Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan – Part 2

Scripture: Philippians 1

Paul Writes this letter from prison in Rome to the Church in Philippi. 

The main idea of this letter is to encourage the believers in Philippi to love as Jesus loved. 

Philippians 1:9-11 in the Message reads: “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” 

Paul Invites us to Test and Measure our love: 

1.) Did your love increase over the past year? 

2.) Are you using feelings and sentiment in deciding who to love and who will not receive love from you? 

3.) Is your love sincere and intelligent? If you look at Jesus’ love for us, it was not based on feelings. 

4.) How am I making Jesus attractive to all? Can the way that I love other people make Jesus more attractive to them? 

Take time to reflect on your love.

Scripture: Philippians 2

As we read Philippians 2, let’s focus on verses 1 and 2. 

Right off the bat, Paul writes: “if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ,” which we know there is, “then dedicate yourself to a life of love. Spreading the good news in a manner that is worthy of love and the calling God has placed on your life.” 

As I studied these verses, I thought to myself: “If there were not to be any comfort in Christ or any encouragement and fellowship in the Spirit. If these cease to exist, then what are we doing? Is life a big pile of endless nothing? Are the good things that sometimes happen just blips on the radar, coincidental moments where we just happen to experience something different?” 

No, I don’t believe that is true. And Paul doesn’t either. 

Life is not pointless. Let’s choose to live a life of love, knitted into our communities, displaying a life of abundance in Christ Jesus. 

Love announced that God is not done with this world and that it matters. 

This place we call home, the soil, and oceans, rivers, and the existence of life, all matters. 

Redeemed, restored, and renewed. 

Let’s live as ambassadors of love.

Scriptures: Philippians 3, Philippians 3:20

When you are a citizen of a country, that means you are legally allowed to live in that country and are also granted full rights. Citizenship is a legal recognition that you belong to a specific country and have the rights and protection of that country. 

Unfortunately, so many times, as children of God, we forget that even though we live on earth and in a specific country, our ultimate citizenship is not here but in heaven. 

That means our goal and focus on earth should not be to gather or collect an earthly inheritance or live for fame and glory but rather to live as people who know that our ultimate home is heaven. We know that our earthly life is only temporary. 

That also means as we read in Phil 3:20 in the Amplified, that we should live differently than people that do not yet know Christ. We think and act from another perspective. 

It says: “But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven and from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

The wonderful thing about heavenly citizenship is that it is not obtained through what we can do or who we are but because of who Christ is and what He has done. Through the finished work on the cross, we become heirs of the Kingdom. Our temporary earthly citizenship is exchanged for a heavenly everlasting one. 

It is, therefore, important that we live our lives as ambassadors of our heavenly citizenship and that our lives display that this is only our temporary home. Let us live like people that represent God’s Kingdom.

Scripture: Philippians 4

Today’s Scripture is Philippians 4:6-7 which reads: 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Anxiety affects all of us at some point in our lives, and it can be overwhelming to think about all the things we have to worry about. However, in these verses, Paul reminds us that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone. When we present our requests to God with thanksgiving, we can trust that He will give us the peace we need. 

Two main points to take away from these verses are: 

1. We should not be anxious about anything. Instead of allowing our worries to consume us, we should turn to God in prayer and petition. He is the one who can help us find peace amid our struggles. 

2. The peace of God is available to us when we present our requests to Him. We can trust that He will guard our hearts and minds, even when we don’t understand how everything will work out. 

These verses remind us that we don’t have to face our worries alone. When we turn to God, He will give us the peace to navigate difficult times. Remembering this will help us overcome our anxiety. 

• How would my daily life change if I trusted the Lord with every worry, every anxiety, and everything in my life? 
• How can I be filled with the peace of God during my times of trouble? 
• How will my world change if I let God’s peace transform me? 

Scriptures: Romans 1, Romans 1:16

Verse 16 in our Romans 1 passage is such a powerful verse since it refers to the Power of the Good News. The Good News is the Gospel (Euangelion in Greek) of Jesus Christ, who has come as the Power of Salvation for both the Gentiles and the Jews. 

