The Word of God. 121 Days.

On January 1, 2012, One Hope Church set out to read the entire Bible in 121 days. Now, I don't say that to pat myself on the back. It's really not that impressive. We're doing it because most of us have never read the Bible all the way through. What? Really? As my good friend Alex said, "Why do I say that it is my favorite book, but have never read all of it?!" Right on sister! 

So this is a challenge--a challenge to take God at His Word (pun totally intended) and believe that His Word is life. So we are flying through it. It has been just over a week, and I've read through all of Genesis, and the first quarter of the gospels. And it is awesome. So this blog for the next few months is going to be more snippets of thoughts than anything else--things the Holy Spirit is landing on my as we walk through His revelation together. I am excited. I am expectant. And I hope you'll join us. 

It does sound a little daunting, but it is absolutely worth it! Our goal here is not to study every word, or even remember every story. But rather to get a grasp on God's Story--The Narrative as we like to call it--so that we can begin to better understand the things we are studying in depth. The plan I am on actually combines the Old Testament & New Testament chronological plans, so I am reading some of the OT & some of the NT every day. We all started on Jan. 1, but it is never to late to get in the game. We have the plans posted on our website, and would love for you to join in. And I would love to hear what you're learning from the Spirit of God. 

Here are just a few things that dropped into my heart this morning:

Mark 2:27: "The Sabbath was made for man" God desires to give us rest. That's exactly what the 'day of rest' was supposed to be for the Israelites. Though 'official day of rest' is now gone, God still wants us to enter into rest with Him (Heb. 4:11). We've got to take advantage of the rest--both spiritual & physical--that God desires to give us. It is good!

John 5:26: "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself." The very life of God is in Jesus--"In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men" (John 1:4)--and it is this life that is light and hope to us! Do I get that? the life of God is found in Jesus! and He has come to offer me life--from Him, with Him, for Him. And then, Leviticus 17:11 says, "the life of the flesh is in the blood." So, the life of God, which is in Jesus, is in the blood of Jesus. No wonder then, that "according to the law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). But, "it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins!" (Heb. 10:4) The blood of Jesus is effective for the forgiveness of our sins because the life of God is in it. It is indeed the cup of the new covenant which has been given for us!

Mark 3:4: "And He said to them, 'is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?' But they kept silent." Jesus equates not doing good to doing harm. To not do good when you are able is to do harm. 

Matthew 12:12: "How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Jesus is most valuable. People are a far second. Everything else is not really even on the list. Our lives must be given to valuable things--Jesus & people. I don't want to waste my life on animals or rocks or dirt. Only on God & His image bearers.

I hope this gives you an idea of where I am headed in the coming months. And I hope you will join with me as we look to God's Word for truth & life!