Read the Bible in a Year
Each day, we'll post passages so that you can read the Bible in one year. This is part of The Colossians 13:16 Project, sponsored by Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia. You're invited to worship with us Sundays, at 11:00 a.m. or Saturdays, at 6:30 p.m. You may also want to consider joining one our adult Bible Studies: Thursdays at 12:00 noon and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. We also have a full range of programs for children. If you want more information about the church, check out the other blogs. And please feel free to leave any comments.
The Bible in a Year is a ministry of Cove Presbyterian Church. We need your support to keep posting. If you find it helpful, you can support this blog by your contributions. They may be sent to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, WV 26062. You can also use the PayPal link below:
Today our passages are Daniel 7:1-28; 1 John 1:1-10; Psalm 119:153-176;
and Proverbs 28:23-24. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful,
please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404
Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or
through PayPal.
Daniel 7:1-28 (Contemporary English Version)
Daniel 7
Daniel's Vision of the Four Beasts
1-2Daniel wrote:
In the first year of King Belshazzar
of Babylonia, I had some dreams and visions while I was asleep one night, and I
wrote them down. The four winds were stirring up the mighty sea, 3when suddenly four powerful beasts came
out of the sea. Each beast was different. 4The first was like a lion with the wings of an eagle. As I
watched, its wings were pulled off. Then it was lifted to an upright position
and made to stand on two feet, just like a human, and it was given a human mind.
5The second beast looked like a
bear standing on its hind legs.
It held three ribs in its teeth, and it was told, " Attack! Eat all the flesh
you want." 6The third beast was like a
leopard--except that it had four wings and four heads. It was given authority to
rule.
7The fourth beast was stronger
and more terrifying than the others. Its huge teeth were made of iron, and what
it didn't grind with its teeth, it smashed with its feet. It was different from
the others, and it had horns on its head--ten of them. 8Just as I was thinking about these horns, a smaller horn
appeared, and three of the other horns were pulled up by the roots to make room
for it. This horn had the eyes of a human and a mouth that spoke with great
pride.
Judgment
Daniel wrote:
9Thrones were
set up
while I was watching,
and the Eternal God
took his place.
His clothing and his hair
were white as snow.
His throne was a blazing fire
with fiery wheels,
10and flames were dashing out
from all around him.
Countless thousands
were standing there
to serve him.
The time of judgment began,
and the books
were opened. 11I watched closely to
see what would happen to this smaller horn because of the arrogant things it was
saying. Then before my very eyes, the fourth beast was killed and its body
destroyed by fire. 12The other three
beasts had their authority taken from them, but they were allowed to live a
while longer.
13As I continued to watch the vision
that night, I saw what looked like
a son of man
coming with the clouds of heaven,
and he was presented
to the Eternal God.
14He was crowned king
and given power and glory,
so that all people
of every nation and race
would serve him.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom is eternal,
never to be destroyed.
The Meaning of Daniel's Vision
15Daniel wrote:
I was terrified by these visions, and I didn't know what to think. 16So I asked one of those standing there,
and he explained, 17" The four beasts
are four earthly kingdoms. 18But God
Most High will give his kingdom to his chosen ones, and it will be theirs
forever and ever." 19I wanted to know
more about the fourth beast,
because it was so different and much more terrifying than the others. What was
the meaning of its iron teeth and bronze claws and of its feet that smashed what
the teeth and claws had not ground and crushed? 20I also wanted to know more about all ten of those horns
on its head. I especially wanted to know more about the one that took the place
of three of the others--the horn that had eyes and spoke with arrogance and
seemed greater than the others. 21While I was looking, this horn attacked God's chosen ones
and was winning the battle. 22Then God
Most High, the Eternal God,
came and judged in favor of his chosen ones, because the time had arrived for
them to be given the kingdom. 23Then I
was told
by the one standing there:
" The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom
to appear on earth.
It will be different
from all the others--
it will trample the earth
and crush it to pieces.
24All ten of those horns are
kings
who will come from this kingdom,
and one more will follow.
