DAY 31 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR

Job 19

Job 20

Job 21

Psalms 18:1-6
Matthew 21:1-17

Job's friends yet continued to comfort him with vague and miserable words, while Job kept wondering why the wicked live on, keep growing old and continue to have immense audacity. I think Job thought in this line because he knew quite well that he was innocent of whatever offense he was accused of. But concerning Job's thought about this life, the Bible had said that whatsoever a man sows the same thing he shall reap, whether now or in time to come. So let us be careful the way we live our lives.

Similar to Job's chall was David, David was equally faced with enemies, death, destruction and distress, yet he kept worshipping and thanking God for the salvation of his soul.

And Jesus said to them, yea; have ye never read, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? We should as believers make our mouths to be full of Thanksgiving and praise unto God, instead of being full of miserable words like Job's friends.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to always acknowledge God as the doer of everything in my life and hence give him thanks without ceasing, Amen. 

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DAY 30 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR

Job 15

Job 16

Job 17
Job 18

Psalms 17:13-15
Matthew 20:20-34

As Job's friends kept on accusing him wrongly, he became frustrated with their attitude and described them as miserable comforters, hmm! As believers we should really cherish one another as Christ did for us, let's not be like Job's friends.


Let's always pray to God for help, for him alone has answers to our petitions. And when you pray, pray according to his will and not like the mother of Zebedee whom Jesus interpreted her prayer as wanting to Lord over others but be specific like those two blind men whom when Jesus asked what they wanted simply responded that their eyes be opened. Of which Jesus did exactly that for them.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to pray according to the will of God for me and not to pray amiss, Amen.  

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DAY 29 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR

Job 11

Job 12

Job 13
Job 14

Matthew 20:1-19

Psalms 17:6-12

As the story of Job's  suffering keeps on unfolding, his friends yet continued to attribute his suffering to the sins he committed. They condemned him wrongly, but despite all of these Job kept on trusting and hoping in God's love and salvation.

The same way David called on God to show the wonder of his great love, Job in his suffering was able to call God as well, not to hide his face from him, that was a better option instead of him looking somewhere else for help, like many believers do these days.

Jesus was equally mocked the same way Job's friends mocked him and both of Job them endured the mockery, though Jesus' suffering was superior to that of Job. Yet Jesus didn't speak against his Father who sent him.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to endure trials and temptations that may come my way to the extent of standing firm for God at any point in time, Amen.  

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DAY 28 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR

Job 8

Job 9

Job 10

Matthew 19:16-30

Proverbs 3:11-20

Job’s friends continued to misinterpret the reason for his suffering but despite all these allegations from his friends, he still trusted God in vs. 13 of Job 10. He kept on acknowledging the favour of God upon his life.

Like Job, we believers in Christ should do the same. In addition to loving God, Christ in Matthew 19 vs. 19b commanded us to love your neighbor as yourself. If you obey this commandment and keep on loving God and your neighbor, then whatever other men find impossible to do, you will begin to do them cheaply because in 1 Corinthians 2 vs. 9, the Bible says that eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.

When you read Proverbs our today’s Bible passage, you will find out more benefits of loving God and keeping his commandments.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to keep loving you more and more, all the days of my life, Amen.  

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DAY 27 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR

Job 4

Job 5

Job 6

Job 7

Psalms 17:1-5

Matthew 19:1-15

Job’s friends didn’t understand that his suffering was simply a test rather than the sin they felt he committed. Let’s not be quick in passing judgment at others as Job’s friends did to him. If you don’t have any meaningful contribution to make just keep quite or better still pray for the person, after all the Bible has admonished us to pray for others including your enemies.

In all of these trials, yet Job didn’t bear any grudges against God, nor allowed his heart to bear grudges against God nor his mouth to speak against God neither did he allow his feet to slip against God, Psalms 17:3.

We saw how Job handled the issue of his wife asking him to speak against God and die. He didn’t request for a divorce from his wife rather he chastised her and then probably allowed God to take charge of the situation.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, give me the grace to stay and maintain my walk with you despite any odds that might come my way, Amen.  

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DAY 26 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR WITH MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

Psalms 16

Matthew 18:10-35
Job 1
Job 2
Job 3

God allowed Job to be put under test, to prove his love for him but Job didn’t know that he was under test of any sort, yet he didn’t speak against God. He even lost his property and children, yet he maintained his faith in God. The worst of it was that his wife who should be comforting him came to ask him to speak against God and die, yet he didn't do any of such! Job's friends heard about the grief that had befallen Job and they came together to mourn with him but couldn't utter any word to him for seven days and seven nights because the suffering on Job was great.

We saw how Job set the Lord before himself, he knew by faith that God was at his right therefore, he shall not be moved, just like the Psalmist believed in God in vs.8 of Psalm 16. This helped him not to speak against God and die as his wife suggested to him.

