HCSB One Minute Bible for Students

By Doug Fields

A perennial best seller now featuring a popular new Bible translation! The HCSB® One-Minute Bible for Students offers 366 readings that allow young people to thoroughly survey the heart of the Bible in one year at the rate of just one minute per day. Each reading follows the general flow of biblical history, interspersed with several topical series for occasions such as Easter and Mother’s Day. If more study is desired, related texts are provided at the end of every day that point to nearly eighteen hundred passages of Scripture to further one’s understanding of the topics covered in that day’s reading. The seven hundred selected Scriptures and eighteen hundred related passages carefully present the key themes of the Bible and draw from all sixty-six books.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 1, 1998
• ISBN: 9781433601248

Doug Fields

Doug Fields has been a leader in youth ministry for over 30 years. In addition to being a youth pastor at two churches for 11 and 20 years, Doug is the founder of Simply Youth Ministry, the co-founder of Downloadyouthministry.com, the author of more than 50 books, and is currently working with Youth Specialties & Azusa Pacific University (HomeWord’s Center for Youth/Family). More information about Doug is available at www.dougfields.com.

Book preview

(EDITOR)

A NOTE TO

Students

Every day I hear students’ thoughts, concerns, doubts, and questions about life, Christianity, God, and the Bible. In the One-Minute Bible™ for Students, I’ve tried to provide some answers and clarity to several of the reoccurring questions. The 366 daily applications in the One-Minute Bible™ for Students are intended to help you immediately APPLY GOD’S WORD to your life...today. After you read the Bible reading, take an extra minute and read what I’ve written so that you might be further challenged to be a follower of Jesus. Every day I want you to be encouraged to put God’s Word into action.

Here’s one major principle that I pray that you will remember while reading the One-Minute Bible™ for Students: DON’T GIVE UP if you don’t understand something. Some parts of the Bible are very difficult to understand. Don’t give up! KEEP READING! Write down your questions! Ask someone and always pray that God would help you better understand the words in this love letter that He put together for you. Keep going...YOU CAN DO IT!

I APPLAUD YOU for digging in and making a commitment to learn about God and His ways. My prayer is that your faith will deepen as you consume regular doses of God’s Word.

I believe in you!

Doug

A NOTE TO

parents

I applaud you for caring about your child’s spiritual maturity! As a parent of three teenagers, I know how important it is to help them experience, understand, and fall in love with God’s Word. I know of no better resource to help teenagers (or anyone for that matter) develop the habit of reading God’s Word. If your son/daughter has no Bible background, this will serve as a perfect introductory tool! I’ve discovered the simple truth that almost anyone will give one minute a day to the GREATEST BOOK ever written. Or, if your child has grown up in the church and has a growing and mature faith, The One-Minute Bible™ for Students will be a powerful devotional resource that can encourage a daily habit. The content is intended to foster and encourage SPIRITUAL MATURITY.

Put this book in your child’s hands, comment on the EASE of readings, and leave him or her alone to discover God’s Word. Over the many years this book has been in print I’ve had so many parents tell me, This is the only book my kid will read. I’ve also had many parents tell me that they bought an extra copy for themselves to track along with the readings and quickly find themselves being hooked on the ease of reading, the systematic order of Scriptures, and the relevancy of the additional notes. I’m never surprised by the power of God’s Word, but I always smile when I meet a parent who has fallen in love with God’s Word because of this product.

My prayer is that this book will IGNITE A DESIRE within your entire family to consume more of God’s love letter.

I’m cheering you on!

Doug

A NOTE TO

youth workers

As a YOUTH PASTOR for 25+ years and author of many books, I can’t think of any other book, aside from the Bible itself, that I’d rather teenagers read than this one. This book not only helps students understand the Bible, but it emphasizes God’s passionate and unconditional love for them and will challenge them to respond. Every day I’ve written an additional note to get them thinking and putting God’s Word into action.

YOUTH MINISTRY is tough in today’s world! As you know, most teenagers (and their parents) are not reading the Bible. You and I are ministering to a biblically illiterate generation. I really believe they want to know God’s ways, but they need tools to guide them to discover and discern God’s Word. This is a tool that will do just that! Watch your teenagers begin to ask you more Bible questions simply because they are reading the Bible. That’s definitely one of the signs of people reading the Bible—they have questions.

