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“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

Today’s Bible Reading

The Lord will destroy Damascus, but will preserve a remnant of faithful people.

BibleGateway: Isaiah 17 ESV Text: Isaiah 17 Isaiah 17 (Listen) An Oracle Concerning Damascus 17:1 An oracle concerning Damascus.   Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city    and will become a heap of ruins.2   The cities of Aroer are deserted;    they will be for flocks,    which will lie down, and none will make them afraid.3   The fortress will disappear from Ephraim,    and… The Lord will destroy Damascus, but will preserve a remnant of faithful people.

In this parable God’s forgiving grace shines forth in all its incredible wonder. It teaches us that His grace is for outwardly immoral sinners. It’s for the self-righteous, who believe that God owes them something. His forgiveness has been won for every sinner by the third Son. You know who that is!

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BibleGateway: Luke 15:11-32 ESV Text: Luke 15:11-32 Luke 15:11–32 (Listen) The Parable of the Prodigal Son 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his… In this parable God’s forgiving grace shines forth in all its incredible wonder. It teaches us that His grace is for outwardly immoral sinners. It’s for the self-righteous, who believe that God owes them something. His forgiveness has been won for every sinner by the third Son. You know who that is!

Many severe consequences resulted from Israel’s rebelliousness in the wilderness. But, remember, these things were written for our learning. Yes, let’s learn from their poor example, always taking care that we are standing, by the grace of God, on the firm ground of His Word.

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BibleGateway: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 ESV Text: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 1 Corinthians 10:1–13 (Listen) Warning Against Idolatry 10:1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,1 that our fathers were all under the cloud, and… Many severe consequences resulted from Israel’s rebelliousness in the wilderness. But, remember, these things were written for our learning. Yes, let’s learn from their poor example, always taking care that we are standing, by the grace of God, on the firm ground of His Word.

How comforting to know that the Lord crowns us with love and compassion, that he removes our sins as far as east is from west, that His love for us sinners is as high as the heavens are above the earth. Read the entire Psalm, and bask in all its gracious promises.

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BibleGateway: Psalm 103 ESV Text: Psalm 103 Psalm 103 (Listen) Bless the Lord, O My Soul Of David. 103:1   Bless the LORD, O my soul,    and all that is within me,    bless his holy name!2   Bless the LORD, O… How comforting to know that the Lord crowns us with love and compassion, that he removes our sins as far as east is from west, that His love for us sinners is as high as the heavens are above the earth. Read the entire Psalm, and bask in all its gracious promises.

True reverence for the Lord is greatly lacking today. Even Christians can get sloppy in their worship practices. God is not some giant teddy bear in the sky. He is a holy and omnipotent God, Who has a burning love for us sinners. “Take off your sandals” and, in humble awe, and stand before Him on holy ground.

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BibleGateway: Exodus 3:1-15 ESV Text: Exodus 3:1-15 Exodus 3:1–15 (Listen) The Burning Bush 3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west… True reverence for the Lord is greatly lacking today. Even Christians can get sloppy in their worship practices. God is not some giant teddy bear in the sky. He is a holy and omnipotent God, Who has a burning love for us sinners. “Take off your sandals” and, in humble awe, and stand before Him on holy ground.

Jesus asked for a drink of water from the Samaritan woman, and, before you know it, the two were talking about eternal things. He has the living water of life eternal to give to all sinners. Let’s turn our simple conversations into opportunities to share Jesus.

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BibleGateway: John 4:4-26 ESV Text: John 4:4-26 John 4:4–26 (Listen) 4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to… Jesus asked for a drink of water from the Samaritan woman, and, before you know it, the two were talking about eternal things. He has the living water of life eternal to give to all sinners. Let’s turn our simple conversations into opportunities to share Jesus.

We stand in grace, meaning that even though we daily sin, as believers in Christ we are God’s forgiven children 24/7. The sufferings we go through serve to mold our character, so that we persevere in hope, a hope which, unlike all other hopes, will never disappoint.

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BibleGateway: Romans 5:1-11 ESV Text: Romans 5:1-11 Romans 5:1–11 (Listen) Peace with God Through Faith 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we1 have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him… We stand in grace, meaning that even though we daily sin, as believers in Christ we are God’s forgiven children 24/7. The sufferings we go through serve to mold our character, so that we persevere in hope, a hope which, unlike all other hopes, will never disappoint.

“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] Yet even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of the Lord our Savior. Praise the Lord for His greatness: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] But even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of Lord, our Rock.

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BibleGateway: Psalm 95 ESV Text: Psalm 95 Psalm 95 (Listen) Let Us Sing Songs of Praise 95:1   Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2   Let… “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] Yet even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of the Lord our Savior. Praise the Lord for His greatness: “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” [vv.1-2] But even as we rejoice in His salvation, we need the stern warning: “Do not harden your hearts.” [v.8] Because we are sinners we need to be warned, so that we ever listen to the voice of Lord, our Rock.

Complain! Complain! Complain. Sound familiar? Just like Israel of old don’t we find ourselves whining about every little thing? May God lead us to repent of this terrible sin, and then to stand in amazement at how He so richly blesses us despite our grumbling ways.

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BibleGateway: Exodus 17:1-16 ESV Text: Exodus 17:1-16 Exodus 17 (Listen) Water from the Rock 17:1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment… Complain! Complain! Complain. Sound familiar? Just like Israel of old don’t we find ourselves whining about every little thing? May God lead us to repent of this terrible sin, and then to stand in amazement at how He so richly blesses us despite our grumbling ways.

So the rich go to hell, and the poor to heaven? No. While it is true that living only for the pleasures of this world is foolish and eternally devastating, Jesus’ main point is that, whether rich or poor, the only way to prepare for eternity is by giving heed to the faith creating power of God’s Word.

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BibleGateway: Luke 16:19-31 ESV Text: Luke 16:19-31 Luke 16:19–31 (Listen) The Rich Man and Lazarus 19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And… So the rich go to hell, and the poor to heaven? No. While it is true that living only for the pleasures of this world is foolish and eternally devastating, Jesus’ main point is that, whether rich or poor, the only way to prepare for eternity is by giving heed to the faith creating power of God’s Word.

In this world of wickedness, the Law serves to curb the course outbreak of sin. As a mirror it also shows our sin, along with the hell we deserve because of our sin. Our one hope? “. . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .” [v.15]

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BibleGateway: 1 Timothy 1:1-15 ESV Text: 1 Timothy 1:1-15 1 Timothy 1:1–15 (Listen) Greeting 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my… In this world of wickedness, the Law serves to curb the course outbreak of sin. As a mirror it also shows our sin, along with the hell we deserve because of our sin. Our one hope? “. . . Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . .” [v.15]