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.

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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

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The Name of God is a Wonder

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2025-08-17 Sun

2025.08.14 Thu

Judges 4:1 – 7:25 (120 verses) WEB

Titus 1:1 – 3:15 (46 verses) KJV

Philemon 1:1 – 1:25 (25 verses) KJV

Hebrews 1:1 – 3:19 (51 verses) WEB

2025.08.16 Sat

Judges 8:1 – 11:40 (150 verses) WEB

Hebrews 4:1 – 9:27 (119 verses) WEB

2025.08.17 Sun

Judges 12:1 – 21:25 (238 verses) BBE

Hebrews 10:1 – 13:25 (133 verses) WEB

BBE— Bible in Basic English
WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version

Overall Progress
OT = 7,087 / 23,145 verses (30.6 %)
NT = 7,120 / 7,957 verses (89.5 %)

I have managed to gain some ground over the last four days of Bible Reading. In the Old Testament, I have finished the Book of Judges, while in the New Testament, I have read through Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews.

Tomorrow, I will proceed with the Book of Ruth in the OT and the Epistle General of James in the NT

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Passage for Today

17 Then Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, What is your name, so that when your words come true we may give you honour?
18 But the angel of the Lord said to him, Why are you questioning me about my name, seeing that it is a wonder?

Judges 13:17 – 18

 

Bible in Basic English

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My thoughts for today can be found in the links below —

• The Name of Wonder — it is Incomprehensible (2022-08-11)

Not with persuasive words but with power of God

OT

 

6th Cycle.

  

NT

 

12th Cycle.

  

2024-11-06 Wed

2024-10-26 Sat

Romans 12:1 - 16:27 (118 verses) NET

2024-10-27 Sun

1 Corinthians 1:1 - 6:20 (124 verses) NET

2024-10-28 Mon

1 Corinthians 7:1 - 16:24 (313 verses) WEB

2 Corinthians 1:1 - 13:13 (256 verses) RBV

2024-10-29 Tue

Galatians 1:1 - 6:18 (149 verses) RBV

2024-10-30 Wed

Ephesians 1:1 - 6:24 (155 verses) WEB

2024-10-31 Thu

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

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

2024-11-01 Fri

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

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

2024-11-02 Sat

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

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

2024-11-05 Tue

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

Philemon 1:1 - 1:25 (25 verses) NET

Hebrews 1:1 - 13:25 (303 verses) WEB

2024-11-06 Wed

James 1:1 - 3:18 (71 verses) NET

James 4:1 - 5:20 (37 verses) WEB

NET — New English Translation
WEB — World English Bible
RBV — Revised Berkeley Version
KJV — King James Version

Overall Progress
OT = 22,558 / 23,145 verses (97.46 %)
NT = 7,229 / 7,957 verses (90.85 %)

Most of my readings over the past ten days were done during my recent visit to Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Shanghai in the Jiangnan district of China.

This is the first time I manage to continue with my daily Bible readings while travelling, mostly at night back at the hotel after a long day of sight-seeing, with some reading done on long bus journeys between distant cities, and on the five hour flights to and fro.

I have now read about 90% of the New Testament.

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Passages for Today

1 Corinthians 2:4,5

 

New English Translation

4 My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.

1 Corinthians 6:11

 

New English Translatioin

Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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My thoughts for today can be found in the links below —

• Paradoxes of Apostolic Living 2022-05-19
• Words of Life 2021-01-17
• We believe, therefore we speak 2020-07-06
• The New Way of the Spirit 2013-06-10

