Daily GNT Bible Reading Podcast
Join us in reading through the whole Good News Bible (GNT) in 365 24-minute-long podcasts!
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GN-Day257 Hosea 11-12; Proverbs 25:1-14; Matthew 6:19-34
09/07/2025
GN-Day257 Hosea 11-12; Proverbs 25:1-14; Matthew 6:19-34
HOSEA 11-12:In yesterday’s reading, as the Lord was pleading with Israel and using agricultural metaphors, He said, Hos. 10:12 GNT I said, ‘Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you.’ 13 But instead you planted evil and reaped its harvest. You have eaten the fruit produced by your lies. PROVERBS 25a:Today’s highlighted proverb: Pro. 25:11 NLT Timely advice is lovely,like golden apples in a silver basket. MATTHEW 6b:Yesterday’s three-times emphasis was “Don’t be like the hypocrites.” And we heard the Lord’s prayer. The first line of the Lord’s prayer, ‘hallowed be Thy _name_’ can be taken as a metonymy for the person of the Father, not just his name. So I translate this famous verse like this: “Our Father in heaven, [may all people honor You as the Holy God//may You always and everywhere be regarded as holy].” Even so, we must bear in mind that God shows great concern for his name in the Old Testament— beginning in the Ten Commandments. If that phrase is translated with that in mind, it could also be translated, “May your name always be spoken with respect befitting your holiness.” Both ideas may be in view in that first line of the prayer. GNT Translation note:Mat. 6:30 It is God who clothes the wild grass—grass that is here today and gone tomorrow, burned up in the oven. Won't he be all the more sure to clothe you? [How little you believe in Him!//What little faith you have!]
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GN-Day256 Hosea 9-10; Proverbs 24:17-34; Matthew 6:1-18
09/07/2025
GN-Day256 Hosea 9-10; Proverbs 24:17-34; Matthew 6:1-18
HOSEA 9-10:In the first paragraph of chapter 6, Hosea or the Lord quoted the people saying, “Let’s return to the Lord! He has hurt us, … but he will bandage our wounds won’t he? In two or three days he will revive us…” But following that there are three chapters where the Lord tells why Israel’s returning is always fickle and insincere. PROVERBS 24b:Just one of many neat nuggets of truth in today’s reading: Pro. 24:26 NLT An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship. MATTHEW 6a:Yesterday’s reading had five ‘You have heard it said … But I tell you …’ And they included some of the hardest ones for us to obey. GNT Translation notes:Mat. 6:9 This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven: May [all people honor You as the Holy God//your holy name be honored];[I have pointed out in many other places that ‘name’ is often used as a metonymy that stands for God’s whole personhood, not just his name. GNT introduces another potential problem, making it sound like God has more than one name, and just the holy name should be honored. I have suggested above that this be translated as a metonymy, but even so, we must bear in mind that God shows great concern for his name in the Old Testament— beginning in the Ten Commandments. If that phrase is translated with that in mind, it could also be translated, “May your name always be spoken with respect befitting your holiness.” Both ideas may be in view in that first line of the prayer.] 10 may [You come to set up your kingdom here on earth//You come to rule here on earth as king//your Kingdom come]; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [In most of the world’s languages a ‘kingdom’ cannot come or move. Instead it is more natural to say that a King will come to rule.]
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GN-Day255 Hosea 6-7; Proverbs 24:1-18; Matthew 5:27-48
09/07/2025
GN-Day255 Hosea 6-7; Proverbs 24:1-18; Matthew 5:27-48
HOSEA 6-8:In yesterday’s reading, Hosea bought back his wife from prostitution. And the Lord drew analogies in his speech to Israel. PROVERBS 24a:Favorite verses: Pro. 24:5 GNT Being wise is better than being strong; yes, knowledge is more important than strength.6 After all, you must make careful plans before you fight a battle, and the more good advice you get, the more likely you are to win. MATTHEW 5b:Yesterday we read the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, including the famous and memorizable Beatitudes. We also heard the first instance of “You have heard it said… but I say …” NLT Translation notePro. 24:30 I walked by the field of a lazy [man/person],the vineyard of one with no common sense.====Mat. 5:15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed [up] on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not [swear/say], ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not [swear/say], ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not [swear/say], ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even [swear/say], ‘By my [own] head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and [people have added, “]hate your enemy.[”] 44 But I say, love your enemies!
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GN-Day254 Hosea 3-5; Proverbs 23:17-35; Matthew 5:1-26
09/07/2025
GN-Day254 Hosea 3-5; Proverbs 23:17-35; Matthew 5:1-26
HOSEA 3-5:Beautifully interwoven word plays or metaphors were constructed using the names of Hosea’s three children. And verses of yesterday’s reading, are quoted in Romans 9 and 1Peter 2. The last verse ended: Hos. 2:23 NLT “I will show loveto those I called ‘Not loved.’And to those I called ‘Not my people,’I will say, ‘Now you are my people.’And they will reply, ‘You are our God!’” PROVERBS 23b:As you may have noticed yesterday, this chapter is much more thematic than chapters 10 through 22. The second half of chapter 23 is the words of a father to his son. This verse is so true and wise! Pro. 23:23 GNT Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense—these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell. MATTHEW 5a:Today we start the chapters called the Sermon on the Mount, and these are the crowning jewels of Jesus’ teaching. Note the times when Jesus says, “You have heard it said/taught… but I say to you.” These statements are one reason why the people reacted that “Jesus taught with authority.” Note also how often Jesus tells us that the Father sees what is done in secret.
