Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/20/2020)...

“God is with you in your moments of darkness because he will never leave you. But your darkness isn’t dark to him. Your mysteries aren’t mysterious to him. Your surprises don’t surprise him. He understands all the things that confuse you the most. Not only are your mysteries not mysterious to him, but he is in complete charge of all that is mysterious to you and me.”

Paul David Tripp

Hebrews‬ ‭13:5-6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

Image: CC (Pexels.com)

John 14:23-24 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/19/2020)...

“I am in love with the letter "J" because of a man called Jesus

born by a man called Joseph from the tribe called Judah in the region called Judea and baptised by a man called John in a river called Jordan in the land called Jerusalem.”

Unknown Author

John‬ ‭14:23-24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.”

Romans‬ ‭8:38-39‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Image: "J" by chrisinplymouth is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/16/2020)...

“God doesn’t need your good works, but your neighbor does.”

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Philippians‬ ‭2:3-5‬ ‭(NLT) Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Matthew‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Galatians‬ ‭5:13-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

‭‭

Image: CC (pxhere.com)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/15/2020)...

“Our salvation is not dependent on work, but our salvation leads us to work; and the mission of God will only go forward by us deciding to work.”

Upstate Church (Simpsonville SC)

Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Romans‬ ‭12:11-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Image: CC (Unsplash.com)

Colossians 3:23-25 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/14/2020)...

“We should not fear being wrung out for the right thing. We should fear being wrung out for the wrong thing.”

Pastor Dallas Wilson 

Colossians‬ ‭3:23-25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

Galatians‬ ‭6:9-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Image: "Keystone Wringer [front]" by Boston Public Library is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Mark 7:21-23 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/13/2020)...

“It is as though in those last minutes he [Adolf Eichmann] was summing up the lessons that this long course in human wickedness had taught us—the lesson of the fearsome, word-and-thought-defying banality of evil.”

Hannah Arendt (“Eichmann in Jerusalem”)

NOTE: According to “The World of Hannah Arendt” (March 2001): To enter the world of Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) is to encounter the political and moral catastrophes of the 20th century. Her life spanned the convulsions of two world wars, revolutions and civil wars, and events worse than war in which human lives were uprooted and destroyed on a scale never seen before.

Library of Congress

Mark‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.

Romans‬ ‭5:12, 15-19‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned...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. 

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:22F1E55300000578-2920791-Architect_of_the_final_solution_Adolf_Eichmann_the_former_head_o-a-1_1421890166018.jpg

James 1:12-15 (NLT)

 FROM TODAY’S READING (10/12/2020)...

“Every great mistake has a halfway moment, a split second when it can be recalled and perhaps remedied.”

Pearl S. Buck

James‬ ‭1:12-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

James‬ ‭4:7-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

1 John‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Image: CC (pxhere.com)