With such sacrifices God is well pleased

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Sunday 15Sep24

Thu 22Aug24

1 Kings 17:1 – 19:21 (91 verses) NWB

1 Timothy 1:1 – 6:21 (113 verses) NET

Sun 25Aug24

1 Kings 20:1 – 22:53 (125 verses) NIV

2 Timothy 1:1 – 4:22 (83 verses) NIV

Titus 1:1 – 3:15 (46 verses) NIV

Philemon 1:1 – 25 (25 verses) NIV

Hebrews 1:1 – 3:19 (51 verses) NIV

Mon 26Aug24

2 Kings 1:1 – 9:37 (260 verses) WEB

Tue 27Aug24

Hebrews 4:1 – 7:28 (78 verses) WEB

Sun 08Sep24

2 Kings 10:1 – 11:21 (57 verses) WEB

Sun 15Sep24

2 Kings 12:1 – 19:37 (247 verses) NIV

Hebrews 8:1 – 13:25 (174 verses) KJV

NWB — Noah Webster Bible
NET — New English Translation
NIV — New International Version
WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version

Overall Progress
OT = 9,892 / 23,145 verses (42.74 %)
NT = 7,124 / 7,957 verses (89.53 %)

In my New Testament reading today, I have finished the Epistle to the Hebrews. Tomorrow I will begin reading the Epistle General of James. Meanwhile in the Old Testament, I continue to read Second Kings, finishing chapter 19 today.

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Passage for Today

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.
Hebrews 13:15 - 16  King James Version

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My thoughts for today can be found in the links below —

• Let us offer a sacrifice of praise (Aug2023)
• God is well pleased with such sacrifices (Sep2021)
• I will never leave thee (Jun2022)
• Not so obvious (May2009)
• King of Righteousness (Sep2021)

Trustworthy sayings

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  10th Cycle.

Wed 30Aug23
2 Thessalonians 1:1 – 3:18 (47 verses) NIV

Sun 03Sep23
1 Timothy 1:1 – 6:21 (113 verses) NIV
2 Timothy 1:1 – 4:22 (83 verses) NKJV

Mon 04Sep23
Titus 1:1 – 3:15 (46 verses) NET
Philemon 1:1 – 25 (25 verses) NET

Tue 05Sep23
Hebrews 1:1 – 13:25 (303 verses) WEB

Wed 06Sep23
James 1:1 – 5:20 (108 verses) WEB

Fri 08Sep23
1 Peter 1:1 – 5:14 (105 verses) ESV
2 Peter 1:1 – 3:18 (61 verses) ESV

Sat 09Sep23
1 John 1:1 – 5:21 (105 verses) ESV
2 John 1:1 – 13 (13 verses) ESV
3 John 1:1 – 15 (15 verses) ESV
Jude 1:1 – 25 (25 versrs)

Tue 12Sep23
Revelation 1:1 – 3:22 (71 verses) WEB

Fri 15Sep23
Revelation 4:1 –12:17 (140 verses) WEB

NIV — New International Version
NKJV — New King James Version
NET — New English Translation
WEB — World English Bible
ESV — English Standard Version

Over the past two weeks, I have read the Epistles of Paul — beginning with Second Thessalonians through the end of Hebrews.

This was followed by my reading of the Epistle General of James, the two Epistles of Peter and the three of John.

I began reading the book of Revelation three days ago and have completed chapter 12 today.

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Passage of the Day

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.
16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:15-17  New International Version

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
1 Timothy 3:1 - 3  New International Version

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.
1 Tim othy 4:7 - 9  New International Version

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:11 - 13  New International Version

4 But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Titus 3:4 - 8  New International Version

(Conclusion)

The Son of Man and The Ancient of Days

OT  4th Cycle.   NT  8th Cycle.

Tue 13Dec22
Daniel 1:1 – 2:49 (70 verses) WEB
Hebrews 1:1 – 13:25 (303 verses) KJV

Wed 14Dec22
Daniel 3:1 – 12:13 (287 verses) WEB
Hosea 1:1 – 14:9 (197 verses) WEB
James 1:1 – 5:20 (108 verses) KJV

WEB — World English Bible
KJV — King James Version

I have made some progress in catching up with my readings over the weekend, especially in the last two days, finishing the OT books of Daniel and Hosea, and the NT epistles of Hebrews and James.