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GN-Day253 Hosea 1-2; Proverbs 23:1-18; Matthew 4
09/07/2025
GN-Day253 Hosea 1-2; Proverbs 23:1-18; Matthew 4
HOSEA 1-2:We have already heard that God considers the sin of idolatry to be parallel and just as offensive as a wife being unfaithful to her husband. Hosea is told by God to actually live out this situation. He is told to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Through Hosea, God shows just how ready He is to restore and be reconciled with His wayward people. Hosea prophesied to the Northern kingdom during the same time that Amos, Isaiah, and Micah were prophesying in the Southern kingdom. This was during the reign of Jeroboam the 2nd. Hosea was not a professional prophet trained in a school for prophets, but an ordinary man. I imagine his ministry must have been very lonely. PROVERBS 23a:The Book of Proverbs doesn’t always support that being rich is better. Consider v.4 in the NLT: Pro. 23:4 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich.Be wise enough to know when to quit. MATTHEW 4:Yesterday we heard of the ministry of John the Baptist, and Matthew is the only Gospel that records Jesus’ reply to John, “This (baptising me) should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” GNT Translation notes:[It sounds very odd in English for Hosea to be telling such a personal story about himself using the third person. Like the CEV, I have altered the pronouns in chapter 1 in verses 2-4, 6, and 9-10 so that Hosea speaks of himself using the pronoun ‘I’ rather than ‘he’. Similarly, I have made it so that God speaks of himself using the pronoun ‘I’ rather than the third person.]Hos. 2:13 I will punish her for the times that she forgot me, when she burned incense to Baal and put on her jewelry to go chasing after her lovers. [I, the Lord, have//The Lord has] spoken.====Mat. 4:23 Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing people who had all kinds of disease[s] and sickness[es].
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GN-Day252 1 Chronicles 29; Proverbs 22:14-29; Matthew 3
09/07/2025
GN-Day252 1 Chronicles 29; Proverbs 22:14-29; Matthew 3
1CHRONICLES 29:Yesterday we heard of the military commanders and officials under David, and the leaders of 13 tribes. Then we heard David’s instructions to Solomon. And it is always amazing to me the detail with which David planned for the temple, and also his generosity. PROVERBS 22b:Halfway through this chapter we begin a section where more of the proverbs are arranged in short paragraphs. That section begins at verse 17, just three verses after we begin today’s reading. Verse 20 introduces 30 sayings that follow. MATTHEW 3:Yesterday we heard of the coming of the learned men from the east. While they brought three symbolic gifts, it didn’t say that there were just three men who came. And prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus being taken to Egypt, then at the family’s return, their move to Nazareth.
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GN-Day251 1 Chronicles 27-28; Proverbs 22:1-15; Matthew 2
09/07/2025
GN-Day251 1 Chronicles 27-28; Proverbs 22:1-15; Matthew 2
1CHRONICLES 27-28:Yesterday we heard of the assignments of Levites as musicians, judges, and temple gate keepers. PROVERBS 22a:Our highlighted verse for today: Pr. 22:14 NLT The mouth of an immoral woman is a dangerous trap; those who make the LORD angry will fall into it. MATTHEW 2:For today’s intro to Matthew 2, I have a correction from what I said in this episode 251 before 2022. For this newer and better information, I am relying on Leon Morris’ commentary. How come the genealogies of Matthew and Luke are different? I have often heard it said that Matthew gives the genealogy of Joseph (the legal father) and Luke gives that of Mary, the actual genealogy. But that idea is unlikely. For one reason, genealogies were never reckoned through the mother, although as Morris says, “we must reckon with the fact that we have no information about what would happen when there was no human father.” But another problem with Luke giving Mary’s genealogy is that he speaks of Jesus’ father as “Joseph the son of Heli” (Luke 3:23), which doesn’t sound at all like Luke is giving Mary’s genealogy. Matthew says Joseph’s father was Jacob. There are ingenious ways of explaining how Heli or Jacob could both be correct, but all of that is pure speculation. Morris says this, and I agree: “The best suggestion is that Matthew’s list represents the legal descendants of David, those who would actually have reigned had the kingdom continued, while Luke gives the descendants of David in the line to which Joseph belonged. We have no way of being certain.” GNT Translation note:Pro. 22:13 Lazy people stay at home; they say[, “A//a] lion might get [me if I//them if they] go outside[!/.]
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GN-Day250 1 Chronicles 25-26; Proverbs 21:15-31; Matthew 1
08/31/2025
GN-Day250 1 Chronicles 25-26; Proverbs 21:15-31; Matthew 1
1CHRONICLES 25-26:There was a rather important shift in Israel’s religious life that happened with David and his plans for temple worship rather than the older pattern of worship at the Tabernacle: It was that the priests and Levites were re-organized into groups appropriate to the new state of affairs, introducing divisions on top of the old system which was based on family lines. This reordering was still in effect in the beginning of the New Testament, where we read that Zechariah was a member of the priestly division of Abijah. So we have precedent for not always ‘doing it’ the way it was done in the past. PROVERBS 21b:Today’s highlighted verse: Pro. 21:30 GNT Human wisdom, brilliance, insight—they are of no help if the Lord is against you. MATTHEW 1:In my earlier podcast for this day 250, I stated that “Matthew’s Gospel was perhaps written as early as 50 AD, and some material was based on Mark’s Gospel.” In so saying, I simply followed what I had repeatedly heard. However the view that Mark was written first did not gain wide acceptance until the early 20th century. Throughout history, Christians believed that copies of Matthew’s Gospel were distributed first, and that Mark was not released until around the time that Luke’s Gospel appeared. (See the Wikipedia article on Marcan priority, and David A. Black’s article in the book Perspectives on the Ending of Mark.) It is generally accepted that Matthew was written by Levi Matthew, the tax collector and the disciple of Jesus. He does not identify himself (similarly to John in John’s Gospel), but if he did, he would have started to do so in chapter 9. It is clear that Matthew was written for the Jewish audience, and indeed, at the time it was written, the Gospel had not yet gone far among the non-Jews. Again and again Matthew points to fulfillments of Scripture. And at times, especially near the end, he does not bother to use the words “This fulfilled …” but just includes a couple of words that would have been obvious allusions to Scripture for his audience. An odd feature of this gospel is that sometimes ‘one’ thing or person in other Gospels switches to ‘two’ in Matthew. My own original opinion on that feature is this: Every assertion according to the Law needed to be maintained by at least two witnesses. At the times 1 becomes 2, I think Matthew is dropping the hint that he was an eyewitness. I saved Matthew for the last of the Gospels to be read in our reading calendar because I wanted to group together several New Testament books written to the Jewish audience. Today we will hear the genealogy of Jesus. Many commentators think that Matthew traces Jesus’ genealogy through Joseph, while Luke traces through Mary. There are hidden treasures to look for in both genealogies. GNT Translation note:Mat. 1:18 This was how the birth of Jesus Christ took place. His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they were married, she found out that she was going to have a baby [supernaturally caused] by the Holy Spirit.[The meaning is not that the Holy Spirit told Mary about her pregnancy, but that she conceived the baby by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can rightly be called the Father of the baby, but this was not fathership through a sexual union of any sort with God the Spirit.]
