Tag Archives: Love

Daily Bible Reading “What Manner of Love” (1 John 3:1-24)

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What Manner of Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 John 3:1-24. In this Scripture, we are told about the great love the Father has given us through His Son, Jesus, so we can become the sons of God. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior we are adopted into the family of God.

While we wait for Jesus to come back to get us, we should be purifying ourselves through studying God’s Word and hiding it in our hearts, so we might not sin against Him.

If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior we no longer live under the law, but under grace; but that doesn’t mean we can do as we please.

There should be evidence in our lives that we are saved and one aspect of that evidence should be that we love our brethren.

If God has blessed us and dwells in our hearts then when we see a brother in need, we should help him.

We don’t show our love by words alone, but by doing for one another with sincerity and brotherly love.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

1 John 3:1-24

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

 

Things to think about:

  • Can you even imagine how much love God has for you?
  • As children of God, how are we to show our love for others?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

Thank You for the love You have shown to us by sending Your Son, Jesus to die on the cross for us, that we might be able to become the sons of God. Help us to love one another and show our love for each other. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD.  Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we …

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should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

– 1 John 3:1

God Is Love by Deborah H. Bateman

 

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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:

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 good for 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.

Available on Amazon

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “What Is Love” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

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What Is Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. In this Scripture, Paul tells us love is superior to the other gifts of the Spirit. In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “love” is replaced with the word “charity,” which is a giving kind of love. It means affection, goodwill, love, benevolence, or brotherly love.

We use the word love to express our deepest feelings and emotions. We also use the word love when we like something very much. We describe God’s love to us and our love to one another all with the same word. There are different degrees of love.

The Scripture says, we can have all the gifts of the Spirit and not have love, and we can have enough faith to move mountains, but not have love, and we are nothing.

We can give everything we have to the poor and even sacrifice our bodies to the Lord and not have love, and it will profit us nothing.

We all need to memorize 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and when we have moments of being impatient or unkind to those we love; we need to remind ourselves of what true love is. Are we patient and kind to those we love the most?

Paul says when he was a child, he acted like a child, but when he became a man he put away childish things.

How many times do we act childish or selfish with the ones we love? One day we will meet God face to face and have to give an account to Him for our actions toward others. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us, “Now abide faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.”

 

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13, NKJV

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Things to think about:

  • After reading this Scripture how has your definition of love changed?
  • Which does this Scripture say is the greatest faith, hope and love? Why?
  • For whom is it easier to do acts of kindness: friends, strangers, your family, or your church members?
  • How can we show this kind of Christian love to others?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

Thank You for this Scripture which tells us what love is. Help us to show this kind of love to the people who are in our lives. Help us to be patient and kind and to practice all the traits that are listed in this Scripture that tells us how love should act. We all fail at showing love so many times in our lives; please forgive us. Help us to be more loving and kind, because we can’t do this on our own, but only with Your help. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13

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–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

 

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God Is Love

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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

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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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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 “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 “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/