New Testament in a Year

Revelation 4:1-11
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Revelation chapter 4 today is an amazing chapter, where we get a great glimpse of worship in heaven!  Verses 1 & 2 are an awesome start to this chapter with John first seeing an open door in heaven and then being instantly in the Spirit!  “Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” And instantly I was in the Spirit.” 

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Verse 3 stands out today with a great glimpse of God’s glory – “The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones–jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow.” You’ll note that there is not a clear description of God, as he is often described as dwelling in an “unapproachable light”.  But I think the gemstones and the emerald rainbow are pretty good starters for envisioning God’s glory…  Can you imagine seeing God face to face some day?  Does this make your heart leap with excitement and joy?

Verse 4 stood out in today’s readings as well: “Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.” It is said that these 24 thrones represent both the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles of Jesus.  Thus, representing all righteous and redeemed men and women before and after Jesus’ life.

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Verses 6 & 7 will remind us of the seraphs in Isaiah and the cherubim in Ezekiel – “In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings had the form of a lion; the second looked like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth had the form of an eagle with wings spread out as though in flight.”  These creatures are said to represent aspects of the attributes of God.  The lion representing majesty & power.  The ox representing faithfulness.  The human representing intelligence.  And the eagle representing sovereignty.

Verses 10 & 11 is a beautiful look at elders worshiping God!  “The twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.”   Imagine yourself in heaven with a crown of some sort.  Will you lay down your crown before the throne of God and worship God in this same manner?  Do you believe that God is worthy to receive all glory, and honor, and power?  Do you believe that it was for God’s pleasure that everything exists and was created?

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Revelation reminded me of the song “Joy to the World” sung here by Phil Wickham:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbZNk5uSYK4

Are you joyful?  Click here for Joy!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’” Revelation 4:10-11 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you will always fall down and lay your crown at the feet of Jesus. Pray that you will praise and worship Jesus giving Him all glory and honor and power.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 3:7-22
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Today in Revelation chapter 3 we read about The Message to the Church in Philadelphia and Laodicea.   Verse 8 today is powerful, from Jesus: “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut.”  Jesus has opened the door for us to enter God’s kingdom through faith in him.  No one can keep us from entering through this open door – besides ourselves.  Will you walk through the door Jesus has opened for you?

Verses 15 and 16 are convicting words from Jesus!  “”I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”  Are you hot or cold in your faith for God these days?  Or maybe lukewarm?  Will you live now and tomorrow with only a hot faith in God?  Hot Tamales Hot?  🙂

Verse 20 is beautiful from Jesus:  “”Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”  As we read above – the door to entering into the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus is open and no one can shut it – except maybe we will shut the door ourselves in our own lives.  If you have shut the door, is it possible that you hear Jesus knocking on the door?  Is it possible Jesus is calling to you from the other side of the door you have shut?  Will you open it?  Do you want to share a meal with Jesus as friends?

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of the NeedToBreathe song “Washed By the Water:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMAmTLXJG2U

Have you been washed by the water?  Click here and be made clean!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are hot for the Lord. Pray against any lukewarm-ness in your life when it comes to your love and faith in Jesus.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 2:18-3:6
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Today in Revelation we continue to read Jesus’ messages to the 7 churches in Asia Minor – see yesterday’s posting below for a map of where these 7 churches were located.  Also, don’t forget the powerful vision that John saw of Jesus in Revelation chapter 1 verses 12 through 14 and verse 20 just before we began reading these messages to the 7 churches: “When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance… This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992.
To order prints visit her “Revelation Illustrated” site.

Revelation chapter 2 verse 19 is awesome as Jesus says: “”I know all the things you do–your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”   How are you doing in these areas in your life?  Are you focusing on love, faith, service and patience?  Are you constantly improving in these areas in your life?

