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Reading
January 4
First Lesson
Isaiah 65:17-25
17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the
former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create:
for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a
joy.
19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and
the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice
of crying.
20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old
man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an
hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old
shall be accursed.
21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall
plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not
plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days
of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their
hands.
23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble;
for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring
with them.
24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall
eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith
the LORD.
QUESTIONS - Isaiah 65:17-25. Has the day described in this passage arrived yet? RESOLVE.
Second Lesson
1 John 4
1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into
the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come
in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist,
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already
is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They
are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the
world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not
of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and
the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every
one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that
God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might
live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another,
God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because
he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son
to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God
dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and
God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how
can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth
God love his brother also.
QUESTIONS - 1 John 4. Are there still false prophets around today? (V. 1) What is it to be of the world as opposed to being of God? (V. 5, 6) Which am I. most of the time? Which was I most of last week? Am I, at times, fearful? What does that say about my love of God? (V. 18) RESOLVE.