Bible League: Living His Word The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God.— 1 John 3:1 ERV I love my Dad. He is one of my heroes. He doesn’t wear a cape or a super-suit. He can’t fly or outrun a speeding train or leap over a tall building in a single bound. He does love Jesus, though. He loves people, too. He’s an encourager to everyone he meets. I’m so blessed to be his son. There’s something special about having a great dad, isn’t there? There’s something comforting about having parents that really love you. If you’ve never felt the love of a good father or the love of a family, my heart goes out to you. I pray that this devotion will speak to you and encourage you. The Word of God says that you have a Heavenly Father who really, really loves you. In fact, the Bible says that He loves everyone! He proved it, too! He demonstrated His love by sending His one and only Son, Jesus, into the world to save the world (John 3:16). God the Father didn’t just say the words, “I love you” to the world. He showed the world how much He loves us through His Son, Jesus. In our verse for today, the Apostle John says that because God loves us so much, He brought us into His family. He adopted us as His children. How wonderful is that? The Bible says that at one time we were enemies of God because of our sinful behavior (Colossians 1:21). God the Father, in His great love for us, through Christ, brought us into His family. You and I, we are part of God’s family now. The good news of the Gospel is that there’s always room for one more. We now have a responsibility to tell everyone about the love of God. We need to let people know that God wants to adopt them into His family, too. His deepest desire is that everyone would repent and come to know the truth of the Gospel so He can adopt them as His very own children. The challenge for you and me today is to think of one person we know who needs the love of God. Think of a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a neighbor who needs to be adopted into our family. Pray for an opportunity to share God’s love with that person in the next month. You just may be surprised at how God moves to create that opportunity. When the opportunity arises, seize it! See how God works through you to start the adoption process and we’ll all rejoice when our new brothers and sisters join our family. By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Illinois U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 18, 19 Leviticus 18 -- Laws on Sexual Relations NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 19 -- Idolatry Forbidden; Various Laws NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 27:32-66 Matthew 27 -- Judas Hangs Himself; Jesus' Trial, Crucifixion and Burial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion They speak without a sound or word;their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. Insight The apostle Paul referred to this psalm when he explained that everyone knows about God because nature proclaims God's existence and power. This does not cancel the need for missions because the message of God's salvation found in his Word, the Bible, must still be told to the ends of the earth. While nature points to the existence of God, the Bible tells us about salvation. God's people must explain to others how they can have a relationship with God. Challenge Although people everywhere should already believe in a Creator by just looking at the evidence of nature around them, God needs us to explain his love, mercy, and grace. What are you doing to take God's message to the world? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 2 Kings 25:30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king's palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin's case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion. Here is surely ground for thankfulness. Beloved Christian reader, in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word, through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy. Daily Light on the Daily Path Matthew 3:15 But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him.Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Matthew 5:17,18 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. • "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious. Matthew 5:20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Romans 8:3,4 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, • so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 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. |
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