Dear sisters,
How is the reading going for each one of you? We want you to always remember that it is our desire that each woman who signed up for this challenge will finish strong. And one of the things we want to encourage you to keep in mind as we enter week 4 is that if you miss a day or two, or ten, of the Bible Reading Challenge you should not quit. By all means, please don’t quit! Just jump in on the day we all are on.Take The Book and keep reading. Be encouraged! God wants you to come to His Word and He will not let you go empty.
This week our readings are going to be pretty amazing. Reading Galatians after just having read Genesis and before we start reading Exodus is going to be like entering into a vault filled with precious stones. Each one will shine in such a way that will bring some unique light to the passages we have been reading and the ones we will be reading next. For many of you, this will be the first time that you will see in a very clear way how the New Testament is the best commentary on the Old Testament, and you will be amazed by its radiance! For others, this will be amazing in a different way, you will have more light to see with more clarity some things that you had not seen before and you will treasure the Scriptures even more. Be ready to be dazzled, Friends!
Are you ready to open the Book and read about the way God redeems a people to Himself? Are you ready to read about the way God will destroy a nation and its gods (Egypt) and build a new one (Israel) for Himself? We will read of the first Passover, and how a Lamb’s blood was required to protect God’s people and save them from His judgement. We will read the crossing of the Red Sea, and the songs they sang (like Psalm 90). And we will read how quickly God’s people forgot their mighty deliverance and started to murmur and complain. We will read how they forgot that they were delivered to be God’s people and to worship Him alone. We will read how they forgot that God is faithful and just and merciful. But we will also read that God will not forget them. Even in their grumbling He will lead them, and He will feed them, and will give them water. And we will see Jesus there: the Bread of Life in the manna and the Living Water flowing from the Rock, which is Christ (1Cor.10:4). And of course, after reading this, we will be brought to a point in which we will need to repent from our grumbling, or burst in thanksgiving before God. Or both!
We will read how God’s law was given in the context of His amazing grace, and in the epistle to the Galatians we will read why the law was needed and was given. And as we keep reading we want to remember that obedience to the law was only expected as a result of gratitude to God for His great deliverance. As you read all the given laws, always keep in mind Ex. 20:1-2 and meditate on the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 146.
1 Peter 1 and 2 are wonderful readings to do as you read more about God’s laws and directions about the Tabernacle and the priests in Exodus. And guess what? Ready for some good news? 1 Peter has only 5 short chapters that I think that those of you who may have 15 extra minutes on Sunday to sit down to read, will love reading in one sitting.
Friends, I hope you can join us on Monday at 10:00AM Pacific Time to watch our Webinar live here: (https://www.christkirk.com/biblechallenge). If you can’t join us at that time, remember that all the webinars are being recorded so that you can watch them at your own convenience later. You can find them here:
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnTDQ1ggnV_wdm6JsHVBAaQ).
May our prayer this week be, Father, thank you for the work of your Spirit in my life. I ask you to continue working in my heart so that I may find my delight in Your commandments, which I love, and meditate on them day and night.” (Psalm 119: 47.48)
Happy reading!
Under His sun and by His grace,
Becky Pliego and the Team of Christ Church Ladies Fellowship
