DAILY READINGS

DAY 1 , and Mark 1

Genesis 1–2 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground— then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Psalm 19 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

NOTE 1: In searching for truth, we Christians know there is only one truth. We also know that the Bible is true, but that does not mean that our interpretation of the Bible is true. Consequently we should examine scientific hypothesis and our understanding of biblical record with an open mind. Knowing that there is only one truth, and God commanded us to rule over the earth (for which we need to understand it), biblical exegesis and scientific pursuit should ultimately coincide.

: The order of creation is worth noting compared to what we understand from science.

Day 1: Light -- The earth and water already existed. He created light, but not the Sun, Moon and Stars. He also created time, since the record says

"there was evening and there was morning, the first day." (The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)

Big Bang??

Day 2: Sky -- Separated the waters below from that above. Creating the essential conditions for life.

Day 3: Flora -- First he separated the waters "below" into Seas and dry earth. He then created vegetation. Flora came before fauna, so the record is consistent with science in this respect.Were these seeds only or the full plants? We are told in , that there no plants yet because God had not yet caused it to rain. But light, water and earth already existed (He was the light) so the plants could grow.

Day 4: Sun, Moon and Stars -- This appears to contradict scientific evidence because science indicates that all came to being at the Big Bang. But closer thought shows that this account does not preclude science. The earth could very well have existed before it came to orbit the Sun or the Moon came to orbit it. The stars were those visible from the Earth, not necessarily all stars, since the account says that these were set to set apart the light from the darkness.

Day 5: Fauna — consistent with archaeological record, sea life came after vegetation and before earth creatures on dry land. How did the ancients know this since they did not have science to back them up.

Day 6: Man — Although we know the male of the species came before the female, it is clear that they are equal for He created both in His image. He created them to rule over all of the earth. Once again consistent with scientific record. Man is the highest expression of the species.

In each instance of a living thing, the biblical record is also specific in saying that each form of life was “according to its kind.” Although evolutionists point to archaeological record, evolutionists have not adequately explained how evolution takes place at a micro-biological level which would be required for species to evolve from another. Although I am sure that science will some day explain this, evolutionary theory is insufficient.

NOTE 2: WE WERE ALL VEGETARIANS. God gave the plants for food for both man and beast. He did not intend for there to be any carnivores in His creation because this would bring about the “death” of “thing that has the breath of life.” ()

DAY 2: ,

NOTE 1: Is the story of Adam and Eve being tempted by a serpent literal or an allegory? We can get caught up in minors. Whether or not this is an allegory does not affect the central tenants of Christianity: the Bible is God’s inspired revelation, man was created perfect but fell because of his own free will and lost his innocence, there is a great spiritual battle between God and the forces of evil (the serpent or the devil).

NOTE 2: Work was to be a blessing. When God created the Garden of Eden, he set man to till it. However, as a result of the Fall, work has become part of a curse. Moreover, man was to suffer physical death — “for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

NOTE 3: We are often envious of the “blessings” others receive, but we do not think of what they have done to receive those blessings. The poor blame the rich for having so much, but often those who are rich have worked hard to obtain the wealth, and have not done so through deceit.

NOTE 4: When we are confronted with our sin, we tried to evade the feeling of shame by blame-shifting as Adam and Eve did or avoiding answering for our sin like Cain did.

NOTE 5: Cain’s progeny also sinned. We pass on our sins to our children, not because they lose free will, but because they model after us. Lamech, Cain’s great-great-great grandson was the first recorded bigamist and he was also a murderer.

NOTE 6: How do we account for the longevity of Adam and his close descendants before the flood? This should be a clue to scientists in search of longer life. Something about the environment and health of these early people caused them to live longer. Could it have been the atmosphere (it had not rained massively since it was before the flood)? the food (vegetarian)? innocence

NOTE 7: The ages at the death of the descendants of Seth are given but not of Cain’s descendants.

NOTE 8: Our biggest stumbling block to understanding God’s revelation is often our own preconceptions of orthodoxy. Confronted with Jesus’ forgiveness of the sin of the paralytic because of his and his companion’s faith, the scribes, the learned religious men of that day, “questioned in their hearts” Jesus’ authority (,). Again they doubt him because he associated with sinners, but Jesus points their error: He had come for sinners.

NOTE 9: Jesus declares that forgiving sins is harder than healing of paralysis! Isn’t that our experience. We can heal the body, but the wounds of the soul, the heart are much more difficult to heal. Only God can change our minds!

NOTE 10: Among Jesus’ disciples he called the simple (fisherman), the sinners and despised (Levi). We are to do the same. We should draw those who are outcast.

