Reading Bible Chronologically within 4 Months.

Reading Bible cover to cover each year is a commendable commitment. I have known many Christians who have done it, also many Christians who gave up their commitment midway. Whenever I meet Christian friends after a long time, I love to ask their Bible reading schedule/plan. Unfortunately, many have the habit of giving up after reading the Bible cover to cover once. If you ae one of them, may I suggest you to have an interesting Bible reading plan? For me to continue each year, I read different Bible version each year. Also I do not put myself under obligation to read sequentially from Genesis to Revelation.

This year, I decide to read Bible chronologically. Chronological in the sense of events recorded in Bible. It is not the chronological order of the first book to last book written (by the way, that is also a good way, and I have done it last year). I took help from Blue Letter Bible Reading Plan and modified it for my convenience. There are some instances I disagree with this Chronology, such as Psalm 63 after 1 Samuel 25-27. I believe with Spurgeon it should be after 2Samuel 16-17.

I have modified in this way to read in 4 months. This schedule helps me to understand the context clearly and retains my memory of the last read passages.

 

OLD TESTAMENT I (6 WEEKS) 1st Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up) 1.     Genesis 1-11 2.     Job 1-21 3.     Job 22-42 4.     Genesis 12-30 5.     Genesis 31-50   2nd Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up) 6.     Exodus 1-20 7.     Exodus 21-40 8.     Leviticus 1-16 9.     Leviticus 17-27 10. Numbers 1-15; Psalm 90   3rd Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. Pentateuch is done by third week. The 13th day is little big but necessary.) 11. Numbers 16-36 12. Deut. 1-18 13. Deut. 19-34; Psalm 91 14. Joshua 1-12 15. Joshua 13-24   4th Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. Now the fun comes in reading chronologically – turning pages back and front. 17th and 18th take more time but necessary.) 16. Judges 1-21   17. Ruth; 1Sam. 1-20; Ps. 11, 59;   18. 1Sam. 21-24; Ps. 7, 27, 31, 34, 52, 56, 120, 140-142; 1Sam. 25-27   19. Ps. 17, 35, 54, 63; 1Samuel 28-31; Ps. 18, 121, 123-125, 128-130; 2Sam. 1-4;   20. Ps. 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, 21; 1Chr. 1-2; Ps. 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87; 1Chr. 3-5; Ps. 73, 77-78; 1Chr. 6   5th Week (3 days reading. 4 days are to catch up – plenty. Not to give up in midway because of lagging behind. One month read faithfully. It’s a second month with an easy start) 21. Ps. 81, 88, 92-93; 1Chr. 7-10; Ps. 102-104; 2Sam. 5; 1Chr. 11-12; Ps. 133, 106-107   22. 1Chr. 13-16; Ps. 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, 68; Ps. 89, 96, 100-101, 105, 132; 2Sam. 6-7; 1Chr. 17; Ps. 25, 29, 33, 36, 39   23. 2Sam. 8-9; 1Chr. 18; Ps. 50, 53, 60, 75; 2Sam. 10; 1Chr. 19; Ps. 20; Ps. 65-67, 69-70; 2Sam. 11-12; 1Chr. 20; Ps. 32, 51, 86, 122   6th Week (3 days reading. 4 days are to catch up – plenty. Not to give up in midway because of lagging behind) 24. 2Sam. 13-15; Ps. 3-4, 12-13, 28, 55; 2Sam. 16-18; Ps. 26, 40, 58, 61-62, 64; 2Sam.19-21; Ps. 5, 38, 41-42   25. 2Sam. 22-23; Ps. 57, 95, 97-99; 2Sam. 24; 1Chr. 21-22; Ps. 30; Ps. 108-110; 1Chr. 23-25; Ps. 131, 138-139, 143-145   26. 