S – Deuteronomy 9:6 “You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people.”

O – God does not bless me because I am good.  I am not good.  I am stubborn.

A – Over the next few days, as I remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, I must remember who I am by nature and what God has done for me by grace.

P – Lord, I am not good!  Thank you for taking the punishment I deserve on the cross.  Thank you for giving me a “good land” by uniting me with Christ in His resurrection – by grace through faith.

Do you think your blessings are result of your goodness?  You are not good.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Luke 6:40 “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”

O – A disciple is not greater than his teacher (rabbi).  A disciple (when fully trained) will be like his teacher.  Our teacher (rabbi) is Jesus.  A disciple of Christ is someone who lives like Jesus.

A – I was once talking with a Jew that believed in this historic Jesus.  However, he said Jesus was not the Messiah because he had never met anyone that lived like Jesus.  If Jesus was a true rabbi, he said, His disciples would live like Him.  Today, I want to watch my life.  Am I living like Jesus?

P – Lord, I want to live like Jesus.  Help me be and make disciples.

Are you a disciple of Christ?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalm 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill His purpose for me.”

God has not given me a spirit of fear…

O – I cry out to God – Prayer.  God will fulfill His purpose for me – Promise.  Later we read: “My heart is confident in you, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises” (v. 7)!

A – I need to trust God to fulfill his purpose for my life today.  I want to live with a conscious confidence found in Him.

P – Lord, I cry out to You, asking for and believing in Your work in and through my life.

Do you believe God will fulfill His purpose for you?  Why or why not?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Numbers 20:12 – “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust Me enough to demonstrate My holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!’”

Spring in the Wilderness of Zin.

O – God had instructed Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock and they struck the rock with the staff (what they had seen work before).  They disobeyed and it is described as not trusting God enough to demonstrate His holiness.  As a result, they are not allowed to lead Israel into the Promise Land.

A – I want to spend time today looking at my life and seeking areas I may be disobeying or prone to disobedience.  I will pray as I drive to my breakfast meeting and take notes after.

P – Lord, I want to trust you enough to demonstrate Your holiness.  Show me the areas of my life that I need to adjust and protect so that I can walk in obedience.

Are you living in complete obedience, trusting God enough to demonstrate His holiness?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Proverbs 11:6 “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.”

The Cross in the Roman Colosseum

O – Living rightly rescues (delivers, saves) you.  Living treacherously (deceitfully, unfaithfully) traps you.

A – I want to make an effort to live the way God has called me to and to help others do the same.  Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning (Dallas Willard).

P – Lord, thank You for living perfectly (Jesus) and taking the penalty I deserve for my treacherous and lustful life.  Help me to live rightly today to avoid the consequences for sin in this life.

Would your life be better described as upright or treacherous?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Mark 14:61-62 “But Jesus was silent and made no reply. Then the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ Jesus said, ‘I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

O – Jesus knew He was the Messiah.  One day everyone will see him “seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

A – I want to live today in light of that day.  I want my actions now to prepare me for the day I see Him coming on the clouds of heaven.

P – Lord, I want to live for The Day.  Help me to see today what I am spending time on that doesn’t matter.

Are you ready to see Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven?  If you knew He was coming today, would you change anything about how you are living?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Psalm 48:9 “O God, we meditate on Your unfailing love as we worship in Your Temple.”

O – O God:

• We meditate (Damah – to liken, to think) on Your unfailing love
  • As we worship in Your temple.

A – I want to meditate on God’s love for me today.  I want to spend time thinking about it.  To really live out the verse, I want to look for the chance to focus on His love for me as I “worship” in a church sanctuary.

P – Lord, You are good and Your love endures.  Thank You for loving me unconditionally and sacrificially.

When can you meditate on God’s love for you today? 

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Mark 9:2-3 “…Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and His clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them.”

Mt. Tabor, believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus

O – Jesus was not just a man. He was completely God and completely man (Phil 2:6-7). The disciples got to see glimpses of both.  Here, they see Christ transformed (metamorphosed).

A – Jesus was the perfect (God) sacrifice (man).  Today, I want to make a point to consciously worship Him (God) and follow His example (man).  Specifically, I’m seeking a chance to humble myself to serve someone else – like He did for us (God becoming man).

P – Lord, keep me from seeing and responding to only one side of our Savior and King.  Help me to immitate His humility.

Does the appearance of Christ need to be “transformed” in your life? 

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Mark 8:34-35 “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

0 – This is after Jesus asks His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (v. 27)  They profess He is the Messiah.  Jesus tells them He will have to die and then rise again… and if you want to follow Me, “you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.”

A – I must deny myself to follow Jesus.  Today, I want to look for ways God is calling me to take up my cross.

P – Lord, I don’t want to just say you are the Messiah, I want to follow You with my life.  Give me the supernatural ability to lay down my life to follow You.  I confess I am selfish.  Help me want to live like Jesus.

How can you “give up your life… for the sake of the Good News” today?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S – Mark 4:18-19 “The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.”

O – Things that prohibit fruit production: “worries of this life, lure of wealth, and the desire for other things.”  As our reading in Psalms revealed: “It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich” (Ps. 37:16).

A – I must weed out the thorns that choke out fruit production.  Today, I want to be sensitive to my “desire for other things” and repent.

P – Lord, supernaturally pull the desire for other things out of my life through the Holy Spirit.

How are the “worries of this life, lure of wealth, and the desire for other things” keeping you from producing fruit?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.