My Bible Reading Challenge is 89 percent completed! This week has been a "Gospel" week! Reading through the Gospel books – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John- has kept my heart nearer the Cross. I trusted Jesus Christ to be my Savior when I was nine years old. The Cross was very real to me as I realized my sins had been nailed to a Cross. As years go by, it is easy to "know" what Jesus did for me, but to let the amazing work that He began in me become an annual fact rather than a daily celebration of new life!
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." – Romans 1:16
When someone sacrifices their time or energy or possessions for us, AND we are cognizant of the sacrifice made, naturally, our appreciation for that person grows. After time passes, we often let that sacrifice go to the back of our minds. Yes, we remember, but it is not on the forefronts of our minds. In turn, our appreciation for that person either diminishes or is not actively demonstrated.
Just as we sometimes need to consciously remember the love and grace people have shown us in our lifetimes, so much more should we deliberately remember the Cross – where Jesus gave Himself for us. I have decided to read through the Gospel books of the Bible more frequently.
The closer I am to the Cross, the more constrained I am to share the Gospel with others.
"For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again." – II Corinthians 5:14-15
Day 85: Matthew 15-28
Day 86: Mark 1-16; Luke 1-4
Day 87: Luke 5-24
Day 88: John 1-21; Acts 1-3
Day 89: Acts 4
Day 90: Acts 5-28; Romans 1-10
Day 91: Romans 11-16; I Corinthians 1-16
Week 13: Matthew 15-I Corinthians 16 [130]
Chapters: [1062/1189]