This horn will be different
from the others,
and it will conquer
three other kings.
25" This king will speak evil
of God Most High,
and he will be cruel
to God's chosen ones.
He will try to change God's Law
and the sacred seasons.
And he will be able to do this
for a time, two times,
and half a time.
26But he will finally be judged,
and his kingdom
completely destroyed.
27" Then the greatest kingdom
of all
will be given
to the chosen ones
of God Most High.
His kingdom will be eternal,
and all others will serve
and obey him."
28That was what I saw and
heard. I turned pale with fear and kept it all to myself.
1 John 1:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)
1 John 1
1The Word that gives
life
was from the beginning,
and this is the one
our message is about.
Our ears have heard,
our own eyes have seen,
and our hands touched
this Word.
2The one who gives life
appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we
are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to
us. 3We are telling you what we have
seen and heard, so that you may share in this life with us. And we share in it
with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4We are writing to tell you these things, because this
makes us
truly happy.
God Is Light
5Jesus told us
that God is light and doesn't have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you.
6If we say that we share in
life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by
the truth. 7But if we live in the
light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son
Jesus washes all our sins away. 8If we
say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn't in
our hearts. 9But if we confess our
sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.
10If we say that we have not
sinned, we make God a liar, and his message isn't in our hearts.
Psalm 119:153-176 (Contemporary English Version)
153I have not forgotten your Law!
Look at the trouble I am in,
and rescue me.
154Be my defender and
protector!
Keep your promise
and save my life.
155Evil people won't obey you,
and so they have no hope
of being saved.
156You are merciful, LORD!
Please do the right thing
and save my life.
157I have a lot of brutal
enemies,
but still I never turn
from your laws.
158All of those unfaithful
people
who refuse to obey you
are disgusting to me.
159Remember how I love your
laws,
and show your love for me
by keeping me safe.
160All you say can be trusted;
your teachings are true
and will last forever.
161Rulers are cruel to me
for no reason.
But with all my heart
I respect your words,
162because they bring happiness
like treasures taken in war.
163I can't stand liars,
but I love your Law.
164I praise you seven times a
day
because your laws are fair.
165You give peace of mind
to all who love your Law.
Nothing can make them fall.
166You are my only hope
for being saved, LORD,
and I do all you command.
167I love and obey your laws
with all my heart.
168You know everything I do.
You know I respect every law
you have given.
169Please, LORD, hear my prayer
and give me the understanding
that comes from your word.
170Listen to my concerns
and keep me safe,
just as you have promised.
171If you will teach me your
laws,
I will praise you 172and sing
about your promise,
because all of your teachings
are what they ought to be.
173Be ready to protect me
because I have chosen
to obey your laws.
174I am waiting for you
to save me, LORD.
Your Law makes me happy.
175Keep me alive,
so I can praise you,
and let me find help
in your teachings.
176I am your servant,
but I have wandered away
like a lost sheep.
Please come after me,
because I have not forgotten
your teachings.
Proverbs 28:23-24 (Contemporary English Version)
23Honest correction
is appreciated
more than flattery.
24If you cheat your parents
and don't think it's wrong,
you are a common thief.
Verse of the Day
“The day of the Lord's return will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will
disappear with a loud noise, and the heat will melt the whole universe. Then the
earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are. Everything will be
destroyed. So you should serve and honor God by the way you live.” - 2
Peter 3:10-11
Thought
for the Day
German—and later French—theologian, organist, philosopher,
physician, and medical missionary in Africa, also known for his historical work
on Jesus, Albert
Schweitzer wrote, “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show
compassion and the will to help others.”
Today our passages are Daniel 6:1-28; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Psalm 119:129-152;
and Proverbs 28:21-22. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful,
please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404
Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or
through PayPal.
