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Live in Christ (1 John 2:7-29), August 21, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 John 2:7-29

Set – Psalms 118; 1 John 2

Go! – Jeremiah 21, 24, 27; Psalms 118; 1 John 2

1 John 2:7-29
7 My loved ones, in one sense, I am not writing a new command for you. I am only reminding you of the old command. It’s a word you already know, a word that has existed from the beginning. 8 However, in another sense, I am writing a new command for you. The new command is the truth that He lived; and now you are living it, too, because the darkness is fading and the true light is already shining among you.
9 Anyone who says, “I live in the light,” but hates his brother or sister is still living in the shadows. 10 Anyone who loves his brother or sister lives in the light and will not trip because his conscience is clear. 11 But anyone who hates his brother is in the darkness, stumbling around with no idea where he is going, blinded by the darkness.
12 I am writing to you, my children, because your sins have been forgiven by the authority of His name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers and mothers, because you have known Him as the Creator, as the One who started everything.
I am writing to you, young people, because He has given you the power to conquer the evil one.
14 I have written to you, my children, because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers and mothers, because you have known Him, the Creator.
I have written to you, young people, because the voice of God remains and is heard among you. Remember that you have conquered the evil one.
15 Don’t fall in love with this corrupt world or worship the things it can offer. Those who love its corrupt ways don’t have the Father’s love living within them. 16 All the things the world can offer to you—the allure of pleasure, the passion to have things, and the pompous sense of superiority—do not come from the Father. These are the rotten fruits of this world. 17 This corrupt world is already wasting away, as are its selfish desires. But the person really doing God’s will—that person will never cease to be.
18 My children, this is the final hour. You have heard that the antiChrist, the greatest enemy to His kingdom, is coming, but in fact, many antiChrists are already here. This development tells us how late it really is. 19 A group has left us, but they were not part of our family. If they were truly our brothers and sisters, they would have remained for the duration with us. When they left, they made it ever so obvious that they were not part of us.
20 You have been given an anointing, a special touch from the Holy One. You know the truth. 21 I am not writing to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it. You know that no lie belongs to the truth. 22 The liar is the one who says, “Jesus is not really the Anointed One.” This is the antiChrist, the one denying both the Father and the Son. 23 Anyone who denies the Son does not know the Father. The one affirming the Son enjoys an intimate relationship with the Father as well.
24 Let the good news, the story you have heard from the beginning of your journey, live in and take hold of you. If that happens and you focus on the good news, then you will always remain in a relationship with the Son and the Father. 25 This is what He promised us: eternal life.
26 I also am writing to warn you about some who are attempting to deceive you. 27 You have an anointing. You received it from Him, and His anointing remains on you. You do not need any other teacher. But as His anointing instructs you in all the essentials (all the truth uncontaminated by darkness and lies), it teaches you this: “Remain connected to Him.”
28 So now, my little children, live in Him, so that whenever He is revealed, we will have confidence and not have to hang our heads in shame before Him when He comes. 29 If you know that He is just and faithful, then you also know that everyone who lives faithfully and acts justly has been born into a new life through Him.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

You have heard many voices in the world around you. The world wants to pull you away from Me and tell you that what My word says isn’t true. There’s an easy way to keep from being deceived, though. Live in Me. That’s the secret. Stay attached to Me. John wrote about a metaphor I gave My disciples in his gospel. I told them I was the vine and those that follow Me are the branches. If you do not produce fruit, My Father, the keeper of the vineyard cuts those branches from the vine and burns them in the fire. He prunes the branches to make sure they produce good fruit.

The point is when My followers stay connected to Me, they produce good fruit. They grow and My Father is pleased with them. When not connected with Me, the branches soon wither, die, and are destroyed. So live in Me. Stay connected. Stay in My word. Pray. Study. Meditate on My word. Listen to Me. Do what I ask. Live in Me. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Listen and obey (2 Chronicles 17), June 17, 2015

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Today’s Podcast


Subscribe in: iTunes|Download

Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 2 Chronicles 17
Set – 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3
Go! – 1 Kings 20-21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3

2 Chronicles 17
1 Jehoshaphat, Asa’s son, became king and demonstrated his authority over the Southern Kingdom of Israel by strengthening Judah’s defenses. 2 He stationed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and built barracks throughout the territory of Judah and the cities of Ephraim, which his father Asa had conquered. 3 The Eternal was with Jehoshaphat because he ruled as David had throughout his reign and as his father Asa had at the beginning of his reign. Jehoshaphat did not seek the lords of foreign religions; 4 instead, he looked for the True God of his father as Azariah told Asa to do, followed His commands, and was faithful to God, unlike the Northern Kingdom of Israel. 5 Because of his virtues, the Eternal gave control of the kingdom to Jehoshaphat. The people living throughout Judah brought gifts to their new king, Jehoshaphat, and he had abundant riches and honor. 6 Jehoshaphat prided himself on supporting the ways of the Eternal by cleansing Judah of foreign cultic symbols: high places and Asherah figures.

7-9 In his third year, Jehoshaphat sent his most worthy officials (Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah), some of the Levites (Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah), and some of the priests (Elishama and Jehoram) to all the people in Judah to teach them from the Eternal’s laws.

10 All the kingdoms and lands surrounding Judah feared the Eternal, so they would not attack Jehoshaphat. 11 Some of the Philistines even brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat, and Arabians brought him flocks: 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.

12-13 Jehoshaphat grew stronger at home and abroad, he built fortresses and store cities with great supplies in Judah, and he stationed his heroic men in Jerusalem 14 according to their families: From Judah, the commanders of their divisions were Adnah, the commander of 300,000 heroic men; 15 then Johanan, the commander of 280,000; 16 then Amasiah (son of Zichri who volunteered to serve the Eternal), and with him 200,000 heroic men. 17 From Benjamin, Eliada, a valiant warrior, and with him 200,000 archers and those carrying shields; 18 then Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war. 19 These men served the king in Jerusalem, and others served him in other fortified cities throughout Judah.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

No one in Jehoshaphat’s day dared attack Jerusalem. He put over a million soldiers in the city. That would put fear into any army poised against them in that day. But it wasn’t the size of Jehoshaphat’s army they feared. The nations around Judah had seen large armies before and knew they could take advantage of internal tribal discord and piecemeal any army over time.

The surrounding nations feared Me. They knew I was on Judah’s side. When Jehoshaphat began clearing away the high places and destroyed the Asherah poles around the country without adverse consequences, but prosperity and blessings instead, they knew I protected him. They understood the promises I made to Judah’s kings were true. They didn’t want to face Me on the battlefield.

Jehoshaphat served Me the way David served Me. He searched My word. He listened to and obeyed My laws. He did everything I asked My kings to do and I rewarded him for it. Consequently, his coffers grew, even the long lasting enemies of the land, the Philistines, brought rich gifts to Jehoshaphat to honor his reign and he immediately gave the credit to Me.

That’s what happens when you’re faithful to Me. I bless you. It may be the same way in which I blessed Jehoshaphat, with riches and power and fear from your enemies. It may come in the form of peace and happiness but without a lot of wealth and stuff to clutter your life. It may come with pain and suffering, but knowing My peace, hope, and love that sustains you in the worst times of life. You will succeed in My eyes… And that’s what’s important.

While Asa and Jehoshaphat followed Me, they knew My power and presence in their lives. I protected them and those they led. You can experience the same thing. Just listen to and obey my voice. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.