2 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/9/2020)...

“Peter lists several of faith's actions: learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God's will, loving others. These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life. We don't finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but he also gives us the responsibility to learn and to grow.”

LAB Study Note (2 Peter 1:7)

2 Peter‬ ‭1:3-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

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Proverbs 5:21-23 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/8/2020)...

“Sinful habits are hard to break, but if they are not broken, they will bind the client ever more tightly. He is held fast by these ropes of his own sin. He finds that sin spirals in a downward cycle, pulling him along. He is captured and tied up by sin's ever-tightening cords. At length he becomes sin's slave.”

Jay E. Adams (counselor/writer)

Proverbs‬ ‭5:21-23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.

Proverbs‬ ‭25:28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.

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2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

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Colossians 1:9-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/7/2020)...

“When things are going well, anyone can stand tall. Time it counts is when you don’t have the energy to put one foot in front of the other but you still keep going.”

Kerrie Hayes as Esther (“The Mill”)

Colossians‬ ‭1:9-12‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

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Psalm 31:24 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/6/2020)...

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Winston Churchill 

Psalms‬ ‭31:24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

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Romans 13:1-7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/3/2020)...

“In every ordered society there must be authority and submission to that authority. Otherwise you have a state of anarchy, and you cannot survive indefinitely under anarchy. Any government is better than no government. So God has instituted human government, and no government exists apart from His will. This does not mean that He approves of all that human rulers do. He certainly does not approve of corruption, brutality, and tyranny! But the fact remains that the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

[Christ-followers] can live victoriously in a democracy, a constitutional monarchy, or even a totalitarian regime. No earthly government is any better than the men who comprise it. That is why none of our governments is perfect. The only ideal government is a beneficent monarchy with the Lord Jesus Christ as King.”

Wm McDonald (1917-2007)

Romans‬ ‭13:1-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. 

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

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1 Timothy‬ ‭2:1-6‬ ‭(NLT) I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 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.

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2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/2/2020)...

“Satan can’t keep God from answering our prayers, but he will keep us from asking.”

Pastor Adrian Rogers (1931-2005)

2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

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Matthew 6:33-34 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (7/1/2020)...

“There are two days in the year that we cannot do anything, yesterday and tomorrow.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Matthew‬ ‭6:33-34‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

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