south ridge blog

DAY 2: Approach God in Boldness – Part I

If you were currently standing on the equator, you would be experiencing the Earth spinning on its axis at 1,037mph. That’s pretty fast. But think about this: the Earth is currently traveling around the Sun at approximately 66,000mph. Even more quickly than that, the light from our Sun is traveling 93,000,000 miles in about 8 minutes to get here. Despite these insane speeds, Earth is absolutely perfect for harboring life. 

But our planet is only one of billions within the Milky Way Galaxy. There are billions of Galaxies throughout the known universe, and billions and billions of solar systems, and billions and billions and billions of planets. And somehow, it’s all working in perfect order.

While we may not understand every aspect of creation, it’s clear that God must be extremely powerful to create such a vast universe. How do we even approach such a God? 

The author of Hebrews tells us that because of Jesus, we can not only approach God, but we can do so in boldness and in confidence. We don’t need to be afraid, but can be near our all-powerful God all because of Jesus. 

READING & JOURNALING:

HEBREWS 4:14-16, HEBREWS 10:19-23

The Greek word translated boldness or confidence in Hebrews 4:16 literally means, “Freedom in speaking all that one thinks or pleases.” How regularly do you have thoughts or feelings you would be uncomfortable sharing with God in prayer? Why do you think that is? 

How would your prayer life be different if you really felt free to speak with God about anything and everything? 

 PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, my hope today is to enter into your presence and be completely free. May I be free from trying to please You, and instead be enlightened and enlivened by just being with You. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Joshua 7 & 8

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Next Message Series: Beginning January 5

DAY 1: The Role of a Priest

Throughout the Scriptures, the role of a Priest was to be a mediator between people and God (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Life Application Study Bible notes, “Though some people think there are many ways to God, in practice, each person must choose a single way. We can stand on one side of a gorge and discuss the possibility of many bridges across the abyss, but if we are determined to cross, we will have to realize that only one bridge is connected to the other side. Those who insist that there are many bridges to God usually fit in one of the following categories:

(1) They have not personally committed to any “bridge.” They are surprised that their belief in multiple ways does not exempt them from having to choose one.

(2) Their belief in “many ways to God” hides their true belief that finding God doesn’t really matter at all.

(3) They are convinced that arguing for “many ways to God” will insure that they won’t be wrong. If there is only one way, their generalized belief will presumably have included it.

(4) They have decided that believing in “many ways to God” requires less work than going to the trouble of actually considering the claims of various religious systems.

READING & JOURNALING:

1 Timothy 2:5

Which of the four categories in today’s devotional reading do you think most people fall into? 

Be honest: Do you find yourself in any of these categories yourself? 

How significant is it that Jesus Himself claims that He is the only bridge (see John 14:6)?

 PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I confess that there are times when I have doubts and question whether there is only one “bridge” to You, but the life of Jesus reveals that He and He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Today, I humbly thank You for offering Jesus as a bridge. May my life continue to reflect the thankfulness I have. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Joshua 5:10-15 & 6

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Next Message Series: Beginning January 5

DAY 5: Review

What did the Scripture readings this week reveal to you about the nature and character of God? What have you learned about yourself throughout the week? 

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Joshua 3 & 4

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

Next Message Series: Beginning January 5

DAY 4: Jesus was a Prophet to the People

Throughout the week we’ve seen that a prophet spoke on behalf of God, how Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, and the truth that Jesus Himself was and is God in the flesh. One additional interesting aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry is that others referred to Him as a prophet. 

Here are a few examples:

• When Jesus entered into the city of Jerusalem, many asked who HE was and the crowd responded, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth (Matthew 21:11).” 
• After bringing back to life a man who was dead, the crowd responded, “A great prophet has appeared among us! (Luke 7:16).” 
• When meeting a Samaritan woman, she responds to Him to say, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet (John 4:19).” 

In short, the people Jesus Himself interacted with recognized Him not only as a great teacher, but as somebody who spoke directly on behalf of God.

READING & JOURNALING:

Matthew 5:1-7:29

Today’s reading is commonly referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. Which three of these verses or teachings stick out to you most? 

What do these passages teach you about God?

What steps can you put into place today (this week, month, or year) to live out these passages? 

 PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, sometimes I find it hard to read my Bible, and today I’m struck by an even greater challenge — living out my faith well! As such, today I simply hold onto You. I trust that You will never leave me nor forsake me, no matter how difficult the circumstances I face. Thank You for that! I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Joshua 1 & 2

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

DAY 3: Jesus Fulfills Old Testament Prophecies

On Day 1, we read that the primary role of a prophet was to speak on behalf of God. Sometimes this meant that a prophet would talk about the future. This isn’t to be confused with a modern-day fortune teller. Instead, it was a message about real events which – according to God – would take place. 

The Old Testament mentions dozens of these prophets who spoke on behalf of God to His people. And many of these prophets spoke a message from God about a Savior, or a Messiah, who would come to save His people. 

One statistician has noted that the odds of having one person fulfill just 8 of the 300 prophecies in the Old Testament would be 1 in 10¹⁷. That’s 1 in 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000. To put this in perspective, it would be enough to cover the state of Texas two feet deep in silver dollars. The odds of walking through this mess of coins and picking up the one that was marked differently than all others, would be inconceivable. Yet Jesus fulfilled not just 8 of these Old Testament Prophecies. He fulfilled them all. 

