Category: Daily Readings

February 10 (Reading for February 6-12: Romans 5. This commentary will be done in two posts: verses 1-11 today, and verses 12-21, tomorrow. (Today’s discussion is a preview of the Sunday, Feb. 13, sermon at ICF). Verse 1 begins with “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith” (NIV). The words “therefore” and “since” lead…

February 3 (Reading for January 30-February 5: Romans 4) We have seen in the first three chapters of Romans that the righteous will live by faith. Their righteousness “is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Rom. 3:22). Chapter 4 provides an illustration in the person of Abraham, so that we can…

January 27 (Reading for January 23-29: Romans 3) We sometimes say, speaking of God, “It’s not about us, it’s about Him.” This insight is clearly expressed in Romans 3: “What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?” (v. 3). People call themselves agnostic and/or atheistic,…

January 20 (Reading for January 16-22: Romans 2) Monday morning, I read Romans 2, scratched my head, and prayed for Aaron, that God would give him just the right message for this Sunday. Then I reread the first few verses and recorded on my iPhone: “It’s not what you do that is most important, but…

January 13 (Reading for January 9-15: Romans 1; quotes are from the NIV) This is a “trailer” for the Sunday sermon, January 16, at the ICF. This weekend, the National Football League playoffs begin, culminating in the Super Bowl, when the last two teams standing will compete. In Romans 1, Paul described the ultimate conflict…

Dear friends of the ICF, This is written especially to those who followed our 2021 Bible reading plan, and who also received my devotionals by email. We will be reading in 2022 through some designated books, going slowly, and hopefully deeply, reading approximately one chapter per week. I will post a commentary to the ICF…

December 31 (Daily reading: Revelations 19-22) Congratulations on chronologically reading the Bible in 2021. Thank you for your faithfulness in reading these commentaries. In 19:6-10, John wrote, “These are the true words of God.” We sing with the great multitude: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” These chapters complete the amazing images…

December 30 (Daily reading: Revelations 12-18) (Revelations 12:7-17) Heaven will be a place of complete and final victory. God was victorious over Satan in a war in heaven fought between Michael and his angels and Satan and his angels. Satan and company lost the war, and “there was no longer a place found for them…

December 29 (Daily reading: Revelations 6-11) As I have gotten older, I have become increasingly captivated by thoughts of heaven. I hear what Paul said: “Keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). When I read Revelations, I do not try to answer all…

December 28 (Daily reading: Revelations 1-5) In the introduction to the revelation of Jesus Christ to John (1:1-8), we are told how we should approach this prophecy, since “the time is near.” First, we must “read” it; then, we must truly “hear” it, and let it sink in! We must also “keep the things which…