I've written
the Reading Notes as a help and supplement to leaders leading discipleship
cells. I am not suggesting that everyone read these, although that might be
helpful. The main goal is to have everyone reading The One Year Bible each
day. The Holy Spirit will work with that. For each person who desires to go
deeper and to lead others, answering questions and adding perspective and
detail to the Bible passages, the Reading Notes might be a help.
I'm doing this
with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that will keep
discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are reading. This
would mean that if we were to meet in a cell on any given evening, we could
discuss the Bible reading up to and including that day, regarding our walk as
disciples. The important thing is that people are in the Word. The leader
doesn't need to be a teacher. He just needs to see that people are in the Word,
are interacting and then, when necessary, he can add some perspective or
clarification.
When
the year is done, I'm hoping, with your ideas and mine together, we will have a
guide for discipleship to lead a group through one year of using The One Year
Bible as a discipleship tool. Every year I read like this, I glean more
from the reading. The Spirit uses our growth and our life situation to put His
finger on words and thoughts that take on importance as we follow Christ. So, reading
the Word each year will always be new because of our changing walk and the
lives of the new people who will be in these groups.
In doing this,
going through the Bible like this, we are modeling, for others, the importance
of reading the Word and learning from the Lord. We are also equipping them and
helping them become disciples who will feed themselves from the Word and be
able to reproduce this in the lives of others. What a great privilege.
I'd encourage
you to get The One Year Bible, ESV. I like to have a book in hand, old
school, to mark up and make lines all over. If you don't have one or prefer
something online, this link will take you to the day's reading, http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word. If you prefer to have a hard copy of the
Reading Notes (I do), you can find documents for each month at www.sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis.
Genesis 1-2:25
In reading the
creation account, a disciple is faced with a challenge of faith and trust. How
big will we allow God to be in our lives?
The creation
account is very "matter of fact." God doesn't present Himself
figuratively. The account is simple and descriptive. Nothing suggests that this
account of creation is not literal. Our rationality or fear of seeming
irrational sneaks in and says, "But God could have made all of this over millions
of years and the seven days could be figurative." True. But is saying this
really necessary to help God, or ourselves out? If God is God, could He have
done things just this way? Can we put total trust in God even when things don't
"appear" to follow what everyone says? How big will we allow God to
be?
Some examples: The
angels that came to Abraham later were in human form. They made the bodies from
the spiritual, without effort. These were full, normal-looking human bodies,
with teeth and tongues and fingerprints, made immediately, not requiring a
billion-year process.
When Jesus
raised the young man in Nain, or Lazarus, both men had decayed. Their bodies
and every cell had died. They weren't somehow in suspended animation. They were
dead and decaying. For Jesus to have raised them, it not only meant calling
back the spirit, but their bodies had to be made new and able to sustain life. To
call the spirit into a decayed body couldn't work. For Jesus to have made the
body new, it would have been on the level of a creation…a re-creation of the
body. And it happened in a second and Jesus didn't break a sweat.
The point
being, the spiritual is infinitely more powerful than the physical. God creates
out of nothing, without exertion, instantly. Also, the fact that the sun, moon
and stars were made on the 4th day does not hint to the fact that the
"primitive" writers got mixed up, but simply that the almighty God
called them into existence, in a moment, at the right time, in His planning.
This all-powerful,
sovereign Creator is the Lord we follow. All things were made through Him and
without Him was nothing made that was made. Surely there are reasons He doesn't
answer every prayer the way we ask, but for the disciple, there is never a
doubt to the greatness of our Lord and Savior, or His ability, at any time, to
do what is amazing and to do far more abundantly than we can ask or think. We
serve and follow with confidence in His power.
Genesis 1
V. 1 What a way
to begin a book. If you were reading last year, this verse should sound
familiar since it is just like Revelation 21:1.
V. 2 This is
very different from Revelation 21. Some see the Spirit brooding in judgment
here. It was probably more like an artist walking around a piece of marble,
visualizing what it was to become.
Vs. 3-5 Day One-Light
was given from God Himself. The darkness was already there.
Vs. 6-8 Day Two
- The waters above and below have suggested that there was a thick layer of
moisture in the atmosphere surrounding the entire earth, limiting the rays of
the sun and giving the earth a uniform tropical atmosphere. This layer of water
in the atmosphere would explain the waters of the flood and the changes that
came after the flood. Actually, only God and His power can account for all of
the changes.
Vs. 9-13 Day
Three - This was a big day. Not only do you have dry land and seas separated,
but God planted and grew everything. Again, if we have faith in the Lord, this
shouldn't be any problem. We have plenty of examples of what God can do in an
instant, but the most deciding thing is our faith. And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you
could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it
would obey you. (Luke 17:6)
Vs. 14-19 Day
Four - All of the days up to now are pretty straightforward, but there are some
questions about this day. First, it comes after God made the plants. Second, it
has a specific purpose, to separate and to be for signs and seasons and for
days and years.
This would mean
that the sun, moon, other planets and galaxies were made on the fourth day and
they were made for us. Their purpose was to give a "natural" day and
night and for counting time. Of course there were other reasons God made these,
but these are the said reasons. We'll see in Revelation, that life can exist
without them; in fact, it will. It seems that these things were made only for
this time during the history of the earth.
Vs. 20-23 Day
Five - One interesting thought here is that although the plants were fine
before the sun was made to provide energy and heat, the animals needed the
universe to be there even more than the plants. Birds and insects, (bees, for
example) need the angle of the sun and the other "signs" for guidance.
Probably all of the animals are much more instinctively aware of the sun, moon
and stars than we know.
Vs. 24-31 Day
Six - This is the creation of the animals first and then us as the finishing of
God's work.
V. 26 Notice
that this is the climax of creation. Nothing else has been created in the image
of God. Man then is to rule over, guide and shepherd all that God had made. In so much
of what we see with God, He always creates with a purpose and with a sense of
giving purpose and responsibility. Being made in God's image, and being able to
talk personally with God, would have given mankind purpose, fulfillment and
responsibility. It would have been cool, and eventually we would have known and
built and developed more than we have at present. Sin ruined a lot of things.
V. 27 This is a
huge verse. Every person on this planet fails to thank God for His image. It is
the thing we take for granted. It is the thing we twist so we can sin
intelligently and deny His existence. Cool. When God pulled the
"image" from Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, chapter 4, he didn't think it
was cool; in fact, he didn't think. Nebuchadnezzar just mooed.
The second part
of this verse is also to be respected and revered. God made them male and
female. Men take the gifts of God and twist them to their own destruction. Read
Mark 10:6-7 where this is quoted by Jesus. Jesus had no other view of marriage
than a man and a woman, who, by the way, did not divorce.
Vs. 28-31 This
is a fuller description of man's rule of the planet. This authority and power that
Adam was given was lost to Satan when Adam sinned. Man came under the condemnation
of sin and was no longer fit to rule the planet. Satan apparently went from
being an assistant to mankind, to being a restricting guardian.
With all of
these blessings, and before the Fall, it was a very good day.
Note that the
real division between chapters 1 and 2 is between 2:3 and 2:4. This is a good
time to learn or be reminded that the verse and chapter divisions were made by
Stephen Langton in 1205. He did an amazing job, but the divisions are not
inspired and many of them are not accurate. The general creation of chapter 1
is revisited in, and focused upon, in chapter 2, giving some specific detail to
the creation of man and woman.
Regarding the
creation of woman: As followers of Christ we know that our world and society is
"sex" saturated. We also know that we, like King David (and countless
Christians and ministers), can fall prey to sexually related malfunctions. What
I'm about to say might not have applied to Paul or to 1% of the population, but
I believe it applies to everyone else.
This account,
true and literal, shows that "sex" is not the issue with "sex.” The
issue is completeness. There is a huge difference. Generally speaking, sexual
urge is something we "think" we can harness, but the human need for
completeness is an irresistible human need built into us from creation. Ignore
it, and it will run you over. Deny it, and it will find a way of expression
that will create dysfunction and pain. Completeness may be expressed as sexual,
but the real driving power is the spiritual need to be complete as man
and woman, as God made us. This is the reason God later grants a concession for
remarriage. The need He built into us is a part of us. On this earth and
especially with our spiritual sickness (sin) it will not be denied.
All this is to
say that in the world of discipleship, this reality has to be faced. Many
couples are ruined and many men maimed in their walk with Christ, because they
don't take their need for being complete seriously. It becomes spiritualized or
put in the category of scratching an itch. Sexually, they end up wounded and
sidelined. Much more should be said on this subject in the context of
discipleship, but suffice it to say that this passage is an important one every
day in our world.
Genesis 2
Vs. 1-3 These
verses really end the general description of creation from chapter 1.
V. 4 This verse
is huge. In a sense, it is telling us that the Bible will be an account of the
fallen history of man until this history is ended. Remember, God had Moses
begin writing this well after the Fall. The purpose of the book is to record
the redemptive history of God's working with man to save man. The conclusion of
this book will be in Revelation when God does away with these heavens (sky,
space, galaxies) and earth and creates the new heavens, new earth and the
eternal world.