1Chr. 26-29; Psalm 127, 111-118     OLD TESTAMENT II (6 WEEKS) 1st Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. End of OT I. Cheer up! you are half way through!) 1.     1Kings 1-2; Ps. 37, 71, 94, 119; 1Kings 3-4   2.     2Chr. 1; Psalm 72; Song of Solomon   3.     Proverbs 1-24   4.     1Kings 5-6; 2Chr. 2-3; 1Kings 7; 2Chr. 4; 1Kings 8; 2Chr. 5-7; Ps. 136, 134, 146-150   5.     1Kings 9; 2Chr. 8; Pro. 25-29   2nd Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. Walk with the Kings.) 6.     Ecclesiastes 1-12 7.     1Kings 10-11; 2Chr. 9; Pro. 30-31; 1Kings 12-14; 2Chr. 10-12; 1Kings 15; 2Chr. 13-16   8.     1Kings 16; 2 Chr. 17; 1Kings 17-22; 2 Chronicles 18-23   9.     Obadiah; Ps.82-83; 2Kings 1-11   10. 2Kings 12-13; 2Chr. 24; 2 Kings 14; 2Chr. 25; Jonah; 2Kings 15; 2Chr. 26   3rd Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. Walk with the Prophets.) 11. Isaiah 1-8; Amos 1-9   12. 2Chr. 27; Isaiah 9-12; Micah; 2Chr. 28; 2Kings 16-17   13. Isaiah 13-27; 2Kings 18; 2Chr. 29-31; Ps. 48   14. Hosea 1-14   15. Isaiah 28-39; Ps. 76; Isaiah 40-48   4th Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. 20th day especially Jeremiah section is big) 16. 2Kings 19; Ps. 46, 80, 135; Isaiah 49-66   17. 2Kings 20-21; 2Chr. 32-33; Nahum; 2Kings 22-23; 2Chr. 34-35; Zephaniah   18. Jeremiah 1-20   19. Jeremiah 21-40; Psalms 74, 79   20. 2Kings 24-25; 2Chr. 36; Habakkuk; Jeremiah 41-52; Lament 1-5   5th Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up) 21. Ezekiel 1-16 22. Ezekiel 17-35 23. Ezekiel 36-48;  Joel 24. Daniel 1-12 25. Ezra 1-6; Ps. 137; Haggai   6th Week (3 days reading. Take time of reflection – God’s word the rest of the week. Celebrate! OT is done in 3 months.) 26. Zechariah 1-14 27. Esther 1-10; Ezra 7-10 28. Neh. 1-13; Ps.126; Malachi     NEW TESTAMENT (4 WEEKS) 1st Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. Yes, excited. 4 Gospels in a week.) 1.     Luke 1; John 1 Matthew 1; Luke 2 Matthew 2-3; Mark 1; Luke 3 Matthew 4; Luke 4-5 John 2-4; Matthew 8; Mark 2 John 5; Matthew 12; Mark 3; Luke 6; Matthew 5-7   2.     Matthew 9; Luke 7 Matthew 11; Luke 11 Matthew 13; Luke 8 Mark 4-5, 10, 14; Mark 6; Luke 9 John 6; Matt. 15; Mark 7 Matt. 16; Mark 8: Matt. 17; Mark 9   3.     Matthew 18; John 7-10; Luke 10 Luke 12-17; John 11; Luke 18; Matt. 19; Mark 10; Matt.20-21; Luke 19   4.     Mark 11; John 12; Matt. 22; Mark 12; Matthew 23; Luke 20-21; Mark 13; Matthew 24-26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13-17   5.     Matthew 27; Mark 15 Luke 23; John 18-19 Matthew 28; Mark 16 Luke 24; John 20-21   2nd Week (5 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. Acts looks more interesting with epistles.) 6.     Acts 1-14; James 7.     Acts 15-16; Gal. 1-6; Acts 17 8.     1 & 2 Thess; Acts 18-19 9.     1 Corinthians 1-16 10. 2 Corinthians 1-13   3rd Week (3 days reading. More books this week but relatively small. You can read ahead of the 4th week too.) 11. Romans 1-16 12. Acts 20-28; Colossians, Philemon 13. Ephesians; Philippians; 1Timothy; Titus   4th Week (4 days reading. 2 days are to catch up. NT done. Holy Bible done!) 14. 1Peter; Hebrews 1-13 15. 2Timothy; 2Peter, Jude; 1, 2, 3 John 16. Revelation 1-11 17. Revelation 12-22      This is how you can do it within 4 months or 16 weeks or 71 days. Each day will require one to one and half hour to read the assigned passages. Actually. I got excited and finished it in 28 days (within a month).

