always aware of what I did, what I thought, and what was in my heart. And I justified my reasoning by telling myself, that if God knew what was really in my heart, he would have answered my prayers. This justification is obviously wrong because God could have a million different reasons why he hasn’t answered my prayers. As humans we cannot know what God sees and knows because God sees and knows everything. Perhaps God didn’t answer my prayers because he saw into the future what would happen, and it wasn’t good for me or in the plan he had for my life. Whatever the reason we have to trust that God knows what is always good for us and we cannot assume that he doesn’t even know we exist, and we can do whatever we want. God does know us inside and out. God also loves us so much that he grieves for us when we do wrong or disobey him, because he knows what harm we will cause ourselves and others. And God doesn’t want us to harm ourselves, he only wants the very best for us.

Day 2 Bible Readings – Genesis 3: 4-5 (ESV)

Genesis 3 & 4, Matthew 2, Psalm 2

Genesis 3: 4-5 (ESV)

“But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Verses 4 and 5 from Genesis 3 stood out to me today. The serpent said to Eve that if you eat of the apple, “you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”. I know that whenever I felt I knew better than God, I decided not to listen to what the Holy Spirit was trying to whisper to me. I became like God, thinking I knew good and evil and the plan for my life. And every time I had this attitude and did not listen to God, the decisions I made turned out to be bad ones. It took a long time for me to listen more to God than to my own mind. It is still a struggle to not want to follow my own mind and only follow the mind of God. But it makes sense because I am a descendant of Eve, and I inherited her sin of eating an apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Even though Eve and Adam sinned, God still loved them. After speaking to them, God made clothing for Adam and Eve and clothed them. I love that God still had mercy for his creations and made proper clothes for them. I count on God’s mercy when I sometimes I disobey him. No matter how much trouble I get myself in, God will always show mercy to me and clothe me in his love.

Day 1 2025 Bible Readings – Psalm 1: 1-3

Genesis 1 & 2, Matthew 1, Psalm 1

Psalm 1: 1-3

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.”

This is my 4^th year of reading the Bible in a year, and I can honestly say I feel blessed by God as is described in verses 1 through 3 from Psalm 1. Reading the bible daily has strengthened my relationship with God, and that was and still is my yearly goal. I’m not sure I have true delight in the law of the Lord, which is something I constantly try to improve on in my life. Reading the Bible every day has also made my faith like a tree, growing deep roots in my life. The daily dwelling in God’s word has nourished me, and the fruit that comes from it is the recognition of the many blessings and miracles God has given me and continues to bestow on me in my life. If truth be told, my leaves of faith still wither around the edges now and again as I go through the daily trials and burdens of my life. But I am thankful my leaves of faith do not fall off, but miraculously regrow and become strong again. I owe this renewal to my daily Bible readings, so I am proud once again to dwell daily in God’s word and I look forward to seeing what verses will cause me to ponder more deeply God’s love for me.

Day 365 Bible Readings – Revelation 22: 3-5 (ESV)

Nehemiah 13, Revelation 22, Proverbs 31: 21-31

Revelation 22: 3-5 (ESV)

“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

In verses 3 through 5 from Revelation 22, John sees an amazing vision of heaven will be like. I love that John sees nothing but the light of God. There will be no need for the sun or a lamp, and there will never be a night. God will be all the light we need in heaven and God will reign in heaven forever. This vision of heaven is so beautiful to me. I tend to associate so many bad things with the night and the lack of light. It seems like all the bad things that happen in the world always seem to happen at night or when there is an absence of light. God always brings the light to the darkness, and when he reigns in heaven there will be darkness and no bad things.