Good News is only good news if it is really good news. No fine print, no hidden agenda, and no terms and conditions. This is where the power of this Good News really lies: For the first time, EVERYONE is included in this Salvation. 

Even you… 

No matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you believe, you are included in the Powerful Salvation of Jesus Christ. 

Would you pray this prayer today: 

“I Thank you, Jesus, that Your blood that was shed was also shed for me. I accept with boldness, and I choose to walk in the revelation of this Good News. Amen.”

Scriptures: Romans 2, Romans 2:7

In Romans 2, Paul tries to explain to Jews and Gentiles who have become followers of Jesus that their lives have changed and that social status built upon race, affluence, and wisdom doesn’t count for anything when being a Christian.

We have the same call upon us, accepting the people who are part of our church or who come and attend our church so that they may experience the love of Christ.

In verse 7, Paul says that those who persist in doing good will attain eternal life. This is a reference to how Paul tries to explain that what you reap, you will sow… when we do good, we sow what is good. We need to work at not hardening our hearts towards others but rather sharing God’s love with the people around us, for then we make visible God’s love to others.

Christianity is a new way of living and a new way of seeing and treating people. It was what Jesus came to establish: a new kingdom. This kingdom of God is marked by service, gentleness, and love… May we become more aware of His love and presence in our lives so that we may share His love more effectively.

Scripture: Romans 3

Hey friends, have you ever had one of those days where you feel like you just can’t do anything right? Maybe you spilled coffee on your shirt before a big meeting or accidentally sent a text to the wrong person. We’ve all been there. But guess what? According to Romans 3, we’re all in the same boat. 

The verse says, in Romans 3:23-24: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So, even if you’re a super-organized, never-makes-a-mistake kind of person, you still fall short of God’s perfection. But here’s the good news: because of Jesus, we’re covered by grace. It’s like having a giant “Get Out of Jail Free” card for all our mistakes. 

So, next time you mess up, remember: you’re in good company. We all make mistakes, but we’re all forgiven because of Jesus. And that’s something to laugh about. The kind of joy that James writes about in Chapter 1 of James. Have a joyful day!

Scripture: Romans 4

In today’s Chapter, the verse that stood out for me was Romans 4:19: “He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb” (ESV). 

Abraham did not regard the fact that his body was now dead as any obstacle to fulfilling the promise God gave him. He did not suffer that fact to influence him or to produce any doubt about the fulfilment. Faith looks to the strength of God, not to numerous inabilities or difficulties that may appear formidable to man. 

We stand face-to-face with so many reasons why our faith can or may weaken that we forget to walk in faith and unconsciously choose to stare fixedly in the reality and in our current circumstances that we forget or postpone the promises that God has over our lives. 

Abraham could have despised and doubted the promise God gave him. His physical and emotional reality was practically against him, but Abraham understood something about who God is. He understood that God does not go against His will and promises. That He is the same today, tomorrow, and every day. That His promises will always be fulfilled and that God can never forget the promises He made over your life. 

Today’s challenge: What promises did God give you that seem impossible and unrealistic for the human heart to comprehend? And where did you lose heart? I challenge you to hold fast to those promises without weakening your faith and wait for God to break through as He always does.

Scripture: Romans 5

Romans 5:8: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

This is an incredible portion of scripture, and today I specifically want to highlight two ideas around it. 

Number 1: In the verse before this one, the Bible says that people will scarcely give their lives for righteous and good people (see Romans 5:7); then Jesus comes along and says, “Hey! I am willing to give my life for a multitude of unrighteous people (including you and me).”And by this, Jesus would show His love toward us. 

Number 2: I want to highlight a very small but impactful word, which is “were.” The Bible says: “while we WERE still sinners.” God comes and establishes so much of our identity in this small word. You see, we were sinners, but because Jesus came to give His life for us and because of the price He paid when God looks at us, He does not see sin anymore, He sees the price that Jesus paid, the price that has made us to now be in right standing with God. And because of that, we can connect with God with boldness and liberty. 