Revelation chapter 3 verse 3 is powerful from Jesus: “Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again.”  My thought here is that sometimes we are so on fire for our faith in Jesus and God – particularly when we first believe.  And then this fire and initial strong faith begins to wane over time.  And to a degree, this is okay.  We will not be on the “mountaintop” all of the time – we must traverse through the valleys as well. But, if perhaps we’ve been camped out in the valleys for a bit too long now, is it possible that we might need to go back to what we heard and believed at first?  Might we need to hold to these first beliefs more firmly?  And turn to Jesus again? This Advent and Christmas season, will you return to Jesus once again? Will you return to the Manger in Bethlehem?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Revelation remind me of the Christmas carol “Do You Hear What I Hear” performed here by Josh Wilson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0y4ZS0Upk4

Do you hear what I hear?  Click here and hear all about Jesus!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 2:1-17
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Revelation chapter 2 begins our journey of Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor! (modern day Turkey).  Below is a map of the 7 churches of Revelation:

Depending on what type of Bible you read, you might notice that ALL of the words in chapter 2 in today’s readings are highlighted red – meaning, we are hearing directly from Jesus in these verses, so it’s good to pay attention here!  🙂

The beginning of Revelation 2 verse 2 stands out to me today – “”I know all the things you do.”  Short and simple…. Do you suppose this is true about Jesus and your life?  Do you think Jesus knows all of the things you do?  Even every single thing that you think?

Verse 7 certainly stands out today as well from Jesus: “Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God.”  The tree of life takes us back to the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.  Adam and Eve ended up eating from the forbidden tree of knowledge – which gave them the knowledge of good and evil.  God then banished them from the Garden before they could eat from the tree of life and live eternally.  The tree of life represents eternal life, and as we see in this verse it is offered to all who are victorious.  What does it mean to be victorious?  Do you want to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God?  Will you listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying?  Below is a stained glass image of the Tree of Life:

Verse 17 is intriguing!  “Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”  The second sentence is very intriguing to me – a white stone will be given with a new name upon it.  I need to do some more research on what exactly this means.  If anyone has thoughts on the white stone / new name, please post up in the comments below.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Revelation 2:2 remind me of the Crowder song “Thanks Giver:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxDKchUybN0

Are you a Thanks Giver?  Click here and give Thanks!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray for ears to hear. Pray for victory. Pray that you will receive a white stone with a new name written on it. Pray for the gift of hidden manna.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Revelation 1:1-20
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Today we start the book of Revelation!  I have to confess that I have been a bit nervous about blogging through the book of Revelation.  But here goes nothing!  🙂   Revelation has been called “The Revelation of John”, but really this book is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”.   It is believed that the apostle John wrote this book.  He also wrote the Gospel of John and the letters of First, Second, and Third John.  There was some dispute about the apostle John writing this book in the third century by a bishop named Dionysius – as he thought the writing style of this book was so different from the Gospel of John & his letters.   But most do believe that the apostle John did indeed write the book of Revelation on the Island of Patmos, off the coast of Ephesus, or modern-day Turkey.  It is said that one of the major purposes of this book, written in circa 95 A.D., was to encourage Christians to resist the Roman empire’s demands of emperor worship. The other important thing to note is the Revelation is apocalyptic literature, which means that its writing is highly symbolic.  Below is artwork of John on Patmos writing the book of Revelation:

There are basically 4 lines of thinking on how to interpret the book of Revelation, which I think are helpful to consider before diving into this book.  I am editing these comments below from bible.org at this link: Please check out this link for more details on these 4 points below and the book of Revelation overall – these comments were edited on bible.org from M. C. Tenney, Interpreting Revelation.

“(1) The preterist approach believes that “Revelation is simply a sketch of the conditions of the empire in the first century.”

(2) The historicist view (or continuous-historicist view) “contends that Revelation is a symbolic presentation of the entire course of the history of the church from the close of the first century to the end of time.”

(3) The futurist approach usually argues that “all of the visions from Revelation 4:1 to the end of the book are yet to be fulfilled in the period immediately preceding and following the second advent of Christ.”

(4) In the idealist approach, “the Revelation represents the eternal conflict of good and evil which persists in every age, although here it may have particular application to the period of the church.””

Into the readings today… Chapter 1 verse 8 certainly stands out in today’s readings, as we hear from Jesus himself: “”I am the Alpha and the Omega–the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One.”  I like that – the Alpha & Omega.  The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet.  Jesus is the beginning and end of all things.  Jesus is God.

 

In verses 17 & 18 today we hear this similar theme from Jesus again to John: “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one who died. Look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”  It is awesome that Jesus uses the term Living One here.  This is very similar to Old Testament verses we hear about God being a Living God.  Jesus is also truly Living today in our lives.  Do you believe Jesus is the Alpha & Omega?  The Living One?

