Daily Devotional

Feb 8

Ingratitude Leads to Idolatry

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), February 8 Throughout the Creation Era , God reveals that He is Jehovah-Jireh , "God Who Provides." He demonstrates His lavish provision in the garden of Eden through trees containing mature fruit that also contain seed, thus ensuring continuing provision for humanity. He anticipates man's need of redemption when He creates the animal that will be sacrificed to cover Adam and Eve's nakedness before He... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 8

Feb 7

Life Without Fences

The One Year Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), February 7 A community without rules is like a prison full of dangerous criminals turned loose. No one feels safe in a community without rules or fences. Imagine the chaos that would transpire if your city removed all driving ordinances and signs. A dramatic increase in accidents and loss of life would immediately occur. Imagine 2.5 million people living together in community without laws, rules, and regulations to guide... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 7

Feb 6

People of the Eye, People of the Ear

God desires that His people become people of the ear rather than people of the eye. Adam and Eve became people of the eye, instead of people of the ear, when they disregarded God's prohibition (what God had spoken regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes , and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 6

Feb 5

The Way of the Wilderness

God's ways challenge my trust. "Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near , for God said, 'Lest perhaps the people will change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea" (Exodus 13:17-18, emphasis added). The Lord delivers Israel from the cruel grasp of their Egyptian bondage and... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 5

Feb 4

Annual Teaching Tool

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV, (Tyndale, 2013), February 4 The Passover would mark the new beginning of the nation of Israel: "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you" (Ex. 12:2). The weeklong celebration would be called "The Feast of Unleavened Bread." On the tenth day of this month at twilight a lamb per household would be selected and watched for four days to ensure that it had no blemish... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 4

Feb 3

Hard Hearts and God

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), February 3 Some people refuse to believe in God, no matter what. They have hard hearts. But even hard hearts have their gods. Collectively they create a culture of hardness of heart and idolatry, like the Egyptians. Like Pharaoh: "Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to let the people go" (Ex. 7:14). To the Egyptians, the Nile brought life, so they worshiped the Nile by creating a god of the Nile. God strikes at... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 3

Feb 2

Disappointment with God

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), February 2 God appears to Moses and declares His intervention on Israel's behalf. Moses and Aaron share this good news with Israel, and the people "bowed their heads and worshiped" (Ex. 4:31). The same crowd, a few days later, grumbles with disappointment when their situation continues to deteriorate "Let the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 2

Feb 1

The God Who Is

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), February 1 The Exodus Era covers approximately 470 years of Israel's history: 430 years in Egypt and 40 years in the wilderness. Israel has multiplied to a people group of more than three million people-just as God had promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The conditions in Egypt have turned adversarial, and Abraham's promise has been fulfilled partially: "Know certainly that your descendants... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Feb 1

Jan 31

Job's Friends and the Gospel

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 31 Everyone loves a good ending to a story, and Job's story ends well. The Gospel is preached, and God's grace shines brightly. God deals with Job's friends and their misrepresentations of His character by placing Job in the role of priest. He commands them to present themselves and their sacrifice to Job, "Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 31

Jan 30

God Speaks to Job

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 30 The LORD rocks Job's world when He speaks directly to Job and simply reminds Job of the beginning of the story--Creation. Through a comprehensive set of questions that Job cannot possibly answer, the LORD reduces Job to respond to Him in deep humility and speechlessness, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 30

Jan 29

God Speaks Through Weather

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 29 "God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend" (Job 37:5). Elihu makes his final point to his description on how God speaks. God speaks through inclement weather. He offers two main points: God uses inclement weather conditions to command man's attention by revealing man's helplessness and need, "For He says to the snow, 'Fall... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 29

Jan 28

Theology That Stands by Your Side

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 28 Jesus responded to the Pharisees' anger toward the children's praise of the Messiah and quoted from the Old Testament, "Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise?'" (Matthew 21:16). Elihu is the "babe" among Job's friends. As a youth respecting his elders, Elihu sits quietly by while Job and his friends... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 28

Jan 27

Faith or Faithfulness?

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 27 Job's acceptance before God had to be by faith in substitutionary atonement, not his personal faithfulness to an ideal. The advent of suffering revealed that, though Job's relationship with God began as a faith-based substitutionary atonement (1:5; 8), over time he switched to a works-based sanctification. God used suffering to bring him back to faith-based righteousness both in justification and in... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 27

Jan 26

Goods or God?

