Hi all you faithful readers,

How are you doing on your reading? Are you enjoying the real life adventures of the Israelites? They really are something aren't they? Can you identify with some of their grumbling and complaining? Who is your favorite person so far? How has your view of God changed? We will be finishing the book of Exodus this week. We will then take a break from the OT (Old Testament) account for a while and begin reading in the NT (New Testament) in Matthew.

Matthew is the first book of the NT. The Disciple, Matthew, writes it. Matthew was writing to the Jews who knew the OT scriptures well. As you have been reading, God began his covenant promises with Adam, Abraham, Isaac, all the way to the whole nation of Israel. God promised to give his people a seed, land, a throne, a savior, and a new relationship with him. The purpose of Matthew is to prove to those who knew the OT that Jesus was really the fulfillment of all the OT prophecies. The keyword in Matthew is the word, "fulfilled." There are 60 references to the OT and 40 quotes from the OT in the book of Matthew. The OT and NT are linked together. They are one complete book. The book of Matthew shows that fact.

DAY ONE, JANUARY 29 - EXODUS 25-28
Chapter 25-27
Where do you think the Israelites got much of the precious items to build the Tabernacle? HINT: what did God command the Israelites to ask of the Egyptians as they were leaving?
How does this show that God supplies all our needs in interesting and unique ways?
Read chapters 25-27 and notice the details. What interested you the most?
Hebrews 9 explains more of the Tabernacle and how Jesus fulfilled the old covenant represented in the Tabernacle and the items. Reading it may help you understand some of the symbolism.
In way do you see symbols of God's presence and his character in these items?
How does God indicate the importance he places on the covenant in these items?
How do these items and design show that God desires to have a relationship with his people?
Which items point ahead to Jesus?
How is God's presence, promises, and the trinity exhibited and evident in your life?
Chapter 28
How does God have the priest dress to set them apart from common people?
Galatians 3:27 tells us how we are to be clothed to be set apart from common people. How well can others distinguish you by how you are "clothed?"
What does verse 30b say?
Is it your practice to always carry around the desire to do God's will or are you more inclined to do your own will?
What does verse 41b say? Please turn to I Peter 1:15-16 and I Peter 2:9-10. How does our job description sound similar to the priests in the OT? How well are you serving God as his "priests" in this world?

DAY TWO, JANUARY 30 - EXODUS 29-31
Chapter 29 and 30
Read the chapters and realize that God desires his people to be set apart and holy. Also note that God takes care of the daily needs of the priest with the offering as well.
Read Hebrews 3:6, 4:14-5:10, 8:1-13 along with Exodus 29. These passages will help you understand more about the role of the High Priest and how Jesus is the ultimate High Priest for us.
What do you understand better after reading the OT and NT passages together?
Chapter 31
What does God give the craftsman in order for them to be able to do the work God called them to do?
Read I Corinthians 12 and Hebrew 13:20-21. How does God do the same thing for every believer today?
How have you seen the work of the Holy Spirit in your life equipping you to do more then you imagined in the service of God?
What does God say about the Sabbath day?
Read Hebrew 4:1-13. How does this add clarity to the meaning of Sabbath-rest?
How is true rest only found in Jesus?

DAY THREE, JANUARY 31 - EXODUS 32-34
Chapter 32
What do the people begin doing after they haven't seen Moses for a few days? How long had Moses been on the mountain? Hint: Exodus 24:18.
What do people worship today that could be contrasted to the OT and the golden calves?
How long (or short?) is your memory for the goodness of God?
What specific instructions from God have they disobeyed? What promise did they brake to God? Hint: Exodus 24:3 and 7.
How did God feel?
What did Moses do on behalf of the Israelites?
What was God's response?
How do we see the people and Aaron influencing each other?
What kind of an influence do you have on others, and visa versa? Is it positive or negitive?
What action shows how serious it is to have another god beside the one true God in your life?
Chapter 33
What does God call the Israelites? What does God call Moses?
Which would God say about you?
When was the last time you spoke to God "face to face?"
What does God promise to do with Moses and the people and why?
How have you experienced God going with you?
What does Moses say in verse 15-16? Can you make that your promise too?
Chapter 34
God truly wants a relationship with his people. What words and promises show this fact?
What does God do with our sins according to verse 7?
What does God do with the consequences of our sins?
How have you experienced God's forgiveness yet had to deal with the consequences of our actions?
How does it make you feel knowing that your sins and the consequences can effect others?
The chapter says that Moses' face glowed from being in the presence of God. Can others see by your countenance, behavior, attitude, and demeanor that you have been in the presence of the God? Or haven't you spent enough time there recently to have it be evident in your life?

DAY FOUR, FEBRUARY 1 - EXODUS 35-37
Chapter 35
What does God invite the people to do?
What is God inviting you to do?
The phrase, "those who were willing..." is repeated in this chapter. Is your heart willing to give your gifts and talents for the use of God's kingdom?
What will you do for him this week?
Chapter 36 and 37
How much did the people give for the building of God's work?
Can God say that about his people today?
While reading these chapters what points of interest do you find?
How do you do the work God has given you to do?

DAY FIVE, FEBRUARY 2 - EXODUS 38-40
Chapter 38-39
What additional points of interest do you find in these chapters?
Read verses 38:22b, 39:1b, 39:5b, 39:7b, 39:21b, 39:26b, 29:29b, 29:31b, 29:32, 29:42-43. What is the repeated phrase?
What was the result of their obedience?
Could the same thing be said about you and what God wants you to do with your life and resources?
Chapter 40
Look in the back of your Bible or in a Bible dictionary. Can you find a layout of the tabernacle?
Can you think through what the significance of each item represents and what it says about God's relationship with his people, and how it is fulfilled in Jesus?
Can you image how spectacular the presence and glory of God was?
When was the last time you were awed by the presence of God in your life?