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Passage of the Day

Daniel chapter 7 records a vision in which Daniel saw a being like a "son of man" coming in the clouds and was brought before the throne of the Ancient of Days. To the Son of Man was given an everlasting dominion and an indestructible kingdom.

9 “I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
10 A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgement was set. The books were opened.
Daniel 7:9 – 10  World English Bible

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
14 Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13 – 14  World English Bible

The God who brought our Lord Iesus again from the dead

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Wednesday 24Aug2022
1 Kings 19:1 - 22:53 GNB (146 verses)

Thursday 25Aug2022
2 Kings 1:1 - 5:27 WEB (141 verses)
Hebrews 10:1 - 13:25 RSV (94 verses)
James 1:1 - 5:20 RSV (108 verses)

Friday 26Aug2022
2 Kings 6:1 - 10:36 NRSV (151 verses)
1 Peter 1:1 -5:14 ESV (104 verses)

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Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical week. It is Preparation Day again. Let us finish all our tasks for the week and prepare for our Sabbath Rest beginning at sunset this evening.

In my New Testament reading yesterday, I finished reading the Epistles to the Hebrews and the Epistle General of James. Today, I finished reading First Peter.

For my Old Testament reading, I finised reading First Kings on Wednesday 24Aug22, then continued with Second Kings, covering the first ten chapters.

Passage of the day

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20  Revised Standard Version

The hill of Samaria, named after Shemer

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Monday 22Aug2022
1 Kings 15:1 - 18:46 ASV (138 verses)
Hebrews 5:1 - 9:28 WNT (103 verses)

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On this Second Day of the Biblical week, I read another four chapters from the book of First Kings, along with five chapters from the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Passage of the day

There is a brief acccount in chapter 16 of First Kings about the origin of the name of Samaria.

In verses 23 and 24, we read that Captain Omri, the sixth king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who after reigning six years from the city of Tirzah, went on to buy over a hill from an owner called Shemer and built a city on this hill.

Omri named this hill city Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the previous owner. Omri reigned another six years from the city of Samaria before he died and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab succeeded him. (1 Kings 16:28)

23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, [and reigned] twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria.
1 Kings 16:23 - 24  American Standard Version

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Saturday 20Aug2022
1 Kings 5:1 - 10:29 WEB (230 verses)
1 Timothy 1:1 - 6:21 RSV (113 verses)
2 Timothy 1:1 - 4:22 RSV (83 verses)

Sunday 21Aug2022
1 Kings 11:1 - 14:31 ASV (141 verses)
Titus 1:1 - 3:15 KJV (46 verses)
Philemon 1:1 - 1:25 KJV (25 verses)
Hebrews 1:1 - 4:16 WNT (67 verses)

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I spent Sabbath Day yesterday reading another six chapters of First King in the Old Testament along with the entire Epistles of First and Second Timothy in the New Testament.

This afternoon, the First Day of a new Biblical week, I continued with reading First Kings chapters 11 to 14, the Epistles to Titus and Philemon, and the first four chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Passage of the day

The first chapter of First Timothy contains a short Doxology giving honour and glory to our God as the Eternal King, the immortal God, the invisible God, and the Only Wise God.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17  King James Version

This verse is used in the opening line of the 19th Century Hymn entitled, "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise", lyrics below:

Hymn, written by Walter C Smith, 1867

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.

Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

I will in no way leave you

Wednesday 01Jun2022
Hebrews 12:1 - 13:25 WEB (54 verses)
James 1:1 - 2:26 WEB (53 verses)

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This afternoon in my reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews, I am reminded to bravely free myself from the love of money and to be contented with what I already have.

Hebrews 13:5 - 6  WEB  World English Bible

5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, 'I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.'

