James 5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Bible Reading Challenge 2022
I would like to challenge you to read your Bible through in 2022. Establishing a good Bible reading habit will bless your lives for years to come.
This year I will be reading the Bible through in chronological order. The schedule will move through the Bible in event order. For example, the Book of Job is integrated with Genesis because Job lived before Abraham.
Jesus – The Word
Jesus – The Word
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Just as our words explain our thoughts to others, Jesus was sent to the world to reveal the Father’s thoughts to us.
“In the beginning was the Word” refers to His co-eternal relationship with God in the past. His existence was in the beginning before the world began.
“And the Word was with God” speaks of His co-existence with God as a distinct person separate from God. He had a conscious personal existence separate from God but was also connected to Him.
“And the Word was God” testifies His co-equality with God. The distinctness was of Himself being God.
Hebrews 1:1-2
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
All things were created by Him. These verses explain His qualifications for the work of our redemption and salvation. In the beginning, Jesus was the Word, and in the end, He will be the Word. He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:12).
Jesus – Truth
Jesus – Truth
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the Way to the Father – no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Jesus is the Truth – the absolute and eternal Truth. Jesus is the Life – He is the bearer and giver of everlasting life.
Truth and liberty always go together. When the truth is denied, liberty is quickly lost. Jesus said in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Truth is necessary for liberty, and true liberty is founded on truth.
Jesus said He was the Truth. He declared that He is the only way to God as well as the Final Word on the matter.
Many people are making wrecks of their lives because they ignore the simple truths of God’s Word. They think liberty gives them the right to lives as they please rather than live according to the principles of truth.
Others are making spiritual wrecks of their lives by their casual attitude towards worship, Christian service, and personal godliness. They chose to ignore the truth believing they can be saved by ways other than simple faith in Jesus Christ.
Knowing and abiding by the eternal Truth of God’s Word brings true liberty.
Jesus – True Vine
Jesus – True Vine
John 15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Who is Jesus? Some say He was just a man that did great things. Others say He was just a prophet. But Jesus said, “I AM: the Bread of Life, the Light of the world, the Good Shepherd, the Way, Truth, and Life.” In this passage, Jesus is saying, “I am the True Vine.”
Jesus’ reference to the vine and husbandman are symbolic to that of a vineyard. The branch and the vine have a mutually dependent relationship. The branch is dependent on the vine, and the believer must always rely on Christ.
Believers are the branches of the Vine. As we abide in Christ, we begin to develop Christian character, which in turn bears fruit. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in nine terms, and Peter encourages us to add to our faith seven principles in order to be fruitful (2 Peter 1:5-8).
It is necessary to be connected to the Vine so that we may bear fruit and have lasting joy.
The Father is the husbandman. He wisely watches over His vineyard. He watches for those vine that are fruitful and prunes those that stopped being fruitful. The more fruit we bear, the more abundant we are in what is good, and the more we glorify God.
Jesus – Son of God
Jesus – Son of God
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
These miracles were specifically written down for proof of Christ’s deity. John wanted those who read the scripture to know that Jesus was not only the Saviour but also the Son of God.
It is by grace that God sent His only begotten Son to pay our random on the cross. It is by faith that we receive His free gift of salvation.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus – Savior
Jesus – Saviour
Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Have you ever paid attention to the verbiage of this verse? A Saviour is born not shall be.
To Whom? Unto you
What? Is born
When? This day
Where? In the city of David
Who? A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
It’s a courageous act for one to rescue people from danger or put their lives on the line to fight for our liberty or freedom. Oh, but what a Saviour we have! He who rescues lost sinners from the depths of hell.
There is none righteous (Romans 3:10) regardless of race, ethnicity, class, or intellect. All are in need of a Saviour.
Christ was born to die that we might go free. What a humbling thought to know that Christ loved me and you enough to rescue us once and for all.
Jesus – Root of David
Jesus – Root of David
Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Matthew 1 gives an account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Juda is the great grandson of Abraham. Abraham was the one whom God promised would be the father of many nations that would be blessed through him (Genesis 17). Yet, if we continue to follow the timeline back to the beginning, it will lead us to Adam. To simplify, the root of David must be from the one from whom Adam came, the forefather of human race. Jesus is both the Creator of the universe and source of human life.
Jesus – Redeemer
Jesus – Redeemer
Job had a personal relationship with the Redeemer. Though Job had lost much, he never lost hope in God. He had the assurance that no matter what happened to him on earth one day he would be united with Christ in Heaven.
Job had no idea why his life was falling apart. His faith in Christ was firm and he was confident that his Redeemer would deliver him. He believed in a living Redeemer and looked forward for the blessed hope that and the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).
Jesus – Physician
Jesus – Physician
Luke 4:23 – And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
Jesus has the power to heal both our bodies and souls. We have multiple accounts in Scripture attesting to Him physically healing the brokenhearted, diseased, and wounded. His healing power is quickly spreading throughout the world, and many people seek him out to heal them of their ailments.
The ancient proverb “Physician heal thyself” was a popular proverb among the Jews. It was a way of saying, “We won’t believe a word you say until you take care of your own.” In other words, they were jealous that Jesus spent more time in Capernaum than in Nazareth. They were demanding he prove he was the Messiah.
Unfortunately, no matter how many signs there are that Jesus is the Messiah, some will choose to ignore them and reject him. The Jews rejected him as the Messiah because He didn’t fit into their idealistic views, and believing in Him would require humility and abandoning their religious traditions.
Jesus didn’t wait for the people to come to Him. He went to them wherever they were. In Mark 2:27, He tells us that His purpose was to call sinners to repentance – redeeming mankind from their sin.
