Author Archives: Deborah H. Bateman

Daily Bible Reading “Paul’s Concern for the Galatians” (Galatians 1:1-6)

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Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Galatians 1:1-6. This is the study of the book of Galatians which is an epistle or letter written by Paul. Have you ever studied the book of Galatians?  Paul introduces himself as an apostle of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and of God our Heavenly Father.

He is writing this letter to the churches of Galatia. The epistle is thought to have been written around 50 A.D. Notice the Scripture says churches. This letter wasn’t written to one specific church, as many of Paul’s writings were, but it was written to all the churches in the region of Galatia. Do you know who the people of Galatia were?

The region of Galatia was a Roman Province in Asia Minor. It was thought to be inhabited by Celtic people who were called Gauls. The name Galatia means land of the Galli or Gauls. There were two regions of Galatia a northern region, which was small agricultural cities, and the southern region, which was more commercial.

Paul starts with a greeting saying, “Grace and peace to you from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom is glory for ever and ever. Amen.” If Paul considered the world to be evil at that time, what do you think he would think of our world today?

Paul made sure the churches of Galatia knew who he was representing when he wrote this letter. He had some things to discuss with them and he wanted them to know where he got his authority from so they would respect his writings. Paul was not called by man to be an apostle. His call to be an apostle was directly from God.

Paul’s concern for the people of the churches of Galatia was that they had turned away from God and from the grace of Christ to another gospel so soon. When Paul started this chapter with the words grace and peace he knew that they couldn’t have peace without the grace of God in their lives. They were called by God through Jesus to be His followers, but yet they turned away from Him. You can’t turn to something else without first turning away from God.

Even though the people of Galatia lived long ago the messages Paul gives in the book of Galatians are messages and warnings for all of us. We need to be careful not to turn away from God, but to stay true to Him and His Word. In the next lesson we will look further into this matter and see how the churches of Galatia turned away from God and from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will also see how Paul leads them back to God.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Galatians 1:1-6

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead:)

2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

 

Things to think about:

  • What did you learn about Paul and his dedication to the Lord in this lesson?
  • Who called Paul to serve the churches of his day?
  • What was Paul’s concern for the people of Galatia?
  • Have you ever turned your back on God? What was the circumstance? What happened?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Galatians where we see that Paul was an apostle, called by You. It doesn’t matter what other credentials he has. He had the highest calling and that was to be called by You to serve the churches of his day. Help us not to be worried about trying to impress men with our credentials, but to be more concerned about pleasing You. We see that Paul had a great concern for the churches of Galatia because they turned against You and against the gospel of the grace of Jesus Christ. Help us be on guard not to turn away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, – Galatians 1:3

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– This is an excerpt from my book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

Click the link above to get your copy now!

 

Christian Music Video: Call It Grace – Unspoken


PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Please invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia

By Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Galatians. The book of Galatians is in the New Testament and is one of Paul’s letters. He wrote this letter to the churches of Galatia.

Paul is concerned that the people of Galatia are being taught something different than the true gospel, which he taught them earlier. Paul goes to great lengths to make sure they understand the difference between living under the law and living under the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Galatians: Paul’s Letter to the Churches of Galatia contains sixteen Daily Bible Reading lessons. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day. This book is great to use for both personal Bible study and group Bible studies.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Recipe for Life

 

Daily Bible Reading “Jacob Loved Rachel” (Genesis 29:1-35)

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Jacob Loved Rachel

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Genesis 29:1-35. In this Scripture, Jacob found the love of his life, Rachel, but he was deceived by her father, Laban. Jacob went east and came to a well in the field where there were sheep and servants in the field. He later found out they belonged to his Uncle Laban. When Jacob saw Laban’s daughter coming with the sheep, he removed the stone from the well for the sheep to drink, then he kissed Rachel. This was love at first sight.

Jacob tells Rachel who he is, then she rushes back home to tell her father that her cousin, Jacob, was at the well. Laban runs out to meet Jacob, kissed him and brought him to his house to stay. After Jacob was living at Laban’s house for a month, Laban asked Jacob what he could pay him for helping him. Jacob requested Rachel to be his wife. Laban promised Jacob if he worked for him for seven years he could have Rachel for his wife.

