Bible Reading Plan

Word for Today

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!

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Readings for


New Testament Reading


John 15

I Am the True Vine

15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,1 for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

The Hatred of the World

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,2 but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Footnotes

[1] 15:15 Or bondservants, or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface); likewise for servant later in this verse and in verse 20
[2] 15:22 Greek they would not have sin; also verse 24

(ESV)

Pastoral Commentary for John 15

Commentary from Pastor Josh Hower

Spring is here!
Recently we finished top dressing our yard.
It is great to see new growth pierce through the brownness of winter dormant grass.
Cutting the grass for the first time this spring is on the near horizon.

Cutting... that reminds me of our reading for today. John 15 reminds me that being cut is a part of life. We can be cut "for growth" (vs. 2b), or cut because there are "no signs of life" (vs. 2a).
They key for us... is to remain.

Romans 11:18b, "you do not support the root, but the root supports you."

Being cut, which is never pleasant or welcomed at the time, is inevitable for our life. It is simply a matter of which kind of cut we will receive. Focusing on deepening and stretching our faith, and not having a "fruit only focus" is the surest way to grow (vs. 5).

Romans 11:20a, "they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith."

What can you trust God with today?
Why not take a moment and pray about it?


Old Testament Reading


Isaiah 65:17–66:6

New Heavens and a New Earth

17   “For behold, I create new heavens
    and a new earth,
  and the former things shall not be remembered
    or come into mind.
18   But be glad and rejoice forever
    in that which I create;
  for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
    and her people to be a gladness.
19   I will rejoice in Jerusalem
    and be glad in my people;
  no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
    and the cry of distress.
20   No more shall there be in it
    an infant who lives but a few days,
    or an old man who does not fill out his days,
  for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
    and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21   They shall build houses and inhabit them;
    they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22   They shall not build and another inhabit;
    they shall not plant and another eat;
  for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
    and my chosen shall long enjoy1 the work of their hands.
23   They shall not labor in vain
    or bear children for calamity,2
  for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD,
    and their descendants with them.
24   Before they call I will answer;
    while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25   The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
    the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
    and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
  They shall not hurt or destroy
    in all my holy mountain,”
      says the LORD.

The Humble and Contrite in Spirit

66:1   Thus says the LORD:
  “Heaven is my throne,
    and the earth is my footstool;
  what is the house that you would build for me,
    and what is the place of my rest?
  All these things my hand has made,
    and so all these things came to be,
      declares the LORD.
  But this is the one to whom I will look:
    he who is humble and contrite in spirit
    and trembles at my word.
  “He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;
    he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;
  he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;
    he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.
  These have chosen their own ways,
    and their soul delights in their abominations;
  I also will choose harsh treatment for them
    and bring their fears upon them,
  because when I called, no one answered,
    when I spoke, they did not listen;
  but they did what was evil in my eyes
    and chose that in which I did not delight.”
  Hear the word of the LORD,
    you who tremble at his word:
  “Your brothers who hate you
    and cast you out for my name’s sake
  have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified,
    that we may see your joy’;
    but it is they who shall be put to shame.
  “The sound of an uproar from the city!
    A sound from the temple!
  The sound of the LORD,
    rendering recompense to his enemies!

Footnotes

[1] 65:22 Hebrew shall wear out
[2] 65:23 Or for sudden terror

(ESV)

Pastoral Commentary for Isaiah 65:17-66:6

Commentary from Pastor Bob Nordlie

As God describes the heavenly Jerusalem, we strain our imaginations to try and comprehend what the images and metaphors are trying to depict. God promised His people a rebuilt Jerusalem following the Babylonian captivity, but now He promises a new heaven and a new earth where His people won't even remember the sin and sorrow of life on this earth. There God's people will rejoice forever, and He will rejoice in us and with us. In the heavenly Jerusalem there will be no more sorrow or death. All the fruitless efforts of this world will be forgotten because there we will never labor in vain. There will be perfect peace for all of creation. The one who will enjoy all of these blessings and untold others in the heavenly Jerusalem is "he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word." Outward forms of worship and sacrifice will not garner favor with God. Meaningless sacrifices are as reprehensible to God as human sacrifice or offering unclean animals like dogs or pigs. Burning incense without repentance and faith is as shameful as idolatry. God warns His true believers that false brethren who hypocritically go through the motions of religion will despise them, but in the end they will be put to shame when the sound of uproar signals God's judgment.


Psalms/Proverbs Reading


Psalm 53

There Is None Who Does Good

To the choirmaster: according to Mahalath. A Maskil1 of David.

53:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity;
    there is none who does good.
  God looks down from heaven
    on the children of man
  to see if there are any who understand,2
    who seek after God.
  They have all fallen away;
    together they have become corrupt;
  there is none who does good,
    not even one.
  Have those who work evil no knowledge,
    who eat up my people as they eat bread,
    and do not call upon God?
  There they are, in great terror,
    where there is no terror!
  For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you;
    you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
  Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
    When God restores the fortunes of his people,
    let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

Footnotes

[1] 53:1 Probably musical or liturgical terms
[2] 53:2 Or who act wisely

(ESV)