I will give you a new heart

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

14th Cycle.

  

Sun 20Sep2026

Fri 18Sep2026

Ezekiel 11:1 - 17:24 (194 verses) WEB

James 1:1 - 5:20 (108 verses) ESV

1 Peter 1:1 - 5:14 (105 verses) ESV

2 Peter 1:1 - 3:18 (61 verses) ESV

Sat 19Sep2026

Ezekiel 18:1 - 39:29 (628 verses) WEB

Sun 20Sep2026

Ezekiel 40:1 - 48:35 (260 verses) WEB

1 John 1:1 - 5:21 (105 verses) ESV

2 John 1:1 - 1:13 (13 verses) ESV

3 John 1:1 - 1:15 (15 verses) ESV

Jude 1:1 - 1:25 (25 verses) ESV

ESV — English Standard Version
NET — New English Translation
WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress : 2026-09-20	OT	NT
Total No. of Verses	23,145	7,958
Finished reading	Ezekiel	Jude
Finished No. of Verses	21,738	7,554
Completion	93.9 %	94.9 %

At last, after some persistent daily readings, I have reached the end of Ezekiel in the OT and finished the Epistle of Jude in the NT, bringing my progress to 93.9 percent of the Old Testament and 94.9 percent of the New Testament.

I will need another week or so to finish reading the remaining 6 percent of the OT and 5 percent of the NT, bringing to completion this 7th round of Old Testament and 14th round of New Testament readings.

---

Passage for Today

For I will take you from amongst the nations and gather you out of all the countries,
and will bring you into your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.
I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you.
I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes.
You will keep my ordinances and do them.
You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers.
You will be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 36: 24 - 28

 

World English Bible

---

Lift up your hearts

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

14th Cycle.

  

Thu 17Sep2026

Mon 14Sep2026

Jeremiah 1:1 - 14:22 (369 verses) WEB

Jeremiah 15:1 - 22:30 (169 verses) NET

Philippians 1:1 - 4:23 (104 verses) ESV

Colossians 1:1 - 4:18 (95 verses) ESV

Tue 15Sep2026

Jeremiah 23:1 - 36:32 (390 verses) WEB

1 Thessalonians 1:1 - 5:28 (89 verses) ESV

2 Thessalonians 1:1 - 3:18 (47 verses) ESV

1 Timothy 1:1 - 6:21 (113 verses) NET

2 Timothy 1:1 - 4:22 (83 verses) NET

Wed 16Sep2026

Jeremiah 37:1 - 52:34 (436 verses) WEB

Titus 1:1 - 3:15 (46 verses) ESV

Philemon 1:1 - 25 (25 verses) ESV

Hebrews 1:1 - 6:20 (101 verses) ESV

Thu 17Sep2026

Lamentations 1:1 - 5:22 (154 verses) WEB

Ezekiel 1:1 - 10:22 (191 verses) WEB

Hebrews 7:1 - 13:25 (202 verses) ESV

ESV — English Standard Version
NET — New English Translation
WEB — World English Bible

Overall Progress : 2026-09-17	OT	NT
Total No. of Verses	23,145	7,958
Finished reading	Lamentations	Hebrews
Finished No. of Verses	20,465	7,122
Completion	88.4 %	89.5 %

I have made good progress over the last four days of this week, finishing the OT books of Jeremiah and Lamentations, and reading up to chapter 10 of Ezekiel. In the NT, I have finished reading from the Epistle of Philippians right up to the end of Hebrews.

---

Passage for Today

Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the LORD.
Let us lift up our hearts and our hands
to God in heaven, and say:
“We have sinned and rebelled
and you have not forgiven.

