Sunday, March 21, 2021

The Daily Bible Readings for Monday, March 22, 2021

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Monday, March 22, 2021
Psalm 119:9-16; Isaiah 43:8-13; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
It is extremely important for us to understand that we are involved in a real battle and the enemy’s goal is our destruction. The devil does everything he can to undermine our faith and impede our progress in God’s will by putting harmful, hidden obstacles and snares in our path. But we can resist his subtle tactics and triumph over his schemes by trusting God, arming ourselves with His protection, and obeying Him in every area of our lives.

Today’s Readings:
Psalm 119:9-16
I treasure your promise in my heart


9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
     By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart;
      do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
      that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, Lord;
      teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount
      all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes
      as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts
      and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees;
      I will not neglect your word.


Commentary
To original corruption all have added actual sin. The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt of our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves the purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is treasure worth laying up, and there is no laying it up safe but in our hearts, that we may oppose God's precepts to the dominion of sin, his promises to its allurements, and his threatenings to its violence. Let this be our plea with Him to teach us his statutes, that, being partakers of his holiness, we may also partake of his blessedness. And those whose hearts are fed with the bread of life, should with their lips feed many. In the way of God's commandments there is the unsearchable riches of Christ. But we do not meditate on God's precepts to good purpose, unless our good thoughts produce good works. I will not only think of thy statutes, but do them with delight. And it will be well to try the sincerity of our obedience by tracing the spring of it; the reality of our love by cheerfulness in appointed duties.


Isaiah 43:8-13
God is our savior


8 Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
     who have ears but are deaf.
9 All the nations gather together
     and the peoples assemble.
  Which of their gods foretold this
     and proclaimed to us the former things?
  Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
     so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
      “and my servant whom I have chosen,
   so that you may know and believe me
      and understand that I am he.
   Before me no god was formed,
      nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
      and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
      I, and not some foreign god among you.
   You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13    Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
   No one can deliver out of my hand.
      When I act, who can reverse it?”


Commentary
Idolaters are called to appear in defense of their idols. Those who make them, and trust in them, are like unto them. They have the shape and faculties of men; but they have not common sense. But God's people know the power of his grace, the sweetness of his comforts, the kind care of his providence, and the truth of his promise. All servants of God can give such an account of what he has wrought in them, and done for them, as may lead others to know and believe his power, truth, and love.


2 Corinthians 3:4-11
God’s glory in Christ


3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Commentary
Even the appearance of self-praise and courting human applause, is painful to the humble and spiritual mind. Nothing is more delightful to faithful ministers, or more to their praise, than the success of their ministry, as shown in the spirits and lives of those among whom they labor. The law of Christ was written in their hearts, and the love of Christ shed abroad there. Nor was it written in tables of stone, as the law of God given to Moses, but on the fleshy (not fleshly, as fleshliness denotes sensuality) tables of the heart, Ezekiel 36:26. Their hearts were humbled and softened to receive this impression, by the new-creating power of the Holy Spirit. He ascribes all the glory to God. And remember, as our whole dependence is upon the Lord, so the whole glory belongs to him alone. The letter killeth: the letter of the law is the ministration of death; and if we rest only in the letter of the gospel, we shall not be the better for so doing: but the Holy Spirit gives life spiritual, and life eternal. The Old Testament dispensation was the ministration of death, but the New Testament of life. The law made known sin, and the wrath and curse of God; it showed us a God above us, and a God against us; but the gospel makes known grace, and Emmanuel, God with us. Therein the righteousness of God by faith is revealed; and this shows us that the just shall live by his faith; this makes known the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ, for obtaining the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. The gospel so much exceeds the law in glory, that it eclipses the glory of the legal dispensation. But even the New Testament will be a killing letter, if shown as a mere system or form, and without dependence on God the Holy Spirit, to give it a quickening power.



The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel lessons are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

The Daily Bible Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year B. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2021, we will be in Year C. The year which ended at Advent 2020 was Year A. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Bible Readings for Monday, March 22, 2021
Psalm 119:9-16; Isaiah 43:8-13; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 (NIV)
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

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