MY PRAYER is that the One-Minute Bible™ for Students will assist you in your ministry to students. I’ve written a supplemental 52-week teaching and small group curriculum that accompanies their daily reading and can help you have a focused teaching that connects to their daily life. It may be used for Sunday School or a midweek meeting or even for parents to discuss at home. If you’re interested you might check out my web site for more information.

THANKS for doing what you do to guide students to become devoted followers of Jesus. You may not get the thanks you deserve from teenagers, their parents, or even your church...but, you are appreciated. As a brother in Christ who knows what you’re doing on a weekly basis may I say thank you!

I’M HONORED to share in the same ministry as you,

Doug

Doug Fields

www.dougfields.com

ANSWERS TO SOME

common questions

where do I begin?

The One-Minute Bible™ for Students offers 366 daily one-minute readings from the world’s greatest literary treasure...the Bible. Each day of the year, the date is indicated at the top of the page. Although this provides a one-year reading plan, you can start wherever you’d like—you don’t have to limit yourself to starting in January or to reading one page a day! It’s a flexible enough resource for you to begin when you’re ready!

is this the entire Bible?

Although every day contains selections from the Bible, the One-Minute Bible™ for Students isn’t a complete Bible. Reading one minute a day will allow you to survey the heart of the Bible in one year. If you want more, we’ve provided related texts at the bottom of each day’s page to direct you to nearly 1,800 passages of Scripture that will further your understanding of what you read that day.

how much of the Bible is covered?

The One-Minute Bible™ for Students begins with the first verse of Genesis and ends with the last verse of Revelation. Readings follow the general flow of biblical history, interspersed with several topical series for dated occasions (like Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas, etc.). The 700 selected Scriptures and 1,800 related texts present the key themes of the Bible and draw from all 66 books within the Bible. Great care was taken to ensure that each text has the same meaning in the One-Minute Bible™ for Students as it does in its larger context in the Bible.

what happens if I don’t read every day?

If you fall behind in your daily reading program, don’t worry! You can make up one week in seven minutes, half a month in fifteen. The point isn’t to fault you when you miss, but to make it easy enough for you to develop a habit that will stick with you for the rest of your life. Don’t feel guilty for missing a day...if you get behind, simply jump back in where you left off and

JUST READ IT!

A NOTE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT

daily applications

BOOKS OF

the Bible

January

Sin will keep you from this book. This book will keep you from sin.

∼ DWIGHT L. MOODY

(1837–1899)

AMERICAN EVANGELIST

1 in the beginning

JANUARY 1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

∼ GENESIS 1:1–2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

∼ JOHN 1:1–5

Hallelujah!

Praise the LORD from the heavens;

praise Him in the heights.

Praise Him, all His angels;

praise Him, all His hosts.

Praise Him, sun and moon;

praise Him, all you shining stars.

Praise Him, highest heavens,

and you waters above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for He commanded, and they were created.

He set them in position forever and ever;

He gave an order that will never pass away.

∼ PSALM 148:1–6

Related Texts: Psalms 102:25–28; 139:13–18; Proverbs 8; Isaiah 40:12–31; 45:18–25; Hebrews 11:1–3

These few verses sure cause big debates in science class. Unfortunately there are no quick or easy answers in the creation and evolution controversy. Believers in evolution claim the world suddenly exploded into existence billions of years ago-pits of slime somehow sprouted legs and started growing chest hair. It's a compelling story for those who don't believe in God or the Bible. The Bible teaches that God created the earth, and through Him all things were made-including you.

Actually, it takes less faith to believe God created this world and you than it does to believe your complex mind and body evolved from a big bang and a drop of ooze.

God created you in His image. Spend time thinking about that truth and thank God that your uniqueness is no accident!

2 let there be light

JANUARY 2

Then God said, Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and He called the darkness night. Evening came, and then morning: the first day.

∼ GENESIS 1:3–5

LORD, You are my lamp; the LORD illuminates my darkness.

∼ 2 SAMUEL 22:29

LORD is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid?

∼ PSALM 27:1

Then Jesus spoke to them again: I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.

∼ JOHN 8:12

And there will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will no longer exist, and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

∼ REVELATION 22:3–5

Related Texts: Leviticus 24:1–4; Job 24:13–17; 38:8–20; John 3:19–21; 1 John 1:5–8

The Bible uses the term light on many different occasions. In Matthew 5:14–16, Jesus used the illustration of light to challenge and remind Christians that their lives are open books for everyone to read. Jesus said, You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before men, so that they may…give glory to your Father in heaven.

