M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
2 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men from Shittim to go in secret to learn about the land. He said to them, “Go and spy out the land, and Jericho.” So they went and came to the house of Rahab, a woman who sold the use of her body, and they stayed there. 2 Then the king of Jericho was told, “See, men of Israel have come here to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you and have gone into your house. For they have come to spy out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me. But I did not know where they were from. 5 When it was time for the gate to be shut after dark, the men went out. I do not know where they went. Be quick to go after them, for you will catch them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and had hidden them under the grain she had put up there. 7 The men went after them on the road to the Jordan as far as the river crossing. As soon as those going after them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof. 9 And she said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land. The fear of you has come upon us. All the people living in the land have become weak with fear because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt. We have heard how you destroyed the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan. 11 When we heard it, our hearts became weak. No man had strength of heart any more because of you. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now I have shown you kindness. So I beg of you, promise me by the Lord that you will show kindness to those of my father’s house. Give me something to show that you will be faithful. 13 Do not kill my father and mother and my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them. Save us from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours! If you do not tell anyone what we are doing, we will be faithful and show you kindness when the Lord gives us the land.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window. She lived in her house that was built on top of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hill country, or those who are looking for you might find you. For three days hide yourselves there until those who are looking for you return. Then you may go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this promise you have made us swear 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this red rope in the window you let us down through. Bring your father and mother, your brothers and all those of your father’s house into your house. 19 If anyone goes out through the doors of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head. We will not be guilty for his death. But if a hand is laid upon anyone who is with you in the house, his blood will be on our head. 20 And we will be free from the promise you made us swear if you tell anyone what we are doing.” 21 She said, “Let it be as you have said.” Then she sent them away, and tied the red rope in the window.
22 They left and came to the hill country and stayed there for three days until those who were looking for them returned. The men had looked for them all along the road, but had not found them. 23 Then the two men came down from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan, and came to Joshua the son of Nun. They told him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “For sure the Lord has given all the land into our hands. All the people living in the land have become weak with fear because of us.”
A Prayer for the Lord’s Help
123 I lift up my eyes to You, O You Whose throne is in the heavens. 2 See, the eyes of servants look to the hand of their owner. The eyes of a woman servant look to the hand of her owner. So our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He shows us loving-kindness.
3 Show loving-kindness to us, O Lord. Show loving-kindness to us. For we have had our fill of hate. 4 The proud have laughed at us too long. We have had more than enough of their hate.
God Watches Over His People
124 “If the Lord had not been on our side,” let Israel say, 2 “If the Lord had not been on our side when men came against us, 3 they would have eaten us up alive. Because their anger burned against us. 4 The waters would have covered us. The river would have passed over our soul. 5 The angry waters would have passed over our soul.”
6 Honor and thanks be to the Lord! He has not let us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have become free like a bird out of a trap. The net is broken and now we are free. 8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
God’s People Are Safe
125 Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but stands forever. 2 The Lord is around His people like the mountains are around Jerusalem, now and forever. 3 For the sinful will not rule over the land of those who are right with God. So those who are right and good may not use their hands to do wrong.
4 O Lord, do good to those who are good, and to those who are right in their hearts. 5 But the Lord will let all those who turn aside to their sinful ways go with those who are sinners. Peace be upon Israel.
Something New for Zion
62 Because of Zion I will not keep quiet. Because of Jerusalem I will not rest, until her being right with God shines like a bright light, and her being saved shines like fire. 2 The nations will see that you are right and good. All kings will see your shining-greatness. And you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will give. 3 You will be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, a king’s crown in the hand of your God. 4 You will no longer be called “Left Alone.” Your land will no longer be called “Forgotten.” But you will be called “My joy is in her,” and your land “Married.” For the Lord finds joy in you, and to Him your land will be married. 5 For as a young man marries a young woman who has never had a man, your sons will marry you. And as the man to be married finds joy in his bride, so your God will find joy in you.
6 On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have put men to keep watch. All day and all night they will never be quiet. You who help the Lord remember, do not rest. 7 And give Him no rest until He builds Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth. 8 The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by His strong arm, “I will never again give your grain to be food for those who hate you. And strangers will never again drink your new wine that you have worked hard to make. 9 But those who have worked on it will eat it and praise the Lord. And those who gather it will drink it in the open spaces inside My holy house.”
10 Go through, go through the gates. Open the way for the people. Build up, build up the road. Take away the stones, and raise the flag over the people. 11 See, the Lord has made it known to the end of the earth: Say to the people of Zion, “Look, the One Who saves you is coming! See, He is bringing His reward that He will give.” 12 And they will call them “The holy people, the people who have been saved and set free by the Lord.” And you will be called “A city looked for, a city that God has not forgotten.”
Jesus Calls Twelve Followers and Sends Them Out (A)
10 Jesus called His twelve followers to Him. He gave them power to put out demons and to heal all kinds of sickness and disease. 2 These are the names of the twelve followers. There were Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John who were the sons of Zebedee. 3 There were Philip and Bartholomew and Thomas. There was Matthew, the man who gathered taxes. There were James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeaus, and 4 Simon the Canaanite. There was Judas Iscariot who handed Jesus over to be killed.
5 Jesus sent out these twelve followers. He told them to go, saying, “Stay away from people who are not Jews. And do not go to any town in the country of Samaria. 6 But go to the Jewish people who are lost. 7 As you go, preach. Say, ‘The holy nation of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick and those with bad skin diseases. Raise the dead. Put out demons. You have received much, now give much. 9 Do not take gold or silver or brass money with you. 10 Do not take a bag of things for the trip. Do not take two coats or shoes or a walking stick. A workman should receive his food and what he needs.
11 “When you come to a city or town, find a home that is respected and stay there until you leave. 12 As you go into a house, tell them you hope good comes to them. 13 And if the house is respected, give them your good wishes. If it is not respected, let your good wishes come back to you. 14 Whoever does not receive you or does not listen to what you say, as you leave that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 15 For sure, I tell you, it will be easier for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day men stand before God and are told they are guilty, than for that city.
16 “I am sending you out like sheep with wolves all around you. Be wise like snakes and gentle like doves. 17 But look out for men. They will take you up to their courts and they will hurt you in their places of worship. 18 They will take you in front of the leaders of the people and of the kings because of Me. You will tell them and the people who do not know God about Me. 19 When you are put into their hands, do not worry what you will say or how you will say it. The words will be given you when the time comes. 20 It will not be you who will speak the words. The Spirit of your Father will speak through you.
21 “A brother will hand over a brother to be put to death. A father will hand over his child to be put to death. Children will hand over their parents to be put to death. 22 You will be hated by all people because of Me. But he who stays true to the end will be saved. 23 When they make it hard for you in one town, go to another. For sure, I tell you, before you have gone through the Jewish cities, the Son of Man will come.
24 “A follower is not greater than his teacher. A servant who is owned by someone is not greater than his owner. 25 A follower should be happy to be as his teacher, and a servant who is owned by someone should be happy to be as his owner. If they have called the head of the house Satan, how much more will they speak against those of the house. 26 Then do not be afraid of them. For nothing is covered up that will not be brought out into the light. There is nothing hid that will not be made known. 27 You tell in the light what I tell you in the dark. You must speak with a loud voice from the roofs of houses what you have heard. 28 Do not be afraid of them who kill the body. They are not able to kill the soul. But fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two small birds sold for a very small piece of money? And yet not one of the birds falls to the earth without your Father knowing it. 30 God knows how many hairs you have on your head. 31 So do not be afraid. You are more important than many small birds.
32 “Whoever makes Me known in front of men, I will make him known to My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever does not make Me known in front of men and acts as if he does not know Me, I will not make him known to My Father in heaven.
34 “Do not think I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 I came to turn a man against his father. I came to turn a daughter against her mother. I came to turn a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man will be hated by his own family.
Giving Up Things of This Earth (B)
37 “He who loves his father and mother more than Me is not good enough for Me. He who loves son or daughter more than Me is not good enough for Me. 38 He who does not take his cross and follow Me is not good enough for Me. 39 He who wants to keep his life will have it taken away from him. He who loses his life because of Me will have it given back to him.
40 “Whoever receives you, receives Me. Whoever receives Me, receives Him Who sent Me. 41 Whoever receives a preacher who speaks for God because he is a preacher, will get the reward of a preacher who speaks for God. Whoever receives a man right with God, because he is a man right with God, will get the reward of a man right with God. 42 For sure, I tell you, anyone who gives a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he follows Me, will not lose his reward.”
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