Daily Bible Reading Programme

Today marks the start of our Bible Reading Programme at Bethesda Cathedral. Here are some of my thoughts to help you get going. Above all else, ask God to speak to you personally so that you may grow both in knowledge and grace (character).



Book of James: Justification by Works

Written by the half-brother of Jesus to encourage Jewish believers scatterd outside Palestine to view sufferings as a test of their faith. This faith can be seen through the outworkings of their words and deeds. The key thought: “Faith without works is dead.” (Jas 2:26)

True saving faith is so vital that it cannot help but express itself in godly action or devotion. When we asked somone to receive Christ, often we’d ask them to raise their hand and come down to the altar to make a confession of faith. That is faith in action. The dying thief said to Christ, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

As you read this book, take note of the acts of faith that God’s people are to demonstrate. For example, you’d read that if anyone is happy, he should sing praises. If he’s sick, he should call for the elders of the church to pray. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick whole.

The Book of Psalms: Part of it is used as hymns sung in the second temple

Contain spirit-inspired prayers, praise and confession, expressing deep inner human emotions to God. It begins with a blessing to the one who does not keep company with the wicked but delights himself with meditating on God’s law.



How to read the Psalms?

It is a poetry book, so writers employ parellelism of thought i.e. second or subsequent lines restates, contrasts or completes the thought. For example in Psalm 1,

1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.


The answers to the question posed each week can be found in the Psalms passages you'd be reading each week. So take time to read and enjoy God's Word.