 

Worship Video: Revelation chapter 1 verse 8 in today’s readings reminds me of the fantastic song by Mark Harris called “One True God:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xuTmGRYFqM

Do you know the One true God?  Click here and meet the One!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.’” Revelation 1:8 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you know that Jesus is your Alpha and Omega. Pray today and every day, Come Lord Jesus, Come!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Jude 1:1-25
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Today we start and finish the book of Jude!  Revelation begins tomorrow!

~ Jude ~
Author: Jude, a brother of Jesus
Place: Uncertain
Date:  A.D. 65-70
Content: It is not known to whom this letter was addressed, but the problem that Jude confronts is very clear.  Jude is urging the believers to stand firm against some false teachers and the false doctrine that they bring.  In a lengthy passage Jude gives examples of judgment in the past that God visited upon sin, as well as a devastating description of the evil lives of those false teachers.  Jude closes with an exhortation to the Christians to stand fast in the power of God who will keep us from falling.
Theme: The danger of false doctrine and the need for constant vigilance by the church is the theme of this book.  Jude admonishes us to examine what people say and the kind of lives that they live so that we may approve what is pleasing in the sight of God.  We may call upon God to help in this with full assurance that he will hear and answer our prayer. (Above commentary is from “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 34-35)    A great overview of Jude by Daniel Wallace is at this link.

The letter of Jude carries forward some of the themes in John’s letter’s we’ve recently read about false teachers.  This letter was written in about 65 A.D.  From Jude & John, it seems like there were obviously some issues of false teachers back in the early church.  People that twisted the truth of who Jesus was.  I read a commentary today which said the twisted truths back then were basically these: 1.  Jesus was not divine.  He was just a man who was infused with the divinity of “the Christ” when he was Baptized in the Jordan, but that the divine nature left him before he died on the cross.  (this would be a huge issue for theology…  it ain’t true folks…)  and 2. Once you believe in Christ and your sins are forgiven, then you have a license to do whatever you want in life.  You’re home free.  Feel free to be as immoral as you want.  (again not true of course…).   Early Gnosticism was a part of the problem with these lines of thinking.  The early Gnostics basically believed that anything of matter/material/flesh was bad, and anything of the spirit was good.  Hence, their belief that Jesus really couldn’t have been a man and God at the same time – and that once they were saved/believed in Christ, then their sins were forgiven in the spiritual realm, so they could do whatever the heck they wanted.  They veered way off the path of Truth…

All this to say – it is so easy for theology to get twisted around.  It happened back in the early church as we see in Jude’s letter today, and in John’s previous letters.  And it happens today.  Something I heard recently that I liked and that I believe is so true.  The Gospel is not complicated.  It’s simple.  If you want the straightforward simple truth of the gospel, head for the Gospel of John in the New Testament and everything you basically need to know is there.  That’s it.  We don’t need to complicate things so much that we get ourselves caught up in ideas that basically create barriers to our relationship with God.  God who loves us so much and wants to be in relationship with us…  we have a good way of complicating this very simple love relationship!   🙂

Verse 24 is so wonderful at the end of Jude’s letter today:- “And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy.”  Great joy indeed I believe can only be found through our relationship with God! There are other temporary happinesses we experience in life.  But great joy…  that’s God.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the song “O Come All Ye Faithful” sung here by Passion Music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wW4R4lfUQI

Have you adored Him?  Click here and adore Him forevermore!

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

3 John 1:1-15
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Today we start and finish the book of Third John!  Yes, it is quite a lengthy letter…  🙂  This letter, like the 2 before it were written by the disciple John in about 85 to 95 A.D.  The purpose of this letter is actually somewhat the opposite of the purpose of Second John.  In Second John – see yesterday’s post below – we learned that John was warning against providing hospitality to traveling false teachers.  In Third John, John is asking Gaius to show hospitality to traveling teachers – but teachers that are teaching the truth.  The unfortunate aspect of today’s letter is that there is a bit of a dictator leading the local church named Diotrephes who is not welcoming in traveling teachers who teach the truth – the Gospel.  So, I think we can learn from Second John & Third John that hospitality is obviously a very good thing – though, we should exercise caution with hospitality when there is danger of propagating a false teaching.

