In a world that views absolute truth, right and wrong, and salvation as being subject to individual interpretation, the Bible's unwavering proclamations and miraculous stories seem obsolete in modern times. But it is not God's Word that has changed. Indeed, its relevancy and its power to transform lives are intact. What has changed is the number of people who consult it. Now more than ever the need to read the Bible, to understand the big picture of its storyline, and to grasp the relevance this has for your life is critical. As with its companion volume, For the Love of God-Volume 1 , this devotional contains a systematic 365-day plan, based on the M'Cheyne Bible-reading schedule, that will in the course of a year guide you through the New Testament and Psalms twice and the rest of the Old Testament once. In so doing, D. A. Carson completes the work he began in the first book. In an effort to help preserve biblical thinking and living, D. A. Carson has also written thought-provoking comments and reflections regarding each day's scriptural passages. And, most uniquely, he offers you perspective that places each reading into the larger framework of history and God's eternal plan to deepen your understanding of his sovereignty-and the unity and power of his Word. D. A. Carson (PhD, Cambridge University) is Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is a cofounder and theologian-at-large of the Gospel Coalition and has written and edited nearly two hundred books. He and his wife, Joy, have two children and live in the north suburbs of Chicago. Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Cofounder, The Gospel Coalition For the Love of God, Volume Two A Daily Companion for Discovering the Treasures of God's Word By D. A. Carson Good News Publishers Copyright © 1999 D. A. Carson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-58134-816-3 Contents Preface, Introduction, M'Cheyne Chart of Daily Bible Readings, Daily Readings, CHAPTER 1 JANUARY 1 Genesis 1; Matthew 1; Ezra 1; Acts 1 THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD ISRAEL'S RETURN from exile and their rebuilding of the temple ( Ezra 1 ) are full of interest: (1) A person without much knowledge of history might be forgiven for thinking that Israel was the only national group released from the bondage of exile. Historically, that is not true. When the Persians took over from the Babylonians (who had sent Judah into exile), King Cyrus of Persia reversed the Babylonian policy. The Babylonians (and the Assyrians before them) transported the aristocracy and leading citizens of subjugated territories. Rebellion in the ancient world was often suspended on the threefold cord of people, land, and religion. If one of these three strands could be removed, there was less likelihood of revolt. By transporting all the leaders of every branch of a culture to some new territory far removed from their own land (thereby disconnecting people and land), these empires secured a kind of peace. Obviously they also introduced enormous dislocation, which must have had many negative effects, not least economic. Whatever the reasons, Cyrus not only stopped this policy, but permitted exiles — including the Jews — to return home. (2) But Ezra is right in understanding this to be the work of God: "The LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia" (1:1). At another time, the Lord would cause a census to be taken of the entire Roman world, to bring a pregnant woman to Bethlehem — once again to fulfill an ancient Scripture (Luke 2). (3) The prophecy in this case, according to Ezra, is that of Jeremiah (Ezra 1:1), probably referring to Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10-14; 51. It would be a mistake to read Ezra 1:1 as if God were somehow bound by Jeremiah's word, instead of the other way around. The point is that the prophecy of Jeremiah is nothing other than the word of God. God is bound by his own word. When Daniel understood that the prescribed time of exile was coming to an end, he set himself to seek the face of God for his people (Dan. 9) — which of course was exactly the right thing to do. And here we find the answers both to Daniel's prayers and to God's promises. (4) As usual, when God works decisively, there are no loose ends. On the one hand, he moves Cyrus the King to make his proclamation; on the other hand, he moves in the hearts of many Jews to return home (1:5). After all, we are dealing now with a generation that had grown up entirely in the Tigris-Euphrates valleys. It would be like asking the second or third generation of immigrants to the United States from, say, Japan or Germany, to return "home." But God's people become willing in the day of his power. JANUARY 2 Genesis 2; Matthew 2; Ezra 2; Acts 2 THE SHEER PRECISION OF THE REPORTS of return ( Ezra 2 ) is one of the first things to strike the casual reader of this chapter. Not only are the numbers of the people accurately reported, along with the names of