Lamentations 3:40 - 42

 

New International Version

---

The heart of man, the ways of man

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  12th Cycle.   Sunday 06Oct24

Tue 01Oct24

Jeremiah 18:1 – 34:22 (439 verses) WEB

Matthew 1:1 – 5:48 (138 verses) WEB

Wed 02Oct24

Jeremiah 35:1 – 52:34 (487 verses) WEB

Matthew 6:1 – 10:42 (277 verses) KJV

Thu 03Oct24

Lamentations 1:1 – 5:22 (154 verses) WEB

Ezekiel 1:1 – 10:22 (191 verses) WEB

Matthew 11:1 – 14:36 (174 verses) WEB

Matthew 15:1 – 18:35 (129 verses) KJV

Fri 04Oct24

Ezekiel 11:1 – 25:27 (445 verses) WEB

Matthew 19:1 – 28:20 (453 verses) KJV

Sat 05Oct24

Ezekiel 26:1 – 36:38 (297 verses) WEB

Mark 1:1 – 6:56 (248 verses) KJV

Sun 06Oct24

Ezekiel 37:1 – 45:25 (258 verses) WEB

Ezekiel 46:1 – 48:35 (82 verses) NIV

Mark 7:1 – 16:20 (430 verses) NIV

WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version
KJV — King James Version

Overall Progress
OT = 21,206 / 23,145 verses (91.62 %)
NT = 1,749 / 7,957 verses (21.98 %)

Old Testament: Since the beginning of October five days ago, I have finished reading all fifty-two chapters of Jeremiah, five chapters of Lamentations, and forty-eight chapters of Ezekiel.

New Testament: Having completed my reading of the Gospel according to Matthew two days ago, I went on to read the Gospel of Mark which I finished reading today.

I have now completed 91 % of the Sixth Cycle of the Old Testament, along with 22 % of the Twelfth Cycle of New Testament readings.

---

Passage for Today

The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?
I, YHWH, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:9 — 10  World English Bible

---

My thoughts for today, about the "ways of man" — how we live a life of good works, can be found in the link below —

• To be seen or not to be seen (Apr2022)
• Faith without works is dead (Mar2022)
• The necessity for good works (Dec2014)
• Created for good works (Jul2012)
• Honest conversation (May2009)

The Son of Man was given dominion, honour and kingdom

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Thu 20Jul23
Ezekiel 8:1 - 11:25 (76 verses) WEB
Acts 8:1 - 9:43 (83 verses) WEB

Fri 21Jul23
Ezekiel 12:1 - 16:63 (145 verses) WEB
Acts 10:1 - 11:30 (78 verses) WEB

Sat 22Jul23
Ezekiel 17:1 - 19:14 (70 verses) WEB
Acts 12:1 - 13:52 (76 verses) WEB

Sun 23Jul23
Ezekiel 20:1 - 24:27 (188 verses) NIV
Acts 14:1 - 16:40 (109 verses) NIV

Mon 24Jul23
Ezekiel 25:1 - 28:26 (100 verses) ASV
Acts 17:1 - 19:41 (103 verses) KJV

Tue 25Jul23
Ezekiel 29:1 - 33:33 (130 verses) JND
Acts 20:1 - 21:40 (78 verses) BBE

Wed 26Jul23
Ezekiel 34:1 - 36:38 (84 verses) WEB
Acts 22:1 - 23:35 (65 verses) WNT

Thu 27Jul23
Ezekiel 37:1 - 39:29 (80 verses) WEB
Acts 24:1 - 28:31 (161 verses) WNT

Fri 28Jul23
Ezekiel 40:1 - 43:27 (122 verses) YLT
Romans 1:1 - 2:29 (61 verses) NWB

Sat 29Jul23
Ezekiel 44:1 - 48:35 (138 verses) ASV
Romans 3:1 - 5:21 (77 verses) NET

Sun 30Jul23
Daniel 1:1 - 3:30 (100 verses) JND
Romans 6:1 - 8:39 (87 verses) BBE

Mon 31Jul23
Daniel 4:1 - 37 (37 verses) WEB
Daniel 5:1 - 7:28 (124 verses) LXXupd
Romans 9:1 - 11:36 (90 verses) NET

WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version
ASV — American Standard Version
KJV — King James Version
JND — J.N.Darby's Translation
BBE — Bible in Basic English
LXXupd — Septuagint Brenton updated
WNT — Weymouth New Testament
NWB — Noah Webster Bible
NET — New English Translation

Over the last twelve days, I have finished reading the book of Ezekiel followed by the first seven chapters of Daniel.