Daniel 6:1-28 (Contemporary English Version)
Daniel 6
Daniel in a Pit of Lions
1Darius divided his kingdom into a hundred and twenty
states and placed a governor in charge of each one. 2In order to make sure that his government was run
properly, Darius put three other officials in charge of the governors. One of
these officials was Daniel. 3And he
did his work so much better than the other governors and officials that the king
decided to let him govern the whole kingdom.
4The other men tried to find
something wrong with the way Daniel did his work for the king. But they could
not accuse him of anything wrong, because he was honest and faithful and did
everything he was supposed to do. 5Finally, they said to one another, " We will never be able
to bring any charge against Daniel, unless it has to do with his religion."
6They all went to the king and
said:
Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! 7All of your officials, leaders, advisors, and governors
agree that you should make a law forbidding anyone to pray to any god or human
except you for the next thirty days. Everyone who disobeys this law must be
thrown into a pit of lions. 8Order
this to be written and then sign it, so it cannot be changed, just as no written
law of the Medes and Persians can be changed."
9So King Darius made the law
and had it written down.
10Daniel heard about the law,
but when he returned home, he went upstairs and prayed in front of the window
that faced Jerusalem. In the same way that he had always done, he knelt down in
prayer three times a day, giving thanks to God.
11The men who had spoken to the
king watched Daniel and saw him praying to his God for help. 12They went back to the king and said, "
Didn't you make a law that forbids anyone to pray to any god or human except you
for the next thirty days? And doesn't the law say that everyone who disobeys it
will be thrown into a pit of lions?"
" Yes, that's the law I made," the king agreed. " And just like all
written laws of the Medes and Persians, it cannot be changed."
13The men then told the king, "
That Jew named Daniel, who was brought here as a captive, refuses to obey you or
the law that you ordered to be written. And he still prays to his god three
times a day." 14The king was really
upset to hear about this, and for the rest of the day he tried to think how he
could save Daniel.
15At sunset the men returned
and said, " Your Majesty, remember that no written law of the Medes and Persians
can be changed, not even by the king."
16So Darius ordered Daniel to
be brought out and thrown into a pit of lions. But he said to Daniel, " You have
been faithful to your God, and I pray that he will rescue you."
17A stone was rolled over the
pit, and it was sealed. Then Darius and his officials stamped the seal to show
that no one should let Daniel out. 18All night long the king could not sleep. He did not eat
anything, and he would not let anyone come in to entertain him.
19At daybreak the king got up
and ran to the pit. 20He was anxious
and shouted, " Daniel, you were faithful and served your God. Was he able to
save you from the lions?"
21Daniel answered, " Your
Majesty, I hope you live forever! 22My
God knew that I was innocent, and he sent an angel to keep the lions from eating
me. Your Majesty, I have never done anything to hurt you."
23The king was relieved to hear
Daniel's voice, and he gave orders for him to be taken out of the pit. Daniel's
faith in his God had kept him from being harmed. 24And the king ordered the men who had brought charges
against Daniel to be thrown into the pit, together with their wives and
children. But before they even reached the bottom, the lions ripped them to
pieces.
25King Darius then sent this
message to all people of every nation and race in the world:
" Greetings to all of you!
26I command everyone
in my kingdom
to worship and honor
the God of Daniel.
He is the living God,
the one who lives forever.
His power and his kingdom
will never end.
27He rescues people
and sets them free
by working great miracles.
Daniel's God has rescued him
from the power of the lions."
28All went well for Daniel
while Darius was king, and even when Cyrus the Persian ruled.
2 Peter 3:1-18 (Contemporary English Version)
2 Peter 3
The Lord Will Return
1My dear
friends, this is the second letter I have written to encourage you to do some
honest thinking. I don't want you to forget 2what God's prophets said would happen. You must never
forget what the holy prophets taught in the past. And you must remember what the
apostles told you our Lord and Savior has commanded us to do.
3But first you must realize
that in the last days some people won't think about anything except their own
selfish desires. They will make fun of you 4and say, "Didn't your Lord promise to come back? Yet the
first leaders have already died, and the world hasn't changed a bit."
