My New Years Resolution was to read the bible daily. I have a study bible that breaks up the word into daily readings. It is great because all I have to do is look up the day and read the message for that day. It also gives me guidelines on how to meditate on each daily message. For today 1/9/09 it's:
Matthew 5 :1-16
Romans 3:21-31
* I am reading out of the New Living Translation (if you prefer New King James or any other version you can look them up here... www.biblegateway.com ).
Matthew 5:1-16
1 One day as the crowds were gathering Jesus went up the mountainside with his disciples and sat down to teach them. 2 This is what he taught them. 3 God blesses those who realize their need for him. for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them. 4 God blesses those who mourn. for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are gentle and lowly; for the whole earth will belong to them. 6 God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for they will recieve it in full. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 11 God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too. 13 You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world - like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Romans 3:21-31
21 But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight- not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the scriptures long ago. 22 We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
23 For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus. Who has freed us by taking away our sins. 25 For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God's anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times. 26 And he is entirely fair and just in this present time when he declares sinners to be right in his sight because they believe in Jesus.
27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith . 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, God is not the God of the Jews only, is he? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. 30 There is only on God, and the is only one way of being accepted by him. He makes people right with himself only by faith. Whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 31 Well then, if we emphasize faith , does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Meditation of the Scriptures: Ask yourself these questions, jot down your answers in a notebook if you wish. This is an exerpt from the New Believer's Bible.
* What is the main subject of the passage?
* To Whom is this passage addressed?
* Who is speaking?
* About what or whom is the preson speaking?
* What is the key verse?
* What does this passage teach me about God?
"Then, in order to see how the word applies to you personally, ask yourself these questions":
*Is there any sin mentioned in the passage that I need to confess or forsake?
*Is there a command given that I should obey?
*Is there a promise made that I can apply to my current circumstances?
*Is there a prayer given that I could pray?
I hope these tools help you as they do me. Have a blessed day!