DAY SIX, FEBRUARY 3 - MATTHEW 1-4
Chapter 1
The genealogy shows the line of promise up to Jesus.
What people of interest are included?
How many women does Matthew include?
How many non-Jews does Matthew include?
Who is Jesus' father? What does Jesus mean?
What OT verse is 1:23 a quote from?
What do you think about Joseph and his obedience?
How quickly do you obey God when it is something you don't understand?
Chapter 2
Where was Jesus born? What does the OT say about that? Hint: Micah 5:2 What does the OT say about the star? Hint Numbers 24:17
Where was Jesus when the wisemen found him (vs. 11)? How is that different from how society usually represents the visit of the wisemen? Now might be a good time to ask God to take away preconceived ideas and ask him to speak his truth to you.
The event of Jesus being taken to Egypt was prophesied in the OT also. Check Hosea 11:1
If you have small verses written on the side of your Bible, now would be a good time to look at them. They are called "cross references." They tell other places in the Bible that this same event or teaching is talked about. Where in the book of Jeremiah was the killing of the babies prophesied? (If you don't have cross references, look in Jeremiah 31:15).
How many events were predicted and fulfilled in this chapter alone? What do you think the probability of that happening in one person?
Chapter 3
Who is John the Baptist and when was he prophesied? Hint: check your cross-reference. What were the people doing in response to John's preaching?
How do you respond to the preaching of God's word?
What is John's warning to those who do not confess their sins and turn to God?
Where do you stand today?
How do you see the Trinity represented here?
Chapter 4
Where was Jesus and how long had he been in the wilderness? What was his condition?
Who comes to him?
Verse 3 is the first temptation. What was Satan trying to tempt him with? How did Jesus respond?
Verse 5 is the second temptation? What was Satan trying to tempt him with? How did Jesus respond?
Verse 8 is the third temptation? What was Satan trying to tempt him with? How did Jesus respond?
Why do you think Jesus just spoke Scripture verses back to Satan? Look in your cross-references and find the passages that Jesus used.
How well do you know Scripture in order to fight against Satan?
What are your greatest areas of weakness? Have you looked up verses to strengthen you in that area (a concordance can help you find passages, ask a more knowledgeable Christian to help you find some, and keep your eyes open for them during your devotions)? Have you memorized them? Will you do it?
Where did Jesus go after his temptations and where was this prophesied?
When Jesus called the disciples, what was their immediate response?
Can the same thing be said about you?

DAY SEVEN, FEBRUARY 4 - MATTHEW 5-7
The next 3 chapters are called the "Sermon on the Mount." They are teachings that call the people to moral and ethical living. He is calling people to a higher standard of living. It should be a standard for all Christians. We must realize that we cannot live this way on our own power but only with the help of the Holy Spirit in our life. The Christian life is not easy!
Chapter 5
Verses 2-11 are often called the Beatitudes or "blessings." What are these teaching you?
How can you see yourself here? Has Jesus filled your need with his blessing?
What are the characteristics of salt and light?
How are you being salt and light in this world?
Can others see God in you?
Remember in Exodus how God's laws were really ways to help the people have a relationship with God, be set apart as holy, and to be different from the rest of society? How is Jesus saying the same thing in verse 17-20?
Jesus doesn't want us to just follow the letter of the law but to be filled with the spirit of the law. How can this be seen in his teachings?
What is God saying to you about murder, adultery, divorce, truth, revenge and love?
How do you need to change your standards and expectations?
Chapter 6
What is God saying about public acts in this section? Why do some people make sure others see their good deeds?
What is more important, what others see or what God sees? Why?
What is God saying about the condition of our heart in these sections?
What can you learn about prayer from this section?
What does God say about worry?
Who do you identify with more - the world's standards or God's standards?
Chapter 7
What is God trying to tell us about judgement and hypocrisy in the first six verses?
What can we learn about prayer and seeking after God in verse 7-11?
After reading verses 12-23, what truths can we glean about a true disciple of Jesus and the path to heaven?
What is the firm foundation we are to build our lives on?
Where is your foundation?
What is your reaction to Jesus teachings? Was it like the people in verse 28 and 29 or like the religious leaders of the day?

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE THESE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR ANY BIBLE READING:

Always begin your time of God with prayer. Ask him for understanding and insights. You can pick out a verse, thought or feeling from the passage and think on it (mediate) on it all day. Meditating on God's word means to digest it, put it into your mind, think on it, and concentrate in different ways on the passage.

Some ways you can do this is:
1. Put yourself into the scene.
2. Emphasize different words in the verse.
3. Paraphrase the passage in your own words.
4. Pray the passage back to God if it is a prayer, song, poem, etc (personalize it).
5. Use SPACE PETS acrostic to ask some standard questions.
     S - Sins to confess? Do I need to make restitution?
     P - Promises to claim? Have I met the conditions(s)?
     A - Attitudes to change? Am I willing?
     C - Commands to obey? Even if I don't feel like it?
     E - Examples to follow? One to copy or avoid?
     P - Prayers to pray? Is there something I need to tell God?
     E - Errors to avoid?
     T - Truths about God or the Bible I need to believe?
Adapted from 12 Dynamic Bible Study Methods (Chapter 1) by Richard Warren and William A. Shell.