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GN-Day249 1 Chronicles 23-24; Proverbs 21:1-16; Titus 3
08/31/2025
GN-Day249 1 Chronicles 23-24; Proverbs 21:1-16; Titus 3
1CHRONICLES 23-24:Yesterday we heard a rather odd story about how “Satan rose up against Israel and caused David to take a census.” But in 2Samuel 24:1 we read that “Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’” So who was it— Satan or the Lord? And if the problem was caused by someone else, why was David and all Israel punished?! I think, in a place like this, we have to go back to what we learned in Job. God brought up a topic to Satan, Satan responds predictably, and God gives him permission to tempt and sets the boundaries. In other words, both God and Satan are involved. God does not tempt people to do evil, and God is in ultimate control. Satan is like a dog on a leash. And about that punishment: God arranges events in such a way that man (in this case David) is still in control and responsible for his choices. Why was the census considered a sin? This seems to be founded on the idea that Israel— according to God’s promise, was to be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the sea shore, in other words, uncountable. When Moses conducted a census, there was a money offering given for every male counted. Making a military census would also show that David was trusting in numbers instead of God’s power. (See 1Chron 27:23-24.) PROVERBS 21a:Here is the verse I chose to highlight today: Pro. 21:13 GNT If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard. TITUS 3:We continue today with more true teaching for our spiritual health. We might consider 2:14 as a heading for all of today’s reading. That verse says, Tit. 2:14 GNT He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good. GNT Translation note:Tit. 3:15 All who are with me send you greetings. Give our greetings to our friends [who share our belief in true teachings//in the faith]. God's grace be with you all.
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GN-Day248 1 Chronicles 21-22; Proverbs 20:16-30; Titus 2
08/31/2025
GN-Day248 1 Chronicles 21-22; Proverbs 20:16-30; Titus 2
1CHRONICLES 21-22:Yesterday we heard the part where the writer of Chronicles skated over where David had his affair with Bathsheba. But we heard of the military victories and especially the misunderstanding that became the reason for the war with the Ammonites. PROVERBS 20b:Our highlighted verse for today: Pro. 20:24 GNT The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking? Another proverb with deep significance is: 27 The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves. TITUS 2:A theme of this book is literally ‘healthy faith’ and ‘healthy teaching.’ These figures boil down to believing in true teachings. GNT Translation notes:Tit. 2:1 But you must teach what agrees with [true teaching//sound doctrine].2 [NLT Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must [fully believe our true teachings//have sound faith] and be filled with love and patience.//GNT Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance.]13 as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when [our Savior Christ Jesus returns. At that time his glory as all-powerful God will be seen in the this world.//great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear.][The translation for 13 above is like the PET. Greek is somewhat ambiguous as to whether only One Person is ‘appearing’— namely Jesus, or if both the Father and Son will appear. Most commentators say that the most natural meaning is that Jesus is the One appearing, and that means that Paul is also directly designating Jesus as all-powerful/great God. Identifying Jesus directly as God happens many other times— including John 1:1; John 10:30; Rom. 9:5; Plp. 2:6; 2Ptr. 1:1; 1Jhn. 5:20.]
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GN-Day247 1 Chronicles 19-20; Proverbs 20:1-15; Titus 1
08/31/2025
GN-Day247 1 Chronicles 19-20; Proverbs 20:1-15; Titus 1
1CHRONICLES 19-20:Yesterday we heard about one of David’s greatest hours, and I think David would rank this as better than the killing of Goliath. It was the time when he wanted to build a house for God, and instead God promised to build his house— making for him an everlasting dynasty. Then we heard of his leading in even more amazing military victories. PROVERBS 20a:Today’s highlighted verse: Pro. 20:3 GNT Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them. TITUS 1:Commentators say that Paul wrote his letter to Titus in about the year 66, and that evidence from chapter 3:12 reveals that Paul may have written this in Nicopolis in Epirus, where he spent the winter. The letter has much in common with 1 Timothy which was written around the same time. Paul had given Titus a difficult pastoral assignment, and this letter includes advice that has been so helpful to many pastors. And personally and to my own shame, I always remember this epistle as the location of my worst argument with one of my translation consultants. Recently in Proverbs 18 we read a proverb that applies to that situation, it is this: Pro. 18:19 NLT An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city.Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars. GNT Translation notes:1 [To Titus, my true son because of our unity in believing in Christ: From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Christ Jesus. I was sent in order to help God’s chosen people to ever more fully believe in Christ and to know true teaching— the true teaching that leads us to live according to God’s will.//From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion, … 4 I write to Titus, my true son in the faith that we have in common. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior give you grace and peace.] 9 He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which agrees with [true teaching//the doctrine]. In this way he will be able to encourage others with [0//the] true teaching and also to show the error of those who are opposed to it. 12-13 It was a Cretan himself, one of their own prophets, who spoke the truth when he said, “Cretans are always liars, wicked beasts, and lazy gluttons.” For this reason you must rebuke them sharply, so that they may [believe in true teachings//have a healthy faith]
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GN-Day246 1 Chronicles 17-18; Proverbs 19:14-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28
08/31/2025
GN-Day246 1 Chronicles 17-18; Proverbs 19:14-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28
1CHRONICLES 17-18:Yesterday we heard of the careful moving of the Ark, this time successfully. We heard exactly which men played what instruments. Then there was a sample of their praise. The psalm in chapter 18 is made of quotes from Psalms 105 and 96 and some other isolated verses. PROVERBS 19b:Our highlighted verse: Pro. 19:17 GNT When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back. 1THESSALONIANS 5:Before reading chapter 5, let’s review the resurrection portion of chapter 4, starting with verse 13. GNT Translation notes:1Th. 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will [bring//take] back with Jesus [all] those who have died believing in him.5:8 But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear [our belief in Christ//faith] and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. 5:12 We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who [lead you and warn you against doing wrong//guide and instruct you in the Christian life].