Probably, Job’s friends didn’t remember to apply Matthew 18:19-20 in Job’s instance may be God would have delivered Job from his grief. Another major attitude we need to imbibe here is the attitude of forgiveness because if we do not forgive others who offend us, our heavenly Father who we pray to everyday for forgiveness will not forgive us as well, please read that account very well, Amen!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to always forgive others who offend me, no matter the height of the provocation, Amen.  

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DAY 25 - BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR WITH HINTS

Genesis 49
Genesis 50

Psalms 15

Matthew 17:14-27
Matthew 18:1-19

Jacob died after professing blessings to his children except Reuben that he cursed because he defiled his bed. We saw Jacob living a fulfilled life, he didn't die anyhow death. He died righteously; the Bible said, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and was gathered unto his people, vs.33 of Genesis 49. Fear gripped Joseph's brethren after their father died that Joseph would retaliate their ugly actions against him but little did they know that Joseph had understood through the unfolded events why God allowed him to go through all that, for he answered them in vs.19-20 of Genesis 50; fear not: for am l in the place of God? You thought evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it to pass, as it is this day, Alleluia!

The opposite of faith is fear, as Joseph told his brethren not to fear, so also is Jesus telling us today, fear not! If we remove fear off our lives or our ways, and add prayer and fasting to it, we'll receive power in abundance to do the unthinkable. Above all when you pray and fast, don't do it bearing grudges and taking offense against another, come to him with a clean and pure heart and God will surely answer you speedily.

For according to Psalms 15:1, it's only those who walk uprightly, and work righteousness and speak the truth in their hearts that shall abide in the tabernacle of God and dwell in His Holy Hill, Amen!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to walk with God the way Jacob did and was fulfilled at the later end of his life and to fear God as Joseph did which made him greatly prosperous, Amen.  

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DAY 24 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 47:13-31
Genesis 48

Proverbs 3:1-10

Matthew 16:21-28
Matthew 17:1-13

Joseph answered God's call to the fullest and no wonder God stayed put with him and gave him major breakthrough in Egypt. He was able to save the land of Egypt, secured all the land of Egypt to Pharaoh except that of the priests and above all, God used him to save the entire Israel from dying of starvation. In vs. 22 of Genesis 48, Israel blessed him exceedingly and gave him one portion of their inheritance above his brethren. This goes ahead to show us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

As Joseph was sent to save the entire land of Egypt, Israel and his households, much more was Jesus sent to save the entire world from all that afflict them, be it famine, sin, sorrow, sickness, diseases, etc. For this reason we saw Jesus rebuking Peter when he sensed he wanted to downcast him from doing the works of him who sent him. You know at this point Peter never had that understanding of Jesus' mission neither did he know that the man he's been  a disciple to was the Elias they talked about that was meant to come to restore all things, vs. 11 of Matthew 17.

Joseph kept to the laws of the Lord, hence him finding favour and good understanding in the sight of God and men (Pharaoh, Egyptian people, Israel and so on), praise God!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, forgive my sins and cause me to find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man, Amen.  

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DAY 23 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 45

Genesis 46
Genesis 47: 1-12

Psalms 14

Matthew 16:1-20

At last Jacob (Israel) saw his long missing son, Joseph. Whom he thought had died. God perfected the purpose for which he allowed Joseph go through those hard times, that is, to preserve posterity in the earth and to save lives during the famine seasons. This saw the entire Israel come down to Goshen in Egypt to live, as the famine persisted then.

Jacob at last rejoiced and Israel became glad for the salvation of Israel later came to them and they all survived the famine. In our present day, Jesus Christ is become our salvation, to save us not only from famine but from all our captivity, Psalms 14:7, praise God!

Just the way Pharaoh gave Joseph the keys to the whole kingdom of Egypt, Jesus Christ has also given us the keys of the kingdom of heavens, that everything in the kingdom should work out for us according to our level of command of faith, Matthew 16:19, Alleluia!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I make myself available to you, sanctify me and use me to fulfilling the purpose for which you created me, Amen.  

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DAY 22 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 43

Genesis 44

Psalms 13

Matthew 15:10-39

Jacob refused to let Benjamin go down to Egypt at first. He didn’t want his son Benjamin to go the way of Joseph, meanwhile Simeon was still detained in Pharaoh’s house. Judah intervened and started given reasons why Benjamin should go down to Egypt with them. He equally staked himself just to ensure Benjamin goes with them and finally at the end his reasoning prevailed which saw their father release Benjamin to follow them down to Egypt. On reaching Egypt, Joseph in trying to prank his siblings hid a cup in Benjamin’s bag, in a way of trying to use that to detain Benjamin. Again genuine reasoning by Judah prevailed.

In Psalms 13, our today’s Bible reading, like Jacob, David also was confused at that point in his life that he started questioning God, how long…..? But thank God, David still trusted in God’s mercy and he later rejoiced in the Lord for God has dealt bountifully with him in the past. We are to as well count our blessings any time trouble seems to overwhelm us, when we do that we must surely see reasons to continue to rejoice in the Lord, like David did instead of being downcast.

