1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” 

John Wesley (1703-1791)

Anglican evangelist and founder of the Wesleyan Tradition

Quote from "The Journal of John Wesley"

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭(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.

John‬ ‭3‬:‭36‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.

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John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

John‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.

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1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

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John 6:16-21 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Like the disciples, we often find ourselves laboring hard, and making little progress. Yet Jesus is nearby, however strong the winds that buffet us. We need to recognize Him, and invite Him to become involved. We may not reach shore 'immediately.' But we will find strength to keep on."

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

John‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬-‭21‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am here!” Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!

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Image: Public Domain (Backhuysen, Ludolf, I - Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee)

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"I do not ask for success, I ask for faithfulness."

Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

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Proverbs‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?

1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭(ESV‬‬) Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

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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Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this will move thee to love Him. The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge, and the knowledge of God is the perfection of love.”

Francis Quarles (1592-1644)

English poet

Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

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Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

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Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

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Psalms‬ ‭86‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.

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Psalm 42:1-2 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY'S READING...

"How would you finish [this] sentence? 'One thing have I desired of the Lord; that will I seek after _________.' What is the greatest desire and longing of your heart? In the answer to that question lies the explanation for much of what we do – our choices, our priorities, our use of time, the way we spend money, the way we respond to pressure, whom or what we love." 

Nancy Lee DeMoss

Bible teacher and public speaker 

Psalms‬ ‭42‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

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Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING.

"The richest man in the world at one time [Howard Hughes/1905-1976] owned oil wells, refineries, tankers, and pipelines; also hotels, a life insurance company, a finance company, and aircraft companies. But he surrounded his 700-acre estate with bodyguards, vicious dogs, steel bars, searchlights, bells, and sirens. In addition to being afraid of planes, ships, and crackpots, he feared disease, old age, helplessness, and death. He was lonely and gloomy and admitted that money could not buy happiness."

William MacDonald (1917-2007)

Believer's Bible Commentary

Ecclesiastes‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it...

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Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.

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Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"God has been blamed for the most outlandish things by people who have confused their own inverted pride with God’s will.”Paul E. Little (1928-1975)

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭(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. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

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Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬) Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

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Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"You can brag about where you've been, but can you brag about where you are going?"

Jerral Rockwell

Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.

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Jeremiah‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭30‬-‭31‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

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1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Real love is the universal language—understood by all. You may have every accomplishment or give your body to be burned; but, if love is lacking, all this will profit you and the cause of Christ nothing.”

Henry Drummond (1851-1897)

Scottish evangelist, biologist, writer and lecturer

1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

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Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"If having more would make us happy, we would never need the Tenth Commandment. It is written for unhappy people!"

Ray Pritchard

President of Keep Believing Ministries 

Exodus‬ ‭20‬:‭17‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

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Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

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Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Human beings, being what they are, somehow feel entitled to question the reasons for everything that happens to them.  In many instances life itself becomes a continual criticism and dissection of one’s circumstances and acquaintances. We look for someone or something on which to pin the blame for our misfortunes. We are often quick to forget our blessings, slow to forget our misfortunes."

Phillip Keller (1920-1997)

Christian author

(gracequotes.org)

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

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Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬-‭37‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Because we cannot see Christ we cannot express our love to Him; but our neighbors we can always see, and we can do to them what, if we saw Him, we would like to do to Christ.”

Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬-‭37‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

"Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 

The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. 

"By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. 

"Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 

The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” 

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.””

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Matthew 7:1-2 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Keep a fair-sized cemetery in your backyard, in which to bury the faults of your friends.”

Henry Ward Beecher  (1813-1887)

Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

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