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GN-Day245 1 Chronicles 15-16; Proverbs 19:1-15; 1 Thessalonians 4
08/31/2025
GN-Day245 1 Chronicles 15-16; Proverbs 19:1-15; 1 Thessalonians 4
1CHRONICLES 15-16:Yesterday we heard about the first attempt to move the Ark, more about David’s family, and his defeat of the Philistines. PROVERBS 19a:A highlight from today’s chapter in Proverbs: Pro. 19:14 GNT A man can inherit a house and money from his parents, but only the Lord can give him a sensible wife. 1THESSALONIANS 4:Paul and his companions prayed, and God answered: The Thessalonian believers stayed strong in their believing in the Gospel. GNT Translation notes:1Chr. 16:29 Praise the [Lord for his glorious reputation//Lord's glorious name]; bring an offering and come into his Temple. Bow down before the Holy One when he appears;43 [NLT Then all the people returned to their homes, and David turned and went home to bless his own family.//GNT Then everyone went home, and David went home to spend some time with his family.]====1Th. 4:14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will [bring//take] back with Jesus [all] those who have died believing in him.
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GN-Day244 1 Chronicles 13-14; Proverbs 18:13-24; 1 Thessalonians 3
08/31/2025
GN-Day244 1 Chronicles 13-14; Proverbs 18:13-24; 1 Thessalonians 3
1CHRONICLES 13-14:Yesterday we heard of mighty men who joined David in war, and the roll call of people who joined him politically to become king. And today we hear more about important events under David’s leadership. PROVERBS 18b:A highlighted verse for today: Pro. 18:22 GNT Find a wife and you find a good thing; it shows that the Lord is good to you. 1THESSALONIANS 3:Yesterday Paul reminded the Thessalonians of the way he, Silas, and Timothy lived among them, and they definitely loved them like family. And at the end of the chapter Paul compares them to a crown (or like the crowning achievement in their ministry) which he longs to bring before Christ at His second coming. Paul’s statement that “God’s anger has come down on” the Jews, shows that events were moving toward the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. GNT Translation note:1Th. 3:2 while we sent Timothy, our brother who works with us for God in preaching the Good News about Christ. We sent him to strengthen you and [encourage you in your fully believing in Christ//help your faith], 5 That is why I had to send Timothy. I could not bear it any longer, so I sent him to find out [whether you were still fully believing in Christ//about your faith]. Surely it could not be that the Devil had tempted you and all our work had been for nothing!6 Now Timothy has come back, and he has brought us the welcome news [that you still fully believe in Christ and show love to one another//about your faith and love]. He has told us that you always remember us fondly and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you.7 So, in all our trouble and suffering we have been encouraged about you, friends. It was your [fully believing//faith] that encouraged us,10 Day and night we ask him with all our heart to let us see you personally and supply what is needed [in order to strengthen your belief//in your faith]. NLT Translation note:1Th. 3:10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your [believing/faith].
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GN-Day243 1 Chronicles 11-12; Proverbs 18:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2
08/24/2025
GN-Day243 1 Chronicles 11-12; Proverbs 18:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 2
1CHRONICLES 11-12:In yesterday’s reading, we heard of the people who returned after the exile. Then, starting with the genealogy of King Saul, we jumped to the story of how he died. This prepares us for the stories about King David. PROVERBS 18a:Our highlighted verse today: Pro. 18:10 [GNT The Lord is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe.//The name of the LORD is a strong fortress;the godly run to him and are safe.][The GNT translates the Jewish metonymy of ‘the Lord’s name’ correctly. This way of translating will prevent readers who don’t understand how metonymy works in Scripture from supposing that Christians should use the name of the LORD (‘YHWH’) as a magic charm.] 1THESSALONIANS 2:Chapter 1 ended with Paul saying what other people were saying about the Thessalonians: 1Th. 1:10 NLT And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
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GN-Day242 1 Chronicles 9-10; Proverbs 17:14-28; 1 Thessalonians 1
08/24/2025
GN-Day242 1 Chronicles 9-10; Proverbs 17:14-28; 1 Thessalonians 1
1CHRONICLES 9-10:Today we begin with chapter 9 of 1st Chronicles, which is the last name chapter in the first part of this book. This brings us up to the time of the returning exiles. At the end of chapter 9, king Saul’s genealogy is given, which introduces the story about Saul related in chapter 10. PROVERBS 17b:For me and my family, this verse from Proverbs 17 brings back golden memories of an old chorus we used to sing every Sunday evening with fellow missionaries in Indonesia. Pro. 17:22 NLT A cheerful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. 1st THESSALONIANS 1:Today we begin Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church. The book of Revelation has the reputation of being about the second coming of Christ, but our doctrines about the second coming come much more from the two letters to Thessalonica. Every chapter in 1st Thessalonians includes a reference to the second coming. And the second coming is mentioned 20 times in these two little letters. Paul, Timothy and Silas spent only three Sabbath days in Thessalonica, and Timothy returned to teach the believers. It’s natural that they would have questions. Some were worried about believers who had died or would die before Christ’s return. Others were thinking Jesus would return so soon that they need not do any work now. This is a highly personal letter to people who had become dear to Paul in a very short time, and one of his earliest letters, written around 51 AD.