In our Bible passage for today in Matthew, Jesus released his healing powers upon the Canaanite woman’s daughter who was dying after the woman gave reasons why her daughter must be made whole, the same way Jacob released his son Benjamin to go to Egypt with his other siblings when Judah also gave genuine reasons why he should follow them down to Egypt. We also as Believers in Christ should always present our issues to God with genuine reasons as we have seen in our today’s Bible passages. God in the book of Isaiah had also said, come let us reason together … Amen!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to always plead my cause in a way and manner you will answer me speedily, Amen.  

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DAY 21 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 41:41-57

Genesis 42

Psalms 12

Matthew 14:22-36

Matthew 15:1-9

Joseph who was a prisoner few years ago became the second in command of the land of Egypt, and Joseph’s interpretation to Pharaoh began to happen, read vs.54 and as he foretold his father and brothers, his elder brothers for that matter, they still went to Egypt and bowed to him in the bid to collect food.

God saw that Joseph’s faithfulness to him didn’t disappear from among sons of men despite all odds, Psalms 12:1; and words of the Lord are pure words, he then arose for Joseph and set him free from all his oppressors, Amen!

We should follow after Joseph’s step to having faith in God, so that we can be bold to walk with Jesus and avoid making the commandment of God of no effect, Matthew 15:6.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to walk with you faithfully so that I can always uphold your commandment, so help me God, Amen.  

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DAY 20 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 40

Genesis 41:1-40

Proverbs 2:12-22

Matthew 14:1-21

From our passages for today in Genesis, we can see how Joseph patiently went through the ordeals of his life. He moved from pit to prison and from prison to palace. After he had passed through these ordeals, as was written in Psalms 105:17-22, the king sent for him and loosed him and made him the ruler of the entire nation of Egypt. He was made next in command to pharaoh, praise God! 

If Joseph had ignored wisdom and slept with pharaoh’s wife, he would have fallen into the temptation to be seduced off the right path unto a path that ultimately leads down to death, Proverbs 2:12-22, such a great lesson for us all here.

Herod, unlike Joseph succumbed to this temptation as condemned in the above passage. He went to the extent of beheading john the Baptist. This act is highly condemnable, let’s not follow this path at all for it leads to destruction, Matthew 14:1-21. 

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to always live a life that will please God, not to fall into these temptations that will separate from God, Amen.  

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DAY 19 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 38

Genesis 39

Psalms 11

Matthew 13:36-58

Judah in this passage failed to keep his promise to Tamar, his daughter-in-law that she should go back to her Father’s house and stay while his only surviving son grows old enough to have a wife. And we have seen how this failed promise led to Judah impregnating her when she disguised herself as a prostitute. Either ways, the two characters exhibited in this passage shouldn’t have been but we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. At the end of this episode, Pharez who was given birth to in this course was named in the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also seen Joseph behave differently from Judah. When evil came knocking at Joseph’s door, his master’s wife wanting him to lie with her, he fled leaving his cloth behind. He couldn’t compromise his love and fear for God.

We are expected to follow this kind of goodly behavior as Joseph, who put his trust in the Lord and refused Pharaoh’s wife destroying the good foundation their forefathers laid for them, read Psalms 11:3. No wonder God favoured Joseph in the midst of all these trials; Psalms 11:7, for the Lord loves the righteous, his countenance beholds the upright.

Joseph shone forth as the sun in the Kingdom of Our Father amidst trials and temptations, which made him like a hidden treasure and that goodly pearl as recorded in Matthew 13:36-58.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to live a righteous life so as to be like a hidden treasure and a goodly pearls in your name I pray, Amen.  

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DAY 18 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 36

Genesis 37

Psalms 10:12-18

Matthew 13:18-35

Joseph mistakenly told his father and brothers his dream and that triggered heavy hatred and envy against him from his brothers in particular. You know he was so cherished by his father, Jacob. Out of this hatred and envy, they stripped him off his coat of many colours made especially for him from his Dad; his brothers cast him into the pit and finally sold him off to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. We will be narrating the story of Joseph and his brothers as we proceed in our daily Bible Reading; it’s sure an interesting story.

As Joseph was sowing good seed into his brothers lives Matthew 13:24, they were busy concocting evil against him. Yes, he went to the field to take their food to them when all these evils as mentioned were visited upon him by the very same people he was taking the food to. I don’t think he would have encountered this ugly experience if he had refused to take food to them in the field. Little did Joseph’s brothers know that Joseph was like that grain of mustard seed, that would grow to save their lives from starvation, though he was the least among them Matthew 13:31-32, Alleluia!

 As we go further in this Bible reading discussions, we will see how Psalms 10:18 answered in the life of Joseph because at the end he was rescued from every oppression of his brothers, thank you Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I have come to realize that hatred and envy are spirits, please remove these spirits from me, I want to live a life free from all these evils. Help me Lord I pray, Amen.  