 

 

Forgiveness

 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” – Genesis 50:20 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: Forgiveness

Key Principle: Forgiveness is an issue of God-likeness, not an issue of Circumstances.

Key Application: We must forgive unconditionally.

Main point of the Passage: No matter what evil and good things happen to us, all things strengthen us to be more Godlike when we recognize God’s plan transcends Man’s Plan.

Illustration: Joseph’s Attitude

Exhortation: Put not your eyes on your brother’s sins, but on the goodness of God.

Forgiveness is what we desire from others, but not an easy virtue to exercise upon others. It looks more difficult when wrong is done intentionally by people who are close to us. Sometimes, we wait for their repentance or apologies to forgive them. Can we just forgive without any condition? How can we do it? The story of Joseph and his brothers portrays a good example for us to imitate forgiveness.

Image Scripture: Romans 13:12, 11

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture through Picture

The Message Bible (Version): Interesting Bookmarks

Recently, I have read The Message Bible (Version). Like anyone’s testimony, I have found few things that I don’t find in other Bible versions (sometimes good, but other times a matter of concern). It is a paraphrase Bible, but I do agree with the critics that it is also a rendering of what the translator (Eugene Peterson) would like the Bible to say. I enjoy reading it and would recommend anyone to read it, however not as a primary Bible for your Bible study or to bring to church.

Here, I would like to present top 28 interesting bookmarks I have created while I was reading it. I have given NKJV rendering to each of them for comparison.

Psalms 19:2

(MSG) Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening.

(NKJV) Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge.

Job 7:10

(MSG) They don't return to visit their families; never again will friends drop in for coffee.

 (NKJV) He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him anymore.

Psalm 100:4

(MSG) Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.

(NKJV) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Proverbs 10:5

(MSG)  Make hay while the sun shines--that's smart; go fishing during harvest--that's stupid.

 (NKJV) He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

Proverbs 12:27

(MSG)  A lazy life is an empty life, but "early to rise" gets the job done.

(NKJV) The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession. 

Proverbs 19:7

(MSG)  When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you-- yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost. If they see you coming, they look the other way-- out of sight, out of mind.

 (NKJV) All the brothers of the poor hate him; How much more do his friends go far from him! He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

Joel 3:4

(MSG)  "As for you, Tyre and Sidon and Philistia, why should I bother with you? Are you trying to get back at me for something I did to you? If you are, forget it. I'll see to it that it boomerangs on you.

(NKJV) “Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? Will you retaliate against Me? But if you retaliate against Me, Swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head;

Zechariah 11:6

(MSG)  GOD's Decree: "I'm washing my hands of the people of this land. From now on they're all on their own. It's dog-eat-dog, survival of the fittest, and the devil take the hindmost. Don't look for help from me."

(NKJV) For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land,” says the LORD. “But indeed I will give everyone into his neighbor’s hand and into the hand of his king. They shall attack the land, and I will not deliver them from their hand.”

2Corinthians 4:17

(MSG) These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.

(NKJV) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

Romans 3:15

(MSG)  They race for the honor of sinner-of-the-year,

 (NKJV)  “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Revelation 2:23

(MSG) The bastard offspring of their idol-whoring I'll kill. Then every church will know that appearances don't impress me. I x-ray every motive and make sure you get what's coming to you.

 (NKJV) I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

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Proverbs 14:5

(MSG)  A true witness never lies; a false witness makes a business of it.