5They will say this because
they want to forget that long ago the heavens and the earth were made at God's
command. The earth came out of water and was made from water. 6Later it was destroyed by the waters of a
mighty flood. 7But God has commanded
the present heavens and earth to remain until the day of judgment. Then they
will be set on fire, and ungodly people will be destroyed.
8Dear friends, don't forget
that for the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years
is the same as one day. 9The Lord
isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God
is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.
10The day of the Lord's return
will surprise us like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and
the heat will melt the whole universe.
Then the earth and everything on it will be seen for what they are.
11Everything will be destroyed. So you
should serve and honor God by the way you live. 12You should look forward to the day when God judges
everyone, and you should try to make it come soon.
On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt
in the heat. 13But God has promised us
a new heaven and a new earth, where justice will rule. We are really looking
forward to that! 14My friends, while
you are waiting, you should make certain that the Lord finds you pure, spotless,
and living at peace. 15Don't forget
that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what
our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given
him. 16Paul talks about these same
things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some
ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said.
They do the same thing with other Scriptures too.
17My dear friends, you have
been warned ahead of time! So don't let the errors of evil people lead you down
the wrong path and make you lose your balance. 18Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that
come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise
Jesus now and forever! Amen.
Psalm 119:129-152 (Contemporary English Version)
129Your teachings are wonderful,
and I respect them all.
130Understanding your word
brings light
to the minds
of ordinary people.
131I honestly want to know
everything you teach.
132Think about me and be kind,
just as you are to everyone
who loves your name.
133Keep your promise
and don't let me stumble
or let sin control my life.
134Protect me from abuse,
so I can obey your laws.
135Smile on me, your servant,
and teach me your laws.
136When anyone disobeys you,
my eyes overflow with tears.
137Our LORD, you always do
right,
and your decisions are fair.
138All of your teachings are
true
and trustworthy.
139It upsets me greatly
when my enemies neglect
your teachings.
140Your word to me, your
servant,
is like pure gold;
I treasure what you say.
141Everyone calls me a nobody,
but I remember your laws.
142You will always do right,
and your teachings are true.
143I am in deep distress,
but I love your teachings.
144Your rules are always fair.
Help me to understand them
and live.
145I pray to you, LORD!
Please answer me.
I promise to obey your laws.
146I beg you to save me,
so I can follow your rules.
147Even before sunrise,
I pray for your help,
and I put my hope
in what you have said.
148I lie awake at night,
thinking of your promises.
149Show that you love me, LORD,
and answer my prayer.
Please do the right thing
and save my life.
150People who disobey your Law
have made evil plans
and want to hurt me,
151but you are with me,
and all of your commands
can be trusted.
152From studying your laws,
I found out long ago
that you made them
to last forever.
Proverbs 28:21-22 (Contemporary English Version)
21It isn't right to be unfair,
but some people can be bribed
with only a piece of bread.
22Don't be selfish
and eager to get rich--
you will end up worse off
than you can imagine.
Verse of the Day
“[God's Love Never Fails]Praise the LORD! He is good. God's love never fails.
Praise God in heaven! God's love never fails.” - Psalm
136:1,26
Thought
for the Day
American writer best known for young-adult fiction, particularly the
Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels: A Wind in
the Door, National Book Award-winning A Swiftly Tilting Planet,
Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time, Madeleine L'Engle
wrote, “Very few children have any problem with the world of the imagination;
it's their own world, the world of their daily life, and it's our loss that so
many of us grow out of it.”
Today our passages are Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-128; and Proverbs
28:19-20. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful,
please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404
Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or
through PayPal.
Daniel 5:1-31 (Contemporary
English Version)
Daniel 5
King Belshazzar's Banquet
1One evening,
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his highest officials,
and he drank wine with them. 2He got
drunk and ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups his father
Nebuchadnezzar
had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. Belshazzar wanted the cups, so that he
and all his wives and officials could drink from them. 3-4When the gold cups were brought in, everyone at the
banquet drank from them and praised their idols made of gold, silver, bronze,
iron, wood, and stone.