Being a light to the world is a big deal and a high calling from God! It's pretty wild to realize that you may be the only Christian some of your friends will ever meet.

So, here's a question...are you shining brightly as a light? If not, what needs to change for you to become a brighter light for God?

3 creation

JANUARY 3

Then God said, Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water. So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. God called the expanse sky. Evening came, and then morning: the second day.

∼ GENESIS 1:6–8

The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour out speech;

night after night they communicate knowledge.

There is no speech; there are no words;

their voice is not heard.

∼ PSALM 19:1–3

I will praise You, LORD, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to You among the nations.

For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

God, be exalted above the heavens;

let Your glory be over

the whole earth.

∼ PSALM 57:9–11

He made the earth by His power,

established the world by His wisdom,

and spread out the heavens by His understanding.

When He thunders,

the waters in the heavens are in turmoil,

and He causes the clouds to rise

from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain

and brings the wind from His storehouses.

∼ JEREMIAH 10:12–13

Related Texts: 1 Chronicles 16:23–31; Job 38:22–38; Psalm 102:25–28; Acts 1:1–12

4 creation: land & seas, plants & trees

JANUARY 4

Then God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear. And it was so. God called the dry land earth, and He called the gathering of the water seas. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Evening came, and then morning: the third day.

∼ GENESIS 1:9–13

Do you not fear Me?

This is the LORD'S declaration.

Do you not tremble before Me,

the One who set the sand as the boundary of the sea,

an enduring barrier that it cannot cross?

The waves surge, but they cannot prevail.

They roar but cannot pass over it.

∼ JEREMIAH 5:22

He causes grass to grow for the livestock

and provides crops for man to cultivate,

producing food from the earth,

wine that makes man's heart glad—

making his face shine with oil—

and bread that sustains man's heart.

∼ PSALM 104:14–15

Related Texts: Job 12:7–12; 38:8–11; Psalm 104; Revelation 20:11-21:4; 22:13

FEAR: To fear God doesn't mean to be afraid of Him or to fear some type of unknown punishment or terror.

To fear God means to respect Him, to honor Him, to be amazed by His greatness, and to admire all He has done for you and this world. You will know that you fear God when you have nothing to say but WOW when trying to describe Him. Developing an attitude of fear and AWE is pleasing to God and one of the first steps toward gaining wisdom.

When you're done reading today, take a minute to think about all the WOW gifts that God has given you.

5 creation: sun, moon and stars

JANUARY 5

Then God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth. And it was so. God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Evening came, and then morning: the fourth day.

∼ GENESIS 1:14–19

I did not see a sanctuary in it, because the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its sanctuary. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God's glory illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Each day its gates will never close because it will never be night there. They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. Nothing profane will ever enter it: no one who does what is vile or false, but only those written in the Lamb's book of life.

∼ REVELATION 21:22–27

Related Texts: Nehemiah 9:5–6; Job 9:1–9; Psalms 19:16; 104:19–23; Proverbs 4:18–19; Ephesians 5:8–16

The word lamb is used in the Bible 138 times-93 of those refer to Jesus. A lamb was one of the main animals used for sacrifices. Jesus received the name Lamb because of His ultimate sacrifice on the cross-death. Do you feel like you understand what that means? It's a biggie! Jesus sacrificed His life so you can share all of eternity with other believers. His sacrifice paved the way to heaven and made it available to you.

6 creation: all creatures

JANUARY 6

Then God said, Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky. So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So God blessed them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth. Evening came, and then morning: the fifth day.

∼ GENESIS 1:20–23

How countless are Your works, LORD!

In wisdom You have made them all;

the earth is full of Your creatures.

Here is the sea, vast and wide,

teeming with creatures beyond number—

living things both large and small.

There the ships move about,

and Leviathan, which You formed to play there.

All of them wait for You

to give them their food at the right time.

When You give it to them,

they gather it;

when You open Your hand,

they are satisfied with good things.

∼ PSALM 104:24–28

Related Texts: Psalms 104;11–18; 148:7–12; Matthew 6:25–33; 10:29–31; Revelation 5:11–13

It's great to know that God not only created animals, but He cares about them as well. What's even more incredible is the truth that God cares more about you than animals-you are more valuable. Jesus said, Not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. But even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Don't be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matt. 10:29–31).

