Day 173 Bible Readings – Acts 15: 10-11 (ESV)

1 Kings 9: 10-28, 1 Kings 10, 1 Kings 11: 1-13, Acts 15: 1-21, Psalm 93

Acts 15: 10-11 (ESV)

“Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Verses 10 and 11 from Acts 15 is Peter’s response as to whether the Gentiles needed to follow the laws set forth by Moses when the Hebrews left Egypt. Peter’s argument is that laws of Moses were hard for even the Hebrews to bear, and they kept breaking them again and again. Peter then argued that with resurrection of Christ, the people who believe in him are saved by God’s grace and not by obedience to the laws of Moses.

Followers of Christ still had to obey God, but they were not saved by following the laws. Everyone who believes in Christ is saved by grace. I think the bigger argument is here from Peter is what is your intention for obeying God’s laws. Are you obeying God’s law to be saved? Or are you in obedience to God’s laws because you love God and Jesus so much? If you loved Christ and God so much and with all of your heart, wouldn’t you naturally want to follow his laws? For me, Peter’s argument is demanding of each believer in Christ that they examine deeply their love for God and the reasons they would obey his laws. If we aren’t saved by obeying God’s laws, then why would we need to follow God’s laws and commandments? Each believer needs to answer this question for themselves and when they do, they will I think develop a closer relationship with God because of love and not because of obedience.

Day 172 Bible Readings – Psalm 92: 12-15 (ESV)

1 Kings 8: 22-66, 1 Kings 9: 1-9, Acts 14, Psalm 92

Psalm 92: 12-15 (ESV)

“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.”

Verses 12 through 15 from Psalm 92 describe the future of the people who follow God. They will flourish like a palm tree that stands erect and grows in the desert. They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon, which are known for being strong, large, beautiful, and useful. The people of God who are planted in the house of God will flourish, and bear fruit even in old age so they can keep praising him.

I love this image of believers in God as plants who flourish in the Garden of God. And like a good shepherd, God is a good gardener. If you are planted in God’s Garden, you will live a long life and be healthy and will prosper. May we all be plants in God’s Garden.

Day 171 Bible Readings for June 21 – Psalm 91: 14-16 (ESV)

1 Kings 7: 23-51, 1 Kings 8: 1-21, Acts 13: 43-52, Psalm 91: 9-16

Psalm 91: 14-16 (ESV)

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Verses 14 through 16 from Psalm 91 are written from the point of view of God. God talks about the promises and blessings to those who love and obey him by choice. God will deliver us and protect us because we know his name. He will answer us when we call him. He will be with us in trouble. He will rescue and honor us. He will give us a long and blessed life full of prosperity.

I love these verses because it is rare to see something written in the Bible from God’s point of view. These verses remind me of Jesus saying that God and he are the shepherds, and we are his flock. The shepherd cares for his flocks and will rejoice when even one lost sheep is found. I often feel like I am that lost sheep. God always finds me even when I don’t want him to because I’ve run away to experience freedom. He lets me experience freedom and he always welcomes me back when I’ve had enough or rescues him when I get myself into trouble. God loves everyone, even a black sheep like me.

Day 170 Bible Readings – Acts 13: 38-39 (ESV)

1 Kings 6, 1 Kings 7: 1-22, Acts 13: 13-41, Psalm 91: 1-8

Acts 13: 38-39 (ESV)

“Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”

Verse 38 from Acts 13 talks about the promise that Jesus offers to anyone who believes in him. Because Jesus was the son of God and he died for our sins, he offers the forgiveness of sins to anyone who believes in him. Believers of Christ are freed from everything that could not be offered under the law of Moses. With Jesus there is a new covenant for us, different from the original covenant God made with his people. We do not keep the law of Moses. We do not need to earn our forgiveness. Forgiveness of sins is given freely by Christ because he paid for our sins when he died on the cross. You could say in today’s modern parlance, Jesus paid forgiveness forward for all of us by his death. We only need to believe in him. We do not have to earn our forgiveness from him. We need do nothing except believe in Christ, but that may be the hardest thing of all for some of us to do because we’ve been conditioned and taught that nothing is free.