Daily Bible Reading “Come and Follow Me” (Matthew 19:13-30)

Come and Follow Me

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 19:13-30. The little children were brought to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them. Jesus told them not to forbid the children to come to Him, for such is the kingdom of heaven. What did Jesus mean by this statement? Jesus laid His hands on the children and then departed.

Then a young man came to Jesus and asked Him what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus asks him why he calls Him good. “God is the only one good,” Jesus says, and tells him to keep the commandments and quotes them to him. The young man tells Jesus he has kept all the commandments. Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor, and come and follow Him. The Scripture says, “He went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

Jesus tells the disciples that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Then He says, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Peter asks Jesus, “What will we receive for following You?” Jesus says they’ll sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus tells them anyone who has forsaken houses, or land, or family will receive a hundredfold, and will have everlasting life. He says, “Many who are first, will be last and those who are last will be first.” What is keeping you from coming to Jesus?

Thank God for Jesus, who died on the cross for our sins, that we may be able to inherit eternal life. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; it is a gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 19:13-30

13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

 

Things to think about:

  • Why would the disciples rebuke the children?
  • What does Jesus tell them about rebuking the children?
  • Who does Jesus say is good?
  • What does Jesus say to the rich young man?


Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us as we read this Scripture to understand what it is You want us to do. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who came to this world and died on the cross for our sins, so we might have everlasting life. You knew it would be nearly impossible for us to keep all the commandments and do what was required to inherit the kingdom. Help us, dear Lord. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love you, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

for of such is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 19:14

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ

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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:

Matthew

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

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Discusses Divorce” (Matthew 19:1-12)

Jesus Discusses Divorce

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 19:1-12. In this Scripture, Jesus is at the coasts of Judea, beyond Jordan. The multitudes followed Him, and He healed them. The Pharisees came and tempted Him, asking if it was lawful for a man to put away his wife for any reason? Back in Biblical times, they had several different ideas about when divorce was permitted. Why would they have conflicting ideas about this subject?

We still have these concerns in our society today. Jesus tells them the ideal was for a man and woman to become one flesh and what God joined, no man could put asunder. We often hear this in the vows people make when they get married. Then they asked Jesus why Moses commanded to give a writing of divorcement and to put the wife away? You can find the Scripture for the Law of Moses in Deuteronomy 24 if you would like to read it. Jesus said Moses allowed this because of the hardness of their hearts, but from the beginning, it was not so.

Jesus goes on to explain what happens when people divorce and says it can cause adultery. There are repercussions of divorce, for the couple and the family. If at all possible it is preferred for you to save your marriage. Sometimes it isn’t possible if the couple can’t reconcile their differences.

They ask Jesus, “Wouldn’t it be better for people to stay single?” Jesus tells them not all people can live single lives. There are people who refrain from marriage to serve God. Marriage is a covenant and isn’t meant to be taken lightly. A lot of people think from the beginning, “If it doesn’t work out we can get a divorce.” Marriage shouldn’t be entered into with that attitude. Marriage isn’t easy, but there are great rewards for having a family and a partner for life.

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 19:1-12

1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
10 His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.
12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

 

Things to think about:

  • Why does Jesus say it is best not to divorce?
  • Why does Jesus say Moses made provisions for divorce?
  • Why did Jesus say it isn’t possible for some to live the single life?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture where Jesus tells Your perspective on marriage and divorce. Help those of us who are married to be committed to our marriage relationship. For those of us who aren’t married, help us to do Your will concerning these issues. Help us to be committed to You and Your work. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? – Matthew 19:3

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ

Get your copy now!

 

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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:

Matthew

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

Recipe for Life

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Daily Bible Reading “Jesus Says, Have Faith” (Matthew 17:14-27)

Jesus Says, Have Faith

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 17:14-27. In this Scripture, when Jesus came to the multitude, there was a man there whose son was a lunatic. He brought him to the disciples, but they couldn’t heal him. Jesus rebuked the devil, and the child was healed. Why was Jesus able to heal the boy, but the disciples weren’t?

The disciples asked Jesus why they were unable to heal the child and Jesus told them that it was because of their lack of faith. He tells them if they have faith as small as the grain of a mustard seed then they could say to the mountain, “be moved” and it would be so. Jesus says that kind of faith only comes with prayer and fasting.

While they were in Galilee, Jesus tells them that He is going to be betrayed, killed, and on the third day will be raised again. The disciples were very sad.

When they came to Capernaum, the tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus paid taxes. Peter just says yes. Jesus asks Peter what he was thinking. Then Jesus tells him that, to keep from offending them, he could go fishing and the first fish he caught would have the money in his mouth to pay the taxes for Him and for Peter. I need to catch a few fish like that one. How about you?

