December 2 - 8, 2018

DAILY BIBLE READING - December 2 - 8, 2018

12/2      1 John 1,2 - You will find the key theme in 1 John is that of Fellowship which every believer can have with God and should have with other believers.  In chapter 1 John emphasizes the incarnation of Christ, that John actually touched Him and had rich fellowship with Him, which is the primary focus of this letter.  In chapter 2 John brings the believer to see that being like the Savior is God's desire for each believer.

12/3      Hosea 1-3 - Hosea speaks of God's love relationship with His people, Israel.  Even though Israel would act like Hosea's wife, prostituting herself, and God would be like Hosea, forgiving his wife and bringing her back to himself, God show His mercy to disobedient believers and His faithful love for them.  In chapter 1, God actually calls on Hosea to marry a prostitute.  Her children symbolized the attitude of Israel against the Lord.  In chapter 2, God speaks of the chastisement He will bring against His people.  In chapter 3 God calls Hosea to love his wife just as the Lord loves His people. 

12/4      Hosea 4-6 - In chapter 4 God makes clear His indictment against His people.  They turned against the Lord and refused to grow in their knowledge of Him.  In chapter 5 God speaks of hiding His face from His people to show His disappointment with their actions.  In chapter 6 the people of Israel will renew their desire to pursue the knowledge of God.

12/5      1 John 3-5 - In chapter 3 John speaks of the power of the Lord to enable a Christian to say "NO" to sin.  Chapter 4 speaks of listening carefully to those who preach and determine if they are preaching truth regarding Christ.  In chapter 5 John focuses on the assurance the believer in Christ that they can actually know they have eternal life.

12/6      Hosea 7-9 - In chapter 7 God further describes the sins of His people.  In chapter 8 Israel is reminded that what they sow, they will reap.  In chapter 9 God brings judgment on His people.

12/7      Hosea 10-12 - In chapter 10 God calls on His people to renew their commitment to Him by "breaking up their fallow ground" and sow seeds of righteousness once again.  In chapter 11 God speaks of His past relationship with His people.  Chapter 12 is where God speaks of Jacob's wrestling with God with the desire of seeking God's blessing on his life.  This is what God desires of His people:  to want God's blessing!

12/8      2 John, 3 John, Jude - 2 John is a letter to a beloved woman John knew who had been faithfully teaching her children the truth.  3 John is a letter to Gaius, a godly man who was careful to entertain believers who were faithfully preaching the Gospel wherever they went.  Jude is a letter written to believers calling them to contend for the faith of Christ which was under attack by godless individuals.