Day 303, 30th June: Lamentations, Hebrews and Psalms
The Closing Argument
By Jane Watson, St Mary’s
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 3:40-5:22
Hebrews 1:1-14
Psalm 119:129-136
I love watching legal dramas on TV. The courtroom is full of people, the Judge and Jury are listening intently and my favourite part is the climax with the closing arguments. Each side stands to present its final summary of what has happened and how it should affect the future. I once heard the book of Hebrews described as the closing argument in defence of Christianity.
The writer is outlining the revelation of the Gospel. How Jesus Christ fulfilled the promises God had made to his people in the Old Testament. It’s as if they are beginning by running a highlighter over the passages that spoke of Jesus and proclaiming Jesus as the climax of all of the Old Testament history. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he has ascended into heaven and is at his Father’s right hand (v13). As we read the rest of Hebrews in the coming days we can see and learn more about the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
In Lamentations today we continue to read their grieving for what has happened to the people of Jerusalem. Today however, they are looking and weighing up what has happened for themselves no longer simply surveying the scene. Essentially the conclusion they’ve reached is, we are guilty! We did wrong (v40-42).
What an incredibly honest evaluation of the situation. Yes what they have experienced is horrible and the scenes of destruction are painful to even read about but, what a truthful reflection about the part they have played in it. “Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint.” (v16-17) and it is in this realisation they stretch out to God at the end of chapter asking to be restored to him, unless they have been utterly rejected.
The history and the promises of Jesus drawn out in Hebrews from the Old Testament (from Psalms, Deuteronomy and 2 Samuel) shout of a God who had not forgotten them and given up. With hindsight we can see what or more accurately who these verses are speaking of.
Where in our lives do we need to take responsibility for the decisions we’ve made and be willing to take them with honesty to God in the light of Jesus Christ and all he has already done for us?
——————————————————————————————————————-
Today’s picture was taken by…
Helen Wade, taken on holiday in Dordogne. Thanks Helen!
If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
Day 302, 29th June: Lamentations, Philemon and Psalms
“Charge it to me”
By Sarah Macfaden, Soul Survivor:Called to Lead
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 2:7-3:39
Philemon 1:1-25
Psalm 119:121-128
“How are you?” It’s a question I ask lots of people everyday and it’s a question I’m often asked. But so often I simply brush it off with a simplistic answer, “Yeh, i’m okay, thanks!” Is this an honest answer? When I ask the question do I even wait around for the answer?
The Old Testament reading in Lamentations wasn’t an easy read was it? But there is such honesty in these words. They paint a picture of the sorrow the people of Jerusalem had gone through. The writer isn’t brushing these things aside and saying they’re okay, they are being presented honestly. How often do we speak with this truthfulness? How often do we really let God in on how we are feeling? He cares! It’s not a “How are you?” as a formality. We are called to “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (v19).
So often I find it much easier to just muddle through myself. Lamentations 3:22-24 though offers amazing hope: “Because of the the Lord’s great love we are not consumed”. Despite everything we’ve read about children and infants fainting in the street and wounds described as being as deep as the sea the writer can also say we are not consumed, “the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him”. What a contrast to where I usually find myself, where I find it hard to be honest about what is going on and am quick to find a solution for myself rather than waiting and trusting in God.
In Philemon we read about a slave, Onesimus, who had stolen from his master and run away. For this he could be severely punished under the Roman law of the time and yet Paul, the author of the letter, says “Charge it to me” (v18). What a wonderful reminder of the grace we have in Jesus Christ who took our sins and charged them to his account.
This is also a wonderful reminder of the impact that one person can have. Paul didn’t simply accept the label Onesimus had has a slave in his society and treat him as such. He accepted him and was prepared to charge Onesimus’ punishment to his own account! Onesimus went from a thieving runaway slave to an accepted brother. How accepting are we of people as friends in Christ?
So today why not try to honestly present your heart before the Lord and think about how we can accept others as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Today’s picture was taken by…
The Basementat the Big Church Day Out. Thanks Everyone!
If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
Day 301, 28th June: Lamentations, Titus and Psalms
The Gospel!
By Andy Croft
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 1:1-2:6
Titus 3:1-15
Psalm 119:113-120
——————————————————————————————————————-
We’re starting to put the pages together for July and August so if you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog. Get snapping with your Bible in One Year. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
Day 303, 30th June: Lamentations, Hebrews and Psalms
The Closing Argument
By Jane Watson, St Mary’s
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 3:40-5:22
Hebrews 1:1-14
Psalm 119:129-136
I love watching legal dramas on TV. The courtroom is full of people, the Judge and Jury are listening intently and my favourite part is the climax with the closing arguments. Each side stands to present its final summary of what has happened and how it should affect the future. I once heard the book of Hebrews described as the closing argument in defence of Christianity.
The writer is outlining the revelation of the Gospel. How Jesus Christ fulfilled the promises God had made to his people in the Old Testament. It’s as if they are beginning by running a highlighter over the passages that spoke of Jesus and proclaiming Jesus as the climax of all of the Old Testament history. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he has ascended into heaven and is at his Father’s right hand (v13). As we read the rest of Hebrews in the coming days we can see and learn more about the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
In Lamentations today we continue to read their grieving for what has happened to the people of Jerusalem. Today however, they are looking and weighing up what has happened for themselves no longer simply surveying the scene. Essentially the conclusion they’ve reached is, we are guilty! We did wrong (v40-42).