Can you imagine how much Jacob loved Rachel, to be willing to work for her father for seven years so he could have her for his wife? After Jacob worked for Laban for seven years he went to Laban and asked him for Rachel’s hand in marriage. Laban prepared a wedding feast for Jacob, but instead of giving him Rachel, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Rachel’s sister Leah to be his wife.

The next morning when Jacob went to Laban and asked him why he did what he did, Laban said they had a custom that they couldn’t marry off the youngest daughter until they had taken care of the firstborn. This was probably a reminder to Jacob since he stole his brother, Esau’s birthright.

Then, Laban tells Jacob, if he worked for him for seven more years he would give him his younger daughter Rachel to be his wife. Jacob loved Rachel so much he was willing to work for her father seven more years in order to have Rachel as his wife. Jacob did as Laban requested and completed Leah’s bridal week before Laban allowed Jacob to have Rachel as his wife also. Jacob loved Rachel much more than he loved Leah.

The Lord saw Leah was hated and Rachel was loved, so he opened Leah’s womb so she could bear children, but Rachel was barren. Leah kept having children for Jacob in hopes it would cause Jacob to love her more than he loved Rachel.

In Biblical times much importance was put on having children. There are women today who may want to have children, but haven’t been blessed with them yet. My husband and I went for over eight years trying to have children before God finally blessed us with our girls. It was a very emotional time for me especially. I can relate to Rachel and how she must have felt. At times I felt grieved about not being able to have children. I imagine Rachel felt the same way. She also had the other woman to deal with. This only caused more jealousy between Rachael and Leah. Leah couldn’t earn Jacob’s love. His heart was devoted to Rachel.

God knows you can’t have two masters. The Bible says in Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” True love is giving one person your undivided love and attention.

Proverbs 6:34-35 reminds us, “For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.” The jealousy between these two sisters caused a lot of trouble for Jacob for many years.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Genesis 29:1-35

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.

2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well’s mouth.

3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well’s mouth in his place.

4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.

5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.

6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.

7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.

8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well’s mouth; then we water the sheep.

9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them.

10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.

11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.

12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother, and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.

13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.

14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.

15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?

16 And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.

17 Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.

18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

21 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.

22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.

23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.

24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.

25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?

26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.

27 Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.

28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.

29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.

30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.

31 And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.

33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.

35 And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

 

Things to think about:

  • Do you wonder what it was about Rachel that made Jacob fall in love with her at first sight?
  • Can you imagine working for seven years for a bride and then getting the wrong one?
  • Think about the way Rachel felt when God blessed Leah and allowed her to have children for Jacob, while Rachel was barren.

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

There are many lessons we can learn from this Scripture in the Bible. You demonstrated through this Scripture that we can only have true love for one person at a time and trying to do anything other than that will cause a lot of jealousy and trouble for everybody concerned. Help us, dear God, to be faithful to our partners and to love them in the way You would have us to. Help us to love You, and put You first in our lives. Bless our homes and our families. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. – Genesis 29:18

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–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

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PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

godislove25

God Is Love

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

God is Love is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It contains 19 daily devotionals on Scriptures about love from the Bible: including God’s love for us, the love relationship between a husband and wife, love and honoring our parents, and much more.

This devotional would be great for either a personal daily devotions or group Bible studies, including small groups, and Sunday school classes. Each devotional contains a brief commentary by the author, the daily Bible Scripture, a prayer of the day, and several questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

In God is Love, Deborah strives to show you not only what love is, but that love comes from God, as well as the love of God surpasses all imagination. Her goal for you as you read this book is that you would realize how much God loves you.

Benefits of reading God is Love
• You will learn what love is
• You will learn about different kinds of love
• You will learn how much God loves you
• You will learn of the sacrifice made by God because of His love for you

Available on Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

Like Deborah H. Bateman on Facebook

Daily Bible Reading “Love One Another” (John 15:12-27)

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Love One Another

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from John 15:12-27. In this Scripture, Jesus is talking to His disciples; right before He went to be crucified. Jesus tells them, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” He didn’t tell them to love each other if they felt like it. Jesus wanted them to commit to love each other.

