Daily Walk Through the New Testament
February 19
Read 1 Peter 1:22-2:17

It’s always good to hear a sermon. But the world doesn’t often get to hear one, so it needs to see the good news in believer’s lives. Jesus illustrated His teaching with the way He lived. He did not only talk about love; He loved. He did not just command forgiveness; He forgave. When His life was scrutinized, no fault was found in Him. He truly lived to the glory of the Father. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His Father, “I have