Bible League: Living His Word But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.— 2 Peter 3:13 NIV God has made a promise to us. It’s the promise of a new heaven and a new earth. It’s the promise that can be found in the prophecies of Isaiah. First, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind,” (Isaiah 65:17). And second, “‘As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,’ declares the LORD, ‘so will your name and descendants endure,’” (Isaiah 66:22). The new heaven and earth will replace the old heaven and earth. What’s the difference between the old and the new? According to our verse for today, the new heaven and earth will be the place “where righteousness dwells.” The old is the place of sin and death. The new, on the other hand, is the place of righteousness and life. That’s why we’re looking forward to it. Unlike the old, it will not be a transient situation. It will be eternal. As the Lord says, “the new heavens and the new earth that I will make will endure before me.” Just like the flood in Genesis, God’s intent is not to destroy His creation, but to purify it. That’s why, as the Apostle Paul tells us, “… the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed,” (Romans 8:19). It wouldn’t make much sense for creation, both heaven and earth, to look forward to its own annihilation. Rather, it looks forward to the time when it will no longer be subjected to the futility caused by sin and evil (Romans 8:20). The promise is the promise of a refurbished heaven and earth. It’s a promise definitely worth looking forward to. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 24, 25 Leviticus 24 -- Lamp and Bread; Blasphemer Stoned; Eye for Eye NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 25 -- The Sabbath Year and Year of Jubilee NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 1:23-45 Mark 1 -- John the Baptist Preaches, Baptizes Jesus; Jesus Tempted, Calls First Disciples, Preaches, Heals and Prays in Galilee NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Show me the right path, O LORD;point out the road for me to follow. Insight David expressed his desire for guidance. How do we receive God's guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God's primary guidance system is in his Word, the Bible. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God's direction for our lives. We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for direction. Challenge When we are willing to seek God, learn from his Word, and obey his commands, then will we receive his specific guidance. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Genesis 25:11 Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi.Hagar had once found deliverance there and Ishmael had drank from the water so graciously revealed by the God who liveth and seeth the sons of men; but this was a merely casual visit, such as worldlings pay to the Lord in times of need, when it serves their turn. They cry to him in trouble, but forsake him in prosperity. Isaac dwelt there, and made the well of the living and all-seeing God his constant source of supply. The usual tenor of a man's life, the dwelling of his soul, is the true test of his state. Perhaps the providential visitation experienced by Hagar struck Isaac's mind, and led him to revere the place; its mystical name endeared it to him; his frequent musings by its brim at eventide made him familiar with the well; his meeting Rebecca there had made his spirit feel at home near the spot; but best of all, the fact that he there enjoyed fellowship with the living God, had made him select that hallowed ground for his dwelling. Let us learn to live in the presence of the living God; let us pray the Holy Spirit that this day, and every other day, we may feel, "Thou God seest me." May the Lord Jehovah be as a well to us, delightful, comforting, unfailing, springing up unto eternal life. The bottle of the creature cracks and dries up, but the well of the Creator never fails; happy is he who dwells at the well, and so has abundant and constant supplies near at hand. The Lord has been a sure helper to others: his name is Shaddai, God All-sufficient; our hearts have often had most delightful intercourse with him; through him our soul has found her glorious Husband, the Lord Jesus; and in him this day we live, and move, and have our being; let us, then, dwell in closest fellowship with him. Glorious Lord, constrain us that we may never leave thee, but dwell by the well of the living God. Daily Light on the Daily Path Leviticus 4:12 that is, all the rest of the bull, he is to bring out to a clean place outside the camp where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.John 19:16,18 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified. • There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Hebrews 13:11-13 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. • Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. • So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Philippians 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 1 Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 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. 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