Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"[Noah] was a 'preacher of righteousness' (II Peter 2:5), though apparently no one responded to his preaching. The moral pressures must have been overwhelming. The temptations of a licentious and violent society, along with the continual rejection and ridicule of those masses who were 'disobedient in the days of Noah' (1 Peter 3:20), were no doubt inconceivably difficult for him to bear. So far as we know, he preached hundreds of years with no converts except some in his own family."

Henry M. Morris (1918-2006)

The Genesis Record, Baker Books 1976/2009

Institute for Creation Research

Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬, ‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart...But Noah found favor with the Lord.

Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭22‬ (NLT) So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Genesis‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.

2 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

Image: ("Noah's Ark" by Squirmelia is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.)

Luke 2:8-20 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."

Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

English writer

Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

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1 Timothy 6:15-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"He came the first time to die; He is coming again to raise the dead. When He came the first time, they questioned whether He was King; the next time the world will know that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The first time He wore a crown of thorns; the next time He will be wearing a crown of glory. The first time He came in poverty; the next time He is coming in power. The first time He had an escort of angels; the next time He will come with ten thousands of His saints. The first time He came in meekness; He is coming again in majesty."

Pastor Adrian Rogers (1931-2005)

Bellevue Baptist Church, Memphis, Tennessee 

1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT) ‬‬For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all Lords. He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen.

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Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Only once did God choose a completely sinless preacher."

Alexander Whyte (1836-1921)

Scottish preacher

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him.

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Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift."

John R. Rice (1895-1980)

Baptist evangelist and pastor

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

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Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

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1 Timothy 1:15-17 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal man may live in eternity."

John Huss (1369-1415)

Czech theologian, philosopher and Church reformer

1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭19-‭22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

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1 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation."

J. I. Packer (1926-2020)

Theologian

1 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.

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John 3:16-18 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life."

Corrie ten Boom (1882-1983)

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

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Image: ("John 3:16" by Rachel Ramos. is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)

John 1:14 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Jesus was God spelling himself out in language humanity could understand."

S. D. Gordon (1859-1936)

Evangelical speaker and author

John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So the Word (Jesus) became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.

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Colossians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Though he (Jesus) was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

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1 John 2:5-6 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Hang this question up in your homes - 'What would Jesus do?' and then think of another - 'How would Jesus do it?' For what Jesus would do, and how He would do it, may always stand as the best guide to us."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

English Baptist Pastor/Preacher

1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

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Image: CC ("WWJD?" by chrisyakimov is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.)

Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Me: "What kind of plant is that?"

Wife: "Fig Tree...but it doesn't produce figs."

Me: "What good is it?"

Wife: "Ha ha, good question. Looks good."

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

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Image: One of my/our (unfruitful) house plants 😏

Acts 4:12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way."

A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Pastor, theologian and author

Acts 4‬:‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬) There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

1 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

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John 6:35, 47-48 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Jesus is hungry but feeds others; He grows weary but offers others rest; He is the King Messiah but pays tribute; He is called the devil but casts out demons; He dies the death of a sinner but comes to save His people from their sins; He is sold for thirty pieces of silver but gives His life a ransom for many; He will not turn stones to bread for Himself but gives His own body as bread for people."

D. A. Carson 

Biblical scholar and professor 

John‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted.

Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) "Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.

Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ (‭NLT‬‬) But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And she (Mary) will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭45‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬, ‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty...I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life!”

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John 14:6 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; without the life, there is no living."

Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)

German Christian Monk

Author of The Imitation of Christ

John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

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Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"What else does anxiety about the future bring you but sorrow upon sorrow?"
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
German Christian Monk
Author of The Imitation of Christ

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

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Psalm 118:8-9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

Corrie Ten Boom (1882-1983)

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

 Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

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My mother's life verse: Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) For we live by faith, not by sight.

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