Daily Bible Readings

In August of 2024, the congregations of China Methodist Church and Forest Park Methodist church started on a journey to read the Bible together over two years. To facilitate this, I have created a reading schedule and am providing some daily thoughts to help along the way.

Each day’s entry contains the assigned reading (with a link to read it online at Bible Gateway) and a contemplation on how the section relates to life or to other parts of scripture. There is also a short reading from the Wisdom writings of the Bible and a suggested prayer focus. The most important part, though, is the words of scripture themselves; they are our surest guide to life.

– Mark Fleming, pastor

Most recent reading:

Day 154 Judges 9:1 – 10:5

Attempted kingdom fails
Judges 9:1 – 10:5 Read it here
Neither Gideon’s integrity nor his courage seem to have been passed down to the next generation, in spite of having 70 sons by numerous women.
In this section Gideon is referred to by another name that we were introduced to earlier: Jerub-Baal.
In 8:22-23 Gideon had turned down the role of king, though it appears he continues to lead the people and they later look to his sons for leadership.
One of the sons, Abimelek, was born of a Canaanite woman from Shechem, and takes advantage of his connections to both her and his heroic father by seeking to be made king of Shechem.
The people there agree, and he cements the deal by killing all of his brothers except for the youngest, Jotham. Jotham tells an elaborate parable suggesting that Abimelek is unqualified to be king and will lead the people to destruction.
His parable is right on both counts and this first effort at having a king from Israel ends in disaster.

Sunday meditation

Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

Prayer focus
Lord, let us serve where we are called and not pridefully reach beyond that calling.

-Rev. Mark Fleming