M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Builders of the Meeting Tent
31 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the family of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, much learning, and all kinds of special work. 4 He will plan good work in gold, silver and brass, 5 in cutting stones to set, and in cutting wood, for all kinds of good work. 6 And see, I have given Aholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the family of Dan to help him. I have put wisdom in the hearts of all who are wise, so they may make all that I have told you: 7 the meeting tent, the box of the Law, the mercy-seat upon it, and all the objects of the tent, 8 the table and its objects, the pure gold lamp-stand with all its objects, the altar of special perfume, 9 the altar of burnt gifts with all its objects, the washing pot and its base, 10 the well-made clothing, the holy clothing for Aaron the religious leader, the clothing for his sons for their work as religious leaders, 11 the oil for holy use, and the sweet-smelling perfume for the holy place. Have them do all I have told you.”
The Day of Rest
12 The Lord said to Moses, 13 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Keep My Days of Rest. For this is something special between Me and you for all your people forever. So you may know that I am the Lord Who sets you apart for Myself. 14 You will keep the Day of Rest, for it is holy to you. Every one who does what is sinful on this day will be put to death for sure. Whoever does any work on this day will be cut off from among his people. 15 Work may be done for six days. But the seventh day is a Day of Rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Day of Rest will be put to death for sure. 16 So the people of Israel will keep the Day of Rest as a special day for all their people for all time, as an agreement forever.’ 17 It is something special between Me and the people of Israel forever. For the Lord made heaven and earth in six days. But He stopped working and rested on the seventh day.”
18 When the Lord had finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, He gave him the two stone writings of the Law, pieces of stone written on by the finger of God.
The Shepherd and the Door
10 “For sure, I tell you, the man who goes into the sheep-pen some other way than through the door is one who steals and robs. 2 The shepherd of the sheep goes in through the door. 3 The one who watches the door opens it for him. The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out. 4 When the shepherd walks ahead of them, they follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow someone they do not know because they do not know his voice. They will run away from him.” 6 Jesus told this picture-story to them. Yet they did not understand what He said.
Jesus Is the Door
7 Again Jesus said to them, “For sure, I tell you, I am the Door of the sheep. 8 All others who came ahead of Me are men who steal and rob. The sheep did not obey them. 9 I am the Door. Anyone who goes in through Me will be saved from the punishment of sin. He will go in and out and find food. 10 The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.
Jesus Teaches about the Good Shepherd
11 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 One who is hired to watch the sheep is not the shepherd. He does not own the sheep. He sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep. He runs away while the wolf gets the sheep and makes them run everywhere. 13 The hired man runs away because he is hired. He does not care about the sheep.
14 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me. 15 I know My Father as My Father knows Me. I give My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep which are not from this sheep-pen. I must bring them also. They will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 “For this reason My Father loves Me. It is because I give My life that I might take it back again. 18 No one takes my life from Me. I give it by Myself. I have the right and the power to take it back again. My Father has given Me this right and power.”
19 Because of what He said, the Jews did not agree in their thinking. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and is crazy. Why listen to Him?” 21 Others said, “A man who has a demon does not talk this way. Can a demon open the eyes of a blind man?”
Jesus Tells Who He Is
22 It was time for the religious gathering of remembering how the house of God was opened in Jerusalem. 23 It was winter and Jesus was there. He was walking in Solomon’s porch in the house of God. 24 The Jews gathered around Him. They said, “How long are You going to keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us.”
25 Jesus answered, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name speak of Me. 26 You do not believe because you are not My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice and I know them. They follow Me. 28 I give them life that lasts forever. They will never be punished. No one is able to take them out of My hand. 29 My Father Who gave them to Me is greater than all. No one is able to take them out of My Father’s hand. 30 My Father and I are one!”
Jesus Talks to Angry Men
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to throw at Him. 32 Jesus said to them, “Many good things have I shown you from My Father. For which of these things are you going to throw stones at Me?” 33 They said, “We are not going to throw stones at You for any good work. It is because of the way You talk against God. It is because You make Yourself to be God when You are only a man.” 34 Jesus said to them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? (A) 35 The Holy Writings were given to them and God called them gods. (The Word of God cannot be put aside.) 36 But God has set Me apart for Himself. He sent Me into the world. Then how can you say that I am speaking against God because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I am not doing the works of My Father, do not believe Me. 38 But if I do them, even if you do not believe Me, believe the works that I do. Then you will know the Father is in Me and I am in Him.” 39 They tried again to take Him but He got out of their hands.
Jesus Goes to the Other Side of the Jordan River
40 Jesus went away to the other side of the Jordan River to the place where John was baptizing people. Jesus stayed there. 41 Many people came to Him and said, “John did no powerful work, but what John said about this Man is true.” 42 Many people put their trust in Jesus there.
The Talk of a Sinful Woman
7 My son, keep my words, and hold together my teachings within you. 2 Keep my words and live. Keep my teachings as you would your own eye. 3 Tie them upon your fingers. Write them upon your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your special friend. 5 They will keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger with her smooth words.
6 For I looked out through the wood-work at the window of my house. 7 And I saw among the child-like and among the young people a young man without wisdom and understanding. 8 He passed through the street near her corner and took the path to her house, 9 in the light of the evening, after it was dark. 10 See, a woman comes to meet him. She is dressed like a woman who sells the use of her body, and with a heart that wants to fool and trap someone. 11 She is loud and has a strong self-will. Her feet do not stay at home. 12 She is now in the street, now in the center of town where people gather. She lies in wait at every corner. 13 So she catches him and kisses him. With a hard face she says to him, 14 “It was time for me to give gifts on the altar in worship, and today I have paid what I promised. 15 So I have come out to meet you, to look for you, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my bed with coverings of linen cloth from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with fine perfumes and spices. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning. Let us make ourselves happy with love. 19 For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long trip. 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and he will come home at full moon.”
21 She leads him away with her tempting talk. She tempts him with the smooth words of her lips. 22 All at once he follows her, like a bull going to be killed, like a wild animal goes into a trap, 23 until an arrow cuts through him. Like a bird that hurries into the net, he does not know that he will lose his life.
24 So, my sons, listen to me. Listen to the words of my mouth. 25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not turn aside into her paths. 26 For she has hurt many and destroyed many others. She has killed a great number. 27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the rooms of death.
Help Other Christians
6 Christian brothers, if a person is found doing some sin, you who are stronger Christians should lead that one back into the right way. Do not be proud as you do it. Watch yourself, because you may be tempted also. 2 Help each other in troubles and problems. This is the kind of law Christ asks us to obey. 3 If anyone thinks he is important when he is nothing, he is fooling himself. 4 Everyone should look at himself and see how he does his own work. Then he can be happy in what he has done. He should not compare himself with his neighbor. 5 Everyone must do his own work.
6 He who is taught God’s Word should share the good things he has with his teacher. 7 Do not be fooled. You cannot fool God. A man will get back whatever he plants! 8 If a man does things to please his sinful old self, his soul will be lost. If a man does things to please the Holy Spirit, he will have life that lasts forever. 9 Do not let yourselves get tired of doing good. If we do not give up, we will get what is coming to us at the right time. 10 Because of this, we should do good to everyone. For sure, we should do good to those who belong to Christ.
The Christian’s Pride Should Be in the Cross
11 See what big letters I make when I write to you with my own hand. 12 Those men who say you must go through the religious act of becoming a Jew are doing it because they want to make a good show in front of the world. They do this so they will not have to suffer because of following the way of the cross of Christ. 13 Those who have gone through the religious act of becoming a Jew do not even keep the Law themselves. But they want you to go through that religious act so they can be proud that you are their followers. 14 I do not want to be proud of anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the cross, the ways of this world are dead to me, and I am dead to them. 15 If a person does or does not go through the religious act of becoming a Jew, it is worth nothing. The important thing is to become a new person. 16 Those who follow this way will have God’s peace and loving-kindness. They are the people of God.
17 Let no one make trouble for me from now on. For I have on my body the whip marks of one who has been a servant owned by Jesus. 18 Christian brothers, may the loving-favor of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Let it be so.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.