John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Therefore, a person should ask himself or herself, “Do I today have trust in Christ to forgive my sins and take me without blame into heaven forever? Do I have confidence in my heart that he has saved me? If I were to die tonight and stand before God’s judgment seat, and if he were to ask me why he should let me into heaven, would I begin to think of my good deeds and depend on them, or would I without hesitation say that I am depending on the merits of Christ and am confident that he is a sufficient Savior?”

Wayne Gruden

Theologian, seminary professor, and author

(Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine)

John‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(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. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭11‬, ‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

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Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(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.

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Psalms‬ ‭66‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials."

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (died 65 AD)

Proverbs‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

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Psalms‬ ‭66‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.

1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

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John 16:33 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“He said not: Thou shalt not be troubled—thou shalt not be tempted—thou shalt not be distressed. But he said: Thou shalt not be overcome.”

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416 AD)

John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I (Jesus) have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

James‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

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1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"Character is often revealed in how a person reacts to success. Especially the success of others!"

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.

 Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭(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.

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Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“It is not kindness to tell patients that need strong medicine that nothing serious is wrong with them.” 

Cornelius Van Til (1895-1987)

Dutch-American Reformed theologian

Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” 

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

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1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬ [Jesus] personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

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James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"If you don't  bring your doubt to God, it will drive you from God."

Tara-Leigh Cobble

D-Group (Discipleship Group) International

James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) 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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Proverbs 10:9 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The true measure of a man is not found in what he does, but in the kind of person that he is."

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people. 

Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. 

The godly are directed by honesty; the wicked fall beneath their load of sin. 

The godliness of good people rescues them; the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

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1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

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