DONNIE DAILY GEMS FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 7:
WORD OF WISDOM
One stumble does not define a person. Though you failed, God's love does
not.
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DAILY DEVOTION
Believing What God Says
"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon
thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also
that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old
age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with
God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the
Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her."
Luke 1:35-38
Mary was presented with a completely unprecedented assignment from the Lord.
Never before had a virgin borne a child, and never before had God willingly
joined Himself to human nature so that there could be a Saviour for mankind.
Though she did not fully understand how God's plan for her would work, or
what the cost would be, Mary believed that His purpose would be fulfilled in
her life. Her expression of faith was that things would happen "according to
thy word."
The basis of our faith is the Word of God. That is where we find the
promises God has given to us. It's important to understand that not
everything people believe is genuine faith based on the Bible. Some people
believe that if you speak the words, you will have health, wealth, and any
material prosperity you desire. God did not promise that. Real faith is only
that which we believe and act on based on what God actually said To have
that faith, we must be people of the Word. Evangelist D. L. Moody said, "I
prayed for faith and it did not come, but when I read the Word of God then
faith came." There are no victorious, effective Christians who are not men
or women of genuine and active faith.
What we believe or hope may not happen, but we can rest assured that God
will fulfill His promises.
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DAILY BIBLE READING
1 Thessalonians 1-5New King James Version (NKJV)
Greeting
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.[a]
Their Good Example
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our
prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love,
and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and
Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our
gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you
for your sake.
6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word
in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became
examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the
word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not
need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what
manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve
the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He
raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Paul's Conduct
2 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2 But even[b] after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at
Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of
God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or
uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even
so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For
neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak
for covetousness-God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either
from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of
Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes
her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well
pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives,
because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor
and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any
of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly
we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted,
and comforted, and charged[c] every one of you, as a father does his own
children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own
kingdom and glory.
Their Conversion
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the
churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered
the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have
persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always
to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the
uttermost.
Longing to See Them
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in
presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great
desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you-even I, Paul, time and
again-but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of
rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at
His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Concern for Their Faith
3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be
left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God,
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and
encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by
these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4
For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer
tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I
could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the
tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
Encouraged by Timothy
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of
your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us,
greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you- 7 therefore, brethren,
in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your
faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which
we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying
exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your
faith?
Prayer for the Church
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our
way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one
another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your
hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Plea for Purity
4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you
should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to
walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you
through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain
from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his
own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the
Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and
defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all
such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to
uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not
reject man, but God, who has also given[d] us His Holy Spirit.
A Brotherly and Orderly Life
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you,
for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you
do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you,
brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead
a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as
we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are
outside, and that you may lack nothing.
The Comfort of Christ's Coming
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have
fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him
those who sleep in Jesus.[e]
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and
remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are
asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these
words.
The Day of the Lord
5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that
I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of
the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and
safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a
pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in
darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all
sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at
night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate
of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not
appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are
doing.
Various Exhortations
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and
are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very
highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one
renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for
yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all
things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Blessing and Admonition
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your
whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy[f]
brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Footnotes:
a.1 Thessalonians 1:1 NU-Text omits from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
b.1 Thessalonians 2:2 NU-Text and M-Text omit even.
c.1 Thessalonians 2:11 NU-Text and M-Text read implored.
d.1 Thessalonians 4:8 NU-Text reads who also gives.
e.1 Thessalonians 4:14 Or those who through Jesus sleep
f.1 Thessalonians 5:27 NU-Text omits holy.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James VersionR. Copyright C 1982 by Thomas
Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
