Daily Notes

The daily notes in the tabs below will help you as you make your way through the Bible day by day.

They’re based on the Robert Murray M’Cheyne Bible reading schedule, with a slight variation in line with the YouVersion Bible App.

New Testament and Psalms - 1

Acts 4 – Continuity of Rejection

Peter stood before the same court that had tried Jesus just a few weeks earlier. His defence is entirely grounded in the resurrection of Jesus and makes it abundantly clear who was responsible for Jesus’ death. Within that, there is also a call to come to Jesus for salvation. The court rejects Peter and in doing so rejects the Holy Spirit’s word and the salvation to be found in Christ. The believers gather not to pray for freedom from persecution but rather for boldness to continue doing the Lord’s work, speaking his word. Bolder still, they ask the Lord to stretch out his hand to heal and create signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. It’s quite a prayer!

Living God, even as you dwell in unapproachable light beyond sight and imagination, yet you dwell among your people by your Spirit. Give me boldness to speak for you and stretch out your hand to save to transform lost and wayward people I speak to, that they would turn and praise you as is right. Lord, have mercy.

Old Testament - 1

Joshua 24 – Covenant Renewal?

At the end of this book, Joshua laid out a clear choice for Israel: Worship the LORD who had so carried and blessed them from Abraham onwards or abandon him for pagan gods. We can’t make others love God though we can certainly exhort them, leading to the beautiful confidence of v15: “As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.” The nation responded enthusiastically in covenant renewal, so that at the deaths of Joshua and Eleazar things seems to be in good shape for Israel. Sadly, the book of Judges will chart Israel’s moral degeneration, reminding us that a local church is only ever one generation away from disappearing.

Holy God, you know how quickly we fall away from you and grow cold in our affections if left to our own devices. Thank you for the assurance I have in Christ that you will keep me to the end, and that it’s by your grace alone that I can ever say, “I will worship the LORD.”

New Testament and Psalms - 2

Matthew 27 – The Crucifixion

No-one in this chapter grasps who Jesus is or what he’s doing. Judas’s remorse might have become saving repentance and faith if he’d known Jesus truly. Others say many things in cruel mockery that are ironically deeply true, such as, “He saved others,” and “He trusts in God.” But it’s all God’s plan being worked out. Matthew has emphasised Old Testament fulfilment many times for us, and the events of the crucifixion are littered with too many Old Testament references for him to draw attention to. The tearing of the temple curtain is perhaps most significant, undoing the exclusion of Adam and Eve from God’s presence in Eden and for ever after. Now we all have access to God through faith in Christ.

Holy and eternal God, you have granted rebellious sinners access into your presence and accomplished it through the careful and deliberate incarnation, perfection, and sacrifice of your Son. What a cost to save me. Forgive me my sins, Lord, and keep me in your presence for ever.