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 26 Silver and gold lie in the depths of the earth. To what length will man go to obtain this wealth? Job provides an answer to that question in chapter 28:1-11 as he describes the mining and refining process: Mining and refining precious metal is arduous work. Digging at great depths is required and dangerous. Mining and refining is rewarding. Job says all this to make his point: few seek... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 26

Jan 25

Faith Kicks In

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 25 Clouds prevent the light of the sun, ever-shining, from passing through. Clouds don't remove the sun, they just dim its light. Eliphaz uses this analogy to shed light on how men respond to suffering, "Is not God in the heights of heaven? And see how lofty are the highest stars! Yet you say, 'What does God know? Does He judge through such darkness? Thick clouds veil him, so he does not see us as he... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 25

Jan 24

Health, Wealth, and Prosperity

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 24 Zophar describes the life and death of the wicked, and his words are true. He goes wrong, however, when he assumes that Job must be wicked or he wouldn't suffer so. Job responds by asking the age-old question, "Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?" (Job 21:7). Job has lost his great house, his great possessions, and his great family. In his heart of hearts, he... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 24

Jan 23

Suffering's Cushion

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2012), January 23 You've been around people whose very presence reek of positional and religious snobbery. Me too. Sometimes I've been that person--the one who assumes that others' particular sufferings are the result of some deficiency on their part. The statements I make and the questions I ask further their misery; they remove a needed cushion from the sufferer. Sadly, Job's... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 23

Jan 22

The Test of Friendship

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 22 "I am one mocked by his friends, who called on God, and He answered him, the just and blameless who is ridiculed" (Job 12:4). "But you forgers of lies, you are all worthless physicians. Oh, that you would be silent, and it would be your wisdom!" (13:4-5). Ever been disappointed in friendship? The "good" seasons of life produce many friends, but companionship during... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 22

Jan 21

Revelation Trumps Reason and Logic

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 21 Bildad interprets Job's suffering through tradition : "For inquire, please, of the former age, and consider the things discovered by their fathers; for we were born yesterday, and know nothing" (Job 8:8-9). Therefore, he challenges Job, saying that God does not "pervert justice" (8:3) and that Job's suffering is retributive for some wrong on his part. Zophar interprets Job's... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 21

Jan 20

Pity Partiers

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 20 "Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering" (John Piper). Self-pity says, "I deserve better than this." Self-pity reeks from Job's pores as he processes suffering's deeply painful onset, "My eye will never again see good" (Job 7:7) and sees immediate death, "The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; while your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be. As the... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 20

Jan 19

Heaven's Perspective and Human Experience

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 19 The book of Job opens with heaven's view of Job's suffering. Few stories have that advantage. Job grasps by faith what God reveals before the heavenly council. God describes Job as a "blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil" (1:8; 2:3). Though Job is unaware of this heavenly assessment, he lives by faith. Job understands that man's relationship with God is not based upon... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 19

Jan 18

A Well-ended Life

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 18 "How old are you?" Women are often reputed to fudge the answer to that question. Jacob not only answers Pharaoh's question, but he also offers commentary, "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life" (Gen. 47:9). Truly, Jacob's life has been one of difficulty: Jacob lived his boyhood... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 18

Jan 17

Trumped Up Evidence and Truth

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 17 Joseph's brothers present Jacob with trumped up evidence of Joseph's death-his shredded coat, dried blood, and bewildered faces. Jacob views all three and concludes that Joseph is dead. Jacob believes a lie based on trumped-up evidence, and something within him dies. Twenty-two years later, his sons return from their second trip to Egypt bearing the good news that Joseph is indeed alive. At first... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 17

Jan 16

Redeeming Failure

The One Year® Chronological Bible (Tyndale, 2013), January 16 The last words Joseph hears before he is sold to a band of traders are from Leah's son, Judah. It was Judah's idea to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelite traders, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh" (Gen. 37:26-27). Mission accomplished. No brother, no... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 16

Jan 15

Management Training

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 15 Joseph is the eleventh son in a large household, which must have taken some management to feed, clothe, and care for. Overseeing his father's extensive flock absorbed all of his and his brothers" time. Little does Joseph know that his boyhood experience forms the bedrock for a lifetime of management. Joseph makes the best of his circumstances when he is bought by Potiphar, the captain of the guard. He... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 15

