Day 48 - Matthew 16:1-12

One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times! 4 Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

5 Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 “Watch out!” Jesus warned them. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 8 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “You have so little faith! Why are you arguing with each other about having no bread? 9 Don’t you understand even yet? Don’t you remember the 5,000 I fed with five loaves, and the baskets of leftovers you picked up? 10 Or the 4,000 I fed with seven loaves, and the large baskets of leftovers you picked up? 11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”

12 Then at last they understood that he wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

Terrie's Comments:

Be careful to not get caught up in the teaching that says WE need to "DO" to be accepted by God.  WE need to BELIEVE IN JESUS... that is all!

Tori's Comments: 

Perhaps I should begin keeping track of the number of times Jesus mentions faith. 

And what is Jesus's response to their little faith? He reminds them of the great things God has already done. Over and over again in the Old Testament, I'm finding that the reminder of who God is is vital, and something I should keep in my head. Writing down all the ways He's moved in my life and came through on His promises (which is EVERY time) would be a great step in reminding!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 2 - Jude 1:11-16

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

Terrie's Comments:

We are saved by believing in Jesus Christ alone.  It is by grace we have been saved through faith, not of works so no man can boast.  We on our own are going to be judged and condemned... but there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus who do not follow their flesh but follow the Holy Spirit's leading in their lives.  

Tori's Comments:

We should be careful about those who we let speak into our lives, ensuring that they themselves are standing on the truth! 

This condemnation of selfishness has me so thankful for what Christ has done on the cross for us!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 1 - Jude 1:1-10

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

Terrie's Comments:

Contend for the faith!  It is totally worth it all.  Don't forget that Jesus Christ is our only way to eternal life!  The grace that was provided through Jesus Christ at the time of his death and resurrection is only available with Jesus Christ.  It is a package deal.  You cannot separate what Jesus did from Grace... they go together.  We have unmerited favour with God because of what Jesus did at Calvary.  Do we sometimes want the benefits and blessings that are provided to us through Jesus Christ but forget then forget why we have access to them in the first place?

Tori's Comments:

Wow, lots of interesting stuff in here. My main takeaway is to be faithful and stand on the truth! The battle is already won, we just need to remember that :)

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 3 - 1 John 2:12-17

12 I am writing to you who are God’s children
    because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
13 I am writing to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I am writing to you who are young in the faith
    because you have won your battle with the evil one.
14 I have written to you who are God’s children
    because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
    because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
    because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
    and you have won your battle with the evil one.

15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

Tori's Comments:

Verses 12 to 14 serve as a beautiful mantra and reminder of who we are in Christ!

It is really hard to say no to the world sometimes. For some reason, I forget just how much richer and beautiful Christ is!


Terrie's Comments:

This passage is sooo rich!  We know Christ!  We are Strong in Christ!  We have won our battle with the evil one!   We are God's Children!  We know the Father!  Our sins have been forgiven through Jesus!  These are all present statements... they state what we already know and have through Christ!  This is great news and worth celebrating.

Warning: Do not love this world or the things it offers you... Jesus is better than everything here.  This world will fade away quicker than we are willing to admit most days but if our faith is in Jesus Christ and His finished work at the cross we will live forever!


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 2 - 1 John 2:1-11

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. 4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

7 Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment for you; rather it is an old one you have had from the very beginning. This old commandment—to love one another—is the same message you heard before. 8 Yet it is also new. Jesus lived the truth of this commandment, and you also are living it. For the darkness is disappearing, and the true light is already shining.

9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves a fellow believer is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a fellow believer is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.

Terrie's Comments:
Notice in verses 1-2 it talks about our advocate, Jesus Christ, who pleads our case before God the Father.  And then in verse 2 explains that the reason that He can boldly plead our case is because our sins are atoned for by His blood... not only our sins but the SINS OF ALL THE WORLD!!  That is a lot of sin to bear!  THANK YOU JESUS!!!!!

But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Living like Jesus did... Following his commandments... Simply to love one another... Love fellow believers.  All fellow believers.  This includes believers no matter which church, denomination, race, culture, country, they are from.  We are to love ALL FELLOW BELIEVERS!  

Lord give us eyes to see our fellow believers as you see them.  Give us an unconditional, all inclusive, compassionate love for all believers world wide.  Amen

Tori's Comments:

I need to walk my talk and love!

I think the reason that we really only need to submit to two commandments is that they're more than enough to strive towards in our lifetimes.

To love others so completely, wholly.....

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 1 - 1 John 1:1-10

We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 2 This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was revealed to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.5 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Tori's Comments:

I think sometimes we can forget how REAL God is. Like at the beginning of this passage, Jesus was an actual man who died on a cross for our sins. That is one of the most important things we could ever remember (It also seems to be one of the easiest things to forget!). 

Verse 6- Am I growing in my Christian faith or remaining stagnant? It's more important than it seems, because if I am not living for God, what's the point? He should be what I want to spend all of my free time on! Although I'm not there yet, I hope to :)

Terrie's Comments:

This letter that is one that has had plenty of airtime in my head recently!  It is a book that the Holy Spirit has downloaded a lot of information and revelation about.  

It is important to remember that 1 John is a letter and is meant to be read as a whole.  It is important (and I would recommend it highly to go and read this letter in it's entirety everyday of this challenge) to keep everything in context.

Did you know that 1 John 1:9 is the only verse in the Bible that tells us to confess our sins to receive forgiveness?  What is up with that?  Especially when the rest of the epistles talk about the fact that we are made righteous through Jesus.  And that our sins were nailed to the cross.  When taking a look at 1 John in the fullness, even this letter seems to contradict that statement.  
Also if we need to confess our sins to be forgiven and be made righteous then how can we ever be fully righteous or fully forgiven when we will always have sins that are unknown.  Let's read this in the context of just the few surrounding verses and see what we can find...

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

In verse 7 we see that it is stated that we are cleansed from ALL sin.  The next verse is saying if we claim to have no sin we are in denial... then comes the famous verse about confession of our sins.  Followed by "if we claim that we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar"  Basically when we read the famous 1 John 1:9 in context of the surrounding verses we can see that this is referring to realizing that we were born into sin and the only way that we can be saved is by confessing that we needed the blood of Jesus to cleanse us and make us righteous.  If we say that we don't need the blood of Jesus to be righteous in God's sight then we are making God a liar and his word has no place in our lives.  When we place our faith in Jesus Christ and decide to make Him Lord in our lives we are admitting that we need his redemption that was provided when he nailed our sins to the cross.  It does not mean that we need to be in a constant state of repentance and begging God for forgiveness.  Forgiveness is for the benefit of the one doing the forgiving.  The Bible says that God forgives us for His sake.  He has already forgiven us.  We don't have to ask we just need to place our faith (believe God's word) that it is already finished!!!  This is great news indeed.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 2 - 1 Peter 1:10-21

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

21 Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

Terrie's Comments:
I love the fact that God has no favorites.  I am thankful that I am a "temporary resident" in this world.  It would be depressing if this was all there was.  I am longing for home.  I can't wait to arrive home and finally get to embrace Jesus.  

Isn't it a little bit of an awesome thought to think about that the good news that we have accepted that even the angels are eagerly watching it unfold :-) I love that image in my mind!

Tori's Comments:

Whoa, even the angels are watching to see how God's story unfolds. A story we are a part of. Isn't that crazy?

We are "temporary residents" (vs. 17). That's a good thing to remember when it's hard to stand against temptation. We have something waaaay better coming to us.

"empty life"(vs. 18) sums it up, that's for sure.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 1 - 1 Peter 1:1-9 - PRAYING THROUGH PETER!

This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

Tori's Comments:

We are God's chosen people. Doesn't that just fill you with joy? 
Like AGHHHHHH kind of joy?

Tell me it isn't just me.

This chapter is just full of joy.

Verse 8 is just how I feel right now. Can you tell? :) Now I promise I won't scream anymore.

Terrie's Comments:

God the Father knew me and chose me... that would be enough if that is where this ended but it goes on and on and on.  The Holy Spirit has made me holy and pure through the blood of Jesus Christ!  

BE TRULY GLAD...THERE IS WONDERFUL JOY AHEAD!!  All the trials of this world are not in vain when we live for Jesus Christ.  I do rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy!!  I LOVE Jesus even though I have never seen Him with my own eyes.  I trust Him completely!  He has proven himself to be faithful in my life every step of the way!

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 10 - 1 Timothy 5: 11-16

11 The younger widows should not be on the list, because their physical desires will overpower their devotion to Christ and they will want to remarry. 12 Then they would be guilty of breaking their previous pledge. 13 And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. 14 So I advise these younger widows to marry again, have children, and take care of their own homes. Then the enemy will not be able to say anything against them. 15 For I am afraid that some of them have already gone astray and now follow Satan.

16 If a woman who is a believer has relatives who are widows, she must take care of them and not put the responsibility on the church. Then the church can care for the widows who are truly alone.

Terrie's Comments:

Today and yesterday have been an interesting look on the charity of the early church.  I think that our modern society could learn a few things from these passages for sure.  I think our churches have passed on the responsibility of taking care of widows mainly to the government and other agencies that are available, which aren't necessarily Christ based organizations.  Is this something that the church has missed the mark on?  Should we be stepping up more to help those without family around to help them?  Something to think about.

Tori's Comments:

Laziness and gossiping are definitely everyday things that this cultures gladly accepts, but Paul here says those who do it may "follow Satan".

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 9 - 1 Timothy 5:1-10

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. 2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her. 4 But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home and repay their parents by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God.

5 Now a true widow, a woman who is truly alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays night and day, asking God for his help. 6 But the widow who lives only for pleasure is spiritually dead even while she lives. 7 Give these instructions to the church so that no one will be open to criticism.

8 But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

9 A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. 10 She must be well respected by everyone because of the good she has done. Has she brought up her children well? Has she been kind to strangers and served other believers humbly? Has she helped those who are in trouble? Has she always been ready to do good?

Tori's Comments:

We are a family, and we need to act like it!

"prays night and day" To be able to depend wholly on Christ...

Terrie's Comments:
This passage is so practical.  Treat those in Christ's family, no matter who they are, as if they are part of your own family.  

Taking care of our own relatives should be a priority.  And taking care of those who have no one else in this world to care for them.

If I live my life in full dependence on God then if I am ever in the position of widow it would be my automated response to rely on Him even then.  This should be the goal of every  believer.  Dying to our own needs and living fully as a servant of Jesus Christ.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 8 - 1 Timothy 4:9-16

9 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

11 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. 12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 13 Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 15 Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

Terrie's Comments:
"Focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them."  The reason they would have been reading and teaching from the scriptures is to build faith that Jesus Christ was who he said and that he was whom the scriptures were pointing towards.

Keeping watch over the truth, using the spiritual gift that has been given to us diligently and teaching the truth to others.  Be an example to all believers in how we live.  It is so simple really. When we allow the Holy Spirit to direct our paths and empower us to do whatever he is asking us to do we have nothing to loose.  It is not our name that is at stake... It is the name of Jesus Christ and we know that God is more than able to defend himself.

Tori's Comments:

Be encouraging. And seek encouragement from the Word yourself.

"throw yourself into your tasks" I LOVE this phrasing, that we should give everything we have into what we are doing, because everything we do is another opportunity to witness.


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 7 - 1 Timothy 4: 1-8

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

3 They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. 4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. 5 For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you explain these things to the brothers and sisters, Timothy, you will be a worthy servant of Christ Jesus, one who is nourished by the message of faith and the good teaching you have followed. 7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”


Tori's Comments:

"everything God created is good" let us be known as a thankful people.

Terrie's Comments:

Once again the idea of not wasting time on arguing over things has come into this letter.  It sounds like it was something that was happening a lot.  This time Paul is encouraging people to not argue about godless ideas or old wives' tales.  

I believe for me it takes just as much, if not more discipline and effort to train myself spiritually as it does to train physically.  But we are assured not only here by Paul but also by the Holy Spirit himself that there are promising benefits here and in heaven for training ourselves spiritually.  Physical training is only beneficial here on earth.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 6 - 1 Timothy 3: 8-16

8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.

16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith:

Christ was revealed in a human body
    and vindicated by the Spirit.
He was seen by angels
    and announced to the nations.
He was believed in throughout the world
    and taken to heaven in glory.

Tori's Comments:

More elaboration on the previous guidelines... that above all, we are apart of God's family. We are representatives, ambassadors of His household and should act accordingly.

Terrie's Comments:
I think one might wonder why we are reading all these instructions that don't pertain to us in general.  1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are letters that were written specifically to Pastors for the purpose of instructing them in their role.  As we read these letters it is good to keep in mind the intent of the letter.  Many of us are members of the church but probably not in the role of a pastor so some things that are mentioned may just be good reading but may never be practical instruction in our lives.  

If we are a wife of someone in leadership then we "must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do."

Final thing I noticed about this passage was that even though it refers to a "mystery" the mystery isn't a mystery anymore.  When Jesus Christ came and ascended into heaven the mystery was revealed.  This is the good news!
Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 2 - 1 Timothy 1:12-20

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen.

18 Timothy, my son, here are my instructions for you, based on the prophetic words spoken about you earlier. May they help you fight well in the Lord’s battles. 19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme God.

Terrie's Comments:
I know that God doesn't scale sin.  Every sin is sin and deserving of death.  But I would think that actively destroying the church the God himself is building would be up near the top of the worst of the worst.  Paul had been saved by grace radically even though he was blaspheming God.  He didn't know any better.  Paul actually thought that he was defending God by trying to shut down Christianity.  

I believe that this is why he is encouraging Timothy to "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear".  Paul goes on to mention two men who had allowed themselves to side step their faith and blaspheme God.  Paul had been operating in "ignorance and unbelief" but these two men knew the truth and had abandoned it.

Something to think about... what does it mean to blaspheme God?  Have I ever done it?  Have I ever been tempted to violate my conscience?

Tori's Comments:

How the mercy God has shown us should affect our daily life. We should be constantly rejoicing at the things we've been given that we don't deserve: salvation, redemption, love, joy, the list goes on and on.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!