Reading for today: 1 Kings 2:26-46 and 1 Timothy 4:4-5

“And to Abiathar the priest the king said, ‘Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord God before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.’” 1 Kings 2:26

Isn’t it great that we don’t get what we deserve?  Instead, we live in God’s state of
forgiveness and blessing!

Reading for today: 1 Kings 2:1-25 and 1 Timothy 4:3

“But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.”
1 Kings 2:7

David shows here how to repay a kindness.  This mirrors Jesus when He says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for Me” (Matthew 25:40).

Reading for today: 1 Kings 1:28-53 and 1 Timothy 4:2

Focus on: 1 Kings: 1: 29-30

Adonijah, David’s fourth son, was the logical choice to succeed David as king.  Adonijah declared himself king without David’s knowledge, even though God and David had chosen Solomon.  It’s easy to make decisions based on what we believe is logical, but we must always seek God’s will in the decisions we make.  All decisions must be God’s will and not ours. 

Reading for today: 1 Kings 1:1-27 and 1 Timothy 4:1

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,…” 1 Timothy 4:1

We are clearly entering “latter times.”  The world freely accepts the false teachings of men, while believers are ostracized for following the Word of God.  Hold God’s Word close to your heart.  He will be faithful and reward us eternally in Heaven.

Reading for today: 2 Samuel 24:10-25 and 1 Timothy 3:16

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16

This verse teaches us that God in fact has shown Himself as a man which is our Lord Jesus.  Thank you, Father, for sending your Son, and thank you Jesus for being the
obedient Son who died for my sins.

Reading for today: 2 Samuel 24:1-9 and 1 Timothy 3:14-15

“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3:14-15

It is clear by Paul’s writing that there is an expected way in which we are to conduct our lives.  This does not mean that as followers of Christ we are free to do as we wish, but instead we are instructed to follow God’s ways by the example of how Jesus lived His life while on Earth. 

Reading for today: 2 Samuel 23:8-39 and 1 Timothy 3:13

“For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  1 Timothy 3:13

As we serve our God, we are blessed through the very action of serving Him.

Reading for today: 2 Samuel 22:32-23:7 and 1 Timothy 3:12

“Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their
 own houses well.” 1 Timothy 3:12 

First and foremost, we need to be examples of Christ in our own homes.  The lives we live should not be different inside or outside of church.

Reading for today: 2 Samuel 22:1-31 and 1 Timothy 3:11

“Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.”
1 Timothy 3:11

Women of the church are called to be just as responsible as the men of the church in the eyes of the Lord.  The strength to live up to these guidelines can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Reading for today: 2 Samuel 21:1-22 and 1 Timothy 3:10

“But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being
found blameless.” 1 Timothy 3:10

Before deacons are selected, they should have a heart for serving the needs of the church and of its people.  Serving is not something we feel that we have to do, but instead is a privilege to do.