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 17:14-27

14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

 

Things to think about:

  • Why were the disciples not able to heal the boy?
  • How much faith did Jesus tell them they needed?
  • What did Jesus say they could do if they had faith?
  • How is your faith in Jesus and God?
  • In what ways do you exercise your faith?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture that tells us if we have faith as a grain of mustard seed, we can say to the mountain, move from here to there; and it will move; and nothing will be impossible. Help us Lord, to have enough faith in You that we would be able to pray and see You work in our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

– Matthew 17:20

The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ

Get your copy now!

 

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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:

Matthew

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

Recipe for Life

Like Deborah H. Bateman on Facebook

Daily Bible Reading “Know the Love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:13-21)

Know the Love of Christ

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 3:13-21. In this Scripture Paul told the Ephesians not to be discouraged because he was in prison, as it was for their honor and glory that he was suffering. Would you be discouraged if your leader was in prison?

Paul says, “For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the creator of everything in heaven and earth.” This shows Paul’s humility and his reverence for God.

Paul’s desire for the church members was that God would give them inner strength by His Spirit through the riches of His glory. Paul hoped that Christ would dwell in their hearts by faith as they put their trust in Him. Paul wanted them to be rooted and grounded in love. His prayer for them was that they would be able to understand, as all Christians should, how high, how wide, how long, and how deep God’s love is for us. He also desired that they would know the love of Christ, which passes all knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God.

Paul gives glory to God who is able to do more than we could ever imagine by His power that is at work in us. His desire was that God be given glory in the church forever through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul didn’t try to take glory or honor for anything he did. He made sure that whatever he did he gave the glory to God and to Jesus Christ. Paul realized that without God he was nothing, and he could do nothing without the power of God living in him. Paul loved the Ephesians, but he knew that God loved them even more and he wanted them to understand and know the love of God.

I love this Scripture. As you read it, Paul’s prayer is also my prayer for you. Read the Scripture as if Paul were talking to you. I pray that it will help you to understand and know how deep, how wide, how long, and how high God’s love is for you. May you always give God all the honor, glory, and praise for all He has done.

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 3:13-21

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

 

Things to think about:

  • What are some ways we can find strength for our “inner selves” through Christ?
  • What are some ways we can know the love of God?
  • In what ways have you experienced the immeasurable love of God?

 

 Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Ephesians where Paul is praising and glorifying You. Help us to get a glimpse into how much You love us. We give You praise, honor, and glory for all You have done for us and for the wonderful plan that You had for us from the beginning of time. We love You, LORD. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

be filled with all the fulness of God.

– Ephesians 3:19

 

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.

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Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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Daily Bible Reading “He Loved Us” (Ephesians 2:4-9)

He Loved Us

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 2:4-9. In Ephesians 2:4, Paul says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” God is merciful, He loves us so much He demonstrated His great love for us while we were still dead in our sins He made us alive in Christ.

God showed His compassion toward us by giving us a way to have forgiveness for our sins. If it wasn’t for His love and compassion for us, we would all be on our way to hell. Thank God for His love, grace, and mercy toward us.

By His grace we are saved. Only through God’s unmerited favor can we be saved. God raised us up with Christ to sit in heavenly places, so He could show His abundant grace and compassion to us through Jesus Christ. It is by grace we are saved through faith. It is a precious gift of God. It is not anything we can do by ourselves or by our own works, so we have no reason to boast in ourselves. We can only boast about God and His great love for us, which He expressed through His Son, Jesus Christ.

When someone gives you a gift, do you open it right away? Are you excited to see what is inside the package? What would happen if someone offered you a gift, but you never opened it? It would be there for you to enjoy, if you would open it and take advantage of the gift inside. That is often how we look at God’s gift of salvation. It is there for us to receive if we are willing to accept it. God is not going to force it on us. We have to receive it willingly. Have you accepted God’s gift of salvation for your life?

 

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 2:4-9

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved;

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Things to think about:

  • Are you thankful for God’s mercy?
  • What does the Scripture mean when it says, “By grace we are saved?”
  • Have you accepted God’s gift of salvation?

 

Prayer of the Day:

Dear God,

We thank You for this Scripture which reminds us how much You love us. It tells us about Your grace and mercy toward us. Help us to realize what a precious gift You gave us through Your Son. Help those who haven’t accepted this gift of salvation to do so today. Help those of us who know Jesus as our Savior to appreciate the gracious gift You gave us. In Jesus’ precious name, we pray. Amen.

 

Daily Bible Verse:

Excerpt from God Is Love ~ Deborah H. Bateman

 

Christian Music Video: Reckless Love

 

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

Recipe for Life

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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.

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive the Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.