Make the decision to love someone whether you feel like it or not. Even in our families there might be times when we don’t feel like loving each other. But we should love each other anyway, because we are committed to love them.

Even so, we should love our brothers and sisters in Christ because Jesus tells us to love one another. What better example than that of Jesus who taught us how to love others? This kind of love is not an emotional love, but rather a decision to love one another.

Jesus reminds His disciples, “Greater love has no man than this that He lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus says, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” He tells the disciples they didn’t choose Him, but He chose them and ordained them to bear fruit, that whatever they ask the Father in His name, He may give it to them.

Not everybody we meet is going to love us. Jesus reminds the disciples of this by telling them if the world hates them or mistreats them they should not be dismayed because they knew the world hated Him and His Father before it hated them. Jesus explains to them that since He came into the world and told the world about their sin, they had no covering for their sin.

Those who didn’t want to accept Jesus as their Savior hated Him and His Father. Not everyone you try to share the gospel with will accept Jesus, and they may not like you for sharing it, even though you are trying to help them.

Another way God showed His love for us is by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell with us. Jesus promises the disciples that He will send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, unto them from the Father and He will testify of Jesus. He tells them they also will bear witness of Him, because they were with Him from the beginning. God didn’t want to leave us alone so He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us.

God wants us to have this same kind of love for one another that He has for us, the kind of love that cares for one another.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

John 15:12-27

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

 

Things to think about:

  • Why does Jesus want us to love one another?
  • How do you know you have the love of Jesus in your heart?
  • When do you find it hard to love others?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

Please help us to love one another as Jesus commanded in this Scripture. Help us not to go by our feelings, but to make a decision in our hearts and lives to love anyway. As we live in this world help us to bear witness of You and Your Son, and share Your love with others. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. – John 15:12

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–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

 

Christian Music Video: “Love One Another” – Michael W. Smith

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

godislove25

God Is Love

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

God is Love is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It contains 19 daily devotionals on Scriptures about love from the Bible: including God’s love for us, the love relationship between a husband and wife, love and honoring our parents, and much more.

This devotional would be great for either a personal daily devotions or group Bible studies, including small groups, and Sunday school classes. Each devotional contains a brief commentary by the author, the daily Bible Scripture, a prayer of the day, and several questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

In God is Love, Deborah strives to show you not only what love is, but that love comes from God, as well as the love of God surpasses all imagination. Her goal for you as you read this book is that you would realize how much God loves you.

Benefits of reading God is Love
• You will learn what love is
• You will learn about different kinds of love
• You will learn how much God loves you
• You will learn of the sacrifice made by God because of His love for you

Available on Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

Like Deborah H. Bateman on Facebook

Daily Bible Reading “Love One Another Sincerely” (Romans 12:9-21)

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Love One Another Sincerely

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Romans 12:9-21. In this Scripture, Paul reminds us to let love be sincere; to hate evil, and to cling to things that are good. Be kind and caring to each other in brotherly love, and to honor one another.

Romans 12:11 tells us not to be lazy in our work, but to have passion for what is good and serving the Lord. We are to be joyful in the hope of the Lord, patient during trials, praying continually. The Scripture says we should help each other when there is a need and be hospitable by inviting each other into our homes.

We are to bless those who persecute us, rejoice with those that rejoice and cry with those who cry. In other words, we are to share life together, when there is an occasion to be happy or sad, we are to share those experiences.

We are not to think ourselves better than others, but to treat everyone equally. Paul tells us to be honest and to live at peace with one another. We are not to try to get revenge for evil that is done to us. Paul reminds us that vengeance belongs to the Lord. The Lord will repay people for their evil doings. It is not our place to try to get revenge. He encourages us to repay evil with good and, by doing so, those who mistreated us will be ashamed of the way they acted.