DAY 3: , ,

NOTE 1: is a strange passage. Who are the Sons of Man. This has been a source of debate, but not material.

NOTE 2: Think how depraved man had gotten by this time: “ every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” () All except one man, Noah! What a man.

NOTE 3: Is the story of the Arc and of the flood an allegory? Although as written it is in my opinion embellished like often happens in historical literature (e.g., think Washington and the Cherry Tree), there is sufficient evidence that suggest a great flood and destruction took place. Records from multiple civilizations record the same.

every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

NOTE 4: God covenanted with Noah never to destroy the earth on man’s account. ().

NOTE 5: We see in that God shortened man’s lifespan to 120 years. How this happened we are not told. However, He was going to bring about the great flood, so could the atmospheric changes brought about by this cataclysmic event accounted for the reduced lifespan? Should scientists evaluate the effects of the Sun and its radiation and/or other atmospheric effects on longevity as a clue? As we will see, man’s diet is also changed after the flood (), could meat-eating shorten lifespan? It is this type of interplay that should take place between science in biblical scholarship in investigating the Truth.

NOTE 5: When we consider all of the evidence of science we see God. For the earth is so finely tuned to sustain life. So orderly and precisely measured. Who can wonder? But we do. Unless God, by His grace, opens our eyes, we are blind to the truth because our thoughts are evil from our youth. (Ps 194, Gen 8:20-22).

NOTE 6: When we consider all of the evidence of science we see God. For the earth is so finely tuned to sustain life. So orderly and precisely measured. Who can wonder? But we do. Unless God, by His grace, opens our eyes, we are blind to the truth because our thoughts are evil from our youth. (Ps 194, ).

NOTE 7: “5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man” (). How often do I harden my heart against the Lord’s constant entreaty. My thoughts too our evil, but by His grace I am drawn to him.

5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man

NOTE 8: “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” “ (). The greatest evidence of his divinity is that his own family did not believe in him until after his resurrection. Then they died as martyrs.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

DAY 4: ;

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

NOTE 1: After the flood, God puts fear of man among the beasts of the earth (,) and now living things are made food.

NOTE 2: It is after the flood that we see that God requires blood sacrifice. ().

NOTE 3: God set a rainbow as a sign of his covenant with Noah and his sons. (). We are not told whether there had been rainbows before, merely that rainbows would be a sign of His covenant. However, we might hypothesize that a thick cloud covered all of the earth prior to the Flood, and so a rainbow (at least across the sky as opposed to a waterfall), had never been observed. The Bible once again points to how things might have been giving scientists clues about what to investigate.

NOTE 4: This is a peculiar statement: “When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (). Does God need a reminder? Certainly not. Remember here is not meant to be a recall, but a sign, as we do this “in remembrance of.”

When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”

NOTE 5: The estrangement between the people of Israel and the Arabs begins with this curse. (). Ham, his youngest son and father of Canaan, disrespected his father Noah, and Noah cursed him and his descendants.

When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles..” (

NOTE 6: “Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.” (). We know from archaeological records that early men were hunter/gatherers. This is confirmed in this passage of Scripture, for we are told that Noah began to be a man of the soil.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

NOTE 7: In this genealogy we see the rise of all the major civilizations of what we know today as the “cradle of civilization.” We do not know what is happening in other parts of the world (e.g., China), but here we know how the early middle eastern civilization developed. Although we are told that “ and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.” (). We know that later there would be trade with China along many trade routes including once that passed through Galilee. What do the archaeological records tell of us about the birth of civilization in what is today China?

NOTE 8: The Tower of Babel accounts for the evolution of many languages. Although from a first reading of the text, it would seem that this all occurred at once, it would not be inconsistent with the text to say that it happened over time. All we know for certain is that the multiplicity of languages was God ordained. “And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.” (). So, consistent with the approach to searching for the Truth, we are given a clue of how other civilizations developed. What do we find?

and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

NOTE 9: Although God had ordained that man’s lifespan would be limited to 120 years, we see in that those who had been born prior to the Flood continued to have longer lifespans. Those who were born immediately after the flood continued to have longer lifespans, but considerably shorter than their parents, with each subsequent generation living shorter and shorter lives. The conditions for life after the Flood were considerably different than before.

And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

NOTE 10: We mark that great beginning of the people of Israel: Terah, the father of Abram, took his family out of Ur (the great city of the Chaldeans) and moved in the direction of Canaan but wind up settling in Haran.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

NOTE 11: The Parable of the Sower teaches us that God’s Word will only bear fruit on a spirit that has been readied to receive it. God chooses who He will reveal his truth to ().

