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What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, …

Only God is eternal. This is something I feel God has been trying to teach me in the past several years.

When I lost my Mama a few years ago it was really hard on me. I was used to seeing her several times a week. Even though I had to visit her at the nursing home or in the hospital the last few years of her life, I still missed her.

As we get older, I think we realize more and more our loved ones are just loaned to us for a season. Jesus was explaining to the disciples we shouldn’t value our loved ones more than Him.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 10:21-42

21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Things to think about:

Would you have been willing to follow Jesus after you heard Him talk about the things He talked about in this Scripture?
Have you ever had to deny someone else in order to do something you felt the Lord wanted you to do?
Would you be willing to deny yourself of some of the creature comforts you are used to in order to do God’s will?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture of the commandments Jesus gave to His disciples, we see life with You isn’t always going to be easy. Help us know You are in control and You are watching over us. Help us to realize the difference between things that are temporary and things that are eternal. Give us strength as we take up our cross and follow You. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

that preach ye upon the housetops.

– Matthew 10:27

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ Get your copy now!

Christian Music Video:

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:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

The Book of Matthew also goes into Jesus’ ministry on earth, including the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ parables, and Jesus’ final days, including His death, burial, and resurrection. The book concludes with the great commission.

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ includes fifty-seven daily devotionals which contain a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer of the day. It is a great book for individual daily devotions or a group Bible study.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Click Here to Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power …

Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Calls His Disciples” (Matthew 10:1-20)

Posted on January 15, 2024 by Deborah H. Bateman

Jesus Calls His Disciples

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 10:1-20. This chapter talks about Jesus calling His twelve disciples. The Scriptures inform us He gave them power to cast out unclean spirits and to heal people of sicknesses and diseases.

He lists the twelve disciples by name. Jesus tells them to gather the lost sheep of Israel.

He gives them some guidelines to go by. Jesus basically tells them to go with nothing and to stay at whoever’s house is worthy, and if the people in the house don’t receive them and their message, the disciples should dust off their feet when they leave.

Jesus tells the disciples He is sending them out as sheep among wolves. He advises them that they need to be wise as serpents and as harmless as doves.

Jesus warns them that they’ll be persecuted for His sake. He tells them not to worry about what they’ll say; the Holy Spirit will lead them at the time of judgment.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 10:1-20

1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;
3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.
12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Things to think about:

What do you think your life would have been like if you would have been one of the ones called as Jesus’ disciples?
How would you have responded to His guidelines?
Would you have been willing to go?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture telling us about Jesus calling the disciples and the guidelines that He gave them when they went about teaching the gospel. Help us to use these examples as we serve You. In this day and time it is hard for us to think of going in this manner, but help us to have faith that You will provide for us. In Jesus name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

**Please remember me in prayer. I will be having reverse shoulder replacement on my left shoulder tomorrow morning. I will be recouperating for a while, but I have scheduled the messages to go out to you in advance. I hope you are enjoying this study of The Book of Matthew. Thanks for your support and prayers.❤️🙏🏻

Daily Bible Verse:

against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

– Matthew 10:1

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ Get your copy now!

Christian Music Video:
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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:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Click Here to Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and …

Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Heals the People” (Matthew 9:20-38)

Posted on January 14, 2024 by Deborah H. Bateman

Jesus Heals the People

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 9:20-38. In this Scripture, Jesus goes about teaching, preaching, and healing the people from all types of sicknesses and diseases. There was a woman, who had been sick for twelve years. She touched Jesus’ garment and Jesus tells her that her faith has made her whole.

Jesus goes to a ruler’s house and takes a maid by the hand and brings her back to life. He also heals two blind men. He asked them if they believed that He could heal them, then He tells them because of their faith, it was so. Jesus casts out demons from a dumb man, who was then able to speak. Do you see how important our belief and faith in Jesus is? It was because of their faith in Him that He did these things.

The last few verses of this Scripture really touched my heart. I have heard it before, but today it brought me to tears. Jesus talks about the people being scattered abroad, as sheep with no shepherd. He says the harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few and He asks them to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers. If you are a Christian, have you ever thought about how God would have you to labor for His harvest?

If you are not a Christian, have you thought about receiving Christ as your Savior? All you have to do is pray and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, come into your heart and life, and believe that He is able to forgive you. If you accept Christ as your Savior today, please contact me saying you accepted God, so we can praise God for your salvation, and pray for you, also. May God bless you all!

