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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11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife1 is her husband,2 and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife3 who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.4 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,5 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for6 you. Do this in remembrance of me.”7 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.8 31 But if we judged9 ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined10 so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
33 So then, my brothers,11 when you come together to eat, wait for12 one another—34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
[1] 11:3
[2] 11:3
[3] 11:5
[4] 11:10
[5] 11:18
[6] 11:24
[7] 11:24
[8] 11:30
[9] 11:31
[10] 11:32
[11] 11:33
[12] 11:33
(ESV)
The other day, I stumbled across a list of instructions on consumer goods that humorously speak to our collective lack of common sense. For example, the packaging on a bar of Dial soap reads, "Use like regular soap." Could someone please tell me how to use irregular soap? Or how about this on some Swanson frozen dinners: "Serving suggestion: defrost." Then, of course, there is that sobering caution on a canister of Sainsbury's peanuts: "Warning: contains nuts." But my favorite caveat comes on a child's Superman costume: "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly." Why? It works on TV!
Surely our society is short on common sense at times. And although some bemoan this lack of elementary analytical ability as something new to our generation, the truth is, common sense has been in short supply for decades and even millennia now. In fact, it is a lack of common sense that Paul addresses in our reading for today from 1 Corinthians 11.
At first glance, 1 Corinthians 11 seems to be one of the most difficult chapters of Paul's letter. The apostle covers everything from women covering their heads during worship (verse 5-6) to people getting sick and even dying because of their irreverent partaking of the Lord's Supper (verse 30). And although these are certainly complex concerns to comprehend, the reason Paul chastises the Corinthians is relatively simple: they are suffering from a lack of common sense. With regard to head coverings, to have an uncovered head as a female in the first century was to send a clear signal that you were a loose woman with loose morals. Sadly, there were some women in the church at Corinth who were sending exactly these kinds of signals as they came to worship dressed inappropriately, at least by first century standards. With regard to the sickness and death that surrounded the Lord's Supper, before partaking of Communion in the first century, Christians would regularly hold what were called "Love Feasts," meant to be celebrations of the love we have in Christ. Unfortunately, these feasts degenerated into deplorable drinking parties (see verses 20-21) and ultimately led to sickness and death, much like a wild frat party.
Paul's solution to these problems? Practice some common sense. "Judge for yourselves," Paul says in verse 13. The Greek word for "judge" is krino which carries with it a sense of discernment. In other words, Paul is saying, "Use some discernment. Practice some common sense. Is it really good to dress like a prostitute in worship or to get drunk before Communion? Surely you know better than to do that!"
Fortunately for those who are Christians, if we listen to God's Word and listen for the whisper of God's Spirit, we have not only common sense, we have un-common sense. That is, we have something far beyond, far better, far more insightful, and far more discerning than mere common sense. For "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). So today, as you approach life's issues, challenges, and demands, use your common sense. But use your un-common sense as well. Go to the Lord in prayer and ask for his guidance, wisdom, and discernment. Unlike our human minds, his mind will never fail.
14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers,
who rule this people in Jerusalem!
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
and with Sheol we have an agreement,
when the overwhelming whip passes through
it will not come to us,
for we have made lies our refuge,
and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;
16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid1 as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
17 And I will make justice the line,
and righteousness the plumb line;
and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”
18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled,
and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
when the overwhelming scourge passes through,
you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it passes through it will take you;
for morning by morning it will pass through,
by day and by night;
and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.
20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on,
and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.
21 For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim;
as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused;
to do his deed—strange is his deed!
and to work his work—alien is his work!
22 Now therefore do not scoff,
lest your bonds be made strong;
for I have heard a decree of destruction
from the Lord GOD of hosts against the whole land.
23 Give ear, and hear my voice;
give attention, and hear my speech.
24 Does he who plows for sowing plow continually?
Does he continually open and harrow his ground?
25 When he has leveled its surface,
does he not scatter dill, sow cumin,
and put in wheat in rows
and barley in its proper place,
and emmer2 as the border?
26 For he is rightly instructed;
his God teaches him.
27 Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,
nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin,
but dill is beaten out with a stick,
and cumin with a rod.
28 Does one crush grain for bread?
No, he does not thresh it forever;3
when he drives his cart wheel over it
with his horses, he does not crush it.
29 This also comes from the LORD of hosts;
he is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in wisdom.
[1] 28:16
[2] 28:25
[3] 28:28
(ESV)
God speaks to those rulers of God's people who scoff at His warnings and He mocks their boast that they are secure. He condemns them for making a covenant with death and making a lie their refuge. This is what idolatry has done for Israel. It brought destruction, not safety. God then tells them about a sure foundation that He has laid in Zion. This verse is quoted several times in the New Testament referring to Jesus. "As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" (1 Peter 2:4-6) Isaiah quotes a proverb "the bed is too short... the blanket is too narrow... " to show the inadequacy of relying on idols for protection. When Israel finally understands this, they will be overwhelmed by sheer terror. God goes on to explain that the judgment that He will bring upon His people will be exactly what is needed to chastise them and lead them to repentance. Just as a farmer stops plowing once he plants, plants exactly the right kind of seed, and uses the right implement for the harvest, so God in His perfect wisdom will apply only the amount of correction and discipline that is needed. God warns however (verse 22) that they should stop mocking Him or their chains will become stronger, because greater reproof is required. The truth is, that God keeps us in a place of trial only as long as it takes us to learn what He wants us to understand.
31:1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
6 I hate1 those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eye is wasted from grief;
my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my iniquity,
and my bones waste away.
11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
especially to my neighbors,
and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror on every side!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
[1] 31:6
(ESV)