Daily Bible Reading

Tuesday, October 13: 1 John 4-5 — God Is Love

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 41, Day 5 · Epistles & Revelation · 1 John 4-5

John writes about testing the spirits, God’s love, and how we can know we have eternal life.

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)

John says “God is love” twice in this chapter. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son.” “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.” Then he gets practical: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.” In chapter 5 he says God’s commandments “are not grievous.” He writes “that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” The letter ends with a short, unexpected line: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

Who is the brother or sister you find hardest to love?

Monday, October 12: 2 Chronicles 7-12 — If My People

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 41, Day 4 · History · 2 Chronicles 7-12

Fire falls at the temple’s dedication, God answers Solomon, and the kingdom splits after Solomon dies.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Fire falls from heaven on the sacrifices, and God’s glory fills the temple. Later God appears to Solomon at night and gives the famous promise in 7:14. It’s often quoted about nations today. It was first given to Israel for times of drought, locusts, and plague. It has four steps: humble yourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn. After Solomon dies, the kingdom splits. Priests and Levites from the north move south to Judah, along with everyone who “set their hearts to seek the LORD.” When Egypt invades, Rehoboam and his leaders humble themselves, and God grants “some deliverance.” That’s 7:14 at work.

Which of the four steps in 7:14 do you most need this week?

Sunday, October 11: Jeremiah 34-35 — Freedom Promised and Taken Back

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 41, Day 3 · Prophets I · Jeremiah 34-35

Jerusalem’s leaders free their slaves and then take them back. A family called the Rechabites shows what faithfulness looks like.

The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. (Jeremiah 35:14)

During the siege, Jerusalem’s leaders make a covenant to free their Hebrew slaves, as God’s law required. Then Babylon’s army pulls back for a while, and they take the slaves back. God says they’ll get a different kind of liberty, “liberty... to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine.” In chapter 35 God has Jeremiah offer wine to the Rechabites, a family that had refused wine for generations because their ancestor Jonadab told them to. They politely say no. God points out that they obey a human ancestor, and his own people won’t obey him.

Is there a promise you made under pressure and then quietly took back?

Saturday, October 10: Acts 1-3 — Peter Preaches at Pentecost

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 41, Day 2 · Gospels & Acts · Acts 1-3

Luke’s second book. Jesus ascends, the Spirit comes at Pentecost, and the church is born in Jerusalem.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)

Acts continues Luke’s story for Theophilus. Before he leaves, Jesus gives the plan for the whole book: “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” At Pentecost the Spirit comes with wind and tongues of fire, and visitors from many nations hear the gospel in their own languages. Peter, who had denied Jesus to a servant girl, now preaches to thousands. He quotes Joel and the Psalms, and about three thousand people are baptized. The new church shares meals and money and prays together. In chapter 3 Peter tells a lame beggar, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee.”

What do you have that you could give, even without silver or gold?

Friday, October 9: Numbers 29-31 — Keep Your Word

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 41, Day 1 · Law · Numbers 29-31

Offerings for the feasts, rules about vows, and the war against Midian.

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2)

Chapter 29 lists the offerings for the fall feasts. At Tabernacles, the number of bulls starts at thirteen on the first day and goes down by one each day. Chapter 30 is about vows. A man must do whatever he promised. In that culture a father or husband could cancel a woman’s vow on the day he heard it, but a widow’s vow stood. Chapter 31 is the judgment on Midian for leading Israel into sin at Peor. Balaam is killed in the battle. It turns out the plan to trap Israel at Peor was his idea. The prophet who couldn’t curse Israel found another way to hurt them.

Is there anything you’ve said you’d do that you haven’t done?

Thursday, October 8: Proverbs 7-9 — Two Invitations

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 40, Day 7 · Poetry & Wisdom · Proverbs 7-9

A warning story about an adulteress, wisdom’s speech, and two women who invite people to their houses.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

Chapter 7 tells a story. A young man “void of understanding” wanders past a certain woman’s house at dusk. Her husband is away, her words are smooth, and he follows her “as an ox goeth to the slaughter.” In chapter 8 Wisdom speaks and says she was with God at creation, “daily his delight.” In chapter 9 two women throw parties. Wisdom has built her house with seven pillars and invites the simple to come eat. Folly calls out that “Stolen waters are sweet.” “But he knoweth not that the dead are there.”

Which invitation sounds louder in your life right now?

Wednesday, October 7: Obadiah — Edom Stood on the Other Side

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Week 40, Day 6 · Prophets II · Obadiah

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Old Testament. It’s a message against Edom.

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? (Obadiah 1:3)

Edom came from Esau, Jacob’s brother. They lived in mountain strongholds and felt untouchable. When Babylon attacked Jerusalem, Edom watched, cheered, looted, and even caught refugees trying to escape. “In the day that thou stoodest on the other side,” God says, you were just like the attackers. “Thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother.” Then the warning: “as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee.” The book ends with “the kingdom shall be the LORD’s.” The rivalry between Jacob and Esau lasted more than a thousand years.

Is there a family grudge you’ve been holding that could outlive you?