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!
1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word1 of life—2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our2 joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(ESV)
On a fairly consistent basis, I am called upon to answer questions from people who email the church looking for information concerning Concordia's beliefs, practices, or ministries. Because these emails are not sent specifically to me, but to the church in general, I try to stay keenly aware that I am answering on behalf of my beloved congregation. Therefore, I am very careful and precise in how I answer these questions because I want to present Concordia in the best light possible. It is with this in mind that I have developed an intentional grammatical habit. Whenever I write someone on behalf of Concordia, I use first person plural pronouns rather than first person singular ones. For example, if I was to share Concordia's mission, I would write, "We want to shine like stars in the universe" rather than "I want to shine like a star in the universe" because I am writing on behalf of the congregation. My hope, when writing such letters, is that the person to whom I am writing will eventually become a part of that first personal plural pronoun. For we at Concordia have a deep and abiding passion to welcome more and more people into our beloved family of faith.
The deep and abiding passion that runs through Concordia is clearly shared by the apostle John in our reading for today from 1 John 1. John, although writing personally, begins his letter with a communal pronoun: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life" (verse 1). If John is the singular author of this letter, why would he use the plural pronoun "we"? Because John is not just writing for himself, he's writing on behalf of the apostles. For all of the apostles had seen with their eyes and touched with their hand God's very Word of life, Jesus Christ. And not only that, they received a message from him:
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (verses 5-8)
A significant shift in the referent of the first person plural pronouns occurs at verse 6. In verses 1-4, John's "we" refers only to John and his apostolic band. But in verses 6-9, John uses the first person plural pronoun "we" to refer to the sinfulness of all Christians and how they are all purified by the blood of Christ. In other words, the "we" of verses 6-9 includes a lot more people than does the "we" of verses 1-4. And it's in these pronouns that John's deep and abiding passion is to be found. For the "we" of apostles in verses 1-4 proclaims the gospel message to the "you" of verse 5, who subsequently are included in the "we" of all Christians in verses 6-9. This, then, is the mission of God: to take people from being "you's" of the world and make them into "we's" in the family of God. God wants his first person plural pronoun of his church to grow larger and larger.
"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (verse 5). With whom can you share this message today? There are so many people going through dark times who need the light of Christ to shine on their hearts. And when his light does shine on their hearts, they become part of us - they become part of God's "we." For they have been purified from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus. Here's to the growing "we" of God's Kingdom.
11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of kindness,1
with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 They shall not2 return to the land of Egypt,
but Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
6 The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on turning away from me,
and though they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.
8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.3
10 They shall go after the LORD;
he will roar like a lion;
when he roars,
his children shall come trembling from the west;
11 they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria,
and I will return them to their homes, declares the LORD.
12 4 Ephraim has surrounded me with lies,
and the house of Israel with deceit,
but Judah still walks with God
and is faithful to the Holy One.
12:1 Ephraim feeds on the wind
and pursues the east wind all day long;
they multiply falsehood and violence;
they make a covenant with Assyria,
and oil is carried to Egypt.
2 The LORD has an indictment against Judah
and will punish Jacob according to his ways;
he will repay him according to his deeds.
3 In the womb he took his brother by the heel,
and in his manhood he strove with God.
4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;
he wept and sought his favor.
He met God5 at Bethel,
and there God spoke with us—
5 the LORD, the God of hosts,
the LORD is his memorial name:
6 “So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”
7 A merchant, in whose hands are false balances,
he loves to oppress.
8 Ephraim has said, “Ah, but I am rich;
I have found wealth for myself;
in all my labors they cannot find in me iniquity or sin.”
9 I am the LORD your God
from the land of Egypt;
I will again make you dwell in tents,
as in the days of the appointed feast.
10 I spoke to the prophets;
it was I who multiplied visions,
and through the prophets gave parables.
11 If there is iniquity in Gilead,
they shall surely come to nothing:
in Gilgal they sacrifice bulls;
their altars also are like stone heaps
on the furrows of the field.
12 Jacob fled to the land of Aram;
there Israel served for a wife,
and for a wife he guarded sheep.
13 By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt,
and by a prophet he was guarded.
14 Ephraim has given bitter provocation;
so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him
and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds.
[1] 11:4
[2] 11:5
[3] 11:9
[4] 11:12
[5] 12:4
(ESV)
Matthew quoted the first verse of chapter 11 as being fulfilled in the flight to Egypt by Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of everything that God intended for His chosen people, Israel. They were sinful and rebellious, while Jesus was obedient and submissive. Thus, even though here God speaks through the prophet about the nation of Israel, Matthew's citation is in perfect accord with God's plan for His people. The more God called His unfaithful people back to Him through the prophets, the more their idolatry increased. God describes His patient, gentle love for His people in terms of a loving parent caring for a small child. Nevertheless, God will exercise judgment on them through Assyria, although it causes Him great pain to do so. But even though God chastens His people, He will not completely destroy them, "for I am God and not a man." God's wrath would ultimately cause His people Israel to return to Him trembling in fear. Judah would continue to walk with the LORD for a while. Nevertheless, God calls both Israel and Judah to repentance through genuine struggle with the LORD, like the struggle Jacob went through when he wrestled with God. God urges them, "by the help of your God, return." Repentance is a gift from God, worked in our hearts by His Spirit. Israel, however, falsely interprets their wealth as a sign of God's favor. Therefore God threatens to force them to dwell in tents again in exile, even as they did in the wilderness. Israel cannot claim ignorance, since God clearly spoke to them through His prophets again and again. In both the words of the prophets and in events that would humble them while continuing to show grace—like when Jacob had to serve his uncle Laban for his bride, twice—God chastened his people, but they continued in their sin in spite of God's goodness to them. God's firm judgment is announced at the close of chapter 12: "Ephraim has given bitter provocation; so his Lord will leave his bloodguilt on him and will repay him for his disgraceful deeds."
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.1
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.2
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15 The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16 One who is wise is cautious3 and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.
[1] 14:9
[2] 14:12
[3] 14:16
(ESV)