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GN-Day241 1 Chronicles 8; Proverbs 17:1-14; Ephesians 6
08/24/2025
GN-Day241 1 Chronicles 8; Proverbs 17:1-14; Ephesians 6
1CHRONICLES 8:Today we read 1st Chronicles 8. Hang on! We’re almost through with the names chapters! PROVERBS 17a:Before we open to chapter 17 of Proverbs, I have to say that it is hard to choose just one verse to highlight in today’s reading! Pro. 17:9 NLT Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,but dwelling on it separates close friends. Re-reading EPHESIANS 6:Once when I had long been in Indonesia and needed spiritual counsel, I received wise counsel from an experienced missionary. He encouraged me to ‘pray on’ the armor of God every day. So I prayed rather literally through the list of armor, asking for God to clothe me with each piece. And, even though not doing this with much understanding, I felt like it was sort of helpful. But then I began to get more and more uncomfortable. It was like I was just repeating a mantra of magic words. So how do we put on the armor, and do we need to put it on daily? Later in translating this passage, I found that the imperative verbs here are second aorist in tense. This means that the commands to put on each piece indicate a one-time action. The armor is not uncomfortable to wear like physical armor would be. We aren’t supposed to take it off. The pieces of armor are like the pillars of your identity in union with Christ. So how do you put them on? When I discuss this passage in my presentations to groups in Indonesia, I will often ask someone in one of the front, “Are you wearing the helmet of salvation?” And usually they will be rather embarrassed at being put on the spot and say, “Uh, I don’t know.” Then I say, “Do you believe that Jesus has saved you?” With a smile of relief they say, Yes. Then I say to the whole group, “He believes that Jesus saved him, so he is wearing the helmet of salvation!” Now with that example, I challenge you to figure out what you need to believe in order to wear the other pieces of armor!
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GN-Day240 1 Chronicles 7; Proverbs 16:18-33; Ephesians 6
08/24/2025
GN-Day240 1 Chronicles 7; Proverbs 16:18-33; Ephesians 6
1CHRONICLES 7:Yesterday we heard about Levite and priestly genealogies and their allotment of towns. The pace quickens as today we hear of six tribes. PROVERBS 16b:Today’s highlighted verse is this: Pro. 16:18 GNT Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall. EPHESIANS 6:This is another chapter break that interrupts the flow. Yesterday we started a new topic with the words “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” We have heard about the husband-wife relationship under this, and now we hear of two more relationship pairs. GNT Translation notes: Eph. 6:1 Children, it is your [duty as the Lord’s followers//Christian duty] to obey your parents, for this is the right thing to do. [The command,]4 Parents, do not treat your children in such a way as to make them [bitter//angry]. Instead, raise them with [the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord//Christian discipline and instruction]. 16 At all times carry [belief in Christ//faith] as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One.23 [Dear brothers and sisters, my prayer is that//May] God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give [you peace, love and full belief//to all Christians peace and love with faith].
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GN-Day239 1 Chronicles 6; Proverbs 16:1-17; Ephesians 5
08/24/2025
GN-Day239 1 Chronicles 6; Proverbs 16:1-17; Ephesians 5
1CHRONICLES 6:Yesterday we heard details about the leaders of three tribes, Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. PROVERBS 16a:Today’s collection of Proverbs contains a famous one:Pro. 16:3 GNT Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out. Re-reading EPHESIANS 5:Although today’s chapter does not contain an instance of the theme words “joined with Christ”, this chapter contains the highest example and explanation of that oneness.
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GN-Day238 1 Chronicles 5; Proverbs 15:16-33; Ephesians 5
08/24/2025
GN-Day238 1 Chronicles 5; Proverbs 15:16-33; Ephesians 5
1CHRONICLES 5:In yesterday’s reading, we heard of important ancestors of the tribes of Judah and Simeon. In Ezra’s time, I can imagine that it was important to figure out who was who and what their relationship was, as this would determine the redistribution of land to the exiles who were returning. PROVERBS 15b:I wish I was more like this proverb: Pro. 15:23 NLT Everyone enjoys a fitting reply;it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time! EPHESIANS 5:There is no topic change at the first of this chapter. Paul is still giving instructions about our new life in union with Christ. Chapter 4 ended with this: Eph. 4:30 GNT And do not make God's Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God's mark of ownership on you, a guarantee that the Day will come when God will set you free.31 Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.32 Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.
