Today’s Bible Reading

September 23

Old Testament I
1 Kings 15:1 - 32
1 Kings 15:1-32 gives an account of the reigns of Abijam and Asa, kings of Judah, and their interactions with the kingdom of Israel ruled by Jeroboam.

Abijam, the son of Rehoboam, succeeded his father as king of Judah. His reign was marked by war with Jeroboam, the king of Israel, and he committed many sins before the Lord. Abijam died after reigning for three years, and his son Asa succeeded him as king.

Asa ruled Judah for forty-one years and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed the idols from the land and commanded the people to seek the Lord. He also had to face military threats from Baasha, the king of Israel, but he relied on the Lord and was victorious. Asa was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.

The passage also mentions Nadab, the son of Jeroboam, who became king of Israel after his father's death. However, his reign was short-lived as he was killed by Baasha, who then became the king of Israel. Baasha reigned for twenty-four years, but he too did evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking his anger.

Old Testament II
Jeremiah 26
Jeremiah 26 is a chapter in the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. The chapter records an event in which the prophet Jeremiah delivers a message from God to the people of Judah.

In this chapter, Jeremiah is instructed to go to the temple in Jerusalem and proclaim God's message to the people who have gathered there. The message is a warning of judgment if the people do not turn from their wicked ways and follow God's commands.

Jeremiah's message is met with opposition from the priests, the prophets, and the people who are present. They accuse him of blasphemy and call for his execution. However, some of the elders of the land come to Jeremiah's defense, reminding the people that other prophets have also warned of God's judgment.

In the end, the people do not harm Jeremiah, and the chapter concludes with a summary of his message and a reference to the prophet Uriah, who was executed for preaching a similar message.

Overall, the chapter emphasizes the importance of heeding God's warnings and turning away from sin before it is too late. It also highlights the role of prophets in delivering God's message, even in the face of opposition and persecution.

New Testament
Colossians 3:5 - 4:1
Colossians 3:5-4:1 is a passage in which the Apostle Paul exhorts the Colossian Christians to put to death their earthly desires and to live in accordance with the new life they have received in Christ. He also gives instructions for how Christians should relate to one another, including those in positions of authority.

In Colossians 3:5-11, Paul tells the believers to put to death the earthly desires and behaviors that are inconsistent with their new life in Christ. He lists various sins, including sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, anger, slander, and lying. He reminds them that they have put off their old self and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in the image of its Creator.

In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul encourages the believers to clothe themselves with virtues that reflect their new identity in Christ, such as compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, and love. He also emphasizes the importance of thankfulness and letting the peace of Christ rule in their hearts.

In Colossians 3:18-4:1, Paul addresses the relationships within the Christian community. He instructs wives to submit to their husbands, husbands to love their wives, children to obey their parents, and fathers not to provoke their children. He also reminds slaves to obey their earthly masters as they would Christ and masters to treat their slaves justly and fairly. Paul emphasizes that all of these relationships are to be lived out in a spirit of mutual respect and with a focus on pleasing the Lord.

Overall, the passage emphasizes the importance of putting off the old self and living in a manner that reflects the new life believers have received in Christ. It also provides practical instruction for how believers should relate to one another, with a focus on humility, mutual respect, and love.