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 9:20-38

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
23 And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Things to think about:

How would you describe your faith?
Do you believe in Jesus?
Do you believe Jesus has the power to heal people, not only of their sickness and diseases, but also of their sins?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture that tells us how Jesus went about teaching, preaching, and healing people. Help us to have the faith these people had, so we too can experience Your miraculous power. We pray LORD, for the harvest that You would send Your laborers to gather people to You. LORD, show us what You would have us do concerning these things. LORD, we pray for those who don’t know You, that You might open their hearts and minds to Your Word and help them to believe. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD, Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

– Matthew 9:35

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ Get your copy now!

Christian Music Video: “Your Name Brings Healing To Me” – Planetshakers

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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:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: Amazon
Get your copy now!

Click Here to Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, …

Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Came to Call Sinners” (Matthew 9:1-19)

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Deborah H. Bateman

Jesus Came to Call Sinners

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 9:1-19. This Scripture talks about Jesus healing people from all types of diseases. The scribes thought Jesus had committed blasphemy, but He knew what they were thinking and asked them if it was easier to forgive sins or to heal someone. Which do you think would be easier, to heal someone from their sickness or to forgive their sins? Jesus tells them He came to call sinners to repentance.

Matthew also records in Matthew 9:9 where Jesus saw him sitting at the receipt of custom, the tax collector’s booth, and asked Matthew to follow Him. Matthew arose immediately and followed Jesus. How would you have responded if you had been Matthew?

The scribes couldn’t understand why Jesus was eating with the publicans (Jewish people who worked for the Romans who acted in authority over other Jewish people) and sinners. Jesus explained to them that He didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.

The Pharisees asked why the disciples didn’t follow the Jewish custom of fasting as they did. Jesus tells them the story about the bridegroom. Jesus told them the disciples weren’t fasting because the bridegroom, speaking of Himself, was with them. Then He told them there would come a day when the bridegroom wouldn’t be with them any longer, then they would fast.

While Jesus was talking with them and trying to explain things to them, a ruler came whose daughter was dead and asked Jesus to come and lay hands on her. Jesus and the disciples left and followed the man.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 9:1-19

1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

Things to think about:

Did Jesus say He came to heal the sick or to save the lost?
Why was Jesus eating with the publicans and sinners?
Why did Jesus say the disciples weren’t fasting?
When did Jesus say they would fast?
What was Jesus talking about?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus to earth to call sinners to repentance and to heal the sick. We know that You are able to do anything, if we only believe. Help us to study Your word and build our faith, that we might be able to believe that You are almighty. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

– Matthew 9:6

– This is an excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ Get your copy now!

Christian Video: Casting Crowns – Jesus, Friend of Sinners

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:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman, which takes you through the life of Jesus Christ. The book of Matthew is the first book in the New Testament of the Bible. It begins with the genealogy of Jesus Christ and His birth.

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ includes fifty-seven daily devotionals which contain a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions to think about, and a prayer of the day. It is a great book for individual daily devotions or a group Bible study.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Click Here to Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to receive

Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he …

Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Calms the Storm” (Matthew 8:18-34)

Posted on January 10, 2024 by Deborah H. Bateman

Jesus Calms the Storm

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 8:18-34. In this Scripture, Jesus saw great multitudes following Him so He told His disciples to depart to the other side of the lake.

He and His disciples entered a ship. Then there was a storm in the sea, but Jesus was asleep. The disciples woke Him up because they were afraid. The Scripture says He rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Notice, all Jesus did was speak to the wind and sea and they became calm. The disciples were amazed, and said, “What manner of man is this that the winds and sea obey him?”

Have you ever gone through a storm in your life? Did you invite Jesus to get in the boat with you? Did you ask for His help? Sometimes we need to stop trying to handle everything on our own and ask Jesus to come and help us. He can calm the storm in your life, just as He calmed the storm for the disciples.

As they traveled on, they ran into two men who were possessed with demons. Jesus spoke to them and the devils were cast into the swine. I heard someone ask recently, “Should we be eating something that the Lord cast demons into?” That is something to think about.

Jesus spoke and these things happened, as God did when He created the world. In Genesis we read where God said, “Let there be,” and “there was.” How powerful!

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 8:18-34

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Things to think about:

Can you imagine being on the ship with Jesus when He calmed the storm?
How did the men who were demon possessed feel after Jesus cast the demons out of them?
Does reading this Scripture help build your faith in knowing how powerful Jesus and God are?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You that through the stories in this Scripture we are reminded by Jesus how powerful You are. Jesus spoke and the winds obeyed Him, just as You did when You created the world. Help us to have faith enough to believe and know You are all-powerful. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ

arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

– Matthew 8:26

Christian Music Video: Storm Inside Of You- Veronica Ballestrini

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:

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ
by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman author site to

receive Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah