Morning, January 4
Jump to: BLTyndaleSpurgeonDaily LightRdg plan


But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  — 2 Peter 3:18
Bible League: Living His Word
"Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him."
— Revelation 17:14 NLT

There is a great war going on between Jesus Christ and Satan. The war has been going on ever since Jesus first appeared on earth and proclaimed the coming of the kingdom of God. The first great battle and great victory of the war happened when Jesus defeated Satan at His resurrection. At that time, Satan lost his firm grip on the earth, and the kingdom of God began to advance and take territory from him. Ever since, he has been angrily and unsuccessfully trying to roll back the victory Jesus obtained.

Although the war is ultimately between Jesus and Satan, it is played out in the lives of the people of the earth. No one can maintain a neutral status. Christians are those who have decided to fight on the side of Jesus and the kingdom of God. Therefore, they must put on the full armor of God from Ephesians chapter six, so they can effectively fight against Satan and his henchmen.

The first great victory in the war established a beachhead in Jerusalem from which the Kingdom of God could advance throughout Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). When the kingdom has advanced far enough, there will be the second great battle of the war. As is clear from our verse for today, the followers of Jesus do not sit on the sidelines of this final battle. His called, chosen, and faithful ones will be with Him. The followers of Jesus have been fighting with Him in the great war from the beginning and it only makes sense that they will still be fighting with Him in the end. Satan and his followers will go to war against the Lamb for one last time.

The Lamb, however, will defeat them precisely because He is the "Lord of all lords and King of all kings."
Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Genesis 9, 10, 11


Genesis 9 -- The Covenant of the Rainbow

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Genesis 10 -- Descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Genesis 11 -- Tower of Babel; Shem's Descendants to Abraham

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Matthew 4


Matthew 4 -- The Temptation of Jesus; Jesus Begins to Preach, Calls First Disciples, Ministers in Galilee

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
“Why are you so angry?” the LORD asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
Insight
How do you react when someone suggests you have done something wrong? Do you move to correct the mistake or deny that you need to correct it? After Cain's gift was rejected, God have him the chance to right his wrong and try again. But Cain refused.
Challenge
The next time someone suggests you are wrong, take an honest look at yourself and choose God's way instead of Cain's.
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
2 Peter 3:18  Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

"Grow in grace"--not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Let faith increase in fulness, constancy, simplicity. Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward--having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship with Jesus. May God the Holy Spirit enable you to "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. To know Him is "life eternal," and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction, that the appetite is not cloyed, but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus--as the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of His love. If you do not desire to know Him better, then you love Him not, for love always cries, "Nearer, nearer." Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in his divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and search the mystery of His wounds. An increase of love to Jesus, and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace.

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Deuteronomy 12:9  for you have not as yet come to the resting place and the inheritance which the LORD your God is giving you.

Micah 2:10  "Arise and go, For this is no place of rest Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction, A painful destruction.

Hebrews 4:9  So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Hebrews 6:19,20  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, • where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

John 14:2,3  "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. • "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Philippians 1:23  But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

Revelation 21:4  and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

Job 3:17  "There the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.

Matthew 6:20,21  "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; • for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Colossians 3:2  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

Evening January 3
Top of Page
Top of Page