(NKJV) A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies. 

Proverbs 21:31

(MSG)  Do your best, prepare for the worst-- then trust GOD to bring victory.

(NKJV) The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.

Jeremiah 16:12

(MSG) And you're even worse! Take a good look in the mirror--each of you doing whatever you want, whenever you want, refusing to pay attention to me.

 (NKJV) And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.

Lamentations 3:30

(MSG)  Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.

(NKJV) Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach.

Luke 8:21

(MSG)  He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."

(NKJV) But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Matthew 10:9

(MSG)  "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start.

(NKJV) Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,

Luke 19:26

(MSG)  "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

(NKJV) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

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Proverbs 14:5

(MSG)  A true witness never lies; a false witness makes a business of it.

(NKJV) A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies. 

Proverbs 21:31

(MSG)  Do your best, prepare for the worst-- then trust GOD to bring victory.

(NKJV) The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD.

Jeremiah 16:12

(MSG) And you're even worse! Take a good look in the mirror--each of you doing whatever you want, whenever you want, refusing to pay attention to me.

 (NKJV) And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.

Lamentations 3:30

(MSG)  Don't run from trouble. Take it full-face. The "worst" is never the worst.

(NKJV) Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him, And be full of reproach.

Luke 8:21

(MSG)  He replied, "My mother and brothers are the ones who hear and do God's Word. Obedience is thicker than blood."

(NKJV) But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Matthew 10:9

(MSG)  "Don't think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start.

(NKJV) Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts,

Luke 19:26

(MSG)  "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.

(NKJV) ‘For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

To Read further about the Message Bible Version:

What is The Message (MSG)? - Got Questions?

The Message Bible -Christian Research Institute

The Message is Not a Bible Translation: Peterson's Philosophy | More ...

Eugene Peterson's Philosophy of Bible Translation - Tim Challies

Should We Use Eugene Peterson's 'The Message' Bible?

Popularity

“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: Popularity

Key Principle: We live for Christ, no longer for ourselves.

Key Application: Allow Christ to be known and seen in you!

Main point of the Passage: Popularity of Christ over our own popularity

Illustration: John’s Attitude

Exhortation: Dare to risk your own reputation for the advancing of the name of Christ.

Everybody wants to be popular for different reasons, especially for good cause. Who among you does not want to have a hundred likes in a Facebook post? What Christian ministry does not want thousands of email subscriber?

Image Scripture: Proverbs 25:28

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

Should you care God exists or not?

[This is a repost of 2014 article, which was deleted by mistake]

For centuries, humankind has been debating about the existence of God. Most people say God exists; some say that God does not exist, and still, others say that nobody can know whether God exists or not. Friedrich Nietzsche went on to say, “God is dead.” Should you care God exists or not? If it doesn’t matter, one need not pay attention, but how does one know it matters or not? Let us define God first. Defining God exactly is impossible, for He is beyond definition and comprehension. But for this article God is the “maximally great being,” by which I mean He is the greatest, perfect, infinite, invincible, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent Being. Moreover, He is the Creator of the Universe and everything in it.

Enduring Adversities

 “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”  Psalm 119: 92 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: Enduring Adversities

Key Principle: God’s Majesty is inscribed in His words. 

Key Application: Meditate on the words of God

Main point of the Passage: All adversities look pale when we discover the Majesty of God in His words.

Illustration: If you can enjoy World Cup Football, you can enjoy God’s goodness too.

Exhortation: Would you treasure God’s word in your heart, in your blood; not on paper, not on phone, not on internet, but in your being?

We often have False View of God. Our view of God is revealed unprecedentedly when we are in adversities. We like to think of God as one who satisfies our desires, who will excuse all our sins by His grace. This is dead wrong if we don’t understand His Majesty – the Majesty, which should make us tremble before Him (Ps. 119: 120). God does not exist to serve you; rather you are created to serve Him 24 x 7 eternally (v.91).