Vs. 5-9 Now,
the account of creation will be retold with the focus on the creation of man.
Vs. 5-6 Notice
how the order is given again, but relative to man. The earth was planted and
God watered the earth from a mist that went up. Apparently there was no rain
until the flood. This would have been complete, including the garden, before
man would have something to eat. Just like a baby, once it's out of mom, it has
to have air to breath and food to eat.
Vs. 7-9 The
focus here is the garden and the provision. God planted the garden, but Adam
would have been the landscape architect.
V. 9 Here are
the two trees. What a solemn verse. Death and life were both present. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was
not magic. The decision made there would give that knowledge regardless of
whether Adam and Eve had obeyed or disobeyed. The decision was a spiritual action, which
would either break their relationship to God, or it would prove their love for
Him. Had they made the right decision, God would have led them to the tree of life, where they would have
received eternal life and their "innocent" nature would have been
transformed into a mature, sinless "spiritual" nature. God could have
then turned around and judged Satan and the entire sad tragedy never would have
been.
Vs. 10-14 This
geography shouldn't make too much sense to us. Moses and God are giving the
people some general bearings. The creation of man and the garden was between
these rivers. However, the earth changed after the flood. In those generations
after the flood it is supposed that the continents drifted, creating the
continents and thereby distributing mankind all over the place. Some of the
continental drift theories make the Persian Gulf the center of a flower that
spread out east and west. Also, there would have been people in Moses' day who
would have still known about this event as history. (Remember, Moses was well
educated, meaning that nations back then had recorded historical events.) Today
it would be the same as telling children that Germany used to be divided. They'll
find that hard to believe.
Vs. 15-17 Notice
that "work" was not the curse. Adam would have been smart and
energetic and creative. I'll bet he had all sorts of ideas on what to do. And
then of course, the tree of the test. Imagine, Adam had hundreds of square
miles and every imaginable tree to eat from. I'm sure that staying away from
one tree couldn't have been that big of a deal, right?
Vs. 18-25 Notice
that in the creation of Eve, God was very intentional. He made Adam feel his
need. Notice that God made Adam so that even in a perfect environment, with all
his needs met, with a sense of fulfillment in being able to make his mark on
God's creation, and with being able to walk daily with God in the cool of the
evening, according to God's plan, Adam was not complete without Eve.
V. 20 In naming
the animals there wasn't just the idea of "lordship," but rather
connection. Adam would have felt personally responsible for all of this
creation that was given to him to protect and develop.
Adam eventually
probably felt lonely.
V. 22 I wonder
if Adam thought it was Christmas! God brought her. This was the first wedding
and I'll bet it was God the Son who was officiating.
V. 23 What an
amazing declaration. Again, the naming of woman is connection. She would now be
under his care, figuratively speaking, casting his garment over her (Ruth 3:9
vs. Malachi 2:16) although they were both naked.
V. 24 Don't let
the simplicity of this verse fool you. God is saying through Moses that this is
what began that feeling in man, that force of nature, that event of life that
is so close to us and is still so unexplainable. God did it and it will be an
irresistible part of human history until the end. Our need is not sex; it is
completion.
Also notice the
order in this verse: a man leaves, joins to his WIFE (not girlfriend), and then the two become one flesh.
These were good
days on the earth. Redemption was not yet needed, but tomorrow it will be a bad
day and the beginning of all bad days on earth. It will show us why God has
left us here as disciples to follow our Lord in the harvest.
Matthew
1-2:12
Now, the
beginning of the redemptive work of our Lord.
Matthew 1
Vs. 1-17 Notice
that Matthew not only uses the lineage of Joseph, but Matthew only records God
speaking to Joseph, the son of David. Matthew is doing this for his very Jewish
audience. In emphasizing David here, there is an emphasis on grace. It was
God's grace that made the covenant with Abraham. It was God's grace that chose
David and promised the Christ would be born in his lineage. Grace and truth
came through Jesus Christ in its full revelation. Although ages changed and the
object of saving faith was different for Abraham, for David under the law, and
for the believer in Christ, it has always been by grace, through faith. Note
later that Paul mentions both Christ and His resurrection and descent from
David as a part of his gospel….grace and fulfillment. And in all of that grace,
the salvation of man has been the goal. As disciples we have received grace,
and it is now our mission to tell those around us that this grace is fulfilled
in Christ.
