This Bible reading plan takes you through most of the Holy Scriptures each weekday of the year. Each day has three Bible readings:
You're welcome to read one, two, or all three of the readings every weekday. And if you fall behind, don't worry! You can either use the weekends to catch up or you can simply dive in to the reading for that day, even if you've missed a few days, weeks, or even months!
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Bondservants,1 obey your earthly masters2 with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master3 and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers,4 and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
[1] 6:5
[2] 6:5
[3] 6:9
[4] 6:23
(ESV)
The iconic, even if somewhat aloof, CEO of Apple Inc., Steve Jobs, is well known for his highly anticipated keynote addresses, known as Stevenotes, delivered at Apple events all over the country. His "Stevenotes" follow a predictable pattern. He begins by presenting sales figures and reviews for Apple products released over the past few months. He continues by presenting new products of moderate importance. After that, he feigns some concluding remarks, turns to leave the stage, but then turns back and says, "But there is one more thing..." And that "one more thing" is always his biggest announcement. With this phrase he has introduced the wireless AirPort base station, the MacBook Pro, and the iPod Touch. The "one more thing," it turns out, always seems to be the most important thing.
The book of Ephesians could be considered a keynote address of sorts. For in this little epistle, Paul covers many issues of importance to the Christian faith: God's divine choice in election (cf. 1:3-14), salvation by grace through faith (cf. 2:1-10), Jewish and Gentile relations (cf. 3:1-13), unity in Christ (cf. 4:1-6), and the order of a Christian household (cf. 5:22-6:9). Indeed, some scholars believe this letter is written as a primer in Christian doctrine, intended not only for the Ephesians, but as a circular letter for all Christians everywhere. This theory is derived in part from the fact that the earliest manuscripts of this letter omit the reference to Ephesus in 1:1. Thus, although I would contend this letter was indeed for the Ephesian church because of other testimonies from antiquity, I would also contend that this letter was not for the Ephesians alone. It was intended to be passed around as a keynote address.
In our reading for today from Ephesians 6, Paul is wrapping up his keynote address. He has addressed both towering points of Christian doctrine and practical points of Christian life. It seems as though Paul has finished. But then, we read this word: "Finally" (verse 10). In Greek, this is the word loipos, most often translated in the New Testament as "other." The scene is this: Paul has addressed many things in his letter. His address now at last seems to be at its terminus. He has wrapped things up, is walking off stage, but then, pauses, turns, and announces: "Loipos. This is one other thing. There is one more thing." And Paul's "one more thing" is a huge thing:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (verses 10-12)
Paul's "one more thing" turns out to be a treatise on spiritual warfare. For Satan will relentlessly try to entice and attack those who believe and confess the doctrine contained in this letter. So Paul issues a call to Christians to gird themselves with God's spiritual armor. In his explanation of this armor, Paul mentions "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (verse 17). Satan is helpless against the sure and certain promises of God's Word. Martin Luther reminds us:
You will surely have the devil around you... Now, what is the devil? Nothing else than what the Scriptures call him: a liar and a murderer. A liar who entices the heart away from God's Word and blinds it, making you unable to feel your need or to come to Christ. A murderer who begrudges you every hour of your life... Try this, therefore, and practice it well. Just examine yourself, or look around a little, and cling only to the Scriptures. (LC V:80-83)
"Cling only to the Scriptures." For this is God's effective armor against Satan. Indeed, no piety, no work, and no effort of our own can defeat the evil one. Only God's Word and the message of Christ can accomplish such a feat. And so we cling to that.
Is Satan attacking you? Open the Scriptures, ponder their promises, and trust in the One whom the Scriptures reveal, Jesus Christ. For his victory over sin, death, and the devil and for you is assured. And that's not just "one more thing," that's the very best thing. For that is the gospel. Praise be to God.
10 Like grapes in the wilderness,
I found Israel.
Like the first fruit on the fig tree
in its first season,
I saw your fathers.
But they came to Baal-peor
and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame,
and became detestable like the thing they loved.
11 Ephraim’s glory shall fly away like a bird—
no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
12 Even if they bring up children,
I will bereave them till none is left.
