Category: Daily Readings

December 27 (Daily reading: 2, 3 John) I interpret the “lady” in 2 John, verse 1 to be a church. There are some key words here for the church. The first word is “chosen.” We, the members of the church of Jesus Christ, have been chosen. This is the same Greek word used by Peter:…

December 26 (Daily reading: 1 John) Of all the key words of Christmas (joy, grace, peace, Savior, etc.), the word “love” is at the top of the list. The theme of love is primary in John’s first letter. He presented both the vertical aspect of God’s love for us and our love for God; and…

December 25 (Daily reading: 2 Peter, Jude) Have a blessed Christmas Day! Peter’s second letter ends with “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (3:18). We are all still growing in grace and knowledge! Someone once said, “Please do not criticize me; God has not finished with me yet!”…

December 24 (Daily reading: 2 Timothy) Paul began 2 Timothy 3 with, “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come” (v. 1). He gave a vivid description of the nature of godless men and told Timothy: “Avoid such men as these” (v. 5). By way of contrast, Paul reminded Timothy of…

December 23 (Daily reading: Hebrews 11-13) (Hebrews 12:1-3, NIV) The writer of Hebrews inspires us by describing the faith of many Old Testament personalities: “a great cloud of witnesses” (12:1) who were all “commended for their faith” (11:39). He then turned the spotlight on us by using a race as a metaphor for life. I…

December 22 (Daily reading: Hebrews 7-10) “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (10:23-24). This was written to a community of believers who had gone through much suffering: “You endured a…

December 21 (Daily reading: Hebrews 1-6) Hebrews 2:14-15 is a great Christmas text! It perfectly explains the reason for the incarnation, or the coming of Jesus to live in the flesh on the earth as a man. “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so…

December 20 (Daily reading: 1 Peter) “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (2:9). Christmas is a time of giving gifts. The greatest gift the world has ever known…

December 19 (Daily reading: Titus) (Titus 2:11-14) “Our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus … gave Himself for us to redeem us.” What is the significance of this gift of Himself? First, it is the gift of His grace, “bringing salvation to all men (people).” He redeems us “from every lawless deed” and purifies us.…

December 18 (Daily reading: 1 Timothy) The “mystery of godliness” could be a Christmas carol: “He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory” (3:16). First stanza: Jesus was God, “revealed in the flesh.” “And the…