READING & JOURNALING:

Isaiah 53, Luke 23:44-56

How regularly do you pause to consider how remarkable it is that Jesus fulfilled so many Old Testament prophecies? 

Which verse or verses in Isaiah 53 stands out to you most? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, it’s not often that I truly reflect on Old Testament prophecies and consider that Jesus fulfilled them all. Today, it’s simply my desire to reflect on the awe of wonder of Jesus. May I continue to know Him more and more each and every day. I pray in His holy name. Amen. 

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Deuteronomy 32:48-52 & 34

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

DAY 2: Jesus is the Word of God

As we read yesterday in Hebrews 1:1-4, Jesus spoke directly on behalf of God. This ought to create within us a desire to pause and pay very careful attention to everything He taught. 

But Jesus was much more than a prophet who spoke on behalf of God. The Scriptures also indicate that He Himself was the Word of God. He didn’t just speak the Word of God, He was the Word of God! 

This would indicate that everything He spoke was from God, everything decision He made was from God, and every act of His life was an act of God. 

The Life Application Study Bible notes on John 1:1, “This is the truth about Jesus, and the foundation of all truth. If we cannot or do not believe this basic truth, we will not have enough faith to trust our eternal destiny to Him. That is why John wrote this Gospel—to build faith and confidence in Jesus Christ so that we may believe that He truly was and is the Son of God.” 

READING & JOURNALING:

John 1:1-14

Why do you think that some in our culture struggle to believe that Jesus was God? 

What are at least 3 reasons you believe Jesus was and is God?

Can you think of anybody you can share one or more of those truths with sometime this week? 

If you don’t yet believe Jesus was and is God, what do you believe about Jesus? Will you consider the possibility over the next few weeks that Jesus was and is God?

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I recognize that Jesus is the Word, and that every word in the Scriptures ultimately all points to Him. Today, I simply pray that I would know Him better. Amen.   

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Deuteronomy 30 & 31

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

DAY 1: The Role of a Prophet

Try to imagine living in the ancient world sometime between 1,000-500 B.C. What are you doing for a living? How do you teach your kids? Where do you go for spiritual advice? 

As you can imagine, education was very limited in the ancient world. As such, people would turn to a local prophet for religious insight. These prophets were common in every nation, not just within the nation of Israel. Every religion or belief system had men or women who served the role of a prophet. 

What was their role? Primarily, the role of a prophet was to speak on behalf of the people’s God (or god). While this sometimes included speaking what was going to happen in the future, it was primarily about speaking their God’s (god’s) truth. In simpler terms, when a prophet spoke, the people listened! This person was speaking directly on behalf of their God (god) and the people wanted to know what their God (god) had to say. 

Hundreds of years later, Jesus arrives and takes on the role of a prophet. Everything Jesus spoke, He did so on behalf of God.

READING & JOURNALING:

Hebrews 1:1-4

How intently ought we study the life of Jesus if He truly did speak on behalf of God?

What questions do you have about the life of Jesus? (Think of as many as you can.) Where will you go or who will you talk with in order to find the answers to these questions? 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I understand that no matter how long I’ve been a follower of Jesus, there is more that I can learn from Him. As the Christmas Season approaches, my desire is to be connected to Jesus, the Vine (John 15), so that I can grow in my love of You and love of others. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

 

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

The F260 is a Scripture Reading Plan designed to read through the foundational passages of the Bible in 260 Days (5 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year). It is a separate reading from the above devotional but is included for those who would like to engage with the Scriptures on a deeper level throughout the year.

Read: Deuteronomy 8 & 9

Journal: Write it out. Following the pattern from 7 Arrows Page (click here) what did you learn from today’s reading?

 

Note: Are you looking for a Study Bible to help you engage with the Scriptures at a deeper level? If so, click here for some recommendations.

A Note From Pastor Justin:

In our former message series, The Kings of Old, we looked into the lives of 10+ different kings from the Old Testament. Even though these kings lived in a completely different culture and in a completely different period of time, it was clear from their lives that the decisions they made impacted not only their own lives, but the lives of countless others. It’s a valuable lesson that still speaks to us today: our decisions impact not only our own lives, but the lives of countless others. 

But The Kings of Old message series also showed that there were other important roles within the people of God in the Old Testament. Yes, there were kings. But there were prophets and priests as well. 

We saw that God takes each of these roles very seriously. For example, King Saul made a sacrifice before a battle because the Prophet Samuel wasn’t there. The consequences for King Saul were both swift, and severe. Similarly, King Uzziah once took the opportunity to burn incense in God’s temple, a role that was designated only for Priests. Uzziah also experienced punishment from God. 

What this teaches us is that God had a very specific role for Prophets, Priests, and Kings. And in His infinite holiness, wisdom, and majesty, God showed that He was very serious about ensuring these roles were fulfilled by the right people and in the right ways. 

Several hundred years after The Kings of Old, a new man arrives amidst the people of God. And for the first time ever, this One man was able to fulfill the roles of Prophet, Priest, and King. Not only that, but He also takes on the role of Savior. Join us, as we journey more deeply into the life of Jesus. 

As we begin this new message series, we encourage you to:

• Commit to joining us every week of this series.
• Commit to reading through this Reading Guide, reflecting and journaling through the questions provided within each daily reading.
• Use a good Study Bible and/or other resources as you read through this Reading Guide. Refer to https://southridgeblog.com/study-bible-info for more information on many excellent Study Bibles available today.
• Write down questions you have about what you’re reading, and take opportunities to seek out answers to those questions.