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DAY 17 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 34

Genesis 35

Psalms 10:1-11

Matthew 12:46-50

Matthew 13:1-17

Have you seen from the above passages, what we mentioned earlier in this blog that sin multiplies, if not put under control by the power of the Holy Ghost? It all started with Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite raping Dinah and then Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, deceiving Hamor and shechem his son into getting into circumcision that all would be well thereafter. Yet after two days of their being circumcised, Hamor, Shechem and the entire men in the city were all killed by way of revenge, wow!

Jacob appeared to have pleased God after commanding his entire household to put away their gods and then made an altar unto God. God then appeared to him the second time and blessed him, changed his name from Jacob to Israel. We see here how that after Jacob and his household cleansed themselves off their sins; God blessed Jacob and didn’t count the sin of his sons against him. Likewise us, whenever we commit sin and run unto God for forgiveness, through the blood of Jesus, I can assure you he will forgive us, he says a broken and a contrite heart he will not despise.

He would not stand afar off; neither will he hide himself to us, Psalms 10:1. For this is the will of God for us Matthew 12:50. This is also the privilege of being in existence now, seeing how that Jesus’ blood cleanses our sins because according to Matthew 13:17, many prophets and righteous men in the old longed to see the salvation of the Lord through the blood of Jesus Christ but didn’t have the privilege we have now, thank you Jesus!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to die for my sins, I am very grateful to you and your coming,, Amen.  

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DAY 16 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 32

Genesis 33

Proverbs 2:1-11

Matthew 12:22-45

From the above passages in Genesis, Jacob later understood the importance of seeking God’s help in what he wanted to do. That’s trying to make peace with his brother, Esau. He prayed earnestly for help from God, which pacified the whole fear of his life that Esau could hurt him and his household. Going further, in a bid to securing his destiny, he wrestled with a man and prevailed.

I guess after Jacob prayed, wisdom entered unto his heart which made discretion to preserve him and then him and his brother understood exactly their mistakes and leveled up again and their relationship was restored back and kept, Proverbs 2:10-11. At the altar of prayer, Jacob’s words were justified, Matthew 12:37. He was sincerely fed up with enslaving himself for another man and at the end his heart desires to go back to his fatherland was justified and he came back victoriously.

This is exactly what God expects from us, not to go weary but tarry on the altar of prayer until our change comes.  

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please help me to tarry in your presence till my change comes and not hurrying you up, Amen.  

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DAY 15 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 31

Psalms 9:13-20

Matthew 12:1-21

After all that Jacob did for Laban, Laban and his sons could still pay him back by envying him to that point of receiving a warning from God not to harm him! What an attitude! Anyways thank God for his quick intervention. Honestly, that’s the way it is in our society of nowadays, people are hardly appreciative of some other’s input or effort. I am sure Laban and his sons would have learnt their lessons after Jacob left them to their fate because all these while that Jacob was helping them to secure their wealth, they just overlooked it and above all they forgot that you don’t fight whosoever that God is with.

Come to think of it! What on earth could have triggered Rachel’s action, of stealing her father’s gods? Was it that she did it to spite her father? Or probably, she didn’t know that her husband (Jacob) is in covenant with God? Whichever way I didn’t think it was the right thing stealing from her father. Our God, the God of Israel who called her husband and his forefathers (Abraham and Isaac) is a jealous God, it’s either you hold unto him or nothing.

If any of my readers has indulged in these kind of unholy acts, as mentioned above, that is, envying, stealing and lying, our God is a merciful father, he will not condemn you rather he would judge you mercifully, read vs. 7 of Matthew 12, only if you realize your mistakes and call unto him for help, Psalms 9:13; 16,  Praise God!  

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, please help me to be honest with others outside myself and forgive me in any way that I have indulged in the sin of envying, stealing and lying, Amen.  

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DAY 14 OF OUR DAILY BIBLE READING....

Genesis 29

Genesis 30

Psalms 9:1-12

Matthew 11:16-30

From the above passages for today, we can see how Jacob reaped what he sowed. For the second time he cheated Esau his elder brother and then because seed time and harvest time shall not cease, he harvested the deceit he had been sowing from Laban. But I still believed that all this was son in order for him to fulfill God's purpose and calling for their lineage which began with Abraham. Yes, I say so because I'm sure that nothing takes God by surprise. So, can we learn something from these passages and allow God to work out his purpose in our lives? By walking patiently with him.

Let's keep trusting in him to lead us aright. He is an ever faithful God who is our refuge in times of trouble and he has not forsaken those that seek him, just keep declaring among the people his doings.

You know why we must follow Jesus with all sense of purpose and fulfillment? His father has committed all things unto him. So, when you continue to follow him, he will off load all your heavy laden and give you total rest, Amen.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to keep walking with you, never to faint, fall, fail nor falter in my walk with you, Amen.

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DAY 13 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 27

Genesis 28

Psalms 9:1-6

Matthew 10:32-42

Matthew 11:1-15

In our passages for today, we could understand that the kingdom of God has been established for all believers to key into the opportunities it provides. The opportunities are; taking up the cross and following Jesus. Jesus has in our earlier passage said that we could do greater works than he had done, only if we believe. Someone might ask what this cross is all about. There are many ways the cross can be explained but in this context, it’s all about spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to mankind, thereby calling them into repentance. For any believer who could choose to do this kind of sacrifice, God will cherish such because that is the whole essence of life, to receive your salvation and pass it on to others. Let’s lay aside every weight and take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ because the world we’re in now needs Jesus now more than before.

