Week 51

Day 1

Jesus is our great high priest who knows what we go through. God appointed Him and lifted Him to this position. Grow up and mature in the things of God. Be imitators of those, through faith and patience inherit the promises of God. It is impossible for God to lie, we can trust in His promises. Jesus is a guarantor of a better covenant.

Day 2

God puts the law in the minds of His people and will write it onto their hearts. He will be our God and we shall be His people. He will be merciful towards our iniquities and will remember our sins no more. When Christ came He allowed us to come to Him freely. He paid the price for our sin. His sacrifice was once for all. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith for we are cleansed now. Hold fast to our confession of our hope without wavering for He who has promised is faithful. Stir up others to good works, encouraging and meeting together. Do not go on sinning in living like you used to. Jesus is our confidence. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, and not seen. Without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to Him. Set aside sin as run the race before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfector of our faith. The Lord disciplines those He loves like a good Father. Discipline will benefit us and will help us to be better. 
Marriage should be held in honor.  Keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have. The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Continually offer at the sacrifice of praise to Him.

Day 3

Our aim is to love with a pure heart, good conscience and a sincere faith. Jesus gives us strength, He came into the world to save sinners and He has perfect patiences. For God desires for all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. There is one God and one Mediator between God and man which is Christ Jesus. Notes to women – they shall have respectable apparel, modestness, self-control and not flashy. We should learn to live quietly with also submissiveness. Also not having authority over man in teaching. God has a perfect order. 
An overseers qualifications – above reproach, husband of one wife, sober minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his house well and not a recent convert and well liked by outsiders. Paul wrote these things to Timothy so that the people would know how to behave in the household of God. Train yourself for godliness. We have our hope set on the living God. Be Christlike and practice the things of Christ. Don't rebuke but encourage. Take care of those in your family and pay your preachers. Watch out for those who do not teach the truth because some desire money and esteem. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness and be free from reproach.

Day 4

Qualifications for elders – is the same as overseers but added some more things. Children must be believers, not arrogant or quick-tempered, not drunkard, violent, greedy for gain, must be hospitable,  lovers of good, upright, holy, and disciplined. We need to be good examples to others. The grace of God appeared bringing salvation to all people. We are being trained to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, live a self-controlled, upright and godly life.

Day 5

Jesus has caused us to be born again and we now have an inheritance in heaven that is guarded. Rejoice even though we may have trials because we can look to what is to come. Do not be conformed to former passions, be holy in all conduct. We were ransom by the precious blood of Jesus. Love others earnestly with a pure heart. The word of the Lord remains forever. Put away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. For I am chosen and precious. Abstain from all fleshly passions and submit to authority. Wives be subject to husbands and let your adorning not be external but from the inside out. The beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God. Husbands live with wives and honor them as the weaker vessel understanding them. Always be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is in you. Do this with gentleness and respect. We may suffer but better to suffer from doing good. We are an example of Christ and he suffered in the flesh. Arm yourself with the same way of thinking. Above all keep loving each other earnestly because the sincere love covers a multitude of sins. Entrust your soul to our faithful Creator while doing good. Clothe  yourself with humility and Christ will exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you. Resist the devil and stay firm in your faith.

Day 6

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. He has granted to us His precious and very great promises. Through these promises we have become partakers of the divine nature. If you want to be effective and fruitful - supplement your faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. Practice these things and you will not fall. False teachers will come in, looking to destroy. The ungodly will be condemned to extinction. For whatever overcomes the person, to that he is enslaved. The Lord isn't slow, but is patient towards us. He wishes that none should perish but reach repentance. Be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace. Content for the faith. The ungodly people will pervert the grace of God and denied Jesus. Build yourself up in the most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Day 7

Fan into flame the gift of God given to us. God gave a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord Jesus for He abolished death and brought life. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Do your best present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. Flee youthful youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the name of the Lord from a pure heart. In the last days there will be much ungodliness – lovers of self and money, pride, arrogance, abuse, disobedient to parents, ungratefulness, unholiness, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not living good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, appearance of godliness - but denying its power. Avoid such people. You can see that we must be close to the end days as many of these above ways listed are the ways of men today. All Scripture is God breathed and profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. Preach the word of God and be ready always. Fight the good fight and finish the race, keep the faith.

Happy Reading – Jeannie