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GN-Day237 1 Chronicles 4; Proverbs 15:1-17; Ephesians 4
08/24/2025
GN-Day237 1 Chronicles 4; Proverbs 15:1-17; Ephesians 4
1CHRONICLES 4:In yesterday’s reading we started with David’s sons, then for the descendants of King Solomon, only the kings were listed. So we jumped up to the period of the exile to Babylon. PROVERBS 15a:Here is a favorite verse from today’s group of proverbs: Pro. 15 NLT 17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you loveis better than steak with someone you hate. Re-reading EPHESIANS 4:This chapter has only one instance of the words I translate as ‘joined as one with Christ’, but the chapter is all about that oneness. Let me share this translation note about the verse mentioning baptism: 5 NLT [We all worship//There is] one Lord, [we all fully believe in Christ/one faith], [we all have been baptized as his followers/one baptism], In Indonesia ‘one baptism’ has been misunderstood by people on both sides of the main baptism debate. One side says, “One baptism means you should only be baptized once (so if you were baptized as a baby, don’t get baptized again anywhere else!)” The other side says, “One baptism means there is only one way to be baptized, and that is by immersion.” Both sides miss the point because this passage is about things that unify us, not divide us! GNT Translation notes:1Chr. 4:21 Shelah was one of Judah's sons. His descendants included [six groups. First,] Er, who founded the town of Lecah; [Second,] Laadah, founder of the town of Mareshah; [third,] the clan of linen weavers, who lived in the town of Beth Ashbea;22 [Fourth,] Jokim and the people who lived in the town of Cozeba; [And fifth and sixth,//and] Joash and Saraph, who married Moabite women and then settled in Bethlehem. (These traditions are very old.)====Pro. 15:13 [NLT A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.//GNT When people are happy, they smile, but when they are sad, they look depressed.]====Eph. 4:12 He did this to prepare all God's people for [his//the work of Christian] service, in order to build up the body of Christ.13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our [believing//faith] and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.22 So[, like throwing away old clothes,] get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires.24 and [like putting on new clothes,] you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
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GN-Day236 1 Chronicles 3; Proverbs 14:17-35; Ephesians 4
08/17/2025
GN-Day236 1 Chronicles 3; Proverbs 14:17-35; Ephesians 4
1CHRONICLES 3:So far we have traced Jakob/Israel’s descendants into the time of David, and today’s reading picks up with David himself. PROVERBS 14b:Here is a quote from today’s group of proverbs: Pro. 3:20 NLT The poor are despised even by their neighbors,while the rich have many “friends.” EPHESIANS 4:Paul’s letters are usually divided into two parts, with the ethereal and theological part first, followed by the practical part. Yesterday we concluded the ethereal and theological part with Paul’s incredible prayer for his readers and for us at the end of chapter 3. And now we enter the practical part of his letter. GNT Translation notes: Eph. 4:13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our [believing//faith] and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.22 So[, like throwing away old clothes,] get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. 24 and [like putting on new clothes,] you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.
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GN-Day235 1 Chronicles 2; Proverbs 14:1-18; Ephesians 3
08/17/2025
GN-Day235 1 Chronicles 2; Proverbs 14:1-18; Ephesians 3
1CHRONICLES 2:Yesterday we traced from Adam to Noah and the genealogy to Abraham. Then we heard of Abraham’s two other families, those descending from Keturah and the sons and rulers descended from Esau. So now we take up Jacob’s descendants, but in this book, he is frequently called by his other name, Israel. (GNT has used ‘Jacob’ instead in this chapter, as it is more understandable for modern readers.) PROVERBS 14a:This chapter has one of my all-time favorite proverbs: 14:4 NLT Without oxen a stable stays clean,but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.//GNT Without any oxen to pull the plow your barn will be empty,But with them it will be full of grain.] Re-reading EPHESIANS 3:There are two instances of ‘joined with Christ’ in this chapter. This brings the total to 13 so far in this letter. GNT Translation note:1Chr. 2:47 (A man named Jahdai [whose relationship was not specified] had six sons: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.)
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GN-Day234 1 Chronicles 1; Proverbs 13:12-25; Ephesians 3
08/17/2025
GN-Day234 1 Chronicles 1; Proverbs 13:12-25; Ephesians 3
1 CHRONICLES 1:Jewish and Christian traditions hold that Jeremiah was the author of 1&2 Kings, which were originally one book. And that Ezra, the priest, wrote 1&2 Chronicles, which are also one book in Hebrew. It may be that Ezra wrote these books after his return to Jerusalem. The Greek Septuagint names this book Paraleipomena, which means ‘things left over’. This book does supplement things not found in other books. Compared to the books of Samuel and Kings, Chronicles focuses more on the spiritual misdeeds of the kings and the importance of worshiping the Lord properly through the ministry of the priests and the Temple. This fits well with Ezra being the author. So we turn from the Prophets and return to the books of history. PROVERBS 13b:Here is a favorite verse from today’s reading:Pro. 13:16 NLT Wise people think before they act;fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. EPHESIANS 3:At the first of chapter 1, Paul mentioned God’s “secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan … was to bring Everything together with Christ as the head.” At the end of chapter 2, we learned that specifically, through our union with Christ, all believers are made one— no matter if they are Jews or non-Jews. Paul restates God’s secret plan in a more concise and clear way in today’s chapter as he moves to this letter’s second major prayer. There are two instances of ‘joined/in union with Christ’ in this chapter. GNT Translation notes: Eph. 3:12 In union with Christ and through our [believing//faith] in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence. 17 and I pray that Christ will make his home in your hearts through [your believing//faith]. I pray that you may have your roots and foundation in love,
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GN-Day233 Lamentations 4-5; Proverbs 13:1-13; Ephesians 2
08/17/2025
GN-Day233 Lamentations 4-5; Proverbs 13:1-13; Ephesians 2
LAMENTATIONS 4-5:In yesterday's reading, the sun pierced the dark clouds with this glorious section: Lam. 3:22 GNT The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue,23 [GNT Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.//NLT Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.] 24 The Lord is all I have, and so in him, I put my hope. 25 The Lord is good to everyone who trusts in him, I have only quoted the most famous part. There are many other precious verses there. PROVERBS 13a:Here is a favorite proverb from today’s reading: Pro. 13:7 NLT Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. Re-reading EPHESIANS 2:We have an important spiritual reality expressed in verse 6: Because we are joined as one with Christ, we are already seated with Him, reigning together with Him, in heaven. We don't wait to die to find out if we will get into heaven! We’re already there! In my speaking about this in Indonesia I often say, “We’re not sitting on plastic folding chairs in heaven.” Understanding and believing this spiritual reality should transform our prayers. Imagine how your spirit is seated with Christ right now, and pray from your heavenly position. GNT Translation notes: 5:8 NLT [Slaves have now become our masters; there is no one left to rescue us.//Our rulers are no better than slaves, and no one can save us from their power.] 15 Happiness has gone out of our lives; grief has taken the place of our [dancing//dances].==== Eph. 2:2 At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the [commander of the powers in the unseen world (NLT)//ruler of the spiritual powers in space], the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.6 In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him [to sit beside him on his throne//to rule with him] in the heavenly world.8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through [believing//faith]. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.11 You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to [a physical ceremony performed upon the bodies of men//what men do to their bodies])—remember what you were in the past.
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GN-Day232 Lamentations 3; Proverbs 12:13-28; Ephesians 2
08/17/2025
GN-Day232 Lamentations 3; Proverbs 12:13-28; Ephesians 2
LAMENTATIONS 3:A warning for the modern times is here in chapter 2: Lam. 2:14 NLT Your prophets have saidso many foolish things, false to the core.They did not save you from exileby pointing out your sins.Instead, they painted false pictures,filling you with false hope. The last so poignant line from yesterday’s reading was, 22 … “The enemy has killed all the childrenwhom I carried and raised.” Today Jeremiah again speaks in the first person. PROVERBS 12b:A favorite verse to introduce today’s proverbs: Pro. 12:23 GNT Smart people keep quiet about what they know,but stupid people advertise their ignorance. EPHESIANS 2:The first chapter has 4 instances of ‘joined with Christ’, and this chapter has seven. In his first chapter, Paul wrote in a formal style and showed his enthusiasm for his topic by his use of long sentences in Greek. Verse 3-14 are one long sentence, with a cascade of phrases modifying other phrases. And verses 15-23 are another long sentence. Long sentences like that seem clearer to me in Greek than they do in English. Another notable place Paul does this is in Colossians. GNT Translation notes: Eph. 2:6 In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him [to sit beside him on his throne//to rule with him] in the heavenly world.8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through [believing//faith]. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.11 You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to [a physical ceremony performed upon the bodies of men//what men do to their bodies])—remember what you were in the past.
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GN-Day231 Lamentations 1-2; Proverbs 12:1-15; Ephesians 1
08/17/2025
GN-Day231 Lamentations 1-2; Proverbs 12:1-15; Ephesians 1
LAMENTATIONS 1-2:In the early chapters of his book, Jeremiah spoke several times of his tears. Lamentations will help us to understand how this ‘weeping prophet’ felt, and how God mourned also. This book has been a comfort to many who mourn. Light breaks through in the middle— in chapter 3, with words that are used in one of our greatest hymns. The book ends with poignant questions to God. PROVERBS 12a:A favorite verse to introduce today’s proverbs: 12:11 A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat, but it is stupid to waste time on useless projects. Rereading EPHESIANS 1:This chapter has four instances of ‘joined in a union’ with Christ. I want to give a note about how Paul calls the Ephesians “God’s holy people” (in the NLT), or in the KJV and the ESV it is ‘saints’. The problem with both of these ways of translating the Greek is that most of us Christians do not see ourselves as saints or ‘holy people’. In our translation work in Indonesia we found the same problem. The solution we found is to translate that we are ‘people who have been made Holy by God’. That is the meaning! The people in Ephesus were ordinary humans, and were not holy because of their own efforts. God makes us holy when we fully believe in the Good News about Christ that is proclaimed in this letter. And again I want to highlight that believing what God says about our identity is key in being able to live appropriately in that identity. GNT Translation notes:Lam. 2:13 O Jerusalem, beloved Jerusalem, what can I say? How can I comfort you? No one has ever suffered like this. Your disaster is [as] boundless as the ocean; there is no possible hope. 15 People passing by the city look at you in scorn. They shake their heads and laugh at Jerusalem's ruins: [They mock,] “Is this that lovely city? Is this the pride of the world?”====Eph. 1:1 [To our brothers and sisters in Ephesus— who believe fully in Christ Jesus and are made holy by Him, from Paul— who by God's will is an apostle of Christ Jesus.//From Paul, who by God's will is an apostle of Christ Jesus— To God's people in Ephesus, who are faithful in their life in union with Christ Jesus:]14 [NLT The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.//GNT The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!]15 For this reason, ever since I heard of your [believing//faith] in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people,
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GN-Day230 Jeremiah 52; Proverbs 11:16-31; Ephesians 1
08/17/2025
GN-Day230 Jeremiah 52; Proverbs 11:16-31; Ephesians 1
JEREMIAH 52:We come to the addendum to Jeremiah— seemingly written by someone else, perhaps Baruch. I commented yesterday how chapter 51 foreshadows Revelation 18. Jeremiah was prophesying the downfall of the real city of Babylon. What he foretold happened around 70 years later. His prophecy includes details about the enemies being from Media, about the drunkenness of Babylon’s leaders, and God proclaims more than once that Babylon will become a desert for all time to come. The famous hanging gardens of Babylon would never be restored, even though Sadam Hussein wanted to see that happen. Observe how all this fits with a theme that runs all the way through Scripture: We see the City of Man going all through the Bible, represented by Babel, Nineveh, Babylon, Rome (figuratively called Babylon), and finally Babylon in Revelation. Guess which city we are all living in (figuratively) today?! PROVERBS 11b:I’m going to repeat this today: An important thing about the book of Proverbs is that it contains principles, not promises. This particularly needs to be remembered for verses that talk about prosperity. There will be times, such as what Jeremiah experienced, when no amount of Godly living will bring us wealth. EPHESIANS 1:The introduction for Ephesians that I recorded in 2016 said this: “In verse 1 of the ascription of this letter, the words ‘in Ephesus’ are missing from the best manuscripts. It is believed that this was a circular letter and every church who received it would fill in their location name.” That is, would fill in their location name in the public reading. I now believe that this is wrong. I no longer believe that the few manuscripts that lack the words ‘in Ephesus’ are the ‘best manuscripts’. 