You are God's unique creation! You are so special and so known by God that the number of hairs on your head is not a secret to God. You might even say, Not one hair can fall into the bathroom sink without God knowing about it. Wow...that's incredible and a great image of God's concern foryou!

7 creation: the cattle on a thousand hills

JANUARY 7

Then God said, Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds. And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

∼ GENESIS 1:24–25

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices

or for your burnt offerings,

which are continually before Me.

I will not accept a bull from your household

or male goats from your pens,

for every animal of the forest is Mine,

the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird of the mountains,

and the creatures of the field are Mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you,

for the world and everything in it is Mine.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

Sacrifice a thank offering to God,

and pay your vows to the Most High.

Call on Me in a day of trouble;

I will rescue you, and you will honor Me.

∼ PSALM 50:8–15

Related Texts: Genesis 9:1–3; Psalm 8; Proverbs 12:10; Isaiah 11:1–10; 65:17–25

SACRIFICE:

Several types of animal sacrifices are mentioned throughout the Bible.

People made sacrifices when they wanted to get right with God. At that time, tradition instructed a person to sacrifice (kill) an animal as a type of payment. This payment was made to God for their sin and it resulted in forgiveness. Thankfully, Jesus changed all that when He died on the cross and became the ultimate payment. Once and for all Jesus' death paid the penalty and debt for your sin.

8 mankind: the image of God

JANUARY 8

Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.

So God created man in His own image;

He created him in the image of God;

He created them male and female.

God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth. God also said, Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came, and then morning: the sixth day.

∼ GENESIS 1:26–31

Related Texts: Genesis 2:4–25; 9:6–7; Psalm 8; 1 Corinthians 6:1–4; 2 Corinthians 4:4–6; Colossians 1:9–20; 3:5–10

These verses are awesome! God created you in His image and views His creation as very good. Not average. Not weird. Not ugly. But VERY good! If that truth doesn't get you excited, you'd better check your pulse; you might already be dead.

Take a minute and thank God for your image that God created. Rest in the truth that no matter what you think of yourself and your body, God sees you as good-very good. No, VERY good.

9 God rests

JANUARY 9

So the heavens and the earth and everything in them were completed. By the seventh day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

∼ GENESIS 2:1–3

Remember to dedicate the Sabbath day…. For the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

∼ EXODUS 20 : 8, 11

On the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to make their way picking some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to Him, Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?

He said to them, Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry— how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the sacred bread— which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests—and also gave some to his companions? Then He told them, The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

∼ MARK 2:23 - 28

Related Texts: Exodus 16:11–30; Psalm 62:1–5; Matthew 11:25–30; Mark 6:30–32; Hebrews 4:1–4

10 The first man and woman

JANUARY 10

Then the LORD God formed the man out of the dust from the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being….

The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die. Then the LORD God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him.

So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. God took one of his ribs and closed the flesh at that place. Then the LORD God made the rib He had taken from the man into a woman and brought her to the man. And the man said:

This one, at last, is bone of my bone,

and flesh of my flesh;

this one will be called woman,

for she was taken from man.

This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

∼ GENESIS 2:7,15–18,21–25

Related Texts: Genesis 1:26–29; Matthew 19:1–12; Mark 10:1–12; 1 Corinthians 6:15–7:40

United is a very important word to understand because it's a graphic description of sex. That's right-SEX! Sex wasn't invented by a group of scientists or a guy named Bob during the Middle Ages. Sex was God's idea. He designed it! But from the very beginning, God set a standard for sex to unite husband and

wife into one flesh. It's sort of reverse arithmetic: two become one. God wants you to become one flesh with only one other person-it's His design and it's His standard. Just like Adam and Eve, that one other person is to be your spouse. What a beautiful gift from God! It's a design worth waiting for!

11 rulers of God's creation

JANUARY 11

LORD, our Lord,

how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!

You have covered the heavens with Your majesty

Because of Your adversaries,

You have established a stronghold

from the mouths of children and nursing infants,

to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I observe Your heavens,

the work of Your fingers,

the moon and the stars,

which You set in place,

what is man that You remember him,

the son of man that You look after him?

