Week 2 – Immersed in Scripture
Day 1 The Beauty of Scripture
An essential part of being an everyday disciple of Jesus is to saturate ourselves in God’s Word. We get to know God, hear His voice and do what He wants through studying what He has said and done. This Plan focuses on the importance and purpose of Scripture in forging disciples.
This Plan offers more than a daily reflection on Scripture. It is designed to forge everyday disciples who are aware of God’s presence and hear God’s voice throughout the day. Please try to build into your routine the lunchtime meditations and evening reflections as well as the morning devotions.
MORNING
Scripture: Psalm 19:7-12
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can discern their own errors?
Devotion
When David wrote this song, most of the Bible had not yet been written. But God’s people did have His Law (the first five books of the Bible) and a growing body of sacred writings that may have included Joshua, Judges, and some of Samuel’s writings. David is reflecting on this written revelation from God when he says that it is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, firm, righteous, precious and so sweet. That’s a resounding commendation from David. You get the feel that he intensely loves what God has revealed about Himself and His desires for His people in Scripture. And he only had a fraction of what we have in our Bible. What a privilege we have in being able to read Scripture and to know for sure what God is like and how we can live in right relationship with Him. No wonder studying Scripture has such a vital role for those who are disciples of Jesus. As David says, it refreshes the soul, it makes wise the simple, it gives joy to the heart and light to the eyes, and it warns us when we are blindly walking into trouble. Everyday disciples of Jesus will make the study of God’s Word a high priority because the benefits are so huge. God’s truth is sweeter than honey. As a sweet tooth myself, I know what David means. Saturate yourself in Scripture and let it do its work in you.
Prayer
You have not chosen to reveal Yourself in vague ideas or feelings, but through the written Word of God. We are so privileged. It’s encouraging to know that David loved the part of Your revelation he had received, and I pray that I too will grow in my respect for, trust in, love for and enjoyment of Your Word. Please keep opening my heart to Your truth. May I be refreshed and renewed and changed as I study Scripture. Give me a sweet tooth for Your Word.
Today’s Bible Focus
“God’s revelation in Scripture is perfect, refreshing the soul.”
LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)
1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.
EVENING
1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what he has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.
Day 2 A Free Buffet
MORNING
Scripture: Isaiah 55:1-2, 10-11
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare… 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Devotion
This prophetic Scripture from Isaiah does not refer directly to Scripture, but it does focus on the word of God (55:11) and its power. In the future, the Jewish exiles would do it tough. Separated from their precious homeland, they would be spiritually hungry and thirsty. But God’s promise of a return from exile would be fulfilled without the exiles having to lift a finger. These broken and thirsty people could be certain that when God speaks, everything that He says will be fulfilled (55:11). It would not be a matter of trying to solve the situation themselves, but of resting in what God had said and seeing God do exactly what he promised. Can you see the parallel with our situation? In our broken world as we long for spiritual change, God calls us to drink deeply of his promises and to rest in Him. We are not to try harder solving the problems ourselves, but we are to listen to God through His Word and align ourselves with what He promises. Isaiah pictures it as famished people “eating” God’s word (55:2) and finding the most wonderful satisfaction in His revelation. I love that metaphor. Reading Scripture is like feasting on the promises of God. So come thirsty people. God is offering a free buffet feast for you in His Word!
Prayer
Your Scripture is filled with promises and encouragements and truths that I need to discover and hold on to. I’m sorry when I feel that I know what is best and try to solve problems without listening to You. I am hungry and thirsty for Your living truth. I need to know what You want and what You are going to do. Transform my heart and perspective as I feast freely on Your Word.
Today’s Bible Focus
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters – they’re free.”
LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)
1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.
EVENING
1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what he has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.
Day 3 Saturated in Scripture
MORNING
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-10
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ [Deut. 8:3].” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone’ [Ps. 91:11-12].” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’ [Deut. 6:16].” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’ [Deut.6:13].”
Devotion
In this Scripture, we find Jesus at both his weakest and strongest. He is physically weak after fasting for forty days, but He is spiritually powerful as He faces all that Satan can throw at Him. These temptations offer Jesus a way to avoid the cost of His ministry and death – using miracles for His own benefit, winning people with His power, and taking a shortcut to building His kingdom. Jesus parries each temptation with a quote from the Bible. He doesn’t try to defend himself against Satan with His own thoughts or abilities. He just goes back to God’s truth and quotes it to Satan. This tells us two things about Jesus. First, He was very familiar with the Scriptures. Like many Jewish men of His time, Jesus would have learned great slabs of the Scriptures off by heart, but I suspect Jesus went further than others. If at 12 He amazed the teachers in Jerusalem with his knowledge (Luke 2:47), imagine what He knew and understood by the age of 30. Jesus was saturated with Scripture. Second, He relied on Scripture, and this came out when he was under attack. His mind was on God’s truth not on Satan’s manipulations. Jesus is the gold standard for us. If knowledge of Scripture was so important and beneficial for the Son of God, it certainly is essential for us.
Prayer
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” My path is often shadowy and difficult, and I desperately need a good torch, especially when Satan uses the darkness to attack. As I study Scripture, may Your Word shine powerfully, guiding me to truth, growing my wisdom, and protecting me from temptation. May I be saturated with Scripture like Jesus.