NOTE 12: Our responsibility as servants and disciples of the Lord is to preach his word. We cannot “convert” anyone. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. ()

NOTE 13: The Parable of the Mustard Seed. We often look to “large churches” as a sign of a successful ministry. But this is not what God sees. Although we might be alone or a small congregation, we need only be faithful, and He will bring about the glorious growth.

NOTE 14: The Calming of the Storm. When our life is in turmoil, we need only remember that God is in control. All is never lost because He has power over all things. We should not look at our circumstances but meditate on Him.

DAY 5: , ,

NOTE 1: God commands Abram to leave his country and his kindred to go to the land of Canaan. God often asks to leave our roots to go with Him on the journey He has prepared for us. Whenever I read this passage, I am reminded of how God brought me to the US, and it is here that I encountered Him.

NOTE 2: Abram lies about Sarai in Egypt. Abram’s character is revealed in this story. We may think that God chose Abram because of his great faith, but in lying about Sarai to Pharaoh. He even allowed his wife to be taken by Pharaoh as his wife!! so that his life would be spared and he profited greatly from it. In essence he prostituted his wife for his own self interest! Abram’s faith was not strong, yet. Abram was to undergo a transformation in God’s hand. So to are we sanctified by God in our walk with Him. It is by His grace that we are saved and also sanctified.

NOTE 3: Our life is defined by the choices we make. Lot chose the most attractive areas to settle for himself. HE chose because it was a rich and fertile land, with no thought to the wickedness of the place. He settled in Sodom!!

NOTE 4: God promised the Land to Abram unconditionally. He had made Abram very wealthy through Abram’s own sinful ways. Now He promises Abram him all of this rich land, including the land that Lot had chosen for himself without any preconditions. It was an act of God’s grace!! God had a higher purpose (ultimately God’s salvation would come through Abram’s lineage), and Abram was a mere instrument. So are we!

NOTE 5: Abram Blessed by Melchizedek Melchizedek we are told is a foreshadowing of the great High Priest that would come, Jesus Christ, who was not of the order of the Levites. The name Melchizedek means “my king is righteousness.” We do not know much about him until Hebrews, when Paul elaborates on his role as High Priest vs. Jesus’ being the ultimate high priest. Also, this is the first time we see a tithe!

NOTE 6: God did test Abram. In a time when male offspring were vital to preservation of wealth and family, Abram and Sarai were barren. This weighed heavily on Abram (this fact is mentioned several times in the account of Abram’s life), and here in , Abram cries out to God. Here is a transforming moment in Abram’s life. God promises to make his heirs numerous as the starts, and “ And he [Abram] believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” (). So is much of our spiritual journey. What tribulation (“thorn in the flesh”) does God have in my life that points to him? It is in this particular struggle that I will be brought closest to God. But this does not happen without a struggle and suffering (see ). It is through hardship that we are strengthened in faith, because it is hardship that causes us to turn to Him.

NOTE 7: Praise to you my Lord. May all praise you!!

And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

NOTE 8: Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon (Legion). Jesus demonstrates his divinity and his claim to it in this passage. The many spirits that possessed this man recognized him as “Son of the Most High” and Jesus did not deny, but accepted the title given to him, which in itself would be act of blasphemy were it not true. Moreover, the demons ask his permission to go into the herd of pigs and Jesus grants it to them. The townspeople seeing their fortune (2000 pigs) destroyed, ask him to leave their region. These are not very holy people to begin with because they were raising pigs which were unclean animals. But instead of viewing the miracle that they had witnessed, they were more concerned about their personal fortunes.

NOTE 9: JESUS HEALS A WOMAN AND JAIRUS’S DAUGHTER Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue, a very prominent and respected religious leader. It is this man that comes to Jesus begging for a miracle to save his daughter. Jesus obliges and goes with him. In the meantime, a poor beggar woman with a discharge (therefore unclean and ostracized) had spent all of her wealth trying to find a cure. She only needed to touch him and she knew that she would be healed, and she was. Jesus surrounded by a crowd, perceived that power had gone from him, and inquired who had touched him. It is likely that He knew exactly who it had been, but He waited for the woman, who was very much afraid for she “came in fear and trembling”, to come forward and confess openly what had happened. In the meantime Jairus’ daughter died while they were still on their way. But Jesus presses on, taking only his inner circle (Peter, James and John his brother) and the close family, he commanded the little girl who was twelve to get up. He raised her from the dead.