M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
36 1 Bezalel and Oholiab must do the work just as the Lord has commanded. So must every skilled worker to whom the Lord has given skill and ability. They know how to do all the work for every purpose connected with the sacred tent. And that includes setting it up.”
2 Then Moses sent for Bezalel and Oholiab. He sent for every skilled worker to whom the Lord had given ability and who wanted to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the people of Israel had brought. They had brought the offerings for all the work for every purpose connected with the holy tent. That included setting it up. The people kept bringing the offerings they chose to give. They brought them morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled workers working on the holy tent stopped what they were doing. 5 They said to Moses, “The Lord commanded us to do the work. And the people are bringing more than enough for us to do it.”
6 Then Moses gave an order. A message was sent through the whole camp. It said, “No man or woman should make anything else and offer it for the holy tent.” And so the people were kept from bringing more offerings. 7 There was already more than enough to do all the work.
The Holy Tent
8 All the skilled workers made the holy tent. They made ten curtains out of finely twisted linen. They made them with blue, purple and bright red yarn. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into the pattern. 9 All the curtains were the same size. They were 42 feet long and six feet wide. 10 The workers joined five of the curtains together. They did the same thing with the other five. 11 Then they made loops out of blue strips of cloth along the edge of the end curtain in one set. They did the same thing with the end curtain in the other set. 12 They also made 50 loops on the end curtain of the one set. They did the same thing on the end curtain of the other set. They put the loops across from each other. 13 Then they made 50 gold hooks. They used them to join the two sets of curtains together so that the holy tent was all one piece.
14 The workers made a total of 11 curtains out of goat hair to put over the holy tent. 15 All 11 curtains were the same size. They were 45 feet long and six feet wide. 16 The workers joined five of the curtains together into one set. They did the same thing with the other six. 17 Then they made 50 loops along the edge of the end curtain in the one set. They did the same thing with the other set. 18 They made 50 bronze hooks. They used them to join the tent together all in one piece. 19 They made a covering for the tent. They made it out of ram skins dyed red. Over that, they put a covering of another kind of strong leather.
20 The workers made frames out of acacia wood for the holy tent. 21 Each frame was about 15 feet long and two feet three inches wide. 22 The workers added two small wooden pins to each frame. The pins stuck out so that they were even with each other. The workers made all the frames of the holy tent in the same way. 23 The workers made 20 frames for the south side of the holy tent. 24 And they made 40 silver bases to go under them. They made two bases for each frame. They put one under each pin that stuck out. 25 For the north side of the holy tent they made 20 frames 26 and 40 silver bases. They put two bases under each frame. 27 The workers made six frames for the west end of the holy tent. 28 They made two frames for the corners of the holy tent at the far end. 29 At those two corners the frames were double from top to bottom. They were fitted into a single ring. The workers made both of them the same. 30 So there were eight frames and 16 silver bases. There were two bases under each frame.
31 The workers also made crossbars out of acacia wood. They made five for the frames on one side of the holy tent. 32 They made five for the frames on the other side. And they made five for the frames on the west, at the far end of the holy tent. 33 The center crossbar reached from end to end at the middle of the frames. 34 The workers covered the frames with gold. They made gold rings to hold the crossbars. They also covered the crossbars with gold.
35 They made the curtain out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A skilled worker sewed cherubim into the pattern. 36 The workers made four posts out of acacia wood for the curtain. They covered the posts with gold. They made gold hooks and four silver bases for the posts. 37 For the entrance to the tent the workers made a curtain. They made it out of blue, purple and bright red yarn and finely twisted linen. A person who sewed skillfully made it. 38 The workers made five posts with hooks for the curtains. They covered the tops of the posts and their bands with gold. And they made five bronze bases for them.
The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am the true vine. My Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch joined to me that does not bear fruit. He trims every branch that does bear fruit. Then it will bear even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain joined to me, just as I also remain joined to you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain joined to the vine. In the same way, you can’t bear fruit unless you remain joined to me.
5 “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. 6 If you don’t remain joined to me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and dries up. Branches like those are picked up. They are thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be done for you. 8 When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.
9 “Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that you will have the same joy that I have. I also want your joy to be complete. 12 Here is my command. Love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than the one who gives their life for their friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I do not call you slaves anymore. Slaves do not know their master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends. I have told you everything I learned from my Father. 16 You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit that will last. I also appointed you so that the Father will give you what you ask for. He will give you whatever you ask for in my name. 17 Here is my command. Love one another.
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “My disciples, does the world hate you? Remember that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you like one of its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you. I said, ‘A slave is not more important than his master.’ (John 13:16) If people hated me and tried to hurt me, they will do the same to you. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you like that because of my name. They do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 I did works among them that no one else did. If I hadn’t, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen those works. And still they have hated both me and my Father. 25 This has happened so that what is written in their Law would come true. It says, ‘They hated me without any reason.’ (Psalms 35:19; 69:4)
The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 “I will send the Friend to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth, who comes out from the Father. When the Friend comes to help you, he will be a witness about me. 27 You must also be witnesses about me. That’s because you have been with me from the beginning.
