I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.
God wants us to show love/mercy more than He wants us to offer sacrifices. He wants us to know Him more than He wants us to follow specific regulations. But we have broken His covenant and betrayed His trust…I have broken His covenant and betrayed His trust. Despite all of this God wants to heal us, to heal our land. Let us each one of us take the responsibility to turn from our sins and cry to God for help. Let us not follow the example of the people of the Kingdom of Israel, who looked everywhere, except to God, for help. Let us turn to God, and cry out for His help, now, before it is too late.
In this letter, John tells us of the importance of helping traveling teachers, those who go from place to place to bring the word of God. We should provide them with support because they will not accept aid from non-believers. John also warns us against church leaders who want to prevent anyone from hearing the teaching of anyone they do not control, leaders who are dictatorial and controlling. Let us follow only what is good. Those who do good prove that they are children of God, while those who do evil show that they do not even know God.
I will have faith in God, even though I am facing difficult times. He will restore my fortunes and I will bless His name. Things may be difficult now, but I trust God to bring joy into my life.
Rulers who listen to liars will quickly end up with advisers who are all wicked. Those who think that it is acceptable for those in positions of authority to lie in order to accomplish “worthy” objectives will discover that those worthy objectives are not what they thought they were. Integrity is vitally important in order to accomplish anything of positive value.