(2Th 1:3) “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;”  Did you notice it was “meet”, or ,right to do? It is right to put our minds on others and thank the Lord when they grow in such a way as to give glory to God! Acknowledge, and thus encourage brothers and sisters when they display growth!

(Eph 1:5) “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”  The predestination here is not referring to the individual, but to the means “by Jesus Christ” as verses 3 & 4 attest. The Lord desires each of us to respond to His act of sacrifice and love to the suffering and death of His Son. He never makes a person love Him. Do you? Will you?

(2Ti 1:1) “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus”  That promise of life, eternal life, does not begin at death, but here in this life. Spiritual life is imparted the moment one turns from their sin and embraces Jesus as the means of their salvation. I remember that moment. Do you?

(Tit 1:1) “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth”  We are to acknowledge the truth of God’s Word in all things. This, though, is directly referring to the promise of salvation through the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus in our place. That…..is to be a public profession, “….for whosoever believeth in Him shall not be ashamed.” (Rom 10:11)

(Phm 1:2) “And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: “ Notice where the church gathered – a house. It is not the beauty of the place or the place itself that the Lord truly seeks and desires of us. It is the heart of His children as they gather. He desires for each of us to have a heart of love for Him and for each other. May it be so in your church!

(Heb 1:1) “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, (2)  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,…”  The times of God speaking in various ways has ended. He has spoken definitively through the Lord Jesus and continues to speak through His Word – the Holy Spirit the voice. Open the pages of your Bible and hear His voice.

(James 1:14) “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”  We live in a day when we blame everyone and everything for the problems of life. The truth is, we are the source of our problems. We choose how we will react – rightly or wrongly – to the situations of life. Own up to it, and bow to the truth. “God forgive me and help me to do better before You.”

(1Pe 1:3) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”  Mercy is only needed for guilty people. In order to be saved, you have to acknowledge what the Lord says of each of us, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  I needed mercy. Thank God He has an abundance of it, supplied by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus in my place.

( 2Pe 1:3) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”  There is nothing to add to the imparted salvation of God. He has given us ALL THINGS that pertain both unto life (eternal) and godliness (to become more like our Father). We do seek to do right to earn salvation. We seek to do right because we love Him and are thankful FOR that salvation!

(1Jn 1:3) “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”  Somewhere around 1976, my pastor Rev. HL Petty, influenced me to read through the Bible every year. I wish to share with you daily the things I have seen and heard. I encourage you to do the same. It will bring you into closer fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ!