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prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

– 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

Featured Book:

The Book of 1 Thessalonians: Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

by Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of 1 Thessalonians: Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of 1 Thessalonians by Deborah H. Bateman. The Book of 1 Thessalonians is from the New Testament of the Bible. It’s a letter from Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians.

Paul established the church of Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. It was known throughout the land that the Thessalonians had great faith in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul loved the Thessalonians. He had a great concern for the Thessalonians and desired to see them again. But, since Paul couldn’t go see them he sent Timothy to encourage them in the faith.

The Book of 1 Thessalonians: Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians contains eight Bible lessons which can be used for personal of group Bible studies. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, several questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer to go along with the lesson. Our desire is that this book will help you to have a better understanding of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.

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

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. – Colossians 4:5

Daily Bible Reading “Redeem the Time” (Colossians 4:1-18)

Posted on October 1, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Redeem the Time

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is fromColossians 4:1-18. The book of Colossians emphasizes that Christ is the head of the church. Paul wrote this letter to the church of Colosse because of his concern for the heresies that were cropping up in that area. Paul didn’t attack the heresies, but he exalted Jesus Christ. Why do you think Paul did it in that way?

In this chapter, Paul started talking to masters, or slave owners, telling them to treat their servants just and fair, remembering that they have a Master in heaven. Paul instructed them to devote themselves to prayer, to be watchful and always thankful for everything.

Paul reminded them to pray specifically. He wanted them to pray that God would open doors for them to preach about the mystery of Christ. The mystery of the gospel is that the gospel of Christ was also for the Gentiles. Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel.

Paul asked them to pray that he might be able to teach and make known this mystery. He exhorted them to walk in wisdom toward the lost so they could redeem the time. Paul reminded them that they should speak with grace, seasoned with salt, so they would know how to answer everyone.

Paul sent Tychicus, his beloved brother and faithful minister, to the Colossians to let them know how they were doing and to encourage them in the Lord. He, along with Onesimus, who was also a faithful and beloved brother, and was one of the Colossians, would let Paul know what is going on with the Colossians.

Aristarchus, who was in prison with Paul, sent his greetings to the Colossians as well. Marcus, who is Barnabas’ cousin, sent his greetings also. Paul encouraged the Colossians to welcome Mark if he came to minister to them. Jesus, whom we call Justus, also sent his greetings. These were Paul’s co-laborers for the kingdom of God, who were a great comfort to Paul.

Epaphras, a servant of Christ, who was one of the Colossians, also sent his greeting to the Colossians. He was always praying for them that they might stand perfect and complete in the will of God. Paul bore witness of his great concern for the Colossians and for those at Laodicea and Hieraplis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas also sent their greetings. It sounds like Paul had a whole team of people working with him.

Paul reminded the Colossians to say hello to the brethren at Laodicea and the ones who had church in the home of Nymphas. He told them to make sure they read this letter to the church of Laodicea also. Paul told them to tell Archippus to be sure and carry out the work the Lord had given him to do. Paul ends the letter by saying, “Grace be with you.”

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 4:1-18

1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

10 Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him:)

11 And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only [are my] fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

15 Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

16 And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.

17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. [[[The following was added by editors of the KJV: Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.]]]

Things to think about:

What was Paul’s concern for the Colossians in this Scripture?

Who were the partners who Paul named in this passage? What do you know about them?
What lessons have you learned from Paul’s letter to the Colossians?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians. We have learned a lot from this letter Paul wrote to the Colossians. We see in this part of the letter that Paul puts a special emphasis on prayer. Help us to pray without ceasing and to be watchful for Your return. Help us to be thankful for everything You have done for us and given us, especially the gift of salvation. Help us to have wisdom and grace when dealing with those that are lost, that we might win them for Your kingdom. Thank You for the people You send to serve and worship along with us. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, …

Daily Bible Reading “Paul Talks about Relationships” (Colossians 3:18-25)

Posted on September 30, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Paul Talks about Relationships

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 3:18-25. Paul talks about different relationships. He reminds us how we should act in these relationships. He tells wives they are to submit to their husbands. What does Paul mean by that statement?

The idea of submission doesn’t have anything to do with someone being smarter, better, or more talented than the other. It has to do with a God-appointed order of authority.

God doesn’t expect us to submit to an abusive husband. Paul told husbands to love their wives and not be angry towards them. If husbands love their wives like this they wouldn’t have any trouble with the wife submitting to them. Let’s look at this Scripture from Ephesians where Paul was talked about how husbands are to love their wives:

Ephesians 5:25-29:

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Paul talked to the children, telling them to obey their parents in everything, because it was pleasing to the Lord. He also talked about this in Ephesians 6:2 saying, “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise.)” Paul warned fathers not to provoke their children to anger so they don’t get discouraged.

Paul instructed the servants to obey their masters in the flesh. Even though we no longer have masters and servants, this means we submit to the people who have authority over us. He says we’re to obey the people we work for, not just when they are watching. We shouldn’t just try to please our employer, but work as unto the Lord.

Paul reminds believers whatever we do; we should do it as unto the Lord. We’re not to work just to please men. We need to work to please God. We know that our rewards come from the Lord, since we serve Him. Paul reminds us that whoever does wrong will reap for the wrong he has done and God is no respecter of persons. In other words, He treats us all equally.

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 3:18-25

18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

Things to think about:

What do we learn from this Scripture about the husband-wife relationship?

What do we learn from this Scripture about our relationships with our employers?

How are your relationships pleasing to God?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture that tells us how we should interact with one another. Help us to follow these guidelines. Help us to do what we do as if we were doing it for You. We know that You will reward us for the good we do and will punish us for the wrong we do, since You are our Heavenly Father. We love You, Lord. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

– Colossians 3:18-19

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman.

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. This book is a study of the book of Colossians from the Old Testament of the Bible. The Book of Colossians is one of the Apostle Paul’s letters. In this letter Paul acknowledges the people of Colosse for their faith in Jesus Christ, their love of the saints, and their hope in heaven.

Paul encourages the Colossians to walk worthy of the Lord, to put their hope in the gospel, and to let the peace of God rule in their hearts. Paul also discusses with the people of Colosse how to have relationships that are pleasing to God. Paul reminds them of the great sacrifice that the Lord Jesus Christ made for them on the cross and encourages them to redeem the time.

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse contains eight Daily Bible Reading lessons, which can be used as a personal or group Bible study. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, several questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer to go along with the lesson. Our desire is that this book will help you to have a better understanding of Paul’s letter to the Colossians and how you can apply his message to your life today.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

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

Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Invite your friends and family members to join us.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called …

Daily Bible Reading “Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts” (Colossians 3:1-17)

Posted on September 29, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Let the Peace of God Rule in Your Hearts

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 3:1-17. Paul reminded the Colossians that if they were raised with Christ they should set their minds on heavenly things and not the things of this world. What does Paul mean when he says, “If you are raised with Christ?” He is saying if you’re a Christian, you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. We were all dead in our sins, but if we have accepted Christ as our Savior we are now alive in Christ.

Paul says to slay your body of its fleshly desires, wickedness, and do away with all filthy communication. In other words, we’re to do away with all the behaviors of the old sinful man. We’re to take on all the attributes of the new spiritual man which is renewed in knowledge after God. We can only do this through our trust and faith in Christ.

Paul tells us to put on the new Christ-like behaviors of: humbleness, meekness, long-suffering, mercy, kindness, and love. He says we should uphold each other and forgive each other as Christ forgave us.

We should let the peace of God rule in our hearts. We’re to study the Word of God so it dwells in us. By studying the Bible we gain wisdom from God. Paul exhorts us to teach and admonish each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs singing and worshiping the Lord.

We all need to have an attitude of gratitude for all that the Lord has done for us. I recently did a Bible study on attitudes and one of the things I learned through this study was that we have to replace old bad attitudes with new good attitudes. To change an old bad habit you have to replace it with a new good habit. Paul is trying to tell us this same thing in this Scripture when he tells us to put off the old man and put on the new man.

We can’t do this in our own strength. With God’s help we can strive to do away with the old bad habits and take on the new good attributes of God, through our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 3:1-17

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deed;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision or uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all, these things put on charity (love), which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Things to think about:

Why does Paul remind us to do away with the old sinful nature?

What are some of the things we should replace this old nature with in order to walk in the fullness of Christ?

What in your life shows you have been raised with Christ?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians. Paul reminds us that You make us a new creation when we accept Christ as our Savior. Help us to do away with the old bad habits of the flesh and to take on the new good habits of a spiritual person. Fill our hearts with Your love and help us to express that love to one another. Please help us to be more thankful for all You have done for us. We love You LORD and thank You for the many blessings on our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

in one body; and be ye thankful.

– Colossians 3:15

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
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Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Invite your friends and family members to join us.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

Daily Bible Reading “Nailed to the Cross” (Colossians 2:13-23)

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Nailed to the Cross

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 2:13-23. Paul reminded the Colossians that we, all believers, were once dead in our sins. But God through Jesus Christ paid the ransom for sins of those who have trusted in Him. Through Jesus’ death on the cross He did away with the ordinances of the law.

John 3:5 reminds us that we must have two births, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

To be born of water is our natural birth when we are born into this world. Being born of the Spirit is when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior by faith through grace. He forgives us of our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Paul reminded the Colossians that Jesus did away with the law when He died on the cross. He didn’t want them to let people continue to judge them according to the law by making rules about what they could eat or drink, or for any other reasons.

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 2:13-23

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Things to think about:

What was Paul’s concern for the Colossians in this Scripture?

What are some of the things Paul warned them about?

How did Jesus’ death on the cross resolve this issue?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Colossians. Thank You that Paul reminds us that Jesus paid the ransom for our sins on the cross. Help us to beware of those who may still try to make rules and regulations for us to live by. Help us to live in a godly manner because we love You and not because we are trying to impress man. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

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

Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Invite your friends and family members to join us.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah