Daily Bible Reading “God Is Love” (1 John 4:7-21)

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Deborah H. Bateman

God Is Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 John 4:7-21. This Scripture talks about how we should love one another because God loves us. If God is in us then we should have love dwelling in us, because God is love.

Love is a fruit of the Spirit and if we are Christians we should have love through the Spirit of God. Those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior should have love in our hearts toward one another.

God loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to this world to live and then die on the cross to cover our sins. If we believe and receive Jesus as our Savior, then love dwells in us, because we have the Spirit of God in us.

If you haven’t accepted God, who is love, and He is speaking to you, please seriously consider accepting Him into your heart and life today. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 John 4:7-21

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Things to think about:

Who does the Scripture talk about when it says, “God dwelleth in him, and he in God?”
Why does the Scripture say, “Perfect love casts out fear?”
Why do we love God?
If we are Christians why should we have the love of God in us?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

We thank You that You loved us so much You sent your Son, Jesus, to die for us. Help us to love one another the way You want us to. Help Your love to be perfected in us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. – 1 John 4:8

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Featured Book:

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

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Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Give Thanks Always” (Ephesians 4:31-32; 5:1-21)

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Deborah H. Bateman

Give Thanks Always

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 4:31-32; 5:1-21.

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

-Ephesians 5:20-21

In this lesson we’ll look at various Scriptures from Ephesians chapters four and five. In this Scripture Paul is telling us how we should live as children of God. He tells us that we have to forgive others. Holding un-forgiveness in our hearts hurts us more than it does the other person. Many times when people hurt us we tend to hold grudges or un-forgiveness in our hearts. When we forgive them it releases us from bondage. It helps relieve stress in our bodies and helps us to not have anything in our heart against others or against God.

Paul reminds us to walk in love. This is not something that is easy to do on your own, but, having God in your heart will help you. Paul warns about immoral behavior that we should stay away from such as bitterness, wrath, anger, fornication, and covetousness. When we sin, we hurt God, we hurt ourselves and we hurt others.

Paul reminds us that we used to walk in darkness, but now we are children of light. He tells us to not walk as fools, but as people who are wise. We have to be careful what we put in our hearts and minds. When we put good things in, good comes out, when we put evil in, evil comes out.

You’ve probably heard the children’s song that says, “Be careful little eyes what you see, be careful little ears what you hear, be careful little feet where you go, and be careful little hands what you do.” We should protect ourselves from listening, saying, seeing, going, and doing things that aren’t right.

There may have been places you went before you were a Christian that you shouldn’t go to any more. There may be music you listened to that you shouldn’t listen to any more. There may be television shows that you used to watch that you shouldn’t watch any more. These things may cause you to sin or slip back into your old way of life. God wants us to have pure hearts and live pure lives.

Paul encourages us to be filled with the spirit by speaking in psalms, singing hymns and giving thanks always to God for all things.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 4:31-32

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 5:1-21

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Things to think about:

As Christians how should we strive to live?

What are some things as Christians we should we stay away from?

What do you give thanks for?

Who should we give thanks to?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this letter from Paul explaining to us how we as children of God should live. Help us to keep our bodies clean and pure before You. Help us to be forgiving to others. Lord, we know we can’t do all these things without Your help. Thank You for forgiving us. Help us to be filled with the Spirit by singing, praising You, thanking You and keeping Your Word in our hearts and minds. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of …

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our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

– Ephesians 5:20-21

This is an excerpt from Give Thanks by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

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Featured Book:

Give Thanks

by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

About the book:

Give Thanks is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends. Give Thanks contains 21 Daily Bible Reading lessons that remind us to have an attitude of gratitude and to be thankful and grateful for everything.

Each lesson contains a brief commentary, Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer for the day. Give Thanks is a great Bible study for individual or 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.

Four of Deborah’s friends contributed to the book and one of her friends contributed pictures of nature to remind us to be thankful for God’s creation. May God bless you as you read this book and remember all the things you have to be grateful for and to “Give Thanks” with a grateful heart.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “In Every Thing Give Thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Deborah H. Bateman

In Every Thing Give Thanks

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

-1 Thessalonians 5:18

Paul reminds us, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Sometimes this is hard to do. It is easy to give thanks and be happy in Christ when everything is going good and all is well. It is much harder sometimes for us to remember to give thanks when things are going wrong or something bad happens in our lives.

There are things like deaths in the family, divorces, and tragedies of all kinds. How are we supposed to give thanks in these times? I have noticed in some of the darkest times of my life, that when I looked I saw blessings from God even then.

For instance, when my husband wrecked his truck and broke his back, it was a terrible time in our lives. But, there were so many blessings. There was a nurse right behind him who stopped to help him and called me. She got her husband to get all of my husband’s belongings out of the truck and took them to their house for safekeeping until my husband’s friend could go pick them up for him.

People were so kind and generous to us. People brought meals. They came and sat with my husband while I went to see my mama, who was in the nursing home at the time. His company filed all the paperwork for him to get paid.

One of the young men from our church came over to cut the grass the whole time my husband was out of work. He even surprised me and planted flower beds in front of my house while I was at the hospital with my husband. When I came home and saw my grass cut and all those flowers in front of my house, it was like God saying to me, I can take care of you.

