M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
Moses tells Israel's people what to do with gifts that are grain
2 A person may want to give grain as a gift to the Lord. He must make it into flour. He must put oil and incense on the flour. 2 He must take it to Aaron's sons, the priests. The priest will take some of the flour and oil and all the incense in his hand. He will burn them on the altar as a gift to the Lord. The smell of them while they are burning will give the Lord pleasure. 3 The flour that he did not burn is for the priests. It is very holy. That is because it is part of an offering to the Lord.
4 A person must not use yeast if he bakes his gift of grain. He must make cakes or biscuits with flour and oil. 5 He must not use yeast if he cooks his cake on a flat plate. He must make it with flour and oil. 6 He must break the cake into pieces. He must pour oil on it. It is a gift to God. 7 A person must use flour and oil to cook the cake in a pot. 8 He must give the cake to the priest. The priest will take it to the altar. 9 He will take a piece of it and he will burn it in the fire. It is a gift to the Lord. The smell of it while it is burning will give the Lord pleasure. 10 The part of the cake that he did not burn is for the priests. That is because it is most holy, part of a burnt offering to the Lord.
11 A person must not use yeast when he gives a gift of grain to the Lord. He must not give yeast or honey for the priests to burn as gifts to the Lord. 12 He can give them as the first part of his harvest. He must not burn them on the fire. He cannot use them to give the Lord pleasure. 13 A person must put salt in all his gifts of grain. Salt is a mark of God's promise to Israel's people.[a]
14 A person may want to give the first part of his harvest to the Lord. He must break the grains into pieces and he must cook them in a fire. 15 They are a gift, so he must put oil and incense on them. 16 The priest will burn a part of the grain with all the incense. It is a burnt offering to the Lord.
Moses tells Israel's people what to do with their gifts for the Lord
3 A person might want to give a friendship offering to the Lord. He must take a perfect animal from his group of animals. The animal can be male or female. 2 The person must put his hand on the animal's head. Then he must kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons the priests will throw the blood onto the sides of the altar. 3 The person must burn some pieces of the animal as a gift to the Lord. It is a friendship offering. 4 He must bring all the fat from inside the animal. And he must bring the kidneys with their fat and the best piece of the liver. 5 The priests, Aaron's sons, will take the pieces. They must put them on top of the gift on the altar. The smell of them while they are burning will give the Lord pleasure.[b]
6 If a person wants to give a sheep to the Lord as a friendship offering, it must be perfect. The person can give a male animal or a female animal to the Lord. 7 If it is a young sheep he must offer it to the Lord. 8 He must put his hand on its head. Then he must kill it at the front of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron's sons will throw the blood onto the sides of the altar. 9 The person must cut the tail off the animal. He must give the tail and all the fat from inside the body to the Lord. 10 He must also give the kidneys and the best piece of the liver. 11 The priest will burn them as food on the altar. They are a burnt offering to the Lord.
12 A person may offer a goat to the Lord. 13 The person must put his hand on the goat's head. Then he must kill it at the front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons will throw the blood onto the sides of the altar. 14 The person must take all the fat round the inside parts. He must give it to the Lord for a burnt offering. 15 He must also give the kidneys with the fat on them and the best piece of the liver. 16 The priest will burn them as food on the altar. The smell of them while they are burning will give the Lord pleasure.
17 Israel's people must not eat any fat or drink any blood. This rule is for them and for their children everywhere. They must obey this rule always.’
Jesus shows himself to the disciples again
21 After that, Jesus showed himself to the disciples again when they were by Lake Tiberias.[a] This is how it happened. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin and Nathanael were together. (Nathanael came from Cana in Galilee.) The sons of Zebedee (James and John) and two other disciples were also there. 3 Simon Peter said to the other disciples, ‘I will now go and catch fish.’ They replied, ‘We will come with you.’ So they went out and they got into the boat. But they caught nothing during that night.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus was standing on the shore of the lake. But the disciples did not know that it was Jesus who stood there. 5 Then Jesus asked them, ‘Friends, have you caught any fish?’ They answered, ‘No!’ 6 He said, ‘Throw your net out on the right side of the boat. If you do that, you will catch some fish.’ So they threw the net out into the water. Then they caught so many fish that they could not pull the net back into the boat.
7 The disciple that Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he put on his coat. (He had been wearing only a few clothes.) Then he jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed him in the boat. They pulled the net that was full of fish behind them. They were not far from the shore. It was about 100 metres away. 9 When they came to the shore, they saw that someone had lit a fire. Some fish were cooking on it. There was some bread there, too. 10 Jesus said to them, ‘Bring here some of the fish that you have just caught.’
11 Simon Peter got back into the boat and he pulled the net onto the shore. It was full of 153 big fish. There were so many fish, but the net had not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, ‘Come here and eat breakfast.’ None of the disciples was brave enough to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew that it was the Lord. 13 So Jesus took the bread and he gave it to them. Then he did the same with the fish.
14 After Jesus died and became alive again, this was now the third time that he showed himself to his disciples.
Jesus talks to Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these other disciples love me?’ Peter answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’
16 Jesus asked him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ 17 Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’[b] Peter was sad because Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ So he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I really love you!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep. 18 I tell you this: When you were young, you put on your own clothes. Then you went to any place that you wanted to visit. But when you are old, it will be different. You will hold out your arms and someone else will tie your clothes for you. Then they will take you to a place where you do not want to go.’ 19 When Jesus said this, he was showing how Peter would die.[c] His death would give honour to God. Then Jesus said to Peter, ‘Follow me.’
20 Peter turned round and he saw the disciple that Jesus loved. He was the man who had been very near to Jesus at the supper. He had asked Jesus, ‘Lord, who will sell you to your enemies?’ Now this disciple was following behind them. 21 When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, ‘Lord, what will happen to him?’ 22 Jesus answered him, ‘Perhaps I might want him to live until I return to this earth. But that should not matter to you. You must follow me!’
23 At that time, people began to talk about these words that Jesus had said. Some disciples thought that Jesus meant that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say, ‘He will not die.’ Instead, he said to Peter, ‘Perhaps I might want him to live until I return to this earth. But that should not matter to you.’
24 I am the disciple who saw these things. I am the one who wrote them down. We all know that what I have written about them is true.
25 Jesus also did many other things. If people wrote about all those things, there would be very many books. I do not think that the whole world would have enough room for all those books.
18 People who do not have any friends think only about themselves.
They refuse to listen to good advice.
2 A fool does not try to understand what is right.
He only likes to tell people his own ideas.
3 When a wicked person arrives, shame comes with him.
And shame causes people to speak against you.
4 The words that you speak are like the deep water of the sea.
If they are wise words, they are like a cool stream.
5 Do not refuse to punish wicked people. That would not be good.
Also, do not punish anyone who has not done anything wrong.
6 When a fool speaks, he starts an argument.
He is asking for someone to beat him with a stick.
7 When a fool speaks, he is destroying himself.
His own words are a trap that catches him.
8 We love to hear other people's secrets.
They seem like good food that we can enjoy.
9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.
10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower.
Righteous people can run there, and then they will be safe.
11 Rich people think that their money makes them safe,
like high, strong walls round a city.
12 If you become proud, something will soon destroy you.
But if you are humble, you will soon receive honour.
13 Listen carefully before you answer.
If you answer too quickly, you will be ashamed like a fool.
14 When someone is ill, his spirit will keep him strong.
But if his spirit has lost hope, he cannot stay strong.
15 Wise people are always learning something new.
16 A gift will give you a chance to meet new people.
Important people may become your friends.
17 You will always believe the first person to speak in court,
until the other person starts to ask him questions.
18 If two powerful people have an argument,
you may have to throw dice to decide who is right.
19 If you insult a relative,
it will be difficult to become friends with him again.
Arguments keep people apart,
like the walls of a strong city.
20 If you speak words that help people,
they are like good food.
21 Words have the power to bring life or death.
So be careful if you talk a lot!
22 If you find a wife, you find a good thing.
The Lord has given you something to enjoy.
23 A poor person has to ask for help.
But a rich person can insult people.
24 A man with many friends may lose them.
But there is a friend who is more faithful than a brother.
Paul and Timothy say ‘Hello’
1 This letter is from me, Paul. God chose me to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. Our friend Timothy is here with me while I write.