I pray that you will become more aware of the love that Jesus has shown us and that you may live in the awareness of your true identity!

Scripture: Romans 6

In this passage, Paul is saying that if your line of thinking is to keep sinning so that you can receive more of God’s wonderful grace, you are missing the point because that is no longer who you are. 

Jesus died for us; He sacrificed His life for us. 

When we come to faith, there is something of a rebirth that happens: 

• We die to an old way of living, separating us from a relationship with God. 
• We are now a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 2:17). We have received a new identity in Christ. 

The challenge is that we struggle to adjust and align our minds to this new reality. We still live from an old reality, from an old paradigm. 

We sometimes still feel guilty and a little bit convinced – that we’re just a sinner saved by grace. But as a child of God, that is not true. 

The good news is: “You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” 

You are no longer a slave to sin because you have become a slave to righteous living. 

Let’s use our bodies as instruments to do what is right for the glory of God!

Scriptures: Romans 7, Romans 7:6

In Romans 7, we read how Paul speaks on the law and sin we face in our lives. 

He addresses the Jews about the law and sinfulness and focuses on the fact that we are no longer bound by the law and sin (even if we do sin). We are united with Christ, and the law is a guiding mechanism for our day-to-day living. 

Paul teaches us two important things: 

1. We have been given an opportunity for relationships instead of only following rules. Paul speaks to the Jews and tells them that the law doesn’t define us and who we are as individuals. Christ does that through His death and resurrection. We are meant not to steer away from the law but use it as a guide to producing a good harvest all around us (Romans 7:4). 

2. He likens it to marriage, and being married keeps you faithful to your spouse. Once a spouse dies, you are free of the marriage’s obligations. In the same way, the death of Jesus broke the ‘obligation to sin’, but His resurrection enabled us to step into a relationship and not just blindly follow the rules and be defined by our sins. 

Jesus encourages us to live a life led by the Spirit. To know that whilst we still sin, we are free in Jesus and no longer held captive by law. Take comfort in the thought that the love that Christ has for us is there to enable us to live a life guided by the Spirit and makes us free.

Scriptures: Romans 8, Romans 8:3

Samuel Coleridge calls the book of Romans ‘the most profound work in existence,’ and John Piper calls the eighth chapter in this book ‘the greatest chapter in the Bible’ what a statement. Although there is such a depth of themes we could explore in this chapter, I want to highlight two thoughts from verse 3. It reads: “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.” 

1. God has done what the law couldn’t. 

Firstly, there is a statement: God has done what the law –referring to the mosaic law put forth by Moses on mount Sinai (Exodus 20) – could not accomplish because it was made weak by the flesh. God’s law was meant to give His people a guideline for living rightly before God. The problem was that, although the people had the guideline for living well, they could not actually follow it. This was because it was weakened by ‘the flesh,’ meaning our mortal, sinful nature. Basically: the Law had what was right but had no might. 

2. Jesus was the way God did it. 

The law couldn’t do what it intended, so God sent Jesus to deal with the underlying issue: the sinful nature of humanity. How did he do it? Well, he sent Jesus, not in glory and fame, but as a small and fragile baby. The baby grew and became a full-grown man, looking from the outside exactly like the sinful, unable-to-fulfill-the-law people around Him. But he wasn’t. He was perfect in every way and in every way, capable of fulfilling the law God put out for us. This perfect man then took the sinful nature that rendered us incapable of pleasing God, placed it on Himself, and took it with him to the grave. 

The amazing thing is that Jesus rose back to life. But your sinful nature is dead, truly dead and buried, never to be uncovered again. If you believe in Christ Jesus, your sinful nature, unable to please God, is dead and gone. 

So how does this change your view of building a relationship with the Father? Does this change the way you look at the sinful habits in your life? How does knowing your old sinful nature is dead and buried impact your daily walk in life?