Jan 14

Family Dysfunction and Providence

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 14 Joseph never had a chance with his brothers. When Jacob prepares to meet Esau, he places the maidservants and their children in front of his delegation (the most dangerous position) followed by Leah and her brood. He places Rachel and Joseph closest to himself (Gen. 33:1-3). Wonder what this did to impact sibling rivalry? Jacob's designing a "tunic of many colors" (37:3) for Joseph to... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 14

Jan 13

A Man of the World, A Man of His Appetites

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 13 Esau reflects the prosperous man of the world. He's a man of the land--a man of his appetities. Esau takes wives for himself from among the Canaanites and builds a prosperous nation, the Edomites. His prosperity demands separation from Jacob, "For their possession were too great for them to dwell together, and the land where they were strangers could not support them because of their livestock. So... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 13

Jan 12

The Faith Test

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 12 The natural man defaults to making decisions based on his sinful past and present circumstances. Jacob defaulted to both as he prepared to meet Esau after more than twenty years since he had stolen Esau's blessing and lied to his father. Jacob sends messengers to inform Esau of his return and then panics when his messengers inform him that Esau is on his way to meet him, "So Jacob was greatly afraid... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 12

Jan 11

Schemers and God

The One Year® Chronological Bible (Tyndale, 2013), January 11 The possessions of others attract those whose hearts are full of covetousness. Since day one, Jacob has desired Laban's possessions: "And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother"... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 11

Jan 10

ADD: Affection Deficit Disorder

The One Year® Chronological Bibl e (Tyndale, 2013), January 10 A deep sadness envelops Leah and overshadows all that she does. She is unloved by Jacob and everyone knows it. Similarly, a deep sadness occurs, month in and month out, as barrenness hovers over Rachel's life like a dark cloud. Everyone is aware of her deficiency. Both women live with a deficit: Leah lacks love, and Rachel lacks babies. Ripe conditions for competition. Insecurity always breeds competition! ... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 10

Jan 9

Recognizing Deception

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 9 Isaac assumes he is about to die (although he lives for many more years) and promptly decides to bless his son Esau before his death. Rebekah overhears Isaac and Esau's conversation and quickly concocts a plan to secure Esau's blessing for Jacob. Jacob ignores the only reservation that he has after his mother suggests their deception of Isaac, "Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 9

Jan 8

A Promise from God and Impossible Circumstances

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 8 God's promise to Abraham requires a waiting period of twenty-five years. Barrenness of womb prevents the couple from doing for themselves what God had promised to do for them. The passing of twenty-five years taught them that a promise from God is a fulfillment by God. Isaac learned this truth from his father and mother; therefore he prayed to God and waited twenty years for God to fulfill what He had... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 8

Jan 7

Faith or Presumption, What's the Difference?

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 7 After nearly forty years of walking with God, Abraham doesn't blink an eye when God instructs him to take Isaac up on the mount and offer him to the Lord (Gen. 22). Abraham has learned a number of truths about God: God is good, knowable, and trustworthy. God's ways differ from man's. Faith in God pleases Him. Abraham also learns the difference between faith and presumption: Faith: ... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 7

Jan 6

One Choice, Many Consequences

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 6 God gives man the freedom to make choices, but the consequences are out of man's hands. Had Eve known that eating the piece of fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would cost her the death of one son, the cursing of another, problems in her marriage, eviction from the garden of Eden, and alienation from God, she would not have eaten the fruit. Consequences are always hidden and come later. One... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 6

Jan 5

Waiting on God

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 5 "So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her'" (Gen. 16:2). Like a playground bully, the passage of time picks a fight with those who have a promise from God―to win through faith or to surrender through unbelief. Sarai surrenders her faith as ten years of waiting pass. She looks down at her... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 5

Jan 4

Progenitor of a Nation

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 4 The ten generations following the flood fill the earth with idolatrous people, including Shem's descendants, one of whom is Terah, Abraham's father. Joshua 24:2 fills in the informational gap in Abraham's background, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 4

Jan 3

Noah: Man of Faith, Preacher of Righteousness

One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 3 Ten generations and more than 2,000 years have passed when Noah, descendent of Seth, arrives on a scene of earthly violence and near total corruption-people drowning in sin. God appears to him and promises a flood that will destroy every living thing upon the earth. He instructs Noah to build an ark, fill it with two of every unclean beast and seven of every clean animal. Noah believes in the veracity of God's Word and... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 3

Jan 2

The Two Paths in Life

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), January 2 A predator mars the beauty of the garden when he enters the garden. He speaks to the woman, not because she is weaker, but because her knowledge of God's instructions is secondhand--communicated to her by Adam. Will she trust God's goodness, honor God's designated authoritative order, and defer to God's revealed will, or will she act independently of her husband and her God? Will Adam exercise the... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 2

Jan 1

Let the Story Begin!