5Suddenly a human hand was seen writing on the plaster wall
of the palace. The hand was just behind the lampstand, and the king could see it
writing. 6He was so frightened that
his face turned pale, his knees started shaking, and his legs became weak.
7The king called in his advisors, who claimed they could
talk with the spirits of the dead and understand the meanings found in the
stars. He told them, " The man who can read this writing and tell me what it
means will become the third most powerful man in my kingdom. He will wear robes
of royal purple and a gold chain around his neck."
8All of King Belshazzar's highest officials came in, but
not one of them could read the writing or tell what it meant, 9and they were completely puzzled. Now the
king was more afraid than ever before, and his face turned white as a ghost.
10When the queen heard the king and his officials talking,
she came in and said:
Your Majesty, I hope you live forever! Don't
be afraid or look so pale. 11In your
kingdom there is a man who has been given special powers by the holy gods. When
your father Nebuchadnezzar was king, this man was known to be as smart,
intelligent, and wise as the gods themselves. Your father put him in charge of
all who claimed they could talk with the spirits or understand the meanings in
the stars or tell about the future. 12He also changed the man's name from Daniel to
Belteshazzar. Not only is he wise and intelligent, but he can explain dreams and
riddles and solve difficult problems. Send for Daniel, and he will tell you what
the writing means.
13When Daniel was brought in, the king said:
So you are Daniel, one of the captives my
father brought back from Judah! 14I
was told that the gods have given you special powers and that you are
intelligent and very wise. 15Neither
my advisors nor the men who talk with the spirits of the dead could read this
writing or tell me what it means. 16But I have been told that you understand everything and
that you can solve difficult problems. Now then, if you can read this writing
and tell me what it means, you will become the third most powerful man in my
kingdom. You will wear royal purple robes and have a gold chain around your
neck.
17Daniel answered:
Your Majesty, I will read the writing and tell
you what it means. But you may keep your gifts or give them to someone else.
18Sir, the Most High God made your
father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory. 19God did such great things for him that
people of all nations and races shook with fear.
Your father had the power of life or death
over everyone, and he could honor or ruin anyone he chose. 20But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious
kingdom was taken from him. 21His mind
became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and
live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside
where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learned
that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and chooses their kings.
22King Belshazzar, you knew all of this, but you still
refused to honor the Lord who rules from heaven. 23Instead, you turned against him and ordered the cups from
his temple to be brought here, so that you and your wives and officials could
drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, bronze, iron,
wood, and stone, even though they cannot see or hear or think. You refused to
worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do. 24That's why he sent the hand to write this
message on the wall.
25-28The words written there are mene, which means "
numbered," tekel, which means " weighed," and parsin,
which means " divided." God has numbered the days of your kingdom and has
brought it to an end. He has weighed you on his balance scales, and you fall
short of what it takes to be king. So God has divided your kingdom between the
Medes and the Persians. 29Belshazzar
gave a command for Daniel to be made the third most powerful man in his kingdom
and to be given a purple robe and a gold chain.
30That same night, the king was killed. 31Then Darius the Mede, who was sixty-two
years old, took over his kingdom.
2 Peter 2:1-22 (Contemporary
English Version)
2 Peter 2
False Prophets and Teachers
1Sometimes
false prophets spoke to the people of Israel. False teachers will also sneak in
and speak harmful lies to you. But these teachers don't really belong to the
Master who paid a great price for them, and they will quickly destroy
themselves. 2Many people will follow
their evil ways and cause others to tell lies about the true way. 3They will be greedy and cheat you with
smooth talk. But long ago God decided to punish them, and God doesn't sleep.
4God did not have pity on the angels that sinned. He had
them tied up and thrown into the dark pits of hell until the time of judgment.
5And during Noah's time, God did not
have pity on the ungodly people of the world. He destroyed them with a flood,
though he did save eight people, including Noah, who preached the truth.
6God punished the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
by burning them to ashes, and this is a warning to anyone else who wants to sin.
