For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 Cor. 3
How does Paul describe himself? His fellow workers? The Corinthian Christians? Which description best fits you? Why? I like the distinction Paul makes between acting “like humans” and acting “as people who live by the Spirit”. Note that acting human does not disqualify us from salvation, because salvation is not based on our efforts. But it does stunt our growth. Paul goes on to make the distinction between the foundation, that is, Jesus, and the work that is built onto that foundation by Christ’s servants. As those being built up, we need to be careful to stay anchored to the foundation and not tear each other down based on the work of the servants.
Josh. 9-10
There were seven nations in the Promised Land that God slated for destruction by Israel. When those nations heard what Israel had done to Jericho and Ai, six of them joined together to fight. But Gibeon responded differently. They had received a clear message that God had commanded their destruction. I don’t know how they received this message but they responded to it, not with pride as the other six nations, but with fear and humility. Though they went about it deceptively, they were willing to completely subject themselves to Israel in order to save their lives.
This looks like another salvation story to me. Just like with Rahab, the Gibeonites recognized that they were doomed and powerless to save themselves, then humbly entrusted themselves to God. And, just like with Rahab, God spared them through His people. “That day [Joshua] made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.” (1 Cor. 3:27). Like all who come to God’s salvation, including each one of us, they became servants of God and part of His plan.
Ps. 42
Have you experienced the psalmist’s thirst for God? What causes this thirst? What prevents it? It took me a while, but with consistent reading and even just casual study, God began to peel back the layers of His word to me. The more He lets me peer into its depths, the more excited I get about it. I want to look deeper. I want to see more. It is He who puts the thirst in me as I seek Him. Now, where I used to simply read the words, I see where they connect concepts.
For one, I see the prophecy in the Psalms more clearly than I used to. Psalm 42:9-10 is an example. “I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’”. If that isn’t a picture of Jesus hanging on the cross, I don’t know what is! But then I see the connections. Verse 11 goes on to say, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God”. When I connect those verses, I see that it is Jesus’ suffering on the cross – verses 9 & 10 – that leads to our hope and salvation – verse 11. Way cool.