Bible Book A Day

Philippians — Do’s & Don’ts of Phil 2

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:12:32 +0000

Do

Agree wholeheartedly with each other
Love one another
Work together with one mind and purpose
Be humble
Think of others as better than yourself
Take an interest in others
Have the same attitude that Jesus had
Work hard to show the results of your salvation
Obey God with deep reverence and fear
Do everything without complaining and arguing
Live clean, innocent lives as children of God
Shine like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people
Hold firmly to the Word of Life

Don’t

Don’t be selfish
Don’t try to impress others
Don’t look out only for your own interests

1 Thes — Do’s & Don’ts of 1 Thes 5:12–22

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:12:15 +0000

Do

Honor those who are your overseers in the Lord’s work
Show your overseers great respect and wholehearted love
Live peacefully with each other
Warn those who are lazy
Encourage those who are timid
Take tender care of those who are weak
Be patient with everyone
Always try to do good to each other and to all people
Always be joyful
Be thankful in all circumstances
Test everything that is said
Hold on to what is good

Don’t

Don’t pay back evil for evil
Don’t stop praying
Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit
Don’t scoff at prophecies
Stay away from every kind of evil

1 Peter — Sincere Love

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:12:01 +0000

It always comes back to love, doesn’t it? So simple, yet so hard. But it should be second nature to us, or rather, first nature. Love should be so much a part of us that it happens as naturally as breathing does.

Verse 22 in chapter one gives a nice one-two statement. One: you were cleansed. Two: love each other.

“You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.” —1 Peter 1:22

So love. Sincerely. And deeply.

Colossians — Wear Love

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:11:47 +0000

We love the way The Message translation words much of chapter 3. Read this.

“Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” —‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-14‬

Wear love. Every day. All the time. Never be without love.

Colossians — Let It Happen

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:11:32 +0000

Have you noticed the word “let” appearing again and again in Colossians? Well, it’s there, and although it’s a small word, it’s significant.

Let’s take a look.

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Col. 2:7
“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” Col. 3:15
“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.” Col. 3:16
“Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Col. 4:6

Let is a verb that means “not prevent or forbid; allow.” We are to allow our roots to grow down into Christ. We are to allow and not prevent His peace to rule in our hearts. We are to permit the message of Christ to fill our lives. We are to allow or give the necessary time or opportunity for our conversation to be gracious and attractive.

Let that sink in…

Ephesians — Wisdom

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:11:16 +0000

Wisdom…we are told in James to ask for wisdom. Ephesians paints this in a different light. Paul says to live like those who are wise. It’s cool how simple that makes it. We should just take action and live like those who are wise. Living it leads to being it.

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.‬” —Ephesians 5:15–17

Let us strive to live wisely!

Ephesians — Put Off and Put On

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:10:27 +0000

There’s a simple yet profound list of do’s and don’ts in chapter 4 verses 17–31. Also called the “Put Off and Put On” section, God shows us how we are to live as children of The Light. This is nicely summed up in the following verses.

“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” —Ephesians 4:22–24

Let us strive to like God!

1 John — Love is an Action

admin — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 23:10:02 +0000

We had several readers email and say the section that was sticking out to them was 1 John 3:18–20 where it talks about love being an action.

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.” —1 John 3:18-20

That is a great section. Love is action! Dwell on that and put that into practice. How great it is to live a bold, guilt-free life loving others with our actions! Praise God!

Jesus fully lived out “love is action”, and it led Him all the way to the cross. Let us strive to follow His example of love.