Evening, March 20
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Bible League: Living His Word
But many people believed in Jesus. Even many of the Jewish leaders believed in him, but they were afraid of the Pharisees, so they did not say openly that they believed. They were afraid they would be ordered to stay out of the synagogue. They loved praise from people more than praise from God.

During His sojourn on earth, Jesus had proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God and had performed many miraculous signs. The miracles demonstrated to anyone with eyes to see that what He said about the coming of the Kingdom was true.

Despite the miraculous demonstrations and the truthfulness of His preaching, many of the people still did not believe in Him. It takes the gift of faith to actually hear the message of the Kingdom and it takes faith to actually see the reality of the Kingdom.

Many of the people, on the other hand, believed in Jesus. However, they were afraid to openly confess their belief. They were more worried about the approval of men than worried about the approval of God.

Jesus warned us about this: "Don't be ashamed of me and my teaching. If that happens, I will be ashamed of you when I come with my divine greatness and that of the Father and the holy angels." (Luke 9:26). He also said "'If you stand before others and are willing to say you believe in me, then I will tell my Father in heaven that you belong to me. But if you stand before others and say you do not believe in me, then I will tell my Father in heaven that you do not belong to me'" (Matthew 10:32-33).

Every Christian experiences at least some persecution, but even those at the front lines of the battle between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God must not deny their faith because of fear. Jesus said, "'Don't be afraid of people. They can kill the body, but they cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is God, the one who can send the body and the soul to be destroyed in hell'" (Matthew 10:28).

Don't be worried about the approval of people; don't be afraid to let your light shine in the darkness.

Bible in a Year
Old Testament Reading
Joshua 1, 2, 3


Joshua 1 -- God Commissions Joshua

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Joshua 2 -- Rahab Welcomes the Spies

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Joshua 3 -- Israel Crosses the Jordan

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


New Testament Reading
Luke 1:57-80


Luke 1 -- Introduction; John's and Jesus' Birth Foretold; Mary's Song; Zachariah's Prophecy

  NIV   NLT   ESV   NAS   GWT   KJV   ASV   ERV   DRB


Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library.
Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion
This is the day the LORD has made.
        We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Insight
There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. We can relate to the writers of the psalms who often felt this way. But no matter how low the psalmists felt, they were always honest with God. And as they talked to God, their prayers ended in praise.
Challenge
When you don't feel like rejoicing, tell God how you truly feel. You will find that God will give you a reason to rejoice. God has given you this day to live and to serve him—be glad!
Morning and Evening by Spurgeon
Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church.

What a golden example Christ gives to his disciples! Few masters could venture to say, "If you would practise my teaching, imitate my life;" but as the life of Jesus is the exact transcript of perfect virtue, he can point to himself as the paragon of holiness, as well as the teacher of it. The Christian should take nothing short of Christ for his model. Under no circumstances ought we to be content unless we reflect the grace which was in him. As a husband, the Christian is to look upon the portrait of Christ Jesus, and he is to paint according to that copy. The true Christian is to be such a husband as Christ was to his church. The love of a husband is special. The Lord Jesus cherishes for the church a peculiar affection, which is set upon her above the rest of mankind: "I pray for them, I pray not for the world." The elect church is the favorite of heaven, the treasure of Christ, the crown of his head, the bracelet of his arm, the breastplate of his heart, the very centre and core of his love. A husband should love his wife with a constant love, for thus Jesus loves his church. He does not vary in his affection. He may change in his display of affection, but the affection itself is still the same. A husband should love his wife with an enduring love, for nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." A true husband loves his wife with a hearty love, fervent and intense. It is not mere lip-service. Ah! beloved, what more could Christ have done in proof of his love than he has done? Jesus has a delighted love towards his spouse: He prizes her affection, and delights in her with sweet complacence. Believer, you wonder at Jesus' love; you admire it--are you imitating it? In your domestic relationships is the rule and measure of your love--"even as Christ loved the church?"

Daily Light on the Daily Path
Genesis 6:9  These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.

Galatians 3:11  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."

Genesis 8:20,21  Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. • The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

Revelation 13:8  All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.

Romans 5:1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 3:20-22  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. • But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, • even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

Romans 5:11  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 8:33  Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;

Romans 8:30  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

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.

Morning March 20
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