Today’s Bible Focus
“Jesus answered Satan, ‘It is written…’”
LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)
1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.
EVENING
1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what he has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.
Day 4 God’s Word Cuts Deep
MORNING
Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Devotion
The Bible is a very old group of books. The 66 books were written over a period of 1500 years and the whole Bible was finalized in its present form by AD 400. I don’t imagine that you have read many other books that are more than 1600 years old. But it is in no way out of date. As the Word of God, the Bible teaches us many things. We learn about the nature of God. We learn about God’s dealings with people. We learn about the grace of God revealed in the gospel. God has so much to teach us through His Scripture. But when the Holy Spirit breathes through the truth of the Bible, it moves beyond truths for us to learn and becomes “alive and active” (4:12). It becomes like a razor-sharp sword, cutting deep into our lives and thoughts, revealing the truth about us and to us personally. This might seem dangerous and frightening to you. We like to protect ourselves by not allowing people to know too much about our inner workings. But God already knows everything, and he deeply loves you and wants the very best for you. He has a vision of who you can become, and He knows that this will require changes. So as you read the Bible, pray for the Holy Spirit, like a surgeon, to do His work and expect some cutting and exposing, and then deep healing. Don’t try to hide from God but open up your heart and life to the Spirit’s work through His Word.
“The word of God is alive and active.”
LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)
1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.
EVENING
1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what he has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.
Day 5 Just Do It
MORNING
Scripture: James 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Devotion
This week we have found that the Bible teaches us God’s truth and wisdom and as it is enlivened by God’s Spirit, it cuts deep and opens up our heart to God’s healing work. But no matter how powerful and helpful God’s Word is, no matter how much we learn from it, it’s no use to us if we do nothing about it. James uses the illustration of a mirror that is of no help if you don’t utilize it. What’s the point of a mirror if it doesn’t help you brush your hair or adjust your makeup or trim your beard? Why bother looking in the mirror at all? Similarly, reading Scripture is pointless for us if we hear what it is saying, and then keep on living the same way. There’s no purpose in studying the Bible if you’re not planning to put it into practice. For this reason, I’ve written a daily Bible focus into the Everyday Disciple devotions so that we can meditate on God’s truth and implement it during the day. However, we need to be realistic about this. You will not be able to apply every single thing that you are learning from God’s Word. No one has the focus or energy or time to add new practices to their life every day. Much of our spiritual growth comes through God’s Word gradually seeping into our lives. But we must come to Scripture with a ready heart to not only learn but also to obey.
Prayer
I’m enjoying reading Your Word each day, Lord. I come with an expectation that I will not only learn something new, but that You will speak to me personally. I’m a slow learner, but I really want the truth and life of Scripture to transform the way I think and live. Please show me what I need to change and give me strength to obey. I’m ready to do whatever pleases You. Grow me as I study the Bible. I want to be a doer of the Word.
Today’s Bible Focus
“Do not merely listen to the word, do what it says.”
LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)
1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.
EVENING
1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what he has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.
Day 6 God’s Word at Work
MORNING
Scripture: Acts 8:30-35
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Devotion
The man riding in the chariot was a high-ranking, Ethiopian official who had been worshipping in Jerusalem. He was most likely a God-fearer, a term used to describe followers of Judaism who had not fully converted to become Jews. You see the monotheism and ethics of Judaism were very appealing to godly seekers in a degraded, pagan culture, but identifying as a Jew through circumcision was often a bridge too far. In this story, we see an example of the power of Scripture. First, the Ethiopian is reading Scripture and God awakens a hunger. Second, Philip (placed by God alongside the chariot) knows the Scripture well and can explain it correctly. Third, God’s Spirit enlivens Scripture as Philip shares the gospel, and the heart of the Ethiopian guy is radically changed. A method of evangelism that is proving effective these days is asking someone who is interested in learning about Christianity to study the Bible with you. This story is a very early example of two people exploring the Scriptures together as God works in power through His Word. Not only is reading the Bible helpful in teaching us and changing us, but it also powerful in evangelism. Maybe there is a not yet Christian you could invite to read the Bible with you? Remember Heb. 4:12: “The Word of God is alive and active.”
Prayer
I recognise the power of Your Spirit-inspired Word in transforming my life but I don’t always believe that this will happen for others, especially those who don’t know you yet. I pray for those you have put around me who are not Christians. Please work in their hearts and open their eyes. Is there any Scripture that would be helpful for them at the moment?
Today’s Bible Focus
“Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”
LUNCHTIME (or when you can make a moment during the day)
1. Meditate for a short time on today’s Bible Focus. Let it seep into your heart.
2. Look and see what is happening around you from God’s perspective and listen to see whether God is whispering anything to you.
3. Pray for any not-yet Christians God has placed on your heart.
EVENING
1. Remember: Repeat today’s Bible Focus.
2. Reflect: Reflect on the day and thank God for what he has said and done.
3. Repent: Check where you have neglected or disobeyed God during the day and ask for forgiveness and freedom.
4. Release: Name any concerns or fears on your mind and release them to Jesus.