Tag Archives: Love

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

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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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God is Love by Deborah H. Bateman

 

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Featured Book:

godislove25God 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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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Faith-Love-Hope” (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

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Faith-Love-Hope

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. This letter wasn’t only from Paul, but also from Silvanus, who was known as Silas; and Timotheus, who was known as Timothy. Paul wrote this letter to the church of the Thessalonians. It is believed to be Paul’s first letter thought to have been written around 52 AD from Athens.

Paul starts the letter as he did many of his other letters by offering the blessing of grace and peace to them from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. He tells them that he always thanks God for them and prays for them.

He established the church of Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. Paul tells them that he remembers their work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in Jesus Christ and in God the Father. God didn’t only love the Thessalonians, He chose them.

Paul reminds them that the gospel not only came to them by word, but by power, in the Holy Ghost, and in assurance. Paul and Silas set the example before them. The Thessalonians became followers of Paul and Silas, but more importantly, they became followers of Jesus Christ. They received the Word of the Lord that Paul preached to them with joy through the Holy Ghost.

Paul tells them that they were examples to all those who believed; those who live in Macedonia and Achaia. The word of the Thessalonians’ great faith in God and in Jesus Christ spread all over. Their testimony showed Paul what an influence he and Silas had on the Thessalonians, even though the two of them were only there for a short time. The Thessalonians turned away from serving their idols and turned to serving God. Paul knew of the Thessalonians’ anticipation in waiting for the return of Jesus Christ, who delivered them from wrath.

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:

  • What does faith, hope and love for God through His Son Jesus, mean to you? Have you found it?
  • What was the testimony of the Thessalonians?
  • How can we share our testimony with others?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture in the book of 1 Thessalonians. We see Paul’s love for the people and their great love and devotion to You. Help us to have the kind of testimony that Paul says the Thessalonians had when he said their faith in God had spread abroad. Give us the kind of faith, love, and hope that they had. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our …

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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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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

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Daily Bible Reading “Faith, Hope, Love” (Colossians 1:1-8)

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Faith, Hope, Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Colossians 1:1-8. In the book of Colossians, Paul, an apostle and Timothy, who Paul considered to be his brother in Christ, are writing a letter to the church of Colosse. Colosse was a small Phrygian city near Laodicea, about a hundred miles from Ephesus, in Asia Minor. This letter was written during the time when Paul was in prison in Rome.

Paul starts the letter like he does most of his letters saying, “Grace and peace be unto you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Why do you think Paul starts his letters off with this statement? It is a sort of greeting and a blessing.

Paul tells them that he gives thanks to God and Jesus for them and prays for them always. Paul tells them he heard of their faith in Jesus and the love that they have for the saints.

The faith and love they have is because of the hope they have in heaven, since they heard the Word of truth found in the gospel. Paul says, the gospel is bringing forth fruit in the entire world, as it has in them, because they knew the grace of God in truth.

Paul said he learned all these things about the Colossians from Epaphras, Paul’s fellow servant, who was their faithful minister of Christ. Epaphras told Paul about the Colossians great love in the Spirit.

As we’ve been studying these books of Paul’s letters, I have been thinking about the lost art of letter writing. How many of us still write letters to our friends, family members, or fellow believers? I remember enjoying getting a letter in the mail or a card from a friend or family member, but they are fewer and fewer these days. I am guilty of not communicating in this way myself as much as I used to. I used to send out hundreds of Christmas cards, but haven’t done that in the past several years. Do you still like to get a card or letter in the mail? Maybe this would be a great way for us to encourage one another from time to time.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Colossians 1:1-8

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

 

Things to think about:

  • How could writing letters to fellow believers benefit us as well as them?
  • In what ways do your actions show you have faith, love, and hope in Christ?
  • What are some ways we can share our faith, love, and hope in Christ?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this letter in the book of Colossians that Paul wrote to the church of Colosse. Paul tells them that he heard of their great faith, hope, and love. May we be known by our faith, love, and hope in You. We love You, Lord. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, – Colossians 1:3

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Featured Book:

 

The Book of Colossians: Paul’s Letter to Colosse

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.

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.

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

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Daily Bible Reading “Walk in Love” (Ephesians 5:1-16)

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Walk in Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 5:1-16. Paul continues to exhort us to be followers of God, as “dear children.” What do you think Paul means by that statement? Paul tells us to live a life of love for one another. We are to use Christ for our example. He loved us and died on the cross for our sins as a sacrifice to God that He might please God and do His will.

Paul tells us not to live a life of sexual immorality, impurity, and greediness. He says we should not even let there be a hint of these things in our lives, but to live as saints of God. Paul says we need to be careful of our speech also. He reminds us not to talk about obscene things or tell dirty jokes or talk about foolish things.

Paul says that no one who lives an impure, immoral, and greedy life, which worships the things of this world, will inherit the kingdom of Christ and of God. He warns us not to let anybody deceive us. These sins of disobedience cause the wrath of God to come on those who sin and disobey Him. Paul says we shouldn’t participate with those who do these things either.

Paul reminds us that we were all once in sin. Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior are now children of the light, and need to walk in the light of Christ. We can’t live Holy lives in our own strength. We have to put Jesus at the center of our life and with His help we can live in obedience and conduct ourselves as children of God.

The fruit of the Spirit, which lives in you if you are a Christian, is goodness, righteousness, and truth. We should try to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.  In order to do that we need to study the Bible so we can learn what God’s will is for our lives. We need to examine our lives to see if we are children of the light.

As Christians we’re not to have anything to do with fruitless evil works, but we should expose them to the light. Paul says it is a shame to even talk about the sinful things that ungodly people do in secret. When the light of Christ shines on these sinful acts it becomes clear how wrong they are. His light makes everything visible. This is why he says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Paul exhorts us to be careful how we live, not as foolish people, but as wise people. He reminds us to make the most of every opportunity that we have to do good because the days are evil.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 5:1-16

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: 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.

 

Things to think about:

  • What does Paul say the “fruit of the spirit” is?
  • What does Paul warn us about?
  • How can we shine the light of Christ into this dark world?
  • How are you walking in the light of Christ?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Ephesians where Paul exhorts us to live as dear children of God. Help us to live godly lives and not participate in things that are evil. Help us to share Your Word with others that the evil of this world might be exposed to Your light. Help us to use the time we have here on earth to do Your will. Please forgive us of any way we have failed to obey you. In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as …

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Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

– Ephesians 5:1-2

 

Featured Book:

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus

by Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of the book of Ephesians from the New Testament of the Bible. Ephesians is one of the Apostle Paul’s letters, which was written to the church at Ephesus.

In the book of Ephesians Paul reminds us that we are chosen of God. He encourages us to walk in unity in the church. He talks about our various relationships including our relationship with Christ, with each other, the husband-wife relationship and others. He also exhorts us to put on the full armor of God so that we are clothed for battle against the enemy.

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus consists of twelve lessons, which can be used for an individual daily Bible study or a group Bible study. 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.

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.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

 

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “God’s Timing is Perfect” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

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God’s Timing is Perfect

I wanted to share with you about one of the trials of my life. I started praying for a Christian husband when I was a teenager, even though I was much too young to get married. I actually dated my husband for the first time when I was sixteen and he was twenty. I was too young and immature so we just had one date and that was it.

About two years later he called me and we started dating and six months later we got married. Things have not always been easy. With our love for each other, our faith in God and our determination to stay together we have now been married for over forty years.

We were only been married for a few months when we decided we wanted to have children, but that was not God’s plan for us at the time.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

It took us two years to get pregnant. We were so excited. We had been trying to get pregnant for two years and now we finally were expecting a baby. At three months we had a miscarriage. We were heartbroken.

I experienced so much emotion. I felt like there had been a death in the family and there was, except I felt like I was the only one mourning it. It was a very sad time for me. I would get upset when I found out other people were pregnant, especially if I thought they did not deserve to be. I acted like I was a judge. Who was I to judge who did or did not get pregnant? It was not up to me. God is the giver of life.

The doctor told us to wait a few months before trying to get pregnant again. We did, but had no idea that it would take so long. I went through all kinds of emotions over the next few years. It took us four years to get pregnant the second time. We were excited this time too, but a little apprehensive. We were scared we would miscarry again. Sure enough after three months we miscarried for the second time. We were heartbroken all over again.

We will always love and remember those two little ones. We lost both of them in the month of March, so every year we talk about how old they would be if they had lived. They will have a place in our hearts and lives forever.

This time the doctor did not tell us we had to wait. I am sure he thought that he did not have anything to worry about since it took so long before. The next month we got pregnant for the third time. We were scared the whole time. We were afraid to get excited. We had been hurt before and did not want to get hurt again. Once we passed the three-month time-table we started to relax a little.

We finally gave birth to our first daughter after eight years of being married and trying to get pregnant most of that time. God finally blessed us with a child. Four years later we had our second daughter. God completed our little family. Our two daughters are both grown now and God has blessed us with five grandchildren. God makes everything beautiful in His time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NKJV, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

I would love to tell you that life has been a basket of roses since that time, but we have had other trials to face. One thing I can tell you for sure, that no matter what trials we had to face, God has always been there to see us through them all.

We have learned so many lessons over the years. We learned that things don’t always happen when we want them to happen. We learned that God’s plans are not always the same as our plans. We have learned that God is faithful to His children.

We learned that God’s timing is perfect. #DeborahHBateman

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We learned that God works all things together for good in our lives.

Romans 8:28, KJV, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

If you have experienced infertility and miscarriage as we did, ask God to help you with all the emotions that come along with a loss of this kind. Ask God to comfort your heart. He loves you and only wants the best for you. I know it might not seem like it at the time, but He does love you. Give the situation over to God and ask Him to help you deal with it. Ask God to show you His will in your life. Ask God to help you accept His timing for your life.

My prayer for you is the same as Paul’s prayer for the Philippians in Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

I pray that God will meet the need that you have in your heart to have a child. I realize that this is a desire that most women have in their lives, even though not everyone is able to have children. But, there are other options such as adoption and foster care for those who want to make a difference in a child’s life while filling their need to have a child to love in their home.

May God richly bless you!

Maybe this is not the need you have in your life. Maybe you have a need in another area. Remember the same principles apply, God love you and wants the best for you in your life. Turn your cares and concerns over to Him and let Him carry you through this time in your life.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

God’s Timing is Perfect was originally published on Still Birthday at:http://stillbirthday.com/2011/09/04/gods-timing-is-perfect/