In the New Testament, I finished reading the Acts of the Apostles and went on to cover eleven chaptes of the Epistle of Paul to the Romans.

---

Passage of the Day

13 I beheld in the night vision, and, lo, one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of days, and was brought near to him.
14 And to him was given the dominion, and the honor, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and languages, shall serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13 – 14  LXX Brenton Updated

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority
John 3:35  New English Translation

And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18  Bible in Basic English

He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
Ephesians 1:22  World English Bible

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, today let us remind ourselves that our Lord Iesus is given dominion and honour and the Kingdom by our God, the Ancient of Days. God has placed all things under the authority of our Lord Iesus, in heaven and on earth, and has made Iesus the head over all things in our Assembly.

Today, our Lord is seated at the right hand of God our Father in heaven. Angels and authorities and powers are being made subject to our Lord. Let us live under the authority and Lordship of Iesus the Son of God.

---

The following are links to my observations about the Lord Iesus as the Son of God, posted on my devotional blog over a span of thirteen years:

• The Three Amens (May2009)
• Worship Him who sits on the Throne (Aug2014)
• Amen, Faithful, True Witness, Head of God's Creation (Nov2020)
• I will be their God, They shall be my people (May2022)

This Iesus - He has received the Holy Spirit from the Father

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Tue 11Jul23
Jeremiah 26:1 - 29:32 (95 verses) WEB
John 9:1 - 10:42 (83 verses) WEB

Wed 12Jul23
Jeremiah 30:1 - 32:44 (108 verses) WEB
John 11:1 - 57 (57 verses) KJV

Thu 13Jul23
Jeremiah 33:1 - 37:21 (120 verses) WEB
John 12:1 - 13:38 (88 verses) WEB

Fri 14Jul23
Jeremiah 38:1 - 41:18 (80 verses) NIV
Jeremiah 42:1 - 43:13 (35 verses) WEB
John 14:1 - 16:33 (91 verses) WEB

Sat 15Jul23
Jeremiah 44:1 - 48:47 (117 verses) GNB
John 17:1 - 18:40 (66 verses) NKJV

Sun 16Jul23
Jeremiah 49:1 - 52:34 (183 verses) WEB
John 19:1 - 21:25 (98 verses) WEB

Mon 17Jul23
Lamentations 1:1 - 3:66 (110 verses) NWB
Acts 1:1 - 2:47 (73 verses) WNT

Tue 18Jul23
Lamentations 4:1 - 5:22 (44 verses) WEB
Ezekiel 1:1 - 2:10 (38 verses) WEB
Acts 3:1 - 4:37 (63 verses) WEB

Wed 19Jul23
Ezekiel 3:1 - 7:27 (102 verses) WEB
Acts 5:1 - 7:60 (117 verses) WEB

WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version
NIV — New International Version
GNB — Good News Bible
NKJV — New King James Version
NWB — Noah Webster Bible
WNT — Weymouth New Testament

In my Old Testament readings, I finished the book of Jeremiah last Sunday and began reading Lamentations the following day. Yesterday I reached the end of Lamentations and went on to read the first seven chapters of the book of Ezekiel.

It was also on Sunday that I finished reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament, embarking on the Acts of the Apostles the next day. I have read up to Chapter 7 of Acts by today.

---

Passage of the Day

23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
John 14:23 – 24  World English Bible

23 This Jesus, God has raised to life -- a fact to which all of us testify.
33 'Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, ''The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand
35 until I make thy foes a footstool under thy feet.'
36 'Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST--this Jesus whom you crucified.'
Acts 2:32 – 36  Weymouth New Testament

We read from Acts chapter 2 the words of the Apostle Peter, speaking to the huge crowd of Jews from every part of the world (Acts 2:5, 9,10 WNT) telling them that God has raised "this Iesus" to life and that Iesus has received the promised Holy Spirit from God.

Particularly, in verse 33, Peter said that Iesus has poured out the Holy Spirit on all the 120 disciples together with him in the upper room on that Pentecost Day (Acts 1:15). As a result of that outpouring of the Spirit, the disciples spoke in various foreign languages — "which you see and hear" (Acts 2:33b) — a confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, like the Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room, let us also be full of the Holy Spirit. Let us walk in the Spirit as we also live in the Spirit. And let us seek the confirmation "which you see and hear" from the Lord.

---

I wrote two blog posts on my devotional blog in 2013 about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit — oon the Jews in Jerusalem and on the Gentiles in Caesarea. And again last year, I wrote related observations in another two blog posts, all links below :

• The Promise that is for you, for your children and for all afar (May2013)
• So I knew (Sep2013)
• The Day of Shavuot (Feb2022)
• The day of outpouring of the Spirit upon the Gentiles (Feb2022)

A pleasant voice, plays well on an instrument

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Thu 08Dec22
Ezekiel 14:1 – 24:27 (352 verses) WEB
2 Timothy 1:1 – 4:22 (83 verses) WEB
Titus 1:1 – 3:15 (46 verses) RBV
Philemon 1:1 – 1:25 (25 verses) RBV

Fri 09Dec22
Ezekiel 25:1 – 17 (17 verses) ASV

Sat 10Dec22
Ezekiel 26:1 – 28:26 (83 verses) ASV

Sun 11Dec22
Ezekiel 29:1 – 35:15 (174 verses) ASV

Mon 12Dec22
Ezekiel 36:1 – 48:35 (378 verses) ASV

WEB : World English Bible
RBV : Revised Berkeley Version
ASV : American Standard Bible

Over the past five days, I finished reading the last thirty-four chapters of the book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament along with 2nd Timothy, Titus and Philemon in the New Testament.

---

Passage of the Day

Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument;
for they hear your words, but they don't do them.
Ezekiel 33:32  World English Bible

May Our Lord Iesus guide, teach, build, comfort us

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Wed 07Dec22
Lamentations 1:1 - 5:22 (154 verses) NIV
Ezekiel 1:1 - 13:23 (267 verses) NIV
1 Thessalonians 1:1 - 5:28 (89 verses) WNT
2 Thessalonians 1:1 - 3:18 (47 verses) WNT
1 Timothy 1:1 - 6:21 (113 verses) WNT

NIV : New International Version
WNT : Weymouth New Testament

Today I read through the entire book of Lamentations followed by the first thirteen chapters of Ezekiel in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, I read the First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians followed by First Timothy.

---

Passage of the Day

11 But may our God and Father Himself--and our Lord Jesus --guide us on our way to you;
12 and as for you, may the Lord teach you to love one another and all men, with a growing and a glowing love, resembling our love for you.
13 Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:11 - 13  Weymouth New Testament

16 And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself--and God our Father who has loved us and has given us in His grace eternal consolation and a bright hope--
17 comfort your hearts and make you stedfast in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 17  Weymouth New Testament

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us acknowledge the grace of God our Father working through our Lord Iesus the Anointed One. Let us ask our Lord Iesus, together with God our Father, to guide us on our way, to teach us to love one another, to build up our characters, to comfort our hearts and to make us steadfast in every good work.

They all shall have one Shepherd

Sunday 15May2022
Ezekiel 38:1 - 48:35 NWB (312 verses)
Daniel 1:1 - 10:21 NWB (299 verses)
Acts 19:1 - 28:31 KJV (345 verses)
Romans 1:1 - 4:25 KJV (117 verses)

---

Towards the end of Ezekiel chapter 37, the prophet Ezekiel ben Buzi prophesied that the LORD will restore the children of Israel to their promised land and where they will be ruled by "one shepherd", a descendant of King David. The LORD will make an everlasting covenant of peace with His people, and His servant, the seed of David, will be their prince forever.