2 We are writing to you, God's own people who live in Colossae. You are like brothers and sisters to us because you continue to believe in Christ.
I pray that God, our Father, will continue to help you. I pray that he will give you peace in your minds.
Paul thanks God for the believers
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 4 We thank God because people have told us good things about you. You continue to trust Christ Jesus. You also love all God's people. 5 You live like that because you hope to receive good things from God.[a] You know that God has prepared those good things for you. He is keeping them safe in heaven. You learned that when people first told you God's true message, his good news.
6 You have heard this good news, like people all over the world have heard it. It has caused good results among you since the time when you heard it first. At that time, you understood the true message about how kind God really is. As a result, God is blessing you more and more, like he blesses his people everywhere. 7 It was our good friend Epaphras who first told you this good news. Like us, he is Christ's servant. He serves Christ on our behalf. 8 He has told us about the love that God's Spirit has given to you.
Paul prays that they will know God more and more
9 Because of all that, we have not stopped praying for you, ever since the day that we heard about you. We ask God that his Spirit will make you truly wise. He will help you to know clearly what he wants you to do. You will understand his true message. 10 Then you will be able to live in a way that the Lord wants you to live. Everything that you do will please him. We pray that all these good things will have good results. We pray that you will know God better and better. 11 God rules from heaven with great power. We pray that he will make you strong with every kind of strength. Then, when troubles come, you can still be patient and strong. 12 You will be able to thank God, our Father, and be happy. God has prepared good things for his people to receive in heaven. Because God has included you among his people, you will also share those good things in the kingdom of light. 13 God has saved us from the dark kingdom where Satan rules.[b] He has brought us into the kingdom of his Son, whom he loves. 14 God's Son, Jesus, paid the price for our sins and made us free. Yes, God has forgiven us.[c]
Who God's Son, Jesus Christ, is
15 We cannot see God. But Jesus Christ shows us completely who God is. Even before God made anything, Jesus was already there as God's Son who rules everything. 16 When God created everything, it was his Son who did it. His Son made everything that is on earth and in heaven. He created everything that we can see, as well as the things that we cannot see. He made rulers and leaders. He made everything that has power and authority. God gave his Son the authority to create everything, so that his Son would receive praise. 17 God's Son was there before anything else was there. And now he causes everything to continue in its proper place. 18 The church is like Christ's body and he is its head.[d] He is where it all begins. As God's special Son, he was the first person who became alive again after death.[e] As a result, Christ is first and most important in all things.
19 God chose to put his nature in Christ completely. 20 He decided that Christ would die on the cross as a sacrifice. In that way, God would bring all things back to himself. Then everything could live in peace with God. That includes everything on the earth and everything in heaven.
21 As for you, you were far away from God at one time. You thought bad things and you did bad things. As a result, you were God's enemies. 22 But now you have become God's friends. This happened because Christ's human body died on the cross. As a result, God has brought you to himself. As you stand in front of him, you are completely good and clean inside. He sees nothing in you that is bad.
23 But you must continue to believe God's true message. Do not turn away from it. Continue to trust God, as you did when you first heard the good news. People have told this good news to everyone all over the world. And God has chosen me, Paul, as his servant to tell this good news.
Paul's work for Christ's people
24 At this time, I am suffering on your behalf, but I am still happy. Christ himself suffered on behalf of his people, the church. Now, while I live in my human body, I also suffer. I continue to receive the pain that Christ received, so that it may be complete.[f] In that way, I help the church, which is like Christ's own body.
25 I have become God's servant, so that I can help the church. God chose me to do that. He chose me to explain his message to you completely. 26 That message is a secret that God hid from everyone before now. He hid it from all the people who lived in past times. But now he has shown this secret to his people. 27 God wanted them to understand how great this secret is. It shows that God will bless people who live in all countries of the world. This secret message is that Christ lives in you. And because of that, you know that you will live with God in heaven one day.
28 That is why we tell everyone the message about Christ. God helps us to be very wise as we warn people and we teach them. We want every person who belongs to Christ to become complete, as God sees them. 29 That is why I work very hard. Christ works powerfully in me to make me strong for this difficult work.
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