~ Third John ~
Author: John the apostle
Place: Uncertain, probably Ephesus
Date: A.D. 85-95
Content: This short letter is a personal note from John the apostle to his friend Gauis, encouraging him to support the traveling evangelists who are preaching the truth. He warns Gauis against such men as Diotrephes who refuse to help in spreading the gospel and commends others, such as Demetrius, for helping.
Theme: Christians are to support one another in the work of Christ. Not to do so is the work of Satan, who seeks to destroy the believers. John stresses that all believers are bound together as Christians and should work for the common good of all. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 34) A great overview of Third John by Daniel Wallace is at this link.  Below is a marble statue of John by the artist Donatello from the year 1410 –

Verse 11 stands out in this letter, following John’s writing about Diotrephes behavior – “Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.”   Do we have examples of good and bad leaders in our life?  Do we follow only the example of the good?  Do you believe following the example of people doing good is proof that we are children of God?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Third John remind me of the Charlie Hall song “Marvelous Light:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAQJKZJB-kE

Are you running in the Marvelous Light?  Click here and Run!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.” 3 John 1:11 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you are not imitating anything that is evil – ever. Pray that you are pursuing only that which is good. Pray that you are pursuing God wholeheartedly.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

2 John 1:1-13
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Today we read through the very short letter of Second John!  This letter, like First John, was written by one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, John son of Zebedee – who also wrote the Gospel of John and the book of Revelation.  This letter was essentially written to continue to dispel Gnosticism, which was a twisting of Christianity – it basically meant salvation through knowledge (gnosis is Greek for knowledge).  Gnostic teachers were traveling throughout the land at the time this letter was written, and this letter warns people to not encourage this false teaching in any way.  Below is an image made of wood from the 17th century of the Apostle John and scenes from his life:

~ Second John ~
Author: John the apostle
Place: Uncertain, probably Ephesus
Date: A.D. 85-95
Content: This short letter was written either to a Christian woman whom John knew or to a church personified as a woman. In any case, it was written to encourage true Christian love and to warn against the deceivers who were coming into the world. John charges the believers not to participate in their evil, but to stand for the truth no matter what that cost.
Theme: The need for Christians to be alert and diligent when it comes to false doctrine is the theme of this letter. We must be aware that false doctrine exists and we must be ready to deal with it, if confronted. All the while, however, we must live out the love of God in our lives. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 34) A great overview of Second John by Daniel Wallace is at bible.org at this link.

Verses 5 & 6 certainly stand out in this short letter: “And now I want to urge you, dear lady, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” Are you loving others frequently & consistently in your life?  Do you demonstrate love for others consistently?  Do you love God’s commands?  Do you love others as Jesus loved you?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Second John remind me of Darlene Zschech’s awesome worship song “Shout to the Lord:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk5yLJbQCbI

Have you ever shouted to the Lord?  Click here and Shout!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another.” 2 John 1:5 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you love others. Pray that you will always love one another.

Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

1 John 4:1-21
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First John chapter 4 verses 7 through 21 are incredible verses on LOVE! A fun Bible fact for you here – the word love appears 43 times in First John overall – and 32 times in the short section of 4:7 through 5:3.  We’re in the Christian love section here! 🙂  Certainly verses 9 & 10 here are well worth each of us reflecting upon: “God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”  Do you believe these verses to be true?  Do these verses maybe remind you of a similar verse John wrote in his Gospel?  John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  It is awesome that we have these verses to reflect upon – along with Daniel chapter 12 verse 2 above.   See any ties between these verses from the Old & New Testaments regarding eternal life?

First John chapter 4 verse 1 starts us off with quite a warning today: “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”  The interesting thing about this verse for me today is the implication to “see if the spirit they have comes from God.”  Meaning, that the spirit some have come from the opposite of God – the devil.  A bit scary to think about this and realize this.  But, it’s true.  There is good and evil in the world, and good and evil spirits influencing people.  It’s better if we realize this.  It is a fallen world.  Do you believe this verse to be true?  Do you believe there is both good – and evil – in the world?  Do you believe there are many false prophets in the world?

Worship Video: Today’s readings in First John remind me of the Third Day song “You Are Mine:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o-JPkq5rvE

Are you His?  Click here and hear Jesus say “You Are Mine!”

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 1 John 4:20-21 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that you love God. Pray that you do not hate your brother or sister. Pray that you love your brother and sister.

Comments from you – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!