Scriptures: Romans 9, Romans 9:33

Today’s chapter is Romans 9, and the verse we’ll focus on is verse 33. 

“As it is written, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.’ 

In this verse, Paul quotes from Isaiah 28:16, where the prophet speaks of a stone that will cause many to stumble, but there will be no shame for those who believe in Him. 

We read of two groups of people: 

1. Those who will stumble. 

These are people who are trying to work out their own salvation through their own works and find it hard to believe that salvation can come through the finished work of one person named Jesus Christ. 

2. Then, some believe in Him. 

…And find Him not to be a stumbling stone, but a Cornerstone. 

Jesus is the foundation of our faith and the source of spiritual sustenance for all believers. 

Today, I want to encourage you that through Jesus, believers find strength, stability, and security. 

Let us remember that in Him, we have no shame. We are righteous. 

And as Paul was concerned about his people who have not yet found their salvation in Christ, let us also be vigilant in telling others about the salvation that is found in Jesus alone.

Scriptures: Romans 10:4, Romans 10:14

Today’s chapter is Romans 10, and the verse for today is: “For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God.” (Rom 10:4). 

The path to righteousness was compared to a journey up a mountain. You would begin your ascent burdened by the weight of your sin and the demands of the law. Soon you would find yourself struggling to climb, your muscles burning with exhaustion. Only to discover that this mountain is impossible to climb. 

In Romans 10, verse 4, we discover a new truth. There is one who has conquered the mountain of sin and the law on our behalf. Jesus fulfilled the law and made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. With Him, we can finally lay down the burden of our own efforts and rest in His finished work. The pinnacle of righteousness is no longer out of reach. In fact, faith in Jesus has become our new point of departure. 

But reaching the summit is no longer the end of the journey. It is now only the beginning. For once we have attained righteousness through Christ, we are empowered to go back down the mountain and share the good news with others. We become guides, pointing towards the summit, helping them also to discover the way of grace. So let us not forget that our journey is not just for ourselves but for the sake of others as well. Let us no longer become discouraged by the difficulties of the journey, but let us be inspired by the love of Christ that compels us not towards victory but to live from a place of victory in Him.

Scriptures: Romans 11, Romans 11:36

In today’s devotion, we will be discussing Romans 11. One verse stands out for me, and that is verse 38, in which Paul teaches us something fundamental. “For all things were created by Him, and all things exist through Him and for Him, to God be the glory forever! Amen (GNT).” 

This passage struck me because everything that I breathe, see, and touch is intended to bring honour to God. I was particularly challenged by the way that I view the world and treat the world around me. Not just physically but the words and thoughts I speak over the area around me. 

Today’s challenge is: “How are we living with the things that God has entrusted to us? Are we working to enhance the Kingdom for His glory, or are we only using God’s tools for our own glory? 

How can I live a life that brings honour to God? 

How can I work with the tools around me in a manner that brings joy to God? 

How can I live a life that inspires the people around me to start viewing everything as created for God’s glory?

Scripture: Romans 12

“Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.” (Romans 12:12) 

Paul writes to the church of ancient Rome, and in this verse, he writes about three fundamental principles applicable to the lives of believers. 

As we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year, trying new things and setting new goals, I think we should take this to heart. 

He first says to rejoice in Hope: “Let your hope keep you joyful.” There is a whole year ahead of us, and while we do not know what this year will bring to our doorsteps, we know that we can have hope. We can rejoice because our hope is not in our circumstances but in Jesus. After all, he is everlasting. 

Secondly, he says: “be patient in your troubles.” 

Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit and a quality everyone needs to cultivate, especially in our hasty world. Fast food, fast internet, fast travel, it’s all about getting there faster. Cultivating patience is not just about being patient in our daily routines but in difficult times as well. 

We all go through difficult times and have to deal with hardship, but those things can produce greater things in us if we endure them. 

Lastly, he says to pray at all times. To stay connected to God through prayer every day, all day. Talk to Him as you go throughout your day about the troubles and trials you are facing, and ask Him to help you. Because surely He will carry you through them. 