7-8Lot lived right and was greatly
troubled by the terrible way those wicked people were living. He was a good man,
and day after day he suffered because of the evil things he saw and heard. So
the Lord rescued him. 9This shows that
the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their sufferings and to punish
evil people while they wait for the day of judgment.
10The Lord is especially hard on people who disobey him and
don't think of anything except their own filthy desires. They are reckless and
proud and are not afraid of cursing the glorious beings in heaven. 11Although angels are more powerful than
these evil beings,
even the angels don't dare to accuse them to the Lord. 12These people are no better than senseless animals that
live by their feelings and are born to be caught and killed. They speak evil of
things they don't know anything about. But their own corrupt deeds will destroy
them. 13They have done evil, and they
will be rewarded with evil.
They think it is fun to have wild parties
during the day. They are immoral, and the meals they eat with you are spoiled by
the shameful and selfish way they carry on.
14All they think about is having sex
with someone else's husband or wife. There is no end to their wicked deeds. They
trick people who are easily fooled, and their minds are filled with greedy
thoughts. But they are headed for trouble! 15They have left the true road and have gone down the wrong
path by following the example of the prophet Balaam. He was the son of Beor and
loved what he got from being a crook. 16But a donkey corrected him for this evil deed. It spoke
to him with a human voice and made him stop his foolishness.
17These people are like dried up water holes and clouds
blown by a windstorm. The darkest part of hell is waiting for them. 18They brag out loud about their stupid
nonsense. And by being vulgar and crude, they trap people who have barely
escaped from living the wrong kind of life. 19They promise freedom to everyone. But they are merely
slaves of filthy living, because people are slaves of whatever controls them.
20When they learned about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
they escaped from the filthy things of this world. But they are again caught up
and controlled by these filthy things, and now they are in worse shape than they
were at first. 21They would have been
better off if they had never known about the right way. Even after they knew
what was right, they turned their backs on the holy commandments that they were
given. 22What happened to them is just
like the true saying,
"A dog will come back
to lick up its own vomit.
A pig that has been washed
will roll in the mud."
Psalm
119:113-128 (Contemporary English Version)
113I
hate anyone
whose loyalty is divided,
but I love your Law.
114You are my place of safety
and my shield.
Your word is my only hope.
115All of you worthless people,
get away from me!
I am determined to obey
the commands of my God.
116Be true to your word, LORD.
Keep me alive and strong;
don't let me be ashamed
because of my hope.
117Keep me safe and secure,
so that I will always
respect your laws.
118You reject all deceitful liars
because they refuse
your teachings.
119As far as you are concerned,
all evil people are
garbage, and so I follow your rules.
120I tremble all over
when I think of you
and the way you judge.
121I did what was fair and right!
Don't hand me over to those
who want to mistreat me.
122Take good care of me,
your servant,
and don't let me be harmed
by those conceited people.
123My eyes are weary from waiting
to see you keep your promise
to come and save me.
124Show your love for me,
your servant,
and teach me your laws.
125I serve you,
so let me understand
your teachings.
126Do something, LORD!
They have broken your Law.
127Your laws mean more to me
than the finest gold.
128I follow all of your commands,
but I hate anyone
who leads me astray.
Proverbs
28:19-20 (Contemporary English Version)
19Work
hard, and you will have
a lot of food;
waste time, and you will have
a lot of trouble.
20God blesses his loyal people,
but punishes all who want
to get rich quick.
Verse of the
Day
“Praise the LORD and pray in his name! Tell
everyone what he has done.” - 1 Chronicles 16:8
Thought
for the Day
British philosophical writer known for his inspirational books and poetry
and as a pioneer of the self-help movement, James Allen wrote,
“Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your
heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your
purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all
heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will
at last be built.”
Today our passages are Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112;
and Proverbs 28:17-18. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful,
please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404
Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or
through PayPal.
Daniel 4:1-37 (Contemporary English Version)
Daniel 4
King Nebuchadnezzar's Letter about His Second Dream
1King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following
letter to the people of all nations and races on the earth:
Greetings to all of you!
2I am glad to tell about
the wonderful miracles
God Most High
has done for me.
3His miracles are mighty
and marvelous.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom
will never end.
4I was enjoying a time of peace
and prosperity, 5when suddenly I had
some horrifying dreams and visions. 6Then I commanded every wise man in Babylonia to appear in
my court, so they could explain the meaning of my dream. 7After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were
not able to say what it meant. 8Finally, a young man named Daniel came in, and I told him
the dream. The holy gods had given him special powers, and I had renamed him
Belteshazzar after my own god.
9I said, " Belteshazzar, not
only are you the wisest of all advisors and counselors, but the holy gods have
given you special powers to solve the most difficult mysteries. So listen to
what I dreamed and tell me what it means:
10In my sleep I saw
a very tall tree
in the center of the world.
11It grew stronger and higher,
until it reached to heaven
and could be seen
from anywhere on earth.
12It was covered with leaves
and heavy with fruit--
enough for all nations.
Wild animals enjoyed its shade,
birds nested in its branches,
and all creatures on earth
lived on its fruit.
13" While I was in bed, having
this vision, a holy angel
came down from heaven 14and shouted:
`Chop down the tree
and cut off its branches;
strip off its leaves
and scatter its fruit.
Make the animals leave its shade
and send the birds flying
from its branches.
15But leave its stump and roots
in the ground,
surrounded by grass
and held by chains
of iron and bronze.
`Make sure that this ruler
lives like the animals
out in the open fields,
unprotected from the dew.
16Give him the mind
of a wild animal
for seven long years.
17This punishment is given
at the command
of the holy angels.
It will show to all who live
that God Most High
controls all kingdoms
and chooses for their rulers
persons of humble birth.'
18" Daniel,
that was the dream that none of the wise men in my kingdom were able to
understand. But I am sure that you will understand what it means, because the
holy gods have given you some special powers." 19For a while, Daniel was terribly confused and worried by
what he was thinking. But I said, " Don't be bothered either by the dream or by
what it means."
Daniel replied:
Your Majesty, I wish the dream had been against your enemies. 20You saw a tree that grew so big and
strong that it reached up to heaven and could be seen from anywhere on earth.
21Its leaves were beautiful, and it
produced enough fruit for all living creatures; animals lived in its shade, and
birds nested in its branches. 22Your
Majesty, that tree is you. Your glorious reputation has reached heaven, and your
kingdom covers the earth.
23Then you saw a holy angel
come down from heaven and say, " Chop down the tree and destroy it! But leave
its stump and roots in the ground, fastened there by a chain of iron and bronze.
Let it stay for seven years
out in the field with the wild animals, unprotected from the dew."
24Your Majesty, God Most High
has sent you this message, and it means 25that you will be forced to live with the wild animals,
far away from humans. You will eat grass like a wild animal and live outdoors
for seven years ,
until you learn that God Most High controls all earthly kingdoms and chooses
their rulers. 26But he gave orders not
to disturb the stump and roots. This is to show that you will be king once
again, after you learn that the God who rules from heaven is in control. 27Your Majesty, please be willing to do
what I say. Turn from your sins and start living right; have mercy on those who
are mistreated. Then all will go well with you for a long time.
The Rest of Nebuchadnezzar's Letter about His Second Dream
28-30About twelve months later, I was
walking on the flat roof of my royal palace and admiring the beautiful city of
Babylon, when these things started happening to me. I was saying to myself, "
Just look at this wonderful capital city that I have built by my own power and
for my own glory!"
31But before I could finish
speaking, a voice from heaven interrupted:
King Nebuchadnezzar, this kingdom is no longer yours. 32You will be forced to live with the wild animals, away
from people. For seven years
you will eat grass, as though you were an ox, until you learn that God Most High
is in control of all earthly kingdoms and that he is the one who chooses their
rulers. 33This was no sooner said than
done--I was forced to live like a wild animal; I ate grass and was unprotected
from the dew. As time went by, my hair grew longer than eagle feathers, and my
fingernails looked like the claws of a bird.
