Daily Reading Passages

Click below for access to the passages. Biblegateway.com is an excellent site with many versions of the Bible. The link below opens in NIV.  Youversion.com is a new site that allows you to annotate your own Bible, make notes, and comments once you create an account. That link opens in the TNIV version. Other versions are available at both sites.

Coaching Comments

In Genesis 48:1 - 49:33, our Old Testament reading for today, we see the final scenes of Jacob/Israel's life. First, he sees Joseph and his sons, then he sees all twelve of his own sons.

In each scene Jacob/Israel gives his final blessings. Joseph's sons are blessed as well, even accounted as sons of Jacob. Although there is this strange moment where Jacob gives the blessing due to the first born to the second son. No explanation as to why. Then Jacob calls all his sons in and gives them a final blessing. Some of these blessings seem a little harsh to deserve that name! But in each case Jacob spoke about the destiny of this son and the tribe that would grow from him. And as they each tick by, think about what is to come. These are the twelve tribes of Israel. And in the blessing of Judah, we can see one of the earliest messianic prophecies.

Tomorrow we will see the closing scenes of Joseph's life and bring the book of Genesis to a close. Hopefully this has given you a great sense of the background to the story that we're embarking on. These men - the patriarchs - are the first that God revealed Himself to, and the beginning of God unfolding His long-term rescue plan to restore what was lost in Eden. The culmination of God's plan is Jesus, but before that could happen, there had to be a people prepared to receive Him, a people trained in the way of service, familiar with the word of God, with a vision of life transformation. And for there to be such a people, God had to start with one family, and that is the story we've seen unfold.

The New Testament reading, Matthew 15:29-16:12, has three short episodes for us. The first is about a second miraculous feeding of the crowds. Some people, particularly some more liberal Bible scholars, think that this is a different version of the same story we read in chapter 14. Others think that this is a completely different situation. In either case, (and Matthew does present them as two different occurrences) the point is the same. Jesus has the power, as the Messiah, to provide food for people, and this stands as a symbol of the spiritual food that He offers everyone who comes to Him.

After that, Matthew records a conflict with the Pharisees, who at this point have decided that Jesus is bad for good religion, and are out to expose him. They come asking Him to perform a miracle to prove Himself. He responds with a cryptic saying, basically telling them that all the signs they need to believe in Him have already been given, and then tells them that a sign is coming, the sign of Jonah. What is this sign? Most scholars think that this is Jesus' first prediction of his death and resurrection. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days before being vomited up to complete his mission. Jesus is going to be in the grave for three days before conquering death and inaugurating the missional community of the church.

In response to this conversation, Jesus talks to his disciples about the influence of the Pharisees. But they misunderstood Him again.

The Psalms reading for today is Psalms 20:1-9, the entire 20th Psalm. It comes in two parts. The first, verses 1-5, are a blessing of encouragement. I know that I would love having these verses prayed over me! The second part, verses 6-9, answer back. You could almost envision this Psalm as a call & response. One group on one side sings the first half, the blessing. Then the other group sings back the second part, responding to the blessing, and more specifically to the history of answered prayer. It also brings us another key verse in all of scripture, verse 7. "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Underline that one.

The reading from Proverbs, (Proverbs 4:20-27), is the culmination of Solomon's presentation of the importance of Godly wisdom. This is what he's been leading up to. These seven verses are probably my personal favorite in the whole book, and a powerful seminar in successful living from God's point of view. I venture to say that you could have these verses alone, and using them, live a life in alignment with God's will. It doesn't cover the whole salvation thing, but it certainly lays out the reality of the life God calls us to.

These words, Solomon says, are to be guarded and kept in your heart (memorized!) because they are life and health to any who follow them. Above everything else, guard your heart, because your whole life springs from that. Guard what you let into your mind and soul. Be intentional about what inputs you have, and what thoughts you meditate on - because those thoughts shape you. Guard what you say, and keep your eyes on things that are good, and purposeful. Verse 26 is crucial for us. It says, "Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm." This is saying that there are times when we fall, not because we gave into temptation, but because we chose to walk where the temptations are! Make your own path level. Choose to bring into your life the necessary structures and accountability that makes it easy for you (easier, anyway) to do good. Better counsel than this is hard to find anywhere.

2007 Cohort Comments