Daily Bible Reading “Love Your Enemies” (Luke 6:27-38)

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Deborah H. Bateman

Love Your Enemies

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Luke 6:27-38. In this Scripture, Jesus is talking to His disciples, and is telling them to love their enemies. It is much easier to love the people who love you, such as your family and your friends. It is another thing to love the people who curse you, spitefully use you, hit you, or steal from you. But Jesus says, as Christians, we should love those people as well. How are we supposed to love our enemies?

Loving our enemies isn’t something we can do on our own. It is only something we can do with the Lord’s help and with the Holy Spirit living in us. Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies. He says everybody loves the people who love them, but He expects us to go beyond that, and show a Christ-like love to everybody. He even wants us to love those who don’t love us or mistreat us.

In Luke 6:35, Jesus says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Jesus says to be merciful, as their Father is merciful. He is talking about their Heavenly Father, not their earthly father.

Jesus tells them not to judge or condemn, but to forgive and they shall be forgiven. Then in verse thirty-eight He says to, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” If we are generous and giving with people, they will be generous and giving with us. If we are stingy and selfish with people then they will most likely treat us the same way.

This is a lesson we can all take today. Because it is easy to love the people who love us and do good to the people who do good to us. But, with God’s help, we can learn to love the people who don’t love us. We can learn to do good to the people who don’t do good to us. We can learn to be loving and generous by giving to those who never can repay us.

Daily Bible Reading:

Luke 6:27-38

27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Things to think about:

How can we love our enemies?

How can we do good to those who don’t do good to us?

Do you give to those who can never repay you?

Do you pray for those who spitefully use you?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

Please help us to do what Jesus talked about in this Scripture. Help us to love our enemies, and do good to those who don’t do good to us. Help us to be generous and give to those who can never repay us. Help us not to judge or condemn others. God, this is a big task for us, and if we tried to do it in our own power, we would fail. The only way we can do these things is with Your help. We acknowledge that we need Your help. Help us, Lord. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and …

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your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

– Luke 6:35

–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

Christian Music Video: Love Your Enemies

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:

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

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “The Love of God” (Romans 5:1-9)

Posted on February 5, 2026 by Deborah H. Bateman

The Love of God

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Romans 5:1-9. In this Scripture, we are told if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we are justified by faith and have peace with God through Jesus. Do you have peace with God?

Some of you may not know you didn’t have peace with God. Through Adam’s disobedience to God back in the Garden of Eden sin entered into the world, so we were all born into sin. There is nothing we can do to rationalize our sin. But we don’t have to remain in sin, because God sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins on the cross.

God, through His grace, gave us the free gift of salvation. All we have to do is believe and receive it. The Scripture says because of this we can glory in our tribulations. Tribulations (trials) bring patience, patience brings experience, and through experience we find hope in the Lord. Do you find it hard to find joy in your tribulations?

Tribulations=Patience=Experience=Hope

The love of God is then in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that God gives to us when we accept Jesus as our Savior. God showed His great love for us by having His Son, Jesus; shed His blood on the cross to cover our sins. Do you know the love of God?

Daily Bible Reading:

Romans 5:1-9

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Things to think about:

Have you been justified by faith to God through His Son, Jesus?

Did you realize you could glory in your tribulations?

What are the results of tribulations?

How do we get the love of God in our hearts?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

We thank You for Your love for us. We thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who died on the cross to cover our sins. We thank You that we can be justified though our faith in Him. We thank You that we can have peace with You, through Jesus. Help us to accept Your gracious gift. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

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–Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

Christian Music Video: The Love of God

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:

God Is Love

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the book:

Available on Amazon

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

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Daily Bible Reading “Give Thanks to God for Your Faith and Love” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-13)

Posted on February 2, 2026 by Deborah H. Bateman

Give Thanks to God for Your Faith and Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13. This is part of the letter that Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, which today is the second-largest city in Greece. In this chapter, Paul talks about the faith of the people. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had been driven out of Thessalonica and when they could no longer stand not knowing how the people were doing; they sent Timothy back to check on the people there.

Paul had ministered to these people and he had great concern for them that they would continue in the faith and not be tempted by the devil to give up on their beliefs. Paul didn’t want the people to be discouraged because of all the trials they had been through.

Trials in our life help us see what is going on in our hearts. When we are going through trying times, it is a time when we can grow even closer to God, if we allow it. We can learn to depend on God and trust Him to see us through the tough times in life. We can’t comfort others unless we have been through some tough times ourselves.

Paul felt comforted when Timothy came back with a good report from the Thessalonians. Timothy let him know they had kept the faith. Paul said he prayed for them day and night. Paul gives thanks to God for them and the joy he had in knowing they were strong in their faith. They were staying true to the things of God that Paul had taught them.

Daily Bible Reading:

1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Things to think about:

What would it be like to be persecuted because of your faith?

How can we make our faith known to others?

In what ways can we show charity (love) to other people?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the comfort You give us, especially when we are going through tough times. Help us to keep the faith and know You work all things out for our good and Your glory. Help us to increase in our love for one another, and toward all people. Establish our hearts to be blameless in holiness before You. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; – 1 Thessalonians 3:9

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

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Christian Music Video: Give Me Faith – Elevation Worship

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:

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.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

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Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life

Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Heals the Sick” (Matthew 8:1-17)

Posted on January 12, 2026 by Deborah H. Bateman

Jesus Heals the Sick

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 8:1-17. After Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount and came down the mountain, great multitudes of people followed him. They brought people with all sorts of diseases and He healed them.

If you will notice in the Scripture, He touched them and spoke words to them and they were immediately healed. All they had to do was believe that He could do it. How strong is your faith? Do you believe Jesus can heal the sick?

In this Scripture not only does He heal people of different diseases, but He also heals people who are possessed with the devil and He casts the evil spirits from them. Can you imagine the excitement of the crowd as they see this entire situation taking place?

We are reminded in Matthew 8:17 that it was prophesied by Esaias (Isaiah), that Jesus would take up our infirmities and bear our sicknesses. Jesus is the Great Physician, there is nothing from which He can’t heal us. The greatest thing He heals us from is our hearts from sin.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 8:1-17

1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
14 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.
15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Things to think about:

Have you ever asked God to heal anyone?
Do you believe He is able to heal people?
Has He healed your heart and life from sin?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You that this Scripture shows us You can heal any sickness we might have. Help us have the faith to believe. Thank You for sending Jesus to heal our hearts from sin. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou …

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clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

– Matthew 8:3

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ

Christian Music Video: “Healer”

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.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “I Give Thanks To God” (Psalm 139:14)

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Deborah H. Bateman

I Give Thanks To God

Today’s Daily Bible Reading was written by my friend, Lily Brenner.

I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

-Psalm 139:14

In God‘s wisdom, He chose for me to be born into this century and not another. Born to the man and woman He chose for my parents and blessing me with four brothers and four sisters. He watched over me when I was a small child even though I didn’t know of His existence. He sent His angels to guard me against dangers I could not see.

For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

-Psalm 91:11-12

I give thanks to God for His love when He saved my soul as a young twelve-year-old girl. God sent His only Son to die so His saving grace could be mine. Throughout the years Jesus has shown the way in the Bible, His footsteps I should follow. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6). I have wandered from the path so straight and narrow only to find He had been with me and guiding me back from my wandering ways.

I have learned from the Bible how to live, forgive, help, and love. Speaking of love, He gave me a wonderful man I’ve been married to for over thirty years now. We have been blessed with two beautiful daughters and they’ve married and have started their families. I give thanks to God. Grandchildren are a deep pleasure and they’re in church every Wednesday and Sunday. I give thanks to God.

When I have been sad, depressed, angry, confused, or hurt by someone’s tongue or hands, I have been comforted by the Holy Spirit. “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16). I give thanks to God.

Over the years God has been so kind and generous and any time is a good time to give thanks to God! He loves me unconditionally and wants the best for me, as He does for all His children.

God has been moving in my life for the past several years now in a direction I would never have believed possible. He has me on a path to encourage and inspire others through the internet and social networking sites. He has blessed me to build and maintain a website. I have no formal training to do this, it all comes from the faith He gives me.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

My hope and prayer for people when they visit my website is that some will receive Jesus as their Savior, and Christians will be lifted up in such a way that their day is better.

Things to think about:

What are some things in your life for which you can give thanks to God?
Who is the Comforter that God sends to us once we’re saved?
Who does God give us to protect us?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for all Your many blessings in our life. We praise You for the Holy Spirit who You send as our Comforter. Thank You for the angels You have watching over us to protect us. You are a good God who loves us and cares for us in every way. Help us to always be grateful for all that You do for us. We love You, LORD. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. – Psalm 139:14

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This devotional was contributed by my friend Lily Brenner

“Give Thanks” by Deborah H. Bateman and Friends

Christian Music Video: How Great is Our God – Chris Tomlin

PS. Thank you for coming to DeborahHBateman.com to study the Bible with us. Come back again tomorrow. Invite your friends to join us in our Bible Study.

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 lessons that remind us to have an attitude of gratitude.

Each lesson contains a brief commentary, coordinating 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.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

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

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Recipe for Life