Verily! Verily! Opposition is not inevitable as we take up this assignment, Psalms 9:1-6. There are those who had been commissioned to stop the good news of Christ from spreading. At times they come out openly to challenge us and sometimes in a subtle manner but since carrying the cross is the will of God for us, they can’t succeed because God will surely show us a way of escape. No wonder Jesus told us in the book of Matthew 11:12 to keep pressing on despite oppositions.

    

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I would love to carry this cross and follow you but please give me the courage and boldness that I’m required to have for this great kingdom task, Amen.  

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DAY 12 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 25

Genesis 26

Proverbs 1: 20-33

Matthew 10: 1-31

Genesis 26 vs.24 – the attitude of not being afraid. The opposite of faith is fear. And God has re-assured us of his ever abiding presence with us, read Psalms 56:11; 118:6. When we subject ourselves to fear, it simply means we don’t trust in God’s mighty hand of deliverance upon our lives. The only fear that is healthy and every believer should have is the fear of the Lord, Proverbs 1:7. This kind of fear doesn’t mean you should be afraid of God, rather it means to reference God, acknowledging his ever abiding presence in your life.

Genesis 26 vs.18;  the attitude of re-opening your heart to accept Christ Jesus as your Savior. The well you need to open at this present age might be confessing again that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior. May be you used to be a die-hard believer in Christ Jesus before and have backslide now out of frustration of life. Jesus Christ is able to re-admit you into his well arm of salvation and deliverance. Will you re-open the well of your heart of genuine repentance to Him again? Please do, because He’s ever ready to accept you back Psalm 51:17. Then vs.34-The attitude of making a choice as human beings, the choice we make, whether negative or positive has great consequences in our lives, read Joshua 24:14-15.

Proverbs 1:20-33, - the attitude of not being afraid. Please read paragraph one (it’s the same explanation).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe in your word charge that repeatedly asked me not to fear whatever man can do to me. Thank you, Jesus, for this re-assuring word of yours in my life, Amen.  

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DAY 11 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 24

Psalms 8

Matthew 9:14-38

Genesis 24 vs. 12 – this is a clear attitude of selflessness. Abraham’s servant prayed for his master, that God should show kindness to his master, Abraham. This kind of attitude is worthy of emulation, I think! No wonder Apostle Paul in the Book of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, enjoined us to pray for our leaders and those in authority. When we pray for them, God hears and answers us faster, the way He did for Abraham’s servant and still in the same 1 Timothy 2:3, we were told that it’s good and acceptable in the sight of God. Then in vs.63 of Genesis 24, the attitude of meditating is considered. Meditation is a powerful tool in our daily Christian life, which can help us to get closer to God. When you go deeper with Him, thinking through his words every day by day, you’re rest assured He would lead and guide you through every challenge of the day. That is what He expects from us, to always recognize Him as the Author and Finisher of our fate. He’s ever ready to put us through but let’s bear in mind that God should be sought always in our lives and not only when we have challenges.

Psalms 8;  vs. 9 – the attitude of being thankful. The Psalmist has said it all in this passage for today. We owe God thanks always, apart from making us in His very image, He made us a little lower than the angels and in addition gave us dominion over every of His creations; whoa! God I thank you so dearly!

Matthew 9: 14-38; vs. 38 – let’s consider the attitude of co-labouring with Christ Jesus. From this verse, we have seen how Jesus Christ our Saviour went about healing the sick and all manner of diseases, even raising the dead. We, as believers with our faith fully activated can do the same, after all Jesus Christ had told us that if we believe. All these works he did, we can do even much greater ones, Alleluia! Read John 14:12.    

Prayer –

Lord Jesus, help me to live like you and to do greater works than you have done while on the earth, Amen.

DAY 10 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING

Genesis 21

Genesis 22

Genesis 23

Psalms 7: 10-17

Matthew 8 23-34

Matthew 9: 1-12

Genesis 21; vs.1 – the attitude of keeping to our promise is what we are considering here. We as believers in Christ Jesus should learn to keep to our words (promises). Don’t open your mouth to make promises you can’t fulfill. God doesn’t take delight in such empty words, read Isaiah 9:17. Vs. 9 – the attitude of mocking someone. Don’t try this at all because every human being was wonderfully and beautifully made in the image of God. Let’s cherish one another and take fellow mankind for who they are and not for what they have or can give to you, read Proverbs 17:5; 14:9. Vs. 10 – the attitude of casting out evil imaginations off our souls. Most at times we just find out that we have been carried away with ill thinking and that is why our society today is full of evil happenings because, evil thinking begets evil happening. Can we decide today to do ourselves good by casting out every of these evil imaginations that creep into our minds and begin to replace them with whatsoever that is true, noble and just? Read Philippians 4:8. Vs. 32 – the attitude of making a covenant of peace with God, yourself and others. This is very paramount in life and in the society anytime and every day. Peace breeds health, vitality and progress wherever it’s found, Colossians 3:15.

