<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+10:1-20">Matthew 10:1-20</span></span></p><p>We are saying that many Christians are ineffective witnesses because they attempt to water down their testimony to avoid persecution - and end up achieving nothing. Once we accept that those who reject Christ and His teaching will also reject us, we will then be free to throw our whole weight on the side of Christ and become fully identified with Him. In following this principle, however, we must be careful that our freedom from fear of rejection does not lead us to become objectionable. I know some Christians who have a hard time from their non-Christian acquaintances, not because of their likeness to Christ, but because of their tactlessness and lack of wisdom. I once met a man who told me he had convincing evidence that he was a true disciple of Christ. I was intrigued to know his reason for thinking this way, and in answer to my question "Why are you so sure?" he replied: "My neighbours won't talk to me and cross to the other side of the road when they see me coming. I take this persecution as proof that I am a true citizen of the kingdom." Some time later, I had occasion to talk to some of this man's neighbours, who told me that the reason they avoided him was because he continually accosted them with questions like "Do you know you are going to hell?" or "What if you were to drop dead at this moment - where would you spend eternity?" The neighbours thought it good policy to avoid him rather than to be faced continually with his belligerence. The man was suffering, not for Christ's sake, but for his own sake. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O God my Father, I see how easy it is to bring suffering and persecution upon myself by my own tactlessness and folly. Help me to object without being objectionable and to disagree without being disagreeable. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><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><span class="scriptRef" ref="2ti+3:1-13">2 Timothy 3:1-13</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+13:3">1 Corinthians 13:3</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="re+2:10">Revelation 2:10</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is the result of living a godly life?</li><li>What is promised for faithfulness?</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

"' be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (v. 16, RSV)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+6:27-40">Luke 6:27-40</span></span></p><p>The fifth Beatitude - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" - is quite different from the ones that precede it. In the first four, there is a contrast between the need and the fulfilment. The "poor in spirit" receive the kingdom; those "who mourn" are comforted; "the meek" inherit the earth; those who "hunger and thirst" are satisfied; but in the fifth Beatitude the theme changes: "the merciful will be shown mercy". It is as though we cannot receive mercy without first giving it. We must move carefully here, for no Beatitude has been more misunderstood than this one. There are those who take these words to mean that we can only be forgiven by God to the extent that we forgive others. They bring alongside this Beatitude such passages as: "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+11:4">Luke 11:4</span>), and "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+18:35">Matthew 18:35</span>). Putting all these Scriptures together, they claim that it is the clear meaning of the Bible that we are forgiven by God only to the degree that we forgive others. If this is so, then salvation is by works and not by grace. We must never interpret Scripture in a way that contradicts other Scriptures. What our Lord means in this fifth Beatitude is that when we demonstrate mercy to others, we make it possible for God's mercy to penetrate deeper into our own lives and personalities. The act of giving makes us more able to receive.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, help me not to stumble over this truth. Show me that although my forgiveness of others is not a condition of salvation, it must be a consequence of it. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.</p><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><span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+9:1-6">2 Corinthians 9:1-6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+11:25">Proverbs 11:25</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+22:9">Proverbs 22:9</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+10:8">Matthew 10:8</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is the law of sowing and reaping?</li><li>What was Jesus' instruction to the disciples?</li></ul></div></div>

"Give, and it will be given to you '" (v. 38) 

<p>Fritz Kreisler, one of the world's greatest violinists said, "I was born with music in my system. I knew musical scores instinctively before I knew my ABC's. It was a gift of Providence. I did not acquire it. So I do not even deserve thanks for the music…Music is too sacred to be sold. And the outrageous prices the musical celebrities charge today are truly a crime against society."</p><p>These are words that everyone in Christian work might take to heart. The Christian ministry is a ministry of giving, not of getting. The question is not, "What is there in it for me?" but rather "How can I best share the message with the greatest number?" In the service of Christ, it is far better that things should cost rather than that they should pay.</p><p>It is true that "The labourer is worthy of his hire" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+10:7">Luke 10:7</span>) and that "They which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+9:14">1 Corinthians 9:14</span>). But this does not justify a man's setting a price on his gift. It does not justify charging exorbitant royalties for the use of hymns. It does not justify unconscionable fees for speaking or singing engagements.</p><p>Simon the Sorcerer wanted to buy the power of conferring the Holy Spirit on others (<span class="scriptRef" ref="ac+8:19">Acts 8:19</span>). No doubt he saw this as a way of making money for himself. By his action, he gave his name to our language (simony) to describe the buying or selling of religious privileges. It is no overstatement to say that the religious world today is shot through with simony.</p><p>If the dollar could somehow be removed from so-called Christian work, a great deal of it would stop immediately. But there would still be faithful servants of the Lord who would press on till their last ounce of strength was expended.</p><p>We have received freely; we ought to give freely. The more we give, the wider the blessing, and the greater the reward - good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.</p><p> </p>

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

"Freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8)

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">8 </sup><woj>Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,  drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.</woj> </span></p>

<woj>Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,<ft>1</ft> drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.</woj>

Matthew 10:8

 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,  drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

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

 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

<p><span class="bible-text "><woj>Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,  drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.</woj> </span></p>

 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,  drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Bible Verse of the Day

December 10, 2023

Matthew 10:8 NIV

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