V. 11 Notice
that Jechoniah (also called Jehoiachin or Coniah) was part of Joseph's
genealogy. God spoke through Jeremiah (Jere. 22:30) that Jehoiachin would never
have a descendant who was king of Israel. This is why Jesus is a physical
descendant of Mary, not Joseph. In terms of human lineage, Joseph was Jesus'
legal father, but Jesus was Mary's physical son. Jesus' claim to the human
throne of David is through Mary. In Luke 3:31 it says that Mary was descended
from David through Nathan, Solomon's brother (1Chr. 3:5).
Vs. 18-25 Matthew
is being led by the Spirit to focus on those events of Jesus' birth that
fulfilled the predictions of the law and the prophets. Again, notice that
everything is being directed through Joseph.
V. 18 In Luke
we know that Mary was with Elizabeth, south in Judah, for three months, helping
Elizabeth during the birth of John. When Mary returned home she was three months
pregnant and showing, and I'm sure her explanation sounded great.
Vs. 20-25 I
think this is kind and very encouraging of the angel to address Joseph as
"son of David.” Joe must have felt down, thinking Mary had been
unfaithful. Notice that the angel tells Joseph to name the baby in v. 21 and v.
25. That would have been a great honor for Joseph knowing that this baby was
the coming Savior in the line of David.
Vs. 22-23 This
is Matthew's and the Spirit's commentary on this event. God was not just
fulfilling Scripture; He was fulfilling His promises of redemption.
Vs. 24-25 Joe
was quite a guy and a man of faith. He named Jesus. Oddly enough, what we find
in Matthew regarding the times the angels spoke to Joseph is all we know of
Joe. He served God in a very quiet, obscure way.
Matthew 2
Vs. 1-2 Notice
that Matthew skips the shepherds and the manger. The wise men have no names. They
came from the east, probably the area around Babylon. It is thought that the
inspiration for their waiting and observing came from the influence of Daniel. We
don't know how many wise men there were, only that they brought three gifts.
Vs. 3-4 Herod
was evil and religious. What a combination. He believed enough to be very
dangerous. He claimed to have some Jewish connection to Israel and to have the
right to claim the throne, thus being a king. If the Messiah was to have been
found, it would have been a major threat to Herod. Sin is pretty irrational.
Vs. 5-6 This is
Micah 5:2. Again, Matthew is proving to the Jewish mind, that Jesus fulfills
these prophecies.
Vs. 7-8 Wait
until you see what comes of this. Herod was really an evil genius.
Vs. 9-12 It
will be fun one day to meet these guys. I remember the first time I read this
as a disciple of the Lord and realized that they found Jesus in a house, not
the stable and manger. I just kept reading this, stunned. I'm happy to say I
got over it.
Tomorrow,
Joseph & family are really going to need those gifts. Stay tuned.
One of the
benefits of reading The One Year Bible is to keep the perspective of
what all this history is working toward. The OT is going to get hard to read,
but in the Gospels and Acts, we stay focused on the unfolding of God's mission
to reach a lost world. Having the New Testament along with the Old Testament
will help us see the very wise and subtle way God uses those people in the OT
to lay the foundation for our salvation.
Psalm 1
What a
tremendous promise of the power of the Word in our lives. Yet, for the
disciple, it begins with the delight
in Christ and the saving plan of God. The appreciation of salvation, of His
grace to us, draws us to His Word; and in these our lives are rooted. This is
the strength of abiding in Christ as a disciple.
V. 1 The Lord
wants us to be separated unto Him. This reminds me of John 17:17, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is
truth.
V. 2 Does God
really mean this? Every year I believe this more.
Vs. 3-4 This
has nothing to do with outward success. It is the life of following Christ.
Vs. 5-6 The
decisions we make now not only affect the kind of life we lead on earth, but
they determine where we stand on the day of judgment when this tragic time on
earth is concluded. Will we stand in the redemption that Jesus brings or will
we stand under God's judgment?
It is easy to
read this psalm and enjoy the imagery and say, "Amen!” But how many of us
will really believe that we need to be in the Bible every single day, drawing
our life from Him? If you believe that, do it. Make time and do it. No excuses.
Just do it. It has been the best time of my life for the past 20 years and I
don't know where I'd be without it.
Proverbs
1:1-6
It is always
sad for me to begin Proverbs, knowing that the wisest man in the world stopped
loving God, began to love everything else and died a bitter fool. If it could
happen to him, are we any better, even with the Spirit? No, the strength of a
disciple is to love and follow Christ and abide in His Word. The wise and understanding (Matt. 11:25)
don't get to see what little children
see if they simply and humbly hear God's Word and do it.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One
Year Bible, click on this link http://oneyearbibleonline.com/weekly-one-year-readings/?version=47&startmmdd=0101. This version is set to the ESV but you can reset this to a different
version or different language.I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to print.