One Year Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013) - January 1 God's story begins with God, revealing crucial insights into His power and person: God speaks; nothingness becomes substantial, and chaos becomes ordered. God assesses what He creates, names it, and affirms its goodness. God enables the reproduction of life by creating both maturity (plants, trees, and animals) and potential (seed). He creates things both old and new. God creates systems and holds them... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Jan 1

Dec 31

Bible Bookends

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 31 The final two chapters of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ mirror the first two chapters in Genesis. These four chapters are bookends to the entire story of the Bible. In the beginning God walked with man in a beautiful garden, in the cool of the day. In the end God dwells again with His people--"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 31

Dec 30

The Seven Blessings of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 30 Seven is the number of perfection, and the Book of the Revelation contains seven blessings: "'Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near" (Rev. 1:3). Man's reading, hearing, and keeping the Word of God endear the heart of God to him. "'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 30

Dec 29

Overcomers

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 29 "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Rev. 12:11). The Apostle John describes believers as overcomers in I John (2:13; 4:4; 5:4-5) and in Revelation (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 12:11). Believers overcome in the battle over sin and self , in the battle with the world's thinking and system , and in the... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 29

Dec 28

No Lost Tribes

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 28 God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation and that through his seed He would bless all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3). The story of the Bible tracks Abraham's descendants, with special emphasis on his great- grandson Judah, through whom Shiloh would come. Israel becomes a great nation in captivity under the service to the Egyptians. God brings them back to the land promised to the... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 28

Dec 27

Churches Possess Personalities and Problems

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 27 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus . . . Smyra . . . Pergamos . . . Thyatira . . . Sardis. . . Philadelphia . . . Laodicea" (Rev. 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 2:18; 3:1; 3:7; 3:14.) Churches come in all shapes and sizes and, like people, have their own unique personalities. Churches generally take on the personalities of their leaders: Friendly pastors lead friendly churches; Legalistic pastors who... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 27

Dec 26

Never Too Old For God

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 26 The Apostle John is an old man (92 years of age) living as a prisoner on a penal colony when his life is interrupted by a voice and a revelation. He testifies, "I was in the Spirit on the LORD's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last" . . . . Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me" (1:10, 12). The... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 26

Dec 25

Born Of God

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 25 In 1 John, the Apostle John refers to the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ as one who is "born of God": "Everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him" (2:29) "Whoever has been born of God does not sin" (3:9) "He cannot sin, because he has been born of God" (3:9) "Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God" (4:7) "Whoever believes that... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 25

Dec 24

Spiritual Fraud

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 24 Frauds are those who deceive others for personal gain. Spiritual frauds are those who claim spirituality but are self-deceived. At the conclusion of the first century, the Apostle John writes a letter to confront and expose those making fraudulent spiritual claims. He points out five such claims and offers a corresponding reality check: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 24

Dec 23

Developing A Warfare Mentality

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 23 Canaan was Israel's inheritance and its battleground throughout history-for those entering their inheritance, for those maintaining their inheritance, and for those returning to their inheritance. One does not need go far in the lineages of 1 Chronicles to find warriors. Issachar is known for its warriors (1 Chron. 7:1-2, 5), Ephraim is noted for Israel's fearless warrior-leader Joshua (7:27), and Benjamin... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 23

Dec 22

Called to Unjust Suffering

The One Year® Chronological Bible, NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 22 "But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (1 Pet. 2:20-21) Suffering. No thank you. No, really, I shouldn't have to. Thanks, but no thanks. I'll give it a pass. How can anyone endure hurled insults or, in modern terminology,... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 22

Dec 21

Living As Foreigners

The One Year® Chronological Bible , NKJV (Tyndale, 2013), December 21 Christians don't belong in this world; they live for another time and another place. They are pilgrims--foreigners. And, like foreigners in the past and in the present, they are generally misunderstood and persecuted. The group of English Puritans who fled religious persecution and sailed in the Mayflower to found the colony of Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 were called pilgrims. Their desire for religious... Read More

Posted by Blog Archive at Dec 21