The On Ramp: Daily Bible Reading

It was a bad idea. When Sarai was unable to have a child, she came up with the idea to give her husband another woman - well… because maybe she could have a child with him. 🤷‍♂️ God’s design for marriage from the beginning was 1 man & 1 woman. It was intended to be an exclusive relationship. What makes things a little more complicated is that Sarai (in a round-about way) pins her reasoning on...

I see a beautiful connection in today’s readings - between Genesis 15 and John 15. Jesus said: “I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me, I chose you...” - John 15:15-16a The night He was betrayed, Jesus shared some amazing promises with His friends. He confided in t...

I see a beautiful connection in today’s readings - between Genesis 15 and John 15. Jesus said: “I no longer call you slaves because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me, I chose you...” - John 15:15-16a The night He was betrayed, Jesus shared some amazing promises with His friends. He confided in t...

In the previous chapter, Lot had moved his tents to a place near Sodom. Genesis 13:13 shares the truth of Sodom at that time - they were extremely wicked and were constantly sinning against God. Time has passed, and now Lot is living IN Sodom. Based on what the Bible says to be true about Sodom, and knowing how Lot’s story ends later in this book - he should have stayed far, far away from this cit...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY) This is what I READ: The context: This is the night Jesus was betrayed. He is celebrating Passover with the disciples. Within the next 24 hours, Jesus will go to the cross. Jesus has just told his disciples that He is going away. During His public ministry, Jesus has talked openly about being killed, and rising again. As chapter 14 opens, Jesus has just prophesi...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) This is what I READ: Abram was traveling from Egypt with his wife, and Lot (vs 1). Abram stopped between Bethel and Ai where he had made an altar and worshiped the LORD previously. Cross ref: Genesis 12:8-9. In that place, Abram worshiped the LORD again (vs 4). There was conflict between Abram and Lot’s herdsmen (vs 5-7). To resolve the conflict, they made a dec...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) This is what I READ: The context is the Passover celebration. Jesus is having one final meal with His disciples before He is betrayed. Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father (vs 1) Jesus knew that He had authority over everything (vs 3) Jesus knew Judas would betray Him (vs 3, 26-27). Jesus knew Peter would deny Him (vs 38...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) This is what I READ: Many people were leaving the religious leaders and believing in Jesus. As a result the religious leaders wanted to kill both Jesus and Lazarus (10-11). Still most people still did not believe, despite the miraculous signs that Jesus did. This fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy (vs 37-40). Some Jewish leaders believed, but wouldn’t admit it because...

This is what I READ: The LORD made promises to Abram (vs 1-3): I will show you [the land] I will make you into a great nation I will bless you and make you famous You will be a blessing to others I will bless those who bless you All families on earth will be blessed through you Abram left as the LORD instructed and traveled to Canaan (vs 4-5). When a famine struck the land, Abram went to Egypt (vs...

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R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) This is what I READ: Jesus said Lazarus was sick so that God would be glorified (vs 4). Jesus was “glad” that Lazarus died, because His work/miracle would lead to their belief in Him (as the Messiah) (vs 14). Jesus - “I am the resurrection and the life.” Anyone who believes in Him will live, even after dying (vs 25). When Jesus saw the mourning, He was angry (vs...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) This is what I READ in the story of the Tower of Babel: The context of the Tower of Babel is that it’s in a city that Nimrod built. They wanted to build a great city with a tower that reaches into the sky (vs 4). This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world (vs 4). The LORD saw their unity and it concerned him (vs 6). And so He co...

This year, we're encouraging you to go a little deeper into your Bible with the acronym - R.A.M.P. It stands for READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY . READ : What did you notice when you read or listened to the Bible? Did you learn something new or make a connection you've never seen before? What is the context, or what is the meaning of what is being discussed? APPLY : How does this apply to your life? MEDI...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: Genesis 10 is sometimes also called the “Table of Nations.” It details the generations of Noah and his sons, following the great flood. As you read, you’re likely to see some names you recognize from other places in the Bible. A couple people and places that stand out to me - Magog, Tubal, and Meshech. These descendants of Japheth represent...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out (vs 3). He walks ahead of them and they follow Him (vs 4). His purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying (abundant) life (vs 10). He knows His sheep (vs 14, 27). He gives them eternal life and they will never perish (vs 28). This passage reminds me of Psalm 23 - “The Lord is my shepherd;...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: Jesus saw a man who was blind from birth (vs 1). The disciples assumed the blindness was because of sin (vs 2). Jesus said it was so that the power of God could be seen (vs 3). Spit + mud + go wash = a miracle! The man could see (vs 6-7). Those who knew the man barely recognized him (vs 8-9). He gave testimony about what Jesus did for him (v...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEMORIZE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: God gives mankind power over the animals (vs 2). God establishes respect for human life & consequences for those who take life (vs 5-7). God makes a promise to mankind not to destroy the earth with a flood, and gives the rainbow as a sign of that promise (vs 8-17). Noah planted a vineyard and got drunk. Two sons respected their father, o...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: Jesus was in the temple early in the morning teaching a crowd that had gathered (vs 2). The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery and pronounced their judgment on her (citing the law of Moses) right in front of Jesus and the crowd (vs 3-5). They asked Jesus “what do you say?” (vs 5). Script...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: Amid the destruction, God remembered Noah and the animals (vs 8). Noah used a raven and a dove to see if the flood waters had dried up (vs 6-12), but… Noah didn’t leave the boat until God told him to leave (vs 15-17). Most of the animals had the job to “be fruitful and multiply” (vs 17), but others had been set apart to be a sacrifice (vs 20...

When Jesus met the woman at the well a few chapters ago, He said, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water (John 4:10)” In today’s reading, Jesus says all who are thirsty can come and drink and experience rivers of living water flowing from their heart! John the Apostle (the writer of the Gospel of John) tells us th...

R.A.M.P. (READ-APPLY-MEDITATE-PRAY) Here is what I READ: From the last verse of chapter 6, into chapter 7, Noah did everything as the LORD commanded him (vs 5). God saw that Noah alone was righteous (vs 1). There were more than just two of some animals - specifically 7 pairs of those approved for eating and sacrifice, and 7 pairs of every kind of bird (vs 2-3). God was specific in sharing His plan...

Why did God send a great flood? There are many varying perspectives on the precise meaning of Genesis 6:1-4, but one thing that we can’t escape is that there was a growing evil on the earth. The creation that He once said was “very good” (Genesis 1:31) had now broken His heart! The evil was so bad, and the darkness was so dark that He needed to intervene. God takes sin very seriously. He is just a...

Why did many disciples turn away from Jesus? I think about communion. The grape juice and cracker - a picture of the broken body of Jesus and His blood that was poured out on the cross. He endured all that to save me from my sins, so that if I would believe on His sacrifice, I could be forgiven and experience an eternity with Him in Heaven. The message of the cross is offensive because it assumes...

You might be tempted to skip the chapter with all the funny names, but don't! What was special about a guy named Enoch? He walked closely with God - what an amazing thing to be known for! The book of Hebrews says this about him: "It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying - 'he disappeared, because God took him.' For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased...

Why did Jesus perform miracles? Jesus said that his miracles (and teachings) prove that He was sent by God as the Messiah. Why does that matter? Consider the audience. As Jesus healed a paralyzed man, He was met with criticism by the religious leaders! Not only that - because He claimed to be the Son of God, those religious leaders wanted to kill Him! 😳 The miracles that He did, and the things He...