Woe to them
when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm1 planted in a meadow;
but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.2
14 Give them, O LORD—
what will you give?
Give them a miscarrying womb
and dry breasts.
15 Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal;
there I began to hate them.
Because of the wickedness of their deeds
I will drive them out of my house.
I will love them no more;
all their princes are rebels.
16 Ephraim is stricken;
their root is dried up;
they shall bear no fruit.
Even though they give birth,
I will put their beloved children to death.
17 My God will reject them
because they have not listened to him;
they shall be wanderers among the nations.
10:1 Israel is a luxuriant vine
that yields its fruit.
The more his fruit increased,
the more altars he built;
as his country improved,
he improved his pillars.
2 Their heart is false;
now they must bear their guilt.
The LORD3 will break down their altars
and destroy their pillars.
3 For now they will say:
“We have no king,
for we do not fear the LORD;
and a king—what could he do for us?”
4 They utter mere words;
with empty4 oaths they make covenants;
so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds
in the furrows of the field.
5 The inhabitants of Samaria tremble
for the calf5 of Beth-aven.
Its people mourn for it, and so do its idolatrous priests—
those who rejoiced over it and over its glory—
for it has departed6 from them.
6 The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria
as tribute to the great king.7
Ephraim shall be put to shame,
and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol.8
7 Samaria’s king shall perish
like a twig on the face of the waters.
8 The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
on their altars,
and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,”
and to the hills, “Fall on us.”
9 From the days of Gibeah, you have sinned, O Israel;
there they have continued.
Shall not the war against the unjust9 overtake them in Gibeah?
10 When I please, I will discipline them,
and nations shall be gathered against them
when they are bound up for their double iniquity.
11 Ephraim was a trained calf
that loved to thresh,
and I spared her fair neck;
but I will put Ephraim to the yoke;
Judah must plow;
Jacob must harrow for himself.
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the LORD,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 You have plowed iniquity;
you have reaped injustice;
you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
and in the multitude of your warriors,
14 therefore the tumult of war shall arise among your people,
and all your fortresses shall be destroyed,
as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle;
mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.
15 Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel,
because of your great evil.
At dawn the king of Israel
shall be utterly cut off.
[1] 9:13
[2] 9:13
[3] 10:2
[4] 10:4
[5] 10:5
[6] 10:5
[7] 10:6
[8] 10:6
[9] 10:9
(ESV)
God says that He was delighted to choose Israel, like a person unexpectedly finding grapes in the desert, or finding ripe figs at the beginning of the season. Israel, however, quickly turned from delectable to detestable when she chased after idols. Israel's quest for fertility through Baal would result in infertility: "no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!" Even the children who were born would be swept away by the enemy. Because of their rebellion God would drive them out of His house, that is, the Holy Land. Because they had rejected God, God rejected them. As Israel's wealth increased, her idolatry increased. Instead of being grateful to God, their hearts were false. Yet the people recognized that because they did not fear the LORD the monarchy had been taken from them, and no king could help them at this point. The people would mourn the removal to Assyria of their golden calf in Bethel. They would be ashamed of their wooden idols, powerless to help them. In recognition of God's wrath they would cry out to the mountains, "cover us," and to the hills, "fall on us." Jesus quoted this verse to portray what would happen in His day when Israel saw judgment come upon them because they had rejected the Messiah (Luke 23:22). The "double iniquity" of God's people was their rejection of the God their true King by asking for a human king, and their turning to idols to satisfy their sinful desires. Because of their rebellion, God would seek to yoke Israel's neck, forcing them to plow. God wanted His people to break up the unplowed ground of their hard hearts and sow righteousness, so they could reap the fruit of God's "unfailing love." However, they planted wickedness and reaped evil for themselves. Because of this, the devastation would be overwhelming and the destruction complete, when God came to judge.
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.1
16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
21 Disaster2 pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.
23 The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.
24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.3
25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.
14:1 The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,4
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
[1] 13:15
[2] 13:21
[3] 13:24
[4] 14:3
(ESV)