What an incredibly honest evaluation of the situation. Yes what they have experienced is horrible and the scenes of destruction are painful to even read about but, what a truthful reflection about the part they have played in it. “Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint.” (v16-17) and it is in this realisation they stretch out to God at the end of chapter asking to be restored to him, unless they have been utterly rejected.
The history and the promises of Jesus drawn out in Hebrews from the Old Testament (from Psalms, Deuteronomy and 2 Samuel) shout of a God who had not forgotten them and given up. With hindsight we can see what or more accurately who these verses are speaking of.
Where in our lives do we need to take responsibility for the decisions we’ve made and be willing to take them with honesty to God in the light of Jesus Christ and all he has already done for us?
——————————————————————————————————————-
Today’s picture was taken by…
Helen Wade, taken on holiday in Dordogne. Thanks Helen!
If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
Day 302, 29th June: Lamentations, Philemon and Psalms
“Charge it to me”
By Sarah Macfaden, Soul Survivor:Called to Lead
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 2:7-3:39
Philemon 1:1-25
Psalm 119:121-128
“How are you?” It’s a question I ask lots of people everyday and it’s a question I’m often asked. But so often I simply brush it off with a simplistic answer, “Yeh, i’m okay, thanks!” Is this an honest answer? When I ask the question do I even wait around for the answer?
The Old Testament reading in Lamentations wasn’t an easy read was it? But there is such honesty in these words. They paint a picture of the sorrow the people of Jerusalem had gone through. The writer isn’t brushing these things aside and saying they’re okay, they are being presented honestly. How often do we speak with this truthfulness? How often do we really let God in on how we are feeling? He cares! It’s not a “How are you?” as a formality. We are called to “Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (v19).
So often I find it much easier to just muddle through myself. Lamentations 3:22-24 though offers amazing hope: “Because of the the Lord’s great love we are not consumed”. Despite everything we’ve read about children and infants fainting in the street and wounds described as being as deep as the sea the writer can also say we are not consumed, “the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him”. What a contrast to where I usually find myself, where I find it hard to be honest about what is going on and am quick to find a solution for myself rather than waiting and trusting in God.
In Philemon we read about a slave, Onesimus, who had stolen from his master and run away. For this he could be severely punished under the Roman law of the time and yet Paul, the author of the letter, says “Charge it to me” (v18). What a wonderful reminder of the grace we have in Jesus Christ who took our sins and charged them to his account.
This is also a wonderful reminder of the impact that one person can have. Paul didn’t simply accept the label Onesimus had has a slave in his society and treat him as such. He accepted him and was prepared to charge Onesimus’ punishment to his own account! Onesimus went from a thieving runaway slave to an accepted brother. How accepting are we of people as friends in Christ?
So today why not try to honestly present your heart before the Lord and think about how we can accept others as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
——————————————————————————————————————-
Today’s picture was taken by…
The Basementat the Big Church Day Out. Thanks Everyone!
If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
Day 301, 28th June: Lamentations, Titus and Psalms
The Gospel!
By Andy Croft
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 1:1-2:6
Titus 3:1-15
Psalm 119:113-120
——————————————————————————————————————-
We’re starting to put the pages together for July and August so if you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog. Get snapping with your Bible in One Year. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
Day 303, 30th June: Lamentations, Hebrews and Psalms
The Closing Argument
By Jane Watson, St Mary’s
Todays Readings Are:
Lamentations 3:40-5:22
Hebrews 1:1-14
Psalm 119:129-136
I love watching legal dramas on TV. The courtroom is full of people, the Judge and Jury are listening intently and my favourite part is the climax with the closing arguments. Each side stands to present its final summary of what has happened and how it should affect the future. I once heard the book of Hebrews described as the closing argument in defence of Christianity.
The writer is outlining the revelation of the Gospel. How Jesus Christ fulfilled the promises God had made to his people in the Old Testament. It’s as if they are beginning by running a highlighter over the passages that spoke of Jesus and proclaiming Jesus as the climax of all of the Old Testament history. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he has ascended into heaven and is at his Father’s right hand (v13). As we read the rest of Hebrews in the coming days we can see and learn more about the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
In Lamentations today we continue to read their grieving for what has happened to the people of Jerusalem. Today however, they are looking and weighing up what has happened for themselves no longer simply surveying the scene. Essentially the conclusion they’ve reached is, we are guilty! We did wrong (v40-42).
What an incredibly honest evaluation of the situation. Yes what they have experienced is horrible and the scenes of destruction are painful to even read about but, what a truthful reflection about the part they have played in it. “Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint.” (v16-17) and it is in this realisation they stretch out to God at the end of chapter asking to be restored to him, unless they have been utterly rejected.
The history and the promises of Jesus drawn out in Hebrews from the Old Testament (from Psalms, Deuteronomy and 2 Samuel) shout of a God who had not forgotten them and given up. With hindsight we can see what or more accurately who these verses are speaking of.
Where in our lives do we need to take responsibility for the decisions we’ve made and be willing to take them with honesty to God in the light of Jesus Christ and all he has already done for us?
——————————————————————————————————————-
Today’s picture was taken by…
Helen Wade, taken on holiday in Dordogne. Thanks Helen!
If you’d like to take your own picture to potentially be featured on the blog, then get your Soul Survivor Bible in One Year, and take a picture of yourself – and your Bible – at some interesting or colourful location. Then email it to us at editor@soulsurvivor.com.
The pictures will need to be a pretty good resolution (we use 640px by 360 px so at least as big as that), landscape photos work best and if you include the day of the reading in the picture then make sure you send it to us a good few days before that reading, so we have time to include it in that day’s post! We’ll credit all photographers!
The Bible in One Year with Soul Survivor 