Daily Bible Reading:

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

Things to think about:

  • What does the Scripture mean when it says to abhor evil?
  • Why should we not try to repay evil for evil?
  • How can we overcome evil by doing good?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

Thank You for this Scripture in which Paul tells us how we should treat one another.  Help us to follow this example. Help us to share life with one another by celebrating the good things and mourning the bad things. Help us to live at peace with one another. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; – Romans 12:10

Click To Tweet

–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

 

Christian Music Video: Others – Israel Houghton

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

godislove25

God Is Love

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

God is Love is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It contains 19 daily devotionals on Scriptures about love from the Bible: including God’s love for us, the love relationship between a husband and wife, love and honoring our parents, and much more.

This devotional would be great for either a personal daily devotions or group Bible studies, including small groups, and Sunday school classes. Each devotional contains a brief commentary by the author, the daily Bible Scripture, a prayer of the day, and several questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

In God is Love, Deborah strives to show you not only what love is, but that love comes from God, as well as the love of God surpasses all imagination. Her goal for you as you read this book is that you would realize how much God loves you.

Benefits of reading God is Love
• You will learn what love is
• You will learn about different kinds of love
• You will learn how much God loves you
• You will learn of the sacrifice made by God because of His love for you

Available on Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

Like Deborah H. Bateman on Facebook

Daily Bible Reading “Love Your Enemies” (Luke 6:27-38)

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Love Your Enemies

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Luke 6:27-38. In this Scripture, Jesus is talking to His disciples, and is telling them to love their enemies. It is much easier to love the people who love you, such as your family and your friends. It is another thing to love the people who curse you, spitefully use you, hit you, or steal from you. But Jesus says, as Christians, we should love those people as well. How are we supposed to love our enemies?

Loving our enemies isn’t something we can do on our own. It is only something we can do with the Lord’s help and with the Holy Spirit living in us. Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies. He says everybody loves the people who love them, but He expects us to go beyond that, and show a Christ-like love to everybody. He even wants us to love those who don’t love us or mistreat us.

In Luke 6:35, Jesus says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Jesus says to be merciful, as their Father is merciful. He is talking about their Heavenly Father, not their earthly father.

Jesus tells them not to judge or condemn, but to forgive and they shall be forgiven.  Then in verse thirty-eight He says to, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” If we are generous and giving with people, they will be generous and giving with us. If we are stingy and selfish with people then they will most likely treat us the same way.

This is a lesson we can all take today. Because it is easy to love the people who love us and do good to the people who do good to us. But, with God’s help, we can learn to love the people who don’t love us. We can learn to do good to the people who don’t do good to us. We can learn to be loving and generous by giving to those who never can repay us.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Luke 6:27-38

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

 

Things to think about:

  • How can we love our enemies?
  • How can we do good to those who don’t do good to us?
  • Do you give to those who can never repay you?
  • Do you pray for those who spitefully use you?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

Please help us to do what Jesus talked about in this Scripture. Help us to love our enemies, and do good to those who don’t do good to us. Help us to be generous and give to those who can never repay us. Help us not to judge or condemn others. God, this is a big task for us, and if we tried to do it in our own power, we would fail. The only way we can do these things is with Your help. We acknowledge that we need Your help. Help us, Lord. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and …

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your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

– Luke 6:35

–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

 

Christian Music Video: Love Your Enemies

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Please come back again tomorrow and invite your friends and family to join us for Bible Study.

 

Featured Book:

godislove25

God Is Love

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

God is Love is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It contains 19 daily devotionals on Scriptures about love from the Bible: including God’s love for us, the love relationship between a husband and wife, love and honoring our parents, and much more.

This devotional would be great for either a personal daily devotions or group Bible studies, including small groups, and Sunday school classes. Each devotional contains a brief commentary by the author, the daily Bible Scripture, a prayer of the day, and several questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

In God is Love, Deborah strives to show you not only what love is, but that love comes from God, as well as the love of God surpasses all imagination. Her goal for you as you read this book is that you would realize how much God loves you.

Benefits of reading God is Love
• You will learn what love is
• You will learn about different kinds of love
• You will learn how much God loves you
• You will learn of the sacrifice made by God because of His love for you

Available on Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

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