For Reading and Meditation:      Colossians 1:1-14Yesterday we saw that when we make it a goal to hunger and thirst after happiness, we get nowhere, but when we make it our goal to hunger and thirst after righteousness, we get everywhere. Once again Jesus touches on an aspect of good mental health when He teaches us through these words to focus on right goals. Those who study human behaviour tell us that everything we do has a goal. "We are not conditioned animals that act automatically and unthinkingly in programmed response," says a psychologist, "' neither are we the hapless victims of internal forces that drive us relentlessly in unwanted directions." It may sometimes feel as if we do things we don't want to do, but the truth is that everything we do represents an effort to reach a goal that somehow, albeit at an unconscious level, makes sense. In fact, one of the ways in which you can better understand why you do the things you do is to ask yourself: What's my goal? A woman I once counselled and who was extremely frustrated because her husband would not change to meet her requirements said to me: "My husband is so stubborn and obstinate that I just can't see any future for us together." I shared with her the concept that everything we do represents a goal, and asked her to put into words what she thought her goal might be in her marriage. Without a moment's hesitation she replied: "To change my husband." Her daily prayer was: "Lord, You love my husband and I'll change him." I suggested she altered her goal to: "Lord, You change my husband and I'll love him." She did, and instantly found a new freedom - and a new happiness in her marriage. O Father, I see what I need - I need to bring my goals in line with Your goals. Unfold more of this important truth to me as I pursue it over the next few days. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Ephesians 5:1-16</li><li>Romans 6:4</li><li>2 Corinthians 5:7</li><li>Galatians 5:16</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How are we to live?</li><li>Do you make the most of every opportunity?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way '" (v. 10) 

For Reading and Meditation:      1 Peter 3:13-22As Christians we ought never to forget that the message of the Bible is addressed primarily to the understanding; it enables us to understand life. Because of the Bible, we are able to give a reason for the hope that is within us. The psalmist found the truth of this. In the sanctuary he discovered an explanation for the way that he felt. He was not given a temporary lift that would stay with him for a few hours or a few days - he was given a solution that would stay with him for the rest of his life. It was this, in fact, that caused him to write the psalm we are focusing upon day by day. The words: "Then I understood their final destiny" (Psalm 73:17) suggest that previously he had not been thinking correctly. He had been seeing things from a partial and incomplete perspective, but now "in the sanctuary" he began to see the whole picture: "Then I understood". When? Then - when he came into the sanctuary. There is a line in one of Matthew Arnold's writings that goes like this: "Who saw life steadily, and saw it whole." What a delightful phrase this is. Nothing can be more wonderful than to see life steadily and to see it whole. Much of the inner turmoil we go through in life comes about because we do not see life as a whole. Prejudice has been defined as "seeing only what you want to see". People who are prejudiced say: "I have always seen it that way." That's their problem - their eyes are fixed on just one facet of an issue and they will not allow themselves to look at the other sides. O Father, help me, for I don't want to be in bondage to prejudice or bigotry - I want to see life whole. We must work this issue out together over these next few days, for apart from You I can do nothing. Help me, Father. Amen.<div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Ephesians 5:1-20</li><li>2 Timothy 1:8</li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How are we to speak to ourselves?</li><li>What did Paul admonish Timothy?</li></ul></div></div>

" Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have " (v. 15) 

THE Lord proposes Himself to us as our pattern, and He gives grace to every one who desires it to imitate Him. He exhorts us as His dear and tenderly beloved children, and in mildest strains proposeth Himself for our imitation. Let us imitate the Lord in the world, dealing justly, ever acting from holy principles, and by a righteous rule, adhering strictly to truth, for our God is the God of truth: choosing our company, being only familiar with them who are familiar with God; and doing good to all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith; for He causeth His sun to shine on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Let us imitate Him in the church, cultivating a spirit of love to all saints, notwithstanding their infirmities, exercising forbearance, and pity; being slow to anger and ready to forgive; accepting the will for the deed, and being always ready to help in trouble and distress. Let us imitate our God, for He commands us; our relation to Him requires it; and our peace is involved in it.This will solve th' important question, Whether thou art a real Christian, Better than each golden dream: Better far than lip expression, Towering notions, great profession; This will show your love to Him.

Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer

"Be ye imitators of God, as dear children." Ephesians 5:1

Love is that quality in God which causes Him to lavish unbounded affection on others. His love is manifest in giving good and perfect gifts to the beloved.We can give only a few of the myriad of verses that speak of that love! "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" (Jeremiah 31:3). "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us…" (Ephesians 2:4). And, of course, the best known of all, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whososoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).When John says "God is love" (1 John 4:8), he is not defining God, but insisting that love is a key element in the divine nature. We do not worship love, but the God of love.His love had no beginning and can have no end. It is limitless in its dimensions. It is absolutely pure, without taint of selfishness or any other sin. It is sacrificial, never minding the cost. It seeks only the welfare of others, and nothing in return. It goes out to the unlovely as well as to the lovely, to enemies as well as to friends. It is not drawn out by any virtues in its objects, but only by the goodness of the Giver.The practical implications of this sublime truth are obvious. "Therefore be imitators of God," said Paul, "as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us" (Ephesians 5:1-2 a, NASB). Our love should ascend to the Lord, should flow out to our brethren, and should extend to the unsaved world.Contemplation of His love should also inspire deepest worship. As we fall at His feet, we must say repeatedly:How Thou canst love me as Thou dostAnd be the God Thou artIs darkness to my intellectBut sunshine to my heart.

With reverence, humor and skill, William MacDonald wove a daily devotional tapestry that challenges the reader to think deeply and Biblically, and apply God's Word to their lives.

Truths to Live By - One Day at a Time

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

Be imitators of God as dear children. § Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. § Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. When the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. § The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. § He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 The fruit of the Spirit is . . . goodness. 

Jesus . . . lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father … Holy Father … O righteous Father!” § He said, “Abba, Father.” § Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” § For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Doubtless You are our Father … You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting. “I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’” And he arose and came to his father. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Evening Daily Light

 The Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 

The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. § Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. § Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. § You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints… Now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

 A new name. 

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering.” § The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love. § The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. § This is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully … But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God … Christ … suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps …; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. Be angry, and do not sin.

 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding. 

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. § Your Father in heaven … makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. § Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. § Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. § The love of Christ compels us. Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

 Your lovingkindness is before my eyes. 

He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” § Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Be imitators of God as dear children. § If children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. The brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. § Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. § These things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. § As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

 You were called into the fellowship of His Son. 

5 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children

Follow God’s example,<cr>1</cr> therefore, as dearly loved children<cr>2</cr>

Ephesians 5:1

 1 Follow God’s example,   therefore, as dearly loved children  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Follow God’s example,   therefore, as dearly loved children  

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children

Bible Verse of the Day

December 31, 1999

Ephesians 5:1 NIV

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