34Finally, I prayed to God in
heaven, and my mind was healed. Then I said:
" I praise and honor
God Most High.
He lives forever,
and his kingdom
will never end.
35To him the nations
are far less than nothing;
God controls the stars in the sky
and everyone on this earth.
When God does something,
we cannot change it
or even ask why."
36At that time my mind was
healed, and once again I became the ruler of my glorious kingdom. My advisors
and officials returned to me, and I had greater power than ever before. 37That's why I say:
" Praise and honor the King
who rules from heaven!
Everything he does
is honest and fair,
and he can shatter the power
of those who are proud."
2 Peter 1:1-21 (Contemporary English Version)
2 Peter 1
1From Simon Peter,
a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
To everyone who shares with us in the privilege of believing that our God
and Savior Jesus Christ will do what is just and fair.
2I pray that God will be kind to you
and will let you live in perfect peace! May you keep learning more and more
about God and our Lord Jesus.
Living as the Lord's Followers
3We have everything we need to live a life that pleases
God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had
invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature
would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt
influences of this world.
5Do your best to improve your
faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, 6self-control, patience, devotion to God, 7concern for others, and love. 8If you keep growing in this way, it will
show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful
and meaningful. 9But if you don't
grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten
that your past sins are forgiven.
10My friends, you must do all
you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on
doing this, you won't stumble and fall. 11Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a
glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever.
12You are holding firmly to the
truth that you were given. But I am still going to remind you of these things.
13In fact, I think I should keep on
reminding you until I leave this body. 14And our Lord Jesus Christ has already told me that I will
soon leave it behind. 15That is why I
am doing my best to make sure that each of you remembers all of this after I am
gone.
The Message about the Glory of Christ
16When we told you about the power and the return of our
Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories that someone had made up.
But with our own eyes we saw his true greatness. 17God, our great and wonderful Father, truly honored him by
saying, "This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him." 18We were there with Jesus on the holy
mountain and heard this voice speak from heaven.
19All of this makes us even
more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close
attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place.
You must keep on paying attention until daylight comes and the morning star
rises in your hearts. 20But you need
to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the
Scriptures. 21The prophets did not
think these things up on their own, but they were guided by the Spirit of God.
Psalm 119:97-112 (Contemporary English Version)
97I deeply love your Law!
I think about it all day.
98Your laws never leave my
mind,
and they make me much wiser
than my enemies.
99Thinking about your teachings
gives me better understanding
than my teachers,
100and obeying your laws
makes me wiser
than those
who have lived a long time.
101I obey your word
instead of following a way
that leads to trouble.
102You have been my teacher,
and I won't reject
your instructions.
103Your teachings are sweeter
than honey.
104They give me understanding
and make me hate all lies.
105Your word is a lamp
that gives light
wherever I walk.
106Your laws are fair,
and I have given my word
to respect them all.
107I am in terrible pain!
Save me, LORD,
as you said you would.
108Accept my offerings of
praise
and teach me your laws.
109I never forget your
teachings,
although my life is always
in danger.
110Some merciless people
are trying to trap me,
but I never turn my back
on your teachings.
111They will always be
my most prized possession
and my source of joy.
112I have made up my mind
to obey your laws forever,
no matter what.
Proverbs 28:17-18 (Contemporary English Version)
17Don't give help to murderers!
Make them stay on the run
for as long as they live.
18Honesty will keep you safe,
but everyone who is crooked
will suddenly fall.
Verse of the Day
“Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all
your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms,
hymns, and spiritual songs to God.” - Colossians
3:16
Thought for the Day
Hong Kong American martial artist, Hong Kong action film actor, martial
arts instructor, philosopher, filmmaker, and the founder of Jeet Kune Do, Bruce Lee wrote, “The meaning
of life is that it is to be lived, and it is not to be traded and conceptualized
and squeezed into a pattern of systems.”
