Matthew 8:14-15 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/18/2022)…

“…He (Jesus) put His hand upon that hot fevered hand of the patient, and immediately there came a calmness, a sense of quietness and coolness. In the same wonderful way the Lord Jesus loves to minister to our fevered, restless hearts today. Oh, how many of us, in a certain sense, are like this poor woman. We are all distracted and upset and disturbed by existing conditions. What a blessed thing it is when Jesus comes to the bedside, when Jesus draws near, and when He rebukes the fever, when He touches the hand, and the fever dies away.”

H. A. Ironside

Matthew‬ ‭8:14-15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

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1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

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John 8:12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/17/2022)…

TODAY IS MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY…

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

 John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Ephesians‬ ‭5:8-10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

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Luke 4:31-37 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/14/2022)…

“If you have never been hurt by a word from God, it is probable that you have never heard God speak.” 

Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)

Missionary to India

“The people were shocked, thunderstruck, sublimely hurt. Jesus’ teaching was authoritative because he proclaimed God’s Word clearly and with conviction. We ought to pray for such divine hurt!”

R. Kent Hughes

Luke‬ ‭4:31-37‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority. 

Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon—an evil spirit—cried out, shouting, “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 

At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.

Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.”

Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 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.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

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Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/13/2022)…

“Here is a benediction (Numbers 6:24-26) that can go all the world over, and can give all the time without being impoverished. Every heart may utter it: it is the speech of God: every letter may conclude with it; every day may begin with it; every night may be sanctified by it.”

D. L. Moody (1837-1899)

American Evangelist

Numbers 6:24-26 (NLT) May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

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James 1:12-15 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/12/2022)…

“Here we need to distinguish between three types of temptation. (1) When Satan tempts, he lures a person into doing evil…(2) When we tempt God, we act contrary to faith and demand He prove Himself to us. (3) When God places us in a difficult situation, He does so to test us—in order that we might pass the test rather than fail it!…God has given us His Spirit in order that we, like Jesus, may be victorious whenever we are tempted to sin.”

Lawrence O. Richards

“The 365 Day Devotional Commentary”

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.

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Luke 4:9-13 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/11/2022)…

“Willful swan dives test the Lord…rationalizing a headstrong plunge by saying, ‘If this works, God will receive great glory. Just think of the souls that will be saved. God, you have to be in this—you just have to!’ True, he specializes in picking up the pieces, but we must not test him through rationalized disobedience.”

R. Kent Hughes

Luke‬ ‭4:9-13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” 

When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

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Hebrews‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Since [Jesus] himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

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Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

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Matthew 6:25-27 (NLT)

FROM TODAY’S READING (1/10/2022)…

“Said the robin to the sparrow:

‘I should really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so.’

Said the sparrow to the robin:

‘Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no heavenly Father,

Such as cares for you and me.’”

David Gooding, According to Luke: A New Exposition of the Third Gospel (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity, 1987), p. 70.

 Matthew‬ ‭6:25-27‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

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