I want to invite you to put into practice what Paul is encouraging us to do. 

Rejoice in hope. 

Be patient in your troubles. 

And pray at all times.

Scripture: Romans 13

Today we are reading Romans chapter 13, and the verse of the day is verses 8-9: 

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” 

When reading this verse, you should ask yourself how important it is to love others when Paul clearly says that you fulfil the law when you love one another. We know that Jesus didn’t come to replace the law, but he raised the bar. Only this time it is made possible by us receiving the Holy Spirit. 

When we accept Christ into our life, we also accept the gift of loving people. To love one another is a part of who we are and is inherent in how God created us. That is why Paul quotes the commandments and then states that all of these are summed up by love. What Paul is saying is that we cannot commit these sins against our neighbours and love them at the same time. When we love our neighbours as ourselves, we are living above the law. 

Paul clarifies that we should owe no one anything except to love one another. Who, then, am I indebted to, to show them love? 

Is there anyone that I am withholding love from? 

Let’s then decide today to love them as Christ loves us.

Scripture: Romans 14

Reading Romans 14, it is apparent that people are different. Different opinions, convictions, beliefs, and religious traditions. In Romans 14, they were divided and judged by eating or drinking this and not that. 

Today we may not be facing the same religious traditions, but we may get caught up in external divisions such as what we do or what we own, etc. It is often too easy for us to focus on and judge these external matters rather than what God is doing internally. Paul reminds us that these matters/traditions do not define our relationship with God but rather our internal state in the Holy Spirit. 

We are a family on mission – not on a mission to point out or correct the religious traditions of others, but on a mission as City Changers to bring Faith, Hope, and Love into our city and those beside us. 

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17). These three should be our focus as City Changers: 

• Righteousness in the form of spiritual Faith – faith in God and God alone. 
• Peace in the form of systemic Hope, restoring systems that no longer function as they should within cities and those living in them. 
• Joy in the form of social Love – to love others as God loves us. 

What can we learn from Romans 14? 

Be generous with love towards others. After all, they are accountable to God, not to you. 

An acronym we can use is J.O.Y. – “Jesus, Others, You.” Judging and criticising, even with the best intentions, can become destructive and should be resisted in favour of building up and encouraging each other in Christ.

Scriptures: Romans 15, Romans 15:1-3

Paul writes to the divided church in Rome. On the one hand, we have Jewish Followers of Jesus, and on the other, we have the Gentile followers of Jesus. All Christians in one congregation. They want to enforce their ethnic traditions on each other. They focus on their differences, and Paul invites them to love one another. 

In Romans 15:1-3 in the Message paraphrase, we read: “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” That’s exactly what Jesus did.” 

“How can I help?” – What a beautiful question. There is no judgement in that question. 

It is just too easy to judge someone. Judgement is not the way of Jesus. 

Your strength is for service, just like Jesus. 

Ask yourself: Where am I trying to prove my strength through intellectual conversations? Where am I trying to prove that I know everything or have all the answers? 

Or 

Where am I trying to prove my strength through the misuse of power? Even just a little bit? 

Rather Ask: 

Where can I serve someone today? 

Where can I love someone today? 

How can I help?

Scripture: Romans 16

From today’s chapter, we learn two fundamental things that impact our daily lives: 

In the first part of Romans 16, Paul greets so many people and tells them how grateful he is for their role in the kingdom of God and each other’s lives. 

Can we appreciate and complement each other more? 

Phebe is one of the people who lived to touch others. She put on an apron and practically expressed love. 

Where there was a need, she rolled up her sleeves and helped people around her. 

Now Paul encourages the congregation to reach out to her through hospitality when she visits them. 

But hear the words. 

“With all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for.” 

Can you and I make the church known again as a place of love and care for each other? 

If you and I can start a movement where we put our own interests aside and get involved in other people’s lives, imagine how attractive the church will be to people looking from the outside. 

If someone needs prayer, pray together. 

Roll up your sleeves and love people to life.