Genesis 22; vs. 2 – the attitude of making God number one in your affairs, Abraham considered God first when He asked him to sacrifice his only son Isaac to Him. He did not tell anyone including Sarah his wife because I'm sure she would have discouraged him. In the Book of Matthew 6:33, God has asked us to follow suit, to seek Him first, so that every other  thing shall be added to us including the ones you have never asked Him but He knows would benefit you, Amen.

Genesis 23; vs. 2 – the attitude of celebrating one another no matter what. Standing together with one another is very crucial in this time of incessant suicide commission. You can see the way Abraham stood by Sarah his wife until death. Always rejoice with them that are rejoicing and mourn with them that are mourning. Never take advantage of any situation to undo another. Vs.16 – the attitude of sacrificing. It is said that anything of value has a cost paid or to be paid. David said that he can’t give God that which cost him nothing… 1 Chronicle 21:24.

Psalms 7: 10 – 17; vs. 10 – the attitude of being upright in heart. God can never defend anyone who is not upright in heart, read Psalm 97:10-11.

Matthew 8: 23-34; vs. 26 – the attitude of not being fearful. Stand firm on the authority of Christ Jesus, to calm every storm of your life and this must be done with a pure heart which bears no grudges.

Matthew 9: 1-13; vs. 10 – the attitude of not discriminating. As believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a duty of taking after him. Even Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23, told us how he became all things to all men, that he might by all means save some lost souls.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, help me to succeed in this race of life, and I draw from the grace made available to me to always speak the truth and not wickedness, Amen.

DAY 9 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

Genesis 19

Genesis 20

Psalms 7: 1-9

Matthew 7: 24-29

Matthew 8: 1-22

Genesis 19 vs. 5B – “bring them out to us that we may know them carnally”. The attitude of homosexuality is one that we need not venture into at all. It is an abomination before God and humanity. It’s a highly devilish attitude. In fact, in the book of Leviticus 18 vs. 22-23, God Himself called it an abomination, also read Ezekiel 16 vs. 49-50 and Jude 1 vs. 7. In case, you’re reading this and are still into this abominable act, please and please stop it to avoid the wrath of God coming upon your life. Do you know that this was the major reason God had to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

Genesis 20 vs. 5B – this passage, is teaching us to always imbibe the attitude of integrity of the heart. It pays a lot to do things with sincerity of heart. Not trying to call black, white. Maintaining the innocence of your hands always and you’ll be happy for it for God will always spare you in times of trouble when you do that, just the way He spared Abimelech in vs. 6.

Psalms 7: 1-9; vs. 8 – shows the attitude of allowing God to be the judge. Not taking revenge by yourself no matter the height of provocation. Hand over all your troubles and those who trouble you to God and have your peace while God fights for you, Exodus 14:14. Holding your peace does not in any ways mean you’re weak, but rather it shows how much you rely on God to deal with your matters.

Matthew 7: 24-29; vs. 29 – the attitude of having authority is the lesson here. As believers, we should know who we are in Christ Jesus and exercise authority as has been given over issues of our lives as necessary. Exercise authority over sin and sorrow, sickness and diseases, trials and temptations, envy and malice, hatred and backbiting, gossip and blackmailing, etc. and you’ll be better for it.

  Matthew 8: 1-22; vs. 3 -  (1) The attitude of willingness to do good to others, just like Jesus was healing all manner of sicknesses and diseases and so many other things he did while on the earth willingly. (2) The attitude of great faith in God; this should be a compulsory attitude for every believer for without faith it’s impossible to please God. (3) vs. 21 – the attitude of not excusing yourself when it comes to kingdom advancement matters. Jesus says if you’re ashamed of him, he too will be ashamed of you before his Father in heaven, read Mark 8:38 and Luke 9: 26.

Prayer –

Lord Jesus, help me to live a holy and spiritually sensitive life, not to indulge in carnality anymore. Grant me the grace to live a life of integrity, great faith in God and have the zeal of the Lord in me, so help me God, Amen.

DAY 8 – IDENTIFYING THOSE GOODLY AND BADLY ATTITUDES AS RECORDED IN OUR DAILY BIBLE READING…

- Genesis 17

- Genesis 18

- Proverbs 1:8-19

- Matthew 6:25-34

- Matthew 7:1-23

Genesis 17 – in vs.3; “And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him saying”. This shows how much Abram referenced God and where God is placed in his life. This kind of deep respect is gradually facing out in our society, church and homes. These days nobody seems to know who is who, everything and anything goes. A child/teen can look into the eyes of an elderly person without ill feelings and the society will call it taking away the child’s human rights from her. I think there should be a place for everything for whatever seed one sows so shall he reap. If you sow respect, you reap respect and so otherwise. We should know that disrespect is a sign of pride and God hates it…