6 So that with good courage we say, 'The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What will man do to me?'

Hebrews 13:5,6 above quotes promises and prophecies from Joshua 1:5 and Psalm 118:6 (Psalm 117:6 LXX), as shown below:

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Joshua 1:5  KJV  King James Version

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Psalm 118:6  KJV  King James Version

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

Psalm 117:6  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

The Lord is my helper; and I will not fear what man shall do to me.

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The connection between the call to be free from the love of money in Hebrews 13:5 and the promise by God never to forsake Joshua, along with the affirmation by the Psalmist that God is always on his side, is not very obvious. I wrote my thoughts on this "not so obvious" connection about thirteen years ago in my devotional blog, link below:

• Not so obvious (26May2009)

Behold, I come to do Thy will, O God

Tuesday 31May2022
Hebrews 8:1 - 11:40 WEB (120 verses)

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Today I read another four chapters from the Epistle to the Hebrews.

In Hebrews chapter 10, the author explains that the coming of Iesus the Anointed One into this world has been prophesied in two parts. Quoting Psalm 39:7 - 9 from the Septuagint (Psalm 40:6 - 8 KJV), in the voice of the Anointed One, these two stages are:

1. God does not desire sacrifices and offerings. Instead, God has prepared a body for His Anointed
2. His Anointed One has come to do the will of his God.

Hebrews 10:5 - 7  WEB  World English Bible

5 Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, 'Sacrifice and offering you didn't desire, But a body did you prepare for me;

6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure.

7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of me) To do your will, God.''

The prophecies mentioned in the Hebrews chapter 10 above are quoted from the Septuagint, Psalm 39 (which corresponds to KJV Psalm 40). Both passages from Septuagint and KJV are shown below for comparison.

Psalm 39:7 - 9  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

7 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin thou didst not require.

8 Then I said, Behold, I *come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,

9 I desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.

Psalm 40:6 - 8  KJV  King James Version

6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Hebrews 10:7 also reminds me of the words of our Lord Iesus in reply to his disciples in John chapter 4:

John 4:34  WEB  World English Bible

Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One. Let us ponder over this great sacrifice, the once-for-all giving of the body of our Lord Iesus who has come to do the will of his God — that the world may be saved.

A weekend of travelling

Monday 30May2022
Hebrews 3:1 - 7:28 WEB (97 verses)

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Sunday 29May2022
2 Timothy 1:1 - 4:22 WEB (83 verses)
Titus 1:1 - 3:15 WEB (46 verses)
Philemon 1:1 - 1:25 WEB (25 verses)
Hebrews 1:1 - 2:18 WEB (32 verses)

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Friday 27May2022
1 Timothy 1:1 - 6:21 WEB (113 verses)

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I was travelling over the weekend and tried to keep up with my New Testament readings using an electronic copy of the World English Bible (British Edition) stored on my mobile phone.

From last Friday until today I have covered 1st and 2nd Timothy,Titus, Philemon, and seven chapters of Hebrews, a total of 396 verses over four days. This works out to an average of 99 verses a day, which exceeds my ongoing target of 88 verses a day.

Your faith must be proven by your works

Wednesday 09Mar2022
(No reading)

Thursday 10Mar2022
2 Chronicles 13:1 - 25:28 ASV (279 verses)
Hebrews 12:1 - 13:25 KJV (54 verses)
James 1:1 - 5:20 KJV (106 verses)

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Today in my New Testament reading, I am confronted with an assertion in James chapter 2 about a believer's faith and works. It is a teaching, an undeniable truth, that is seldom taught in the Church.

In this chapter, the Apostle James asks in verse 14, "

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"

He goes on to point out that if any of us sees a brother or a sister without clothes or without food, and if we only say,

"Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled . . ."

without doing anything for that brother or sister, then our faith is dead.