Ezekiel 37:24 - 28  NWB  Noah Webster Bible

24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.

25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers have dwelt, and they shall dwell in it, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.

26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.

27 My tabernacle also shall be with them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

28 And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for ever.

In this prophecy, Ezekiel ben Buzi wrote the well-known promise of God in verse 27, "My tabernacle also shall be with them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people", a promise which is quoted in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians 6:16 and Revelation 21:3.

2 Corinthians 6:16  KJV  King James Version

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Revelation 21:3  KJV  King James Version

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Ten days of travelling

Saturday 14May2022
Ezekiel 37:1 - 28 NWB (28 verses)

---

Wednesday 11May2022
Ezekiel 33:1 - 36:38 GNB (117 verses)

---

Sunday 08May2022
Ezekiel 31:1 - 32:32 NRSV (50 verses)

---

Saturday 07May2022
Ezekiel 24:1 - 30:26 NRSV (174 verses)
Acts 7:1 - 18:28 KJV (469 verses)

---

I have been travelling, visiting relatives and several tourist destinations within the country for the last ten days. Bible reading has been sporadic and somewhat slow.

I will be catching up over the coming week, with the hope that I can finish my 3rd cycle of Old Testament and 6th cycle of New Testament readings by checkpoint time at the end of June.

Time to press on.

Calling our Father, O Lord

Wednesday 04May2022
Ezekiel 21:1 - 23:49 RSV (112 verses)
Acts 4:1 - 6:15 ASV (94 verses)

---

Today in my New Testament reading, I came across a passage in Acts chapter 4 that has caught my attention several times in the past.

This passage, from verses 24 to 31, records the account of the disciples' prayer for boldness and for the power of the Holy Spirit, after Peter and John returned from their interrogation by the Sanhedrin for healing the crippled man at Beautiful Gate.

Acts 4:24 - 31  ASV  American Standard Version And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,

O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:
who by the Holy Spirit, [by] the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say,

Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth set themselves in array,
And the rulers were gathered together,
Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:

for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.

And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,
while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

In the above prayer, the disciples refer to God (v24) as "Lord" (from the Hebrew tetragrammaton YHWH) in verses 24, 26, and 29.

Also, note that they refer to the Lord Iesus as "Anointed" in verses 6 (a quotation from Psalm 2:1 - 2), and "thy holy Servant" in verses 27 and 30.

God has brought Iesus back to life

Tuesday 03May2022
Ezekiel 15:1 - 20:49 NET (169 verses)
Acts 1:1 - 3:26 BBE (99 verses)

---

My reading of the New Testament today brought me through the first three chapters of the Acts of the Apostles.

Three verses in Acts chapter 2 reminds me that the resurrection of our Lord Iesus from the dead is a powerful act carried out by the hand of God our Father. Verse 24 tells us that it was God who brought Iesus back to life. This statement is reiterated in verse 32. And in verse 36, we read that God has made Iesus "Lord and Christ".

Acts 2:24, 32, 36  BBE  Bible in Basic English

2:24

But God gave him back to life, having made him free from the pains of death because it was not possible for him to be overcome by it.

2:32

This Jesus God has given back to life, of which we all are witnesses.

2:36

For this reason, let all Israel be certain that this Jesus, whom you put to death on the cross, God has made Lord and Christ.

See also the following passage from Acts chapter 3, which tells us that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has glorified his servant Iesus, who is called the Lord of Life in verse 15, whom God brought back from the dead.:

Acts 3:13 - 15  BBE  Bible in Basic English

13 The God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has given glory to his servant Jesus; whom you gave up, turning your backs on him, when Pilate had made the decision to let him go free.

14 But you would have nothing to do with the Holy and Upright One, and made request for a man of blood to be given to you,

15 And put to death the Lord of life; whom God gave back from the dead; of which fact we are witnesses.

My first conviction by the Word of God, of the fact that God raised his servant Iesus from the dead, took place on Easter Sunday 12Apr2009. Standing among the congregation in the midst of Easter Sunrise Service, I came across the words of the Apostle Peter in his message to the household of Cornelius the Centurion in Caesarea in Acts chapter 10.

