Fill us with Your Word. 1/6/15

Tips on Reading the Bible Daily

1. Start reading the Bible today -- there is no better time, and there's no reason to wait.
2. Set aside a specific time each day. Set your schedule and then stick to it. Mornings are great, but feel free to use any time that works consistently for you.
3. Read the Bible for the sake of learning, not simply to accomplish your next reading. Say a short prayer to God before you begin, asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding, then be refreshed by the words you read!

Matthew 5:27-48
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble,cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[b] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[c]
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[d] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[e] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Supplied Life Devotional by Bill Freeman
January 6th

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27

The uniqueness of our new covenant relationship with the Lord is this:it is not a matter of our keeping outward commands, but of discovering His voice as an inner consciousness. Thus, it is not being outwardly told what to do; it is being prompted from within concerning what to do. So expect the Lord's voice to come from within you. And the way you will discover His voice is by His inner operation that manifests itself by inward promptings. What is important then is how we respond to these promptings.Let me give an illustration. The most basic function of a PC computer is a little blinking "C" at the bottom of the screen, known as the "C prompt." Its appearance on the screen tells you that the computer is operating and is prompting you to enter a command. The prompt is the computer's way of speaking to you; it is the computer's voice. Of course, when you respond to the prompt by entering a command, you open up a wealth of information on the screen. Everything is instantly available to you by simply responding to the "prompt."In the same way, as believers indwelt by the life of God, we have promptings within us. These promptings are the Lord's way of speaking to us. The promptings are the Lord's voice. They are telling us that God is operating in us to open up all the riches of His life to our inward parts. However, to get the benefit of God's life within, we need to respond properly to the prompting. In our daily life, when we say "Amen" to the prompting within and go along with it, we are obeying the voice of the Lord.