Genesis 18 – in vs.5; “And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by in as much as you have come to your servant”. The goodly attitude here is hospitality. God takes delight in this kind of attitude, for to such people He calls blessed and they are the ones who will inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world. Why? Matthew 25 vs.35-36 – for I was hungry and you gave me food: I was thirsty and you gave me drink: I was a stranger and you took me in and so on to vs.36. That is the Spirit of Christ Jesus. I know someone might say, Hmm! Welcome visitors at this time of incessant evil happenings around the world? Yes, it’s possible, if only we can call on the Holy Spirit to fill us with discerning spirit. Let’s not lie under the guise of the world is full of evil. Also vs.23; and Abraham came near and said, would you also destroy the righteous with the wicked? –This is an attitude of compassion - we as believers should stop being selfish, encourage one another in the Lord and always sow the seed of compassion towards another.

Proverbs 1:8-19; the attitudes here are (1) the attitude of hearing instruction of your father and not forsaking the law of your mother – for doing this will make your days on earth to be long, Ephesians 6:2. (2) The attitude of not walking in the way with sinners and keeping our foot from their path. Why? Their feet run to evil. So, let’s not soil our walk with God by getting enticed with them. Walk with God leads to eternity, Amen.

Matthew 6:25-34 - this shows us an ugly attitude of worrying. But do you know that worry weighs one down and makes one to age faster than his/her age? So please, let’s try to replace this ugly attitude with total trust and confidence in God.

Matthew 7:1-23; what attitudes are we taking out from this passage - they are the attitudes of (1) Not condemning or judging others, but if you must let someone know about his/her mistakes, do it in love. If it’s done in love, definitely it will bear peace. (2)  Do not deceive others; stand on the truth of God’s word, no matter the circumstance surrounding it.

PRAYER:

Father,  please endue me with your Holy Spirit that will help me to live out these goodly attitudes that will help me in fulfilling my destiny, Amen.

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DAY 7 - LIVING JESUS’ LIFESTYLE EVERYDAY BY DAY THROUGH THE EYE OF THE HOLY BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

- Genesis 14

- Genesis 15

- Genesis 16

- Psalms 6

- Matthew 5:43-48

- Matthew 6:1-24

Abraham’s nephew (Lot) who joined him in his walk with God and later separated from Abraham was taken into captivity by the four kings who won over five other kings in battle, as recorded in Genesis 14, but Abraham on getting this information went after them to rescue Lot. Normally, because of the manner in which Abraham and Lot separated, one would have thought he shouldn’t have rescued Lot but out of the abundance of his merciful heart, he quickly ran after them and rescued Lot his nephew. Abraham on returning from the rescue mission branched over to see Melchizedek, king of Salem and gave him a tithe of all as a way of thanking God for the victory granted him, I guess! God in Chapter 15 promised to give Abraham countless number of descendants like the stars and went ahead to make a covenant with him saying: To your descendants I have given this land in Verses 18-21. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, in chapter 16, talked him into going in to her maid to obtain children by her and Abraham heeded the voice of Sarai and Sarai’s maid Hagar, eventually bore Abram a son called Ishmael.

Are you in distress of any kind? Are you weak and lonely? Greatly troubled? Are you in grief? You can always rely on God’s mercies to overcome. Cry out to God to show you His mercy and save you from your trouble, read Psalms 6. God’s mercies endure forever!

Also in Matthew, the passage for our today’s reading, we are to draw from God’s mercies to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us and pray for our enemies because, it can only take the mercy of God to do all these. In Matthew 6:1-24, among the prayer model Jesus taught His Disciples had to hinge on having mercy on others who have sinned against us, so that our Heavenly Father, will equally have mercy on us when we ask Him for mercy. So, this is reciprocal.

PRAYER:

If you believe what the above passages have taught us, say this prayer sincerely from your heart;

LORD JESUS CHRIST; give me the grace to always have mercy on those who have wronged me and also to take them back as you have instructed me in your word, Amen.

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DAY 6 - LIVING JESUS’ LIFESTYLE EVERY DAY BY DAY THROUGH THE EYE OF THE HOLY BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

-Genesis 11:10-32

-Genesis 12

-Genesis 13

-Psalms 5

-Matthew 5:21-42

Genesis 11:10-32;-13, has shown us that it is God that calls us into His righteous directions. Abraham at that stage of his life hid to this God’s calling to leave his then present place of abode to the place where God would show him. At the end, it actually paid off for Abraham because God blessed him in all things, even making it in such a way that, through him (Abraham) all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. You see, God didn’t just give Abraham these blessings like that, Abraham paid the cost of it all by firstly obeying God, secondly by allowing God to lead him to that unknown place without asking God questions like where are you taking me to? Or for how long will I be staying there? Or what will I be doing there? Neither did he tell God it wasn’t convenient for him. No, he did not ask any of such questions, rather he packed his luggage and moved out as directed him by God.