I was so strongly convicted by Peter's words that I wrote my first blog post on this "epiphany" - that God anointed Iesus, God was with Iesus, and God raised Iesus from the dead. Please see link below:

• An Act of God (12Apr2009)

My Father and your Father, My God and your God

Monday 02May2022
Ezekiel 4:1 - 14:23 GNB (225 verses)
John 18:1 - 21:25 JND (138 verses)

---

This afternoon, I finished reading the last four chapters of the Gospel according to St John.

The account of the Resurrection of our Lord Iesus in John chapter 20 presents to us one of the most powerful statements about the God and Father of our Lord Iesus.

In John 20:17, the Lord Iesus spoke to Mary of Magdala at His empty tomb, on the first day of the week, the day of His Resurrection:

John 20:17  JND  J.N.Darby's Translation

Jesus says to her, Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I ascend to my Father and your Father, and [to] my God and your God.

Yes. Our heavenly Father and our God is also the Father and the God of our Lord Iesus the Anointed.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us say together with the Apostle Peter:

1 Peter 1:3  NKJV  New King James Version

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

The Lord Iesus and His God

Sunday 01May2022
Lamentations 1:1 - 5:22 GNB (154 verses)
Ezekiel 1:1 - 3:37 GNB (65 verses)
John 11:1 - 17:26 NKJV (262 verses)

---

Today is the First Day of the Biblical Week. My readings today cover all five chapters from the book of Lamentations followed by the first three chapters of Ezekiel, along with chapters 11 to 17 of the Gospel of John.

From chapter 13 of the Gospel of John today, I reminded that our Lord Iesus had come from God and was going back to God.

John 13:3  NKJV  New King James Version

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God

John 13:3  NET  New English Translation

Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,

John 13:3 also reminds me of the words of our Lord in His prayer in John 17:3, telling us that His God is the Only True God.

John 17:3  NKJV  New King James Version

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, do you believe that our Lord Iesus the Anointed One has come from God and has gone back to God? Do you also believer that the God of our Lord Iesus is the Only True God?

Let us say together with the Apostle,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" (Ephesians 1:3 KJV)

Over the years, I have written about various accounts in the New Testament that clearly tells us that our Lord Iesus the Anointed One has a God: His God and Father in Heaven, the Only True God. Two of my articles are linked below:

• Iesus - Our Mediator (26Apr2010)
• Does God have a God? (28Dec2012)

Finished reading Ezekiel and First Peter

Monday 2021.09.13

This morning I finished reading both the books of Ezekiel in the OT and the First Epistle of Peter in the NT.

Tomorrow I will proceed with reading Second Peter in the NT using the New King James Version.

Meanwhile in my OT reading, I will continue with reading the books of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Latter Prophets section of the Neviim division of Hebrew Scripture, starting with the book of Hosea. See link below for complete details about the Hebrew division of scripture into Torah, Neviim, and Khetuvim.

• The Law, the Prophets, and the Writings

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 45:1 - 48:35 NRSV -- Hosea NIV
1 Peter 3:1 - 5:14 NKJV -- 2 Peter NKJV

The glory of man is as the flower of grass

Sunday 2021.09.12

Today is the first day of a new biblical week.

My OT reading this morning covers Ezekiel chapters 36 through 44, a long reading of nine chapters.

In the NT, I begin reading the First Epistle General of Peter, going through the first two chapters. 1 Peter 1:24 reminds us of the scripture given in Isaiah 40:6 - 8, that says:

1 Peter 1:24 - 25 (Isaiah 40:6,7,8) KJV
24 All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of grass.
The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 36:1 - 44:31 NRSV
1 Peter 1:1 - 2:25 NKJV

Keeping a tight rein on our tongues

Saturday 2021.09.11

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the seventh day of the Biblical Week. Let us keep the Fourth Commandment, to remember the Sabbath and to rest from all our work until sunset this evening.