You made him little less than God

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him lord over the works of Your

hands;

You put everything under his feet:

all the sheep and oxen,

as well as animals in the wild,

birds of the sky,

and fish of the sea

passing through the currents of the seas.

LORD, our Lord,

how magnificent is Your name throughout the earth!

∼ PSALM 8

Related Texts: Genesis 1–2; Matthew 21:16; Hebrews 2:5–9

This Psalm was written to express thankfulness for all God has done. What are three things for which you are thankful?

1.

2.

3.

12 the first sin

JANUARY 12

Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?

The woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.'

No! You will not die, the serpent said to the woman. In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

∼ GENESIS 3:1–8

Related Texts: Ezekiel 28:13–19; Romans 5:12–19; 1 Tim 2:11–15; James 1:12–15

SATAN is not a make-believe character created to scare you. Satan is real. The Bible refers to

Satan several times and gives him very descriptive names: Evil One, Serpent or Snake, Murderer, Roaring Lion, Liar, Tempter, Dragon, and the Devil. Not the types of name that describe love, huh?

Satan's role started when he tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God. He did a good job! Their act of disobedience or rebellion is known as the first or original sin. Their sin led the way for the entire world to follow.

Since then, this world has gotten pretty bad. Death, violence, pain, terrorism and wickedness are everywhere. But there's hope in the midst of this chaos! If you read to the end of this book, you'll see how God has His way with Satan. It's good to be on God's side since He wins in the end!

13 God judges the first sin

JANUARY 13

So the LORD God called out to the man

and said to him, Where are you?

And he said, "I heard You in the garden, and

I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid."

Then He asked, "Who told you that you

were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I

had commanded you not to eat from?"

Then the man replied, "The woman You

gave to be with me∼she gave me some fruit

from the tree, and I ate."

So the LORD God asked the woman, "What

is this you have done?"

And the woman said, "It was the serpent. He

deceived me, and I ate."

Then the LORD God said to the serpent:

Because you have done this,

you are cursed more than any livestock

and more than any wild animal.

You will move on your belly

and eat dust all the days of your life.

I will put hostility between you and the woman,

and between your seed and her seed.

He will strike your head,

and you will strike his heel.

He said to the woman:

I will intensify your labor pains;

you will bear children in anguish.

Your desire will be for your husband,

yet he will dominate you.

∼ GENESIS 3:9–16

Related Texts: Deuteronomy 32:1–6; Romans3:9–18; Revelation 12:9; 20:1–3,7–15; 22:1–3

Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.

romans 8:1

14 God exiles adam and eve from the garden

JANUARY 14

And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it':

The ground is cursed because of you.

You will eat from it by means of painful labor

all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

You will eat bread by the sweat of your brow

until you return to the ground,

since you were taken from it.

For you are dust,

and you will return to dust."

Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living. The LORD God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.

The LORD God said, Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. So the LORD God sent him away from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove man out, and east of the garden of Eden I He stationed cherubim with a flaming, whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.

∼ GENESIS 3:17–24

For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

∼ I CORINTHIANS 15:22

Related Texts: Genesis 18:16–33; Psalm 50; Romans 8:18–25; Revelation 22

It sounds depressing to read that you will die because of your disobedience. You may even bethinking, What did I do wrong? It's a good and fair guestion! The answer is that just like everyone else, you were born into a sinful world where death goes along with living.

It's good news to know that yourfuture is in God's hands and it's one filled with hope. One day God will get rid of sin and death. The Bible teaches that all creation anticipates the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay (Rm 8:21). If you are one of God's children, get ready to party! If not… well, let's just say it doesn't look good.

15 death in adam, life in Christ

JANUARY 15

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those | who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man's trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. And the gift is not like the one man's sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

∼ ROMANS 5:12–17

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

∼ ROMANS 6:23

Related Texts: Genesis 3; Romans 5:18–6:23; Ephesians 2:1–10; Colossians 3:1–17

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.'

romans 6:23

16 cain and abel: the first murder

JANUARY 16

Adam knew his wife Eve intimately, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, I have had a male child with the LORD'S I help. Then she also gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a shepherd of a flock, but Cain cultivated the land. In the course of time Cain presented some of the land's produce as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also presented an offering∼some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions. The LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but He did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he was downcast.

Then the LORD said to Cain, Why are you furious? And why are you downcast? If you do right, won't you be accepted? But if you do not do right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must master it.

Cain said to his brother Abel,