Bible League: Living His Word “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”— John 15:11 NIV It is important to notice that in the Gospel of John, in many verses, words like “command,” “love,” then “joy” are connected. True joy comes from the Lord. When we Armenians are going through terrible challenges and harsh situations, we really need God’s help, support, and joy. The Word of God speaks about joy many times. To have God’s joy, means to have His power also. Our Christians experienced God’s joy in many situations, especially in border regions. However, the most important is the joy that we have as the children of God. To realize that we have salvation and that our Lord Jesus Christ saved us from the darkness of hell and brought us into His presence is a great joy. To keep His commands also brings joy, because His commands are life-giving commands and not a burden. It is written in John 15:10-12, “If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” This means that the true source of the joy is the Word of God; if we keep His Word and remain in His love, then we will always have joy. May God bless you richly and keep you in His joy. By Artur Ispiryan, Bible League International partner, Armenia Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Chronicles 32, 33 2 Chronicles 32 -- Sennacherib Threatens Jerusalem; Hezekiah's Prayer Answered NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Chronicles 33 -- Manasseh's Wicked Reign in Judah; Ammon follows NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 18:24-40 John 18 -- Judas Betrays Jesus; Peter Denies Him; Jesus Questioned by Annas and Pilate NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Insight Jesus looked at the crowds following him and referred to them as a field ripe for harvest. Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. Jesus commands us to pray that people will respond to this need for workers. Challenge Often, when we pray for something, God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 5:39 They are they which testify of me.Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of the Bible. He is the constant theme of its sacred pages; from first to last they testify of him. At the creation we at once discern him as one of the sacred Trinity; we catch a glimpse of him in the promise of the woman's seed; we see him typified in the ark of Noah; we walk with Abraham, as he sees Messiah's day; we dwell in the tents of Isaac and Jacob, feeding upon the gracious promise; we hear the venerable Israel talking of Shiloh; and in the numerous types of the law we find the Redeemer abundantly foreshadowed. Prophets and kings, priests and preachers, all look one way--they all stand as the cherubs did over the ark, desiring to look within, and to read the mystery of God's great propitiation. Still more manifestly in the New Testament we find our Lord the one pervading subject. It is not an ingot here and there, or dust of gold thinly scattered, but here you stand upon a solid floor of gold; for the whole substance of the New Testament is Jesus crucified, and even its closing sentence is bejewelled with the Redeemer's name. We should always read Scripture in this light; we should consider the word to be as a mirror into which Christ looks down from heaven; and then we, looking into it, see his face reflected as in a glass--darkly, it is true, but still in such a way as to be a blessed preparation for seeing him as we shall see him, face to face. This volume contains Jesus Christ's letters to us, perfumed by his love. These pages are the garments of our King, and they all smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia. Scripture is the royal chariot in which Jesus rides, and it is paved with love for the daughters of Jerusalem. The Scriptures are the swaddling bands of the holy child Jesus; unroll them and you find your Saviour. The quintessence of the word of God is Christ. Daily Light on the Daily Path Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.Luke 7:41,42 "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. • "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" Matthew 18:32,33 "Then summoning him, his lord said to him, 'You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. • 'Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?' Mark 11:25,26 "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. • "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." Colossians 3:12,13 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; • bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Matthew 18:21,22 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" • Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Colossians 3:14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 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. |