The most important thing for a Christian to do is to keep his or her relationship with God fervent. The best way to do that is with a consistent devotional life, a life of prayer and Bible study. We suggest that a Christian pray everyday, read the Bible and study it. Here we have listed for you several different programs to help you read through the entire Bible in a year. You can read straight through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, read it through in order of events (chronologically), or a few other ways, but whatever way you choose - READ THE BIBLE! Click on the title to download that program in PDF Format. Most "Through the Bible" methods were taken from backtothebible.org
Read the events of the Bible as they occured chronologically. For example, the Book of Job is integrated with Genesis since Job lived around the same time as Abraham.
Read the books of the Bible as they occured in the Hebrew and Greek traditions (the order in which they were written). For example, the Old Testament books in the Hebrew Bible do not occur in the same order as they do in our English Bible. The New Testament books are arranged according to their date of writing as well.
Read the Old Testament and New Testament together. Your knowledge of the Old Testament will be enhanced by what you read simultaneously in the New Testament.
With this guide there are no surprises. You simply read through the Bible from start to finish, from Genesis to Revelation.
This Through The Bible Plan was written by the Scottish preacher Robert Murray McCheyne for his congregation. The readings in the left hand column are to be read by the entire family as a family. The readings on the left are individual (or "secret" as McCheyne called them) readings. They are meant to be read during personal devotion time.
God Loves His People Enough to be Jealous
INTERESTING FACTS : Caleb Strong, DELEGATE AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION TO FRAME THE U. S. CONSTITUTION; RATIFIER OF THE CONSTITUTION; U. S. SENATOR; GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS
He called on the State of Massachusetts to pray that . . . "all nations may know and be obedient to that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ."
Daily Reading : EZEKIEL 23 - 24
TEXT : Eze 23:1 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, Eze 23:2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: Eze 23:3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity. Eze 23:4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. Eze 23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours, Eze 23:25 And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.
THEME : The Jealousy of God
Warning after warning, repeatedly God speaks of judgment to come. God compares Israel [the ten northern tribes] and Judah [the two southern tribes] in behavior. They are like the adulterous wife who does not stay true to her vows of fidelity. Of course, sexual promiscuity on the part of a wife loved dearly by her husband evokes a multitude of emotions. Among them would be anger, disbelief, resentment, outrage, distress, confusion, deep grief and a troubled mind. Adultery on the part of a beloved wife would also cause jealousy. Interestingly, the LORD experienced many of these emotions and reactions when Judah [and Israel] sinned against Him. All of them inspired by His "jealousy."
Jealousy, defined by the Oxford Concise English Dictionary[
1] as - "Suspicious or resentful of a perceived sexual rival. 2 fiercely protective or vigilant of one's rights or possessions," adds as it applies to the LORD - "(of God) demanding faithfulness and exclusive worship." The Hebrew word - "qinah" [pronounce kin-aw] is defined by Easton's Bible Dictionary as - "Suspicion of a wife's purity, one of the strongest passions (Num_5:14; Pro_6:34; Son_8:6); also an intense interest for another's honour or prosperity (Psa_79:5; 1Co_10:22; Zec_1:14)."
Therefore, jealousy when not applied to sinful envy of another man or woman is most closely associated with the unfaithfulness of a man's wife. In particular, it relates directly to sexual purity or the lack of it. Jealousy is one of the strongest passions in the human being as Easton's Dictionary points out. What may surprise you, is the characteristic of jealousy [in the purest sense] is an attribute of God. He is a "jealous" God.
The LORD reveals this to Moses in the Law when he states -
Exo_20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
What is more intriguing, jealousy is in God's nature to such a degree that among the many Names He uses to identify Himself [listed below[
2]] "jealous" is one of them. This Name or attribute of God speaks volumes of what motivates God to do either good or evil to His own people. In other words, He is not merely "like" a jealous husband, He is a jealous husband, to his "bride" the Church, and the Jews - the custodians of His ways and Word.
Exo_34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
TRUTH FOR TODAY : "GOD LOVES HIS PEOPLE ENOUGH TO BE JEALOUS"
Ordinarily, many associate jealousy with a weakness or negative trait. However, when a man is in love with a woman - protection, provision, and finally her devotion to him is of utmost importance. If this, then, is a human characteristic representative of intense love, how much more when the same feature [although uncorrupted by sin] is seen in God. Remember, we are created in His image. Therefore, you may assume many features in the human being are related to the Creator Himself.
Christ loves you [His Church - the "ecclesia, or ekklesia," meaning - "called out"] with a love that causes Him to become jealous should you become unfaithful to Him. The reason is clear - He loves you intensely. It is in His nature as well. Again, this explains why Christ will discipline His Church - individually or corporately - when sin [of which "adultery" is a metaphor to explain unfaithfulness to Him] is committed or practiced.
For instance, notice the 19th verse in Revelation chapter 3. The Laodicean Church, forever an illustration of the careless and unfaithful branch of the Christian vine, and a perpetual illustration of the halfhearted and apathetic Christian in many preachers' sermons, is told by Christ Himself He loves them. For this reason, that is, the Laodiceans spiritual "adultery," causes Christ to speak harsh words and initiate discipline ["chasten"].
Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Thus, we learn from Judah, Israel, and the apathetic Church - the stedfast love of the LORD never ceases! This should inspire you to reciprocate and return Christ's love in faithful obedience. He is jealous. Therefore, He will take action on an adulterous Christian or Christian Church in order to win him or her back. However, it is better to love Christ with the heart, soul, mind, and strength. Indeed, it is better by far!
- derivatives jealously adverb, jealousy noun (plural jealousies).
- origin Middle English: from Old French gelos, from medieval Latin zelosus (see zealous).
[2] El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
El Elyon (The Most High God)
Adonai (Lord, Master)
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
El Olam (The Everlasting God)
Elohim (God)
Qanna (Jealous)
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts); The Blue Letter Bible, http://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm; Accessed September 5, 2012
