Galatians 1:10 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"So often those who have been stellar in adversity are derailed by success. Their behavior changes in order to take advantage of their fame. Faith in God reverts to faith in self. They begin to believe the good press. And so weakened, they succumb to temptations they had easily resisted before."

R. Kent Hughes

Genesis-Beginning and Blessing

Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. 

Apostle Paul

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1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

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Ephesians 6:7 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"There are two things you are in control of in your life, your attitude and your effort."

Billy Cox

Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(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.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭22‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

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2 Timothy 2:23-25 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Criticism is the cost of influence. As long as you don’t influence anybody, nobody is going to say a peep about you. But the greater your influence... the more critics you are going to have."

Pastor Rick Warren

2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

James‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬-‭25‬a (NLT‬‬) Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him...

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Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"War fighting never goes according to plan. You will fail. It's about picking yourself up and going again. Only the people that can bounce back from failures will pass this course."

Jason Fox

UK Special Forces soldier 

Host on Special Forces: World's Toughest Test

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

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Genesis 13:5-9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"It is best to preserve the peace, that it be not broken; but the next best is, if differences do happen, with all speed to accommodate them, and quench the fire that has broken out."

Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

Pastor and commentator 

 Genesis‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Lot, who was traveling with Abram, had also become very wealthy with flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and many tents. But the land could not support both Abram and Lot with all their flocks and herds living so close together. So disputes broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot...

Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

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Job 23:10-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"As we look at Job’s life, we see that strength grows through struggles, courage develops in challenges and wisdom matures from wounds. When God tested Job, his faith emerged as pure gold. As we look at Job’s life, we see that strength grows through struggles, courage develops in challenges and wisdom matures from wounds."

Nicky Gumbel

Pastor, author and evangelical leader

Job‬ ‭23‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But [God] knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.

James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

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James 4:13-16 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The old school teacher always closed her letters to ex-students with 'd.v.' Finally one asked her what the initials meant. The answer was, “dio volente”-if God wills.

That’s what James was saying here. Be sure to add d.v. to every plan you make, every intention you express. Arrogance looks ahead and assumes that the future is secure; that the business will prosper, that the body will remain healthy, that loved ones will always be there. The humble person lives with an awareness of man’s frailty, and d.v. is the postscript wisely added to every plan."

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary 

James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

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