96% of ancient Greek manuscripts of the book of Ephesians contain these two words. The idea of Ephesians being a circular letter is speculation without any early verification. However, it is true that most if not all of Paul’s letters were circulated around and copied. There would be no need to leave a blank spot. H.C. Mears says of Ephesians:In this epistle, we enter the holy of holies in Paul’s writings. Paul speaks in 2Corinthians 12:2 of being “caught up to the third heaven.” Here [in Ephesians], as it were, he gives his report, and he seems to be carried away as he tells about it. It is the greatest revelation of truth that God has given to us, the revelation of a mystery that [was//has been] hidden from before the foundation of the world. An important theme in Ephesians is one I have often highlighted this year. It is the idea of being (in literal translations) ‘in Christ’. This idea is also important in John’s writings, like the chapter we heard yesterday. Remember the vine and branches metaphor in John 15. ‘In Christ’ doesn’t mean inside. It means being joined to Christ or one/in union with Christ like a branch is with the vine. This is the letter where we hear of the Christian’s armor. I believe that a key part of the belt of truth is to believe what God says about us believers— is true. GNT Translation notes:Pro. 11:16 NLT [A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth. //GNT A gracious woman is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace.Lazy people will never have money, but aggressive people will get rich.] [The reason I like the NLT better is that it follows the Hebrew only, without adding a number of words that come from the ancient Septuagint translation into classical Greek. But no matter which translation you use, Solomon is not promoting the idea that we be ruthless in order to get rich. Look at the parallelism: Women in Jewish culture were very much in an inferior position, but here a woman would gain the lasting blessing of respect, a quality that would last beyond her life in this world. Whereas a ruthless man would only get money, and he will be lucky if that will last to his dying day.]====Eph. 1:1 [To our brothers and sisters in Ephesus— who believe fully in Christ Jesus and are made holy by Him, from Paul— who by God's will is an apostle of Christ Jesus.//From Paul, who by God's will is an apostle of Christ Jesus— To God's people in Ephesus, who are faithful in their life in union with Christ Jesus:]14 [NLT The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.//GNT The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise his glory!]15 For this reason, ever since I heard of your [believing//faith] in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God's people,
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GN-Day229 Jeremiah 51; Proverbs 11:1-16; 1 John 4:15-5:21
08/10/2025
GN-Day229 Jeremiah 51; Proverbs 11:1-16; 1 John 4:15-5:21
JEREMIAH 51:Today the Lord continues the long prophecy against Babylon. This chapter foreshadows what will happen to figurative Babylon in Revelation 18. PROVERBS 11a:An important thing I didn’t mention before is that these proverbs represent principles, not promises. This particularly needs to be remembered for verses that talk about prosperity. There will be times, such as what Jeremiah experienced, when no amount of Godly living will bring us wealth. However, the principles hold true. 1JOHN 4.15—5:John has been giving us important keys that will unlock assurance and victory in our spiritual lives. This also will provide confidence and power in our prayers. GNT Translation notes:1Jn. 5:4 because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our [believing//faith].6 Jesus Christ is the one who came [showing the signs of water and blood//with the water of his baptism and the blood of his death]. He came not only with the water, but with both the water and the blood. And the Spirit himself testifies that this is true, because the Spirit is truth.[This verse and the two following have been the subject of hot debate since at least the time of Erasmus! (Please note: The added words found in the KJV in verses 7-8 were definitely not part of the original Greek text.) In verse 6, I particularly don’t agree with the GNT translators adding the words ‘of his baptism’, even though I happen to be a member of a Baptist church. Now finally, about how to actually understand this verse, I hope you remember my comments on the Gospel of John in chapter 19. Seek the treasure, and you will find it!]10 So those who believe in the Son of God have this testimony in their own heart; but those who do not believe God, [make him out to be a liar//have made a liar of him], because they have not believed what God has said about his Son.
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GN-Day228 Jeremiah 50; Proverbs 10:16-32; 1 John 3:19-4:21
08/10/2025
GN-Day228 Jeremiah 50; Proverbs 10:16-32; 1 John 3:19-4:21
JEREMIAH 50:Finally after hearing messages prophesying against so many nations, always telling or implying that the Babylonians would be God’s instrument to punish them, now this long chapter tells how Babylon will finally be judged as well, and God will return to take pity on Israel. PROVERBS 10b:Here is an example of Hebrew parallelism from today’s 2nd half of Proverbs 10: Pro. 10:23 NLT Doing wrong is fun for a fool,but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible. ‘Fool’ and ‘the sensible’ oppose each other. “Doing wrong is fun for a fool,” and it seems like ‘fun’ would only be temporary. Whereas the sensible who live wisely receive ‘pleasure’, which is much longer lasting than the ‘fun’ the fools get. 1JOHN 3:19—4:Chapter 3 of 1John circles around the theme of being children of God. There are important verses at the end of chapter 3 which can provide assurance and power when we pray. If our consciences do not condemn us— which is strongly related to living the way John has urged us in this chapter, then we can boldly come to God in prayer and have courage to ask for ‘whatever’. I have met people with overactive consciences. If you are the kind of person who always feels guilty even though you have just finished asking God for forgiveness, this passage helps you too! Verse 20 says “God is greater than our conscience and he knows everything.” He knows if you are having trouble believing that Jesus would forgive you, or if evil spirits are whispering false guilt messages to you. Read the chapter again and see how you are doing in the areas John mentions. Pray to ask the Holy Spirit to remove false guilt, or to reveal any reason you keep feeling guilty. Here is just one of many: If there are people you have harmed, make restitution. THEN, when you have done this homework, pray with boldness, because you have done everything needed to have a clear conscience. GNT Translation notes: 1Jn. 4:2 This is how you will be able to know whether [such a person has//someone has//it is] God's Spirit: anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ came as a human being has the Spirit who comes from God.3 But anyone who denies this about Jesus does not have the Spirit from God. The spirit that he has is from the Enemy of Christ; you heard that [the Enemy//it] would come, and now [his representatives are//it is] here in the world already.
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