12 Anyone who loves correction loves knowledge.
Anyone who hates to be corrected is stupid.
2 The Lord blesses anyone who does good.
But he judges anyone who plans to do evil.
3 No one can become strong and steady by doing evil.
But if people do what is right, they can’t be removed from the land.
4 An excellent woman is her husband’s crown.
But a wife who brings shame is like sickness in his bones.
5 The plans of godly people are right.
But the advice of sinners will lead you the wrong way.
6 The words of those who are evil hide and wait to spill people’s blood.
But the speech of those who are honest saves them from traps like that.
7 Sinners are destroyed and taken away.
But the houses of godly people stand firm.
8 A person is praised for how wise they are.
But people hate anyone who has a twisted mind.
9 Being nobody and having a servant
is better than pretending to be somebody and having no food.
10 Those who do what is right take good care of their animals.
But the kindest acts of those who do wrong are mean.
11 Those who farm their land will have plenty of food.
But those who chase dreams have no sense.
12 Those who do what is wrong are safe for just a while.
But those who do what is right last forever.
13 Those who do evil are trapped by their sinful talk.
But those who have done no wrong escape trouble.
14 Many good things come from what people say.
And the work of their hands rewards them.
15 The way of foolish people seems right to them.
But those who are wise listen to advice.
16 Foolish people are easily upset.
But wise people pay no attention to hurtful words.
17 An honest witness tells the truth.
But a dishonest witness tells lies.
18 The words of thoughtless people cut like swords.
But the tongue of wise people brings healing.
19 Truthful words last forever.
But lies last for only a moment.
20 There are lies in the hearts of those who plan evil.
But there is joy for those who work to bring peace.
21 No harm comes to godly people.
But sinners have all the trouble they can handle.
22 The Lord hates those whose lips tell lies.
But he is pleased with people who tell the truth.
23 Wise people keep their knowledge to themselves.
But the hearts of foolish people shout foolish things.
24 Hands that work hard will rule.
But people who are lazy will be forced to work.
25 Worry makes the heart heavy.
But a kind word cheers it up.
26 Godly people are careful about the friends they choose.
But the way of sinners leads them down the wrong path.
27 Lazy people do not even cook what they catch.
But those who work hard eat their fill of what is hunted.
28 There is life in doing what is right.
Along that path you will never die.
5 1 You are the children that God dearly loves. So follow his example. 2 Lead a life of love, just as Christ did. He loved us. He gave himself up for us. He was a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.
3 There should not be even a hint of sexual sin among you. Don’t do anything impure. And do not always want more and more. These are not the things God’s holy people should do. 4 There must not be any bad language or foolish talk or dirty jokes. They are out of place. Instead, you should give thanks. 5 Here is what you can be sure of. Those who give themselves over to sexual sins are lost. So are people whose lives are impure. The same is true of those who always want more and more. People who do these things might as well worship statues of gods. No one who does them will receive a share in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Don’t let anyone fool you with worthless words. People who say things like that aren’t obeying God. He is angry with them. 7 So don’t go along with people like that.
8 At one time you were in the dark. But now you are in the light because of what the Lord has done. Live like children of the light. 9 The light produces what is completely good, right and true. 10 Find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the acts of darkness. They don’t produce anything good. Show what they are really like. 12 It is shameful even to talk about what people who don’t obey do in secret. 13 But everything the light shines on can be seen. And everything that the light shines on becomes a light. 14 That is why it is said,
“Wake up, sleeper.
Rise from the dead.
Then Christ will shine on you.”
15 So be very careful how you live. Do not live like people who aren’t wise. Live like people who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity. The days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish. Instead, understand what the Lord wants. 18 Don’t fill yourself up with wine. Getting drunk will lead to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. 20 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything. Give thanks to him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Teachings for Christian Families
21 Follow the lead of one another because of your respect for Christ.
22 Wives, follow the lead of your own husbands as you follow the Lord. 23 The husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church. The church is Christ’s body. He is its Savior. 24 The church follows the lead of Christ. In the same way, wives should follow the lead of their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives. Love them just as Christ loved the church. He gave himself up for her. 26 He did it to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water and the word. 27 He did it to bring her to himself as a brightly shining church. He wants a church that has no stain or wrinkle or any other flaw. He wants a church that is holy and without blame. 28 In the same way, husbands should love their wives. They should love them as they love their own bodies. Any man who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body. Instead, they feed and care for their body. And this is what Christ does for the church. 30 We are parts of his body. 31 Scripture says, “That’s why a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife. The two will become one.” (Genesis 2:24) 32 That is a deep mystery. But I’m talking about Christ and the church. 33 A husband also must love his wife. He must love her just as he loves himself. And a wife must respect her husband.
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