This morning my OT reading covers Ezekiel chapters 31 through 35 using the New Revised Standard Version.

In the NT, I finished reading the remaining three chapters of the Epistle General of James. Chapter 3 tells us of the danger of not guarding our tongue, a small part of our body that "makes great boasts" (3:5), that corrupts our body and sets our life on fire (3:6). No wonder James wrote two chapters earlier in 1:26 that people who think they are religious but fail to keep a tight reign on their tongues deceive themselve.

James 1:26 NIV
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

James 3:3 - 6 NIV
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Tomorrow, I will begin reading the First Epistle of Peter using the New King James Version.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 31:1 - 35:15 NRSV
James 3:1 - 5:20 NIV -- 1 Peter NKJV

Religion pure and faultless

Friday 2021.09:10

We have arrived at the sixth day of the Biblical Week again. Today is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our tasks for the week and prepare to rest on the seventh day Shabbat which will begin at sunset this evening.

This afternoon I read Ezekiel chapters twenty-six through thirty in the OT, and the Epistle General of James chapters one and two in the NT.

James 1:27 and James 2:26 tells us that faith in God requires us to do good works in our lives. Faith without works is dead.

James 1:27 NIV
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and
to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 2:26 NIV
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 26:1 - 30:26 NRSV
James 1:1 - 2:26 NIV

With such sacrifices God is well pleased

Thursday 2021.09:09

This morning I read Ezekiel chapters twenty-one through twenty-five in the OT, and the last two chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the NT.

Hebrews 13 verses 15 and 16 tells us of three ("such") sacrifices with which God is well pleased:

1. the sacrifice of praise,
2. the sacrifice of doing good, and
3. the sacrifice of sharing / communion ("communicate")

Hebrews 13:15 - 16 KJV
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Tomorrow I will begin reading the Epistle general of James the Apostle using the New International Version.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 21:1 - 25:17 NRSV
Hebrews 12:1 - 13:25 KJV -- James NIV

Faith: the substance of things hoped for

Wednesday 2021.09:08

My OT reading for today covers Ezekiel chapters seventeen through twenty.

In the NT, I read only one chapter: Hebrews Chapter eleven. In this chapter, a discourse on faith, I came across two well known verses which I had memorised more than forty years ago.

Hebrews 11:1 - 2 KJV
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:6 KJV
. . . without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 17:1 - 20:49 NRSV
Hebrews 11:1 - 40 KJV

As it is appointed

Tuesday 2021.09:07

This morning I read the Epistle to the Hebrews chapters nine and ten in the NT, along with Ezekiel chapters eleven through sixteen in the OT.

A well known verse, Hebrews 9:27 caught my attention. It was one of many bible verses I had memorised in those early days after becoming a Christian more than forty years ago. I have always understood this verse simply to mean that God has appointed all mankind to die and to face His judgment.

This morning, however, the next verse, Hebrews 9:28 jumped out at me just after I had finished reading 9:27. Seeing both verses together made me realise something I had missed all these forty plus years as a believer in the Gospel of Iesus the Anointed: that verse 27 is meant to be read together with verse 28 as a single statement.

Reading Hebrews 9:27 and 28 together as one statement brings out the meaning that just as God has appointed for everyone of us to die, and after that to face judgment, God has likewise appointed His Anointed to be offerred to bear our sins, and after that to appear a second time to bring salvation to those who wait for his return.

While verse 27 tells us that everyone of us will die and after this be judged for our sins, verse 28 tells us that the Anointed One has sacrificed himself for everyone of our sins, and after this will come back again a second time to bring us to be with him "unto salvation".

Hebrews 9:27 - 28 KJV
27 And as it is appointed unto men
once to die,
but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was
once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him
shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation.

Today's Passages:
Ezekiel 11:1 - 16:63 NRSV
Hebrews 9:1 - 10:39 KJV