MONDAY

Reading for Today:
Luke 1:39-56
Ephesians 2:1-10
Psalm 119:17-24
1 Kings 4–5

Psalm 119:17-24
Before you read the Bible, do you pray for God to open your eyes to see what he wants you to see? Or do you read the Bible so you can check it off your list and then move on to the next thing you need to get done? In the American church today, there are far too many believers who fail to let the Word of God sink into their hearts. This week, as you read the Scriptures, pray as the psalmist did in verse 18: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

TUESDAY

Reading for Today:
Luke 1:57-66
Ephesians 2:11-22
Psalm 119:25-32
1 Kings 6–7

Ephesians 2:11-22
We often look for peace in the wrong places. We look for it in a vacation, in children who don’t fight, in the absence of conflict with a spouse, in medicine, in a day at the spa, or in a variety of other things. We search for it like it can be found in something on this earth. In reality, though, peace isn’t a place or even a state of mind. Peace is a person. Ephesians 2:14 says this: “For he himself is our peace.” True peace—lasting peace—can’t be found in anything or anyone except Jesus. 

WEDNESDAY

Reading for Today:
Luke 1:67-80
Ephesians 3:1-13
Psalm 119:33-40
1 Kings 8

Luke 1:67-80
After nine months of silence, Zechariah used his first words to praise God. That’s significant because it shows us the character of Zechariah’s heart. Zechariah wasn’t angry that God had made him silent for nine months. He wasn’t bitter about the suffering he went through, though I’m sure those months were difficult. No, he was filled with joy. He was so filled with joy, in fact, that praise flowed out of his mouth. When was the last time you were so filled with joy that you couldn’t contain your praise for the Father?

THURSDAY

Reading for Today:
Luke 2:1-20
Ephesians 3:14-21
Psalm 119:41-48
1 Kings 9–10

1 Kings 9–10
In 1 Kings 10, the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon to see for herself if the reports she had heard about him were true. After meeting him, she said, “Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard” (v. 7). Wouldn’t it be wonderful if something similar could be said of us? I heard you were kind, but your kindness has far exceeded the report I heard. I heard you had joy, but you have even more joy than what I was told. May Christ shine so brightly in us that we exceed expectations. 

FRIDAY

Reading for Today:
Luke 2:21-40
Ephesians 4:1-16
Psalm 119:49-56
1 Kings 11

Ephesians 4:1-16
Ephesians 4 begins with a challenge: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (v. 1). This verse is similar to Colossians 1:10 which says, “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.” Paul, the author of both of these letters, clearly wanted his readers to represent Christ well. The question then is, how are we doing with this challenge? Do we, the body of Christ, live lives worthy of that calling? When Jesus looks at us, is he proud of what he sees? 

SATURDAY

Reading for Today:
Luke 2:41-52
Ephesians 4:17-24
Psalm 119:57-64
1 Kings 12

Luke 2:41-52
Jesus “had to be” in his Father’s house. I love the way the NIV translates verse 49. Jesus had to be there. It was necessary. It was essential. Sadly, not all believers today feel the same. Many of us treat weekly worship like it’s optional. We’ll be there as long as there’s nothing else going on, but if we have a conflict, it’s okay if we miss. Granted, we don’t want to become legalistic in our worship attendance. But we also don’t want to become indifferent. Being in God’s house matters. It was important to Jesus, and it should be important to us.