In verses 17 to 24, the apostle has this to say:

James 2:17, 18, 24  KJV  King James Version

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

This passage in James chapter 2 reminds us of the teaching of our Lord Iesus in Matthew chapter 5:

Matthew 5:16  KJV  King James Version

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anonted One, today we see that our faith must be proven by our works. Faith without works is dead. Let us live our lives before all men in this world such that they can see our good works and so glorify God our Father in Heaven.

If my people . . .

Tuesday 08Mar2022
2 Chronicles 7:1 - 12:16 GNB (129 verses)
Hebrews 8:1 - 11:40 BBE (120 verses)

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Today I read in chapter seven of 2nd Chronicles the words of YHWH to King Solomon at the consecration of the First Temple, promising the children of Israel that He will hear them when they humble themselves and seek Him:

2 Chronicles 7:14  RSV  Revised Standard Version

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us turn from our wicked ways. Let us pray to God our Father in Heaven and seek His face. Let us humble ourselves, that He may hear from heaven and forgive us of our sins and heal us.

An everlasting Priest of the Order of Melchizedek

Sunday 06Mar2022
1 Chronicles 25:1 - 29:30 RSV (148 verses)
Titus 1:1 - 3:15 NWB (46 verses)
Philemon 1:1 - 25 NWB (25 verses)
Hebrews 1:1 - 2:18 RSV (32 veeses)

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Monday 07Mar2022
2 Chronicles 1:1 - 6:42 WEB (130 verses)
Hebrews 3:1 - 7:28 JND (97 verses)

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Over the last two days, I finished reading the last five chapters of 1st Chronicles along with Paul's epistles to Titus and Philemon. I have also gone on to read the first six chapters of 2nd Chronicles and seven chapters of the Epistle general to the Hebrews.

Altogether, I have read 278 verses from the Old Testament and another 200 verses from the New Testament.

From my reading of Hebrews chapter 6 today, I came across a verse mentioning the priestly Order of Melchizedek, below:

Hebrews 6:19 - 20  KJV  King James Version

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The mention of Melchizedek in verse 20 above is a reference to the promise in Psalm 110:4, made with an oath by the LORD, that the Anointed One will be a priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek

Psalm 110:4  KJV

The LORD hath sworn,
and will not repent,
Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Between the years 2020 to 2014, I wrote seven blogposts about my observations on what the Bible says concerning this everlasting Priest. A list of links to these seven posts can be found via the link below:

• A Priest Forever after the Order of Melchizedek (Oct2021)

Finishing the Epistle to the Hebrews

Tuesday 2021.12.21

Today's Passages:
Genesis 26:1 - 35 ESV (35 verses)
Hebrews 7:1 - 13:25 ESV (202 verses)

Today I continue sprinting through the last seven chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Tomorrow I will begin reading the Epistle General of James.

In Hebrews chapter 9, I am reminded that our Lord Iesou is our Eternal High Priest who has "appeared once for all at the end of ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Heb 9:26 ESV).

Hebrews 9:24 - 28 ESV English Standard Version
24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

A High Priest tempted as we are, yet without sin

Monday 2021.12.20

Today's Passages:
Genesis 25:1 - 34 ASV (34 verses)
Titus 3:1 - 15 GNB (15 verses)
Philemon 1:1 - 25 WEB(25 verses)
Hebrews 1:1 - 6:20 (101 verses)

Today I continue my sprint by pushing on with Titus, Philemon and the first six chapters of Hebrews, a total of a hundred and forty-one verses. I intend to read about 150+ verses a day for the remaining eleven days of December so that I can finish my Fourth Cycle of New Testament reading by the end of the year.

From today's readings, Hebrews chapter 4 reminds us that our Lord Iesou the Son of God is our High Priest who was tempted "in all points" (WEB) as we are, yet without sin.

As such, we are urged in the next verse, we can draw near to God, to His throne of grace, for help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14 - 16  WEB  World English Bible
14 Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession. 15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us draw near to the throne of God, at Whose right hand our Lord Iesou, our High Priest, is seated. Let us find help in time of our need.

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