Jesus is our strength – Daily Scripture Recordings for March 10-March 16
This week’s scriptures demonstrate the reasons we have for the confidence we have in looking to Jesus for our strength. This blog post is under construction… meaning that I will add more recordings and comments on the scripture references through the week. I do enjoy reading scriptures and hope to help others find a love for God’s Word by sharing them in this way. My goal is to record the Daily Bible Study passages every day to follow the Daily Bible Study that many Christian denominations use in their Sunday school adult lesson quarterlies. These are known as the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching and published by the Committee on the Uniform Series.
I am reading from the New Living Translation for these recordings.
Psalm 16:1-6 (March 10)
A psalm[a] of David.
What a wonderful inheritance!
–Psalm 16:1-6 (NLT)
Psalm 16:7-11 (March 11)
and the pleasures of living with you forever.[d]
–Psalm 16:7-11 (NLT)
In Psalm 16 David is quick to acknowledge the Lord as the source of his strength rather than to take credit for himself. His reference to the holy one is seen by many Bible scholars to be about Jesus whose body never saw decay.
Hebrews 2:14-18 (March 12)
14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had[a] the power of death.15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters,[b] so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
–Hebrews 2:14-18 (NLT)
These verses explain why it was necessary for Jesus to come to earth and live not only with us, but as one of us – in a human (not angel) body that could die – so then he could conquer death for us. I like the part about Jesus not coming as an angel – he was truly flesh and blood like us. It is comforting to know that Jesus once walked this earth and experience life as a human. He now sits beside God and intercedes on our behalf through a heart that understands our problems from the inside out.
Philippians 3:7-11 (March 13)
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.[a]For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
–Philippians 3:7-11 (NLT)
Paul’s reference to “these things” was to a list of Jewish accomplishments he had once prided himself in – his proper circumcision, his heritage, once a Pharisee… These were now seen as worthless by Paul in comparison to knowing Christ. Paul now received strength through Christ, and even more so through his sufferings. This passage seems to say “bring on more sufferings” as Paul recognizes the opportunities they give him to reach others for Christ. He is also experiencing greater closeness to Christ through it all.
Philippians 3:12-16 (March 14)
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.
–Philippians 3:12-16 (NLT)
Acts 2:33-36 (March 15)
33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
35 until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”’[a]
36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
–Acts 2:33-36 (NLT)
Psalm 110:1-4 (March 16)
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem[a];
you will rule over your enemies.
3 When you go to war,
your people will serve you willingly.
You are arrayed in holy garments,
and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
4 The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
–Psalm 110:1-4 (NLT)
Acts 2:22-24 (March 16)
22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene[a] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.
–Acts 2:22-24 (NLT)
Acts 2:29-32 (March 16)
–Acts 2:29-32 (NLT)