Matthew 5:21-42; this passage in our Bible reading for today has clearly shown us the direction Jesus wants us to take so that our blessings will not elude us. For example, verses 23-24 say; “Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” Please, let’s endeavor to read these verses through and through as that would help us in following that way of life that Jesus Christ leads us into.

God does not take pleasure in wickedness nor shall evil dwell with Him. The boastful shall not stand in His sight. God hates all workers of iniquity and shall destroy those who speak falsehood. The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. Those were the words of the Psalmist in Chapter 5, if we claim that we are of the seed of Abraham, won’t it be right for us to follow him and do that which will please God? You know God is not a respecter of persons. I believe when we follow God’s instructions the way our Father Abraham did, our God will surely give us the grace to fulfill His plan and purpose for us.       

PRAYER:

If you believe what the above passages have taught us, say this prayer sincerely from your heart;

LORD JESUS CHRIST; lead me in your righteousness, make your way straight before my face. Do not cast me out in the multitude of my sins but rather bless and surround me with your favor, Amen.

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DAY 5 - LIVING JESUS’ LIFESTYLE EVERY DAY BY DAY THROUGH THE EYE OF THE HOLY BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

-Genesis 9:18-29

-Genesis 10

-Genesis 11:1-9

-Psalms 4

-Matthew 4:23-25

-Matthew 5:1-20

From these Bible passages in the Book of Genesis above, I guess Ham, Noah’s son on sighting his dad naked after being drunk with wine, was either disappointed or angry or ashamed of him. Well, we’re only but flesh looking unto Jesus for perfection. Moreover, love does not feel ashamed nor disappointed neither does it get angry over its lover’s mistakes. It would rather cover or make excuses for the mistakes. Since we are one body in Christ Jesus, we ought to do the same by loving, cherishing, encouraging and covering one another’s mistakes and if need be for any corrections, we do it in love and tender compassion. But thanks to God for Shem and Japheth, who took a garment and covered their father’s nakedness (shame) in so much dignity, respect and love, refusing to see their dad’s nakedness. Their father on knowing how compassionately Shem and Japheth treated him, blessed them in return, Alleluia. You see the Bible cannot lie, love cannot fail. Moving further to, Chapter 11: 1-9 of Genesis, out of pride the children of men engaged in building for themselves a city and a tower whose top would reach the Heavens. They were building it to make a name for themselves and not for God’s glory. This eventually cost them their unity/togetherness, because the Lord on seeing their intention, confused their language and scattered them abroad over the face of the earth.

But in Psalms 4:2; when we refuse to turn God’s glory to shame and stop loving worthlessness and falsehood, just like the people did in the above paragraph, our Lord God will cause us to dwell in safety.

Apart from causing us to dwell in safety, through our attitudes as in the case of the Beatitude, interpreted as beautiful attitude, read Matthew 4: 23 – 5:20. God favors and blesses us when we exhibit godly behaviors towards one another. Remember also that what we sow is what we will reap, Amen.

PRAYER:

If you believe what the above passages have taught us, say this prayer sincerely from your heart;

LORD JESUS CHRIST; help me to always exhibit those beautiful attitudes that will make you show me your peace, favor and loving kindness, please Lord I pray, Amen.

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DAY 4 - LIVING JESUS’ LIFESTYLE EVERY DAY BY DAY THROUGH THE EYE OF THE HOLY BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

-Genesis 7

-Genesis 8

-Genesis 9:1-17

-Proverbs 1: 1-7

-Matthew 4:1-22

Genesis 7:1 “And the LORD said unto Noah, come thou all thy house into the ark for thee have I seen righteous to me in this generation”. Whoa! What a great commendation from God! Can you see that? Do you think God just commended him for nothing? No, He didn’t. Noah first paid the price of following His gentle calling, directing and leading. Now, the lesson we should be learning from here is that, this boat is Jesus Christ, and when we enter it we are safe, nothing more, nothing less. So, are we ready to enter this boat? He is the same yesterday, today and forever. What He did for one He can also do for another only if you will hid His call of walking with Him and obeying His commandments.

The book of Proverbs 1:1-7 is also admonishing us to be wise enough to receive this instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, equity and enter this boat; because entering this boat makes us wise people and not fools, Alleluia!

Matthew 4:1-22, we have seen from this passage that satan even tempted Jesus to enter the evil boat of sin and not the boat of righteousness but Jesus in his first response to satan answered in this manner, “It is written, man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.

His second response- “it is written again, you shall not tempt the LORD your God, and lastly, His third response- Away with you satan! For it is written, you shall worship the LORD your God, and him only you shall serve” which makes us go back to Proverbs 1:7 where we earlier talked about  that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge of God. Jesus had the knowledge of God, that was why He defeated satan with the word of God. You know the word of God is God Himself and God is His word, Amen.  

PRAYER OF SALVATION:

If you believe what the above passages have taught us, say this prayer sincerely from your heart;

LORD JESUS CHRIST; empower me to always have victory over every temptation that satan might pose to me via the knowledge of the word of God, just the way you did; help me to live above every temptation that might cause me to deviate from you, in your name I prayed, Amen.

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