As hard as the whole situation was, it was actually a time in our marriage when we grew closer to one another. My husband had to learn to depend on me and I had to learn to take care of him. If you take time to notice you will see that God takes care of you even in the bad times.

Sometimes it is not what is going on in our lives that matters as much as how we respond to what is going on in our lives. If we remember to find something to give thanks to God for every day it will lighten our mood and change our attitude into an attitude of gratitude.

Things to think about:

How can you be able to give thanks for everything?

Why does this Scripture say we should give thanks in everything?

What can we do to help us to be able to give thanks in everything?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture from 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It reminds us to give thanks in everything. It’s not always easy for us to do that, but help us to remember that is Your will for us. Help us to find the blessings in whatever we’re going through. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. -1 Thessalonians 5:18

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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:

Give Thanks

by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

About the book:

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Give Thanks to God for You” (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Deborah H. Bateman

Give Thanks to God for You

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. Our feature verse is 1 Thessalonians 1:2, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.”

In this lesson, we’re going to look at 1 Thessalonians 1. This is a letter from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians. Paul starts the letter like most of his others saying grace and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul says he gives thanks to God for them always in his prayers. Why is Paul thankful for them? In verse 3 Paul tells them he is thankful for them because of their work of faith, the labor of love, and patience of hope in Christ. Paul acknowledges that they not only accepted the Word of God he preached to them, but they also received the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul talks about how the Thessalonians were an example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia, and to every place, their faith in God was spread. We need to give thanks to God for our fellow believers whether they are fellow church members or friends.

Then in verse 10, Paul talks about them waiting for the return of Jesus, if they were waiting way back then, how much more should we be anxiously awaiting Christ’s return for us today.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 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;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Things to think about:

Why is Paul thankful for the Thessalonians?

How can we compare our church to the Thessalonians?

Are you an example good to those around you?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your grace toward us. You knew that in our human state there was no way we could keep the law. Thank You for Your Son, whom You raised from the dead, and delivered us from the wrath to come. Help us to be faithful to You. Thank You for the love and the hope we have in Christ. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

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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:

Give Thanks

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Have a blessed day,

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Daily Bible Reading “A Virtuous Woman is Diligent” (Proverbs 31:12-14)

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Deborah H. Bateman

A Virtuous Woman is Diligent

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Proverbs 31:12-14. In these Scriptures we find how valuable women are to our society. Sometimes I know we all feel overworked and underpaid and not appreciated for what we do, but I want to remind you that you are valuable to God, to your family, and to your world. I want to encourage you to use the gifts God has given you to serve Him and to serve those you love.

Proverbs 18:22 tell us, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” In this Scripture it says, “She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.” That is a statement for us, as wives, to live up to, isn’t it? Think about this Scripture the next time your husband makes you upset and remember to ask God to help you be a godly wife.

The Scripture talks about how the virtuous woman works with her hands. Many women are talented in doing crafts, sewing, and other things to enhance their homes. Some women sell the things they make with their hands to help provide income for their families. Women go out and gather food for their family. They may not work in the fields or gardens as the women used to do, but they try to get the best food they can afford for the best price and bring it into their home and prepare it for their family.

Many times mothers are up early, before everyone else in the house, getting ready for the day and preparing meals for her family. My mother was a good cook. Cooking was one of the things she taught me and my siblings as we were growing up. I passed the love of cooking on to my daughters, and now, my grandchildren enjoy learning how to cook and prepare food for the family.

In this fast-paced world we live in today, cooking and preparing meals is one thing that is not as prevalent in our homes, since we all eat out a lot more today than we did in years past. Preparing and having family meals together are some of the best memories I have of my mother. Don’t underestimate your influence on your children in your home. These things may seem trivial to you today, but they are some of the memories your family will have of you long after you are gone.

Being a wife and mother is a hard job, but with God’s help we can lead our family in the way they should go. We can show them the love of Jesus through our love and care for them.

Daily Bible Reading:

Proverbs 31: 12-14

12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

Things to think about:

What are some of the ways you support your husband?
What are some of the things you like doing with your hands?
In what ways do you serve your family?
In what ways do you serve God?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture that tells us about a virtuous woman and how she supports her husband and family. We thank You for all the women in our lives who have cared for us and taught us how to be good wives, mothers, and an asset to our society. Help us to use the talents You have given us to serve others. Help others to appreciate the things we women bring to our world. Give us strength to wear the many hats that we wear in our society today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. – Proverbs 31:13

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This is an excerpt from Proverbs 31: Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman

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Proverbs 31: Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Proverbs 31: Who Can Fina Virtuous Woman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of Proverbs 31 by Deborah H. Bateman. Proverbs 31 is thought to be a letter from Bathsheba to King Solomon, who is called King Lemuel in this Scripture.

In Proverbs 31: Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman Bible Study we consider all the things women do and where they can find strength and wisdom for their lives. This is a six lesson Bible study that would be great for individual or for a small group Bible study.

In this Bible study you will learn what it means to be a virtuous woman and how we can honor God through our service to our families, our community, and to God.

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Deborah

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