1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"...Ordinary folks, living good, honest, hardworking, ordinary lives, have a habit of winning the respect of those who know them. For God’s people, winning respect is a much higher goal than getting to the top!"

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NLT) Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭12‬, ‭15‬, ‭17‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world...It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you...Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.”

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Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.”

Dolly Parton

Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

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Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you...The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.

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Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

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Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

"The Old Testament worshiper brought animals to the temple, to be killed and laid on the altar. Paul reversed the imagery. Bring yourself to the altar. But do not die for God: live for Him!"

Lawrence O. Richards (1931-2016)

The 365 Day Devotional Commentary

Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit.

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Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

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1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
Thomas Jefferson (1742-1826)

American Founding Father 

Declaration of Independence principal author 

Third US President (1801-1809)

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.

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1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

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Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Heartfelt prayer for others is highly valuable. Apostle Paul made four specific prayer requests in his letter (about A.D. 60) to fellow Christians serving God in the city of Colosse. Much can be gained from his pattern of prayer...

(1) wise spiritual guidance.

(2) daily living that honors God.

(3) spiritual power for endurance.

(4) a thankful attitude.

Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Apostle Paul 

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Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“It has long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
Elinor Smith (1911-2010)

American pioneering aviator

Youngest licensed pilot in the world at age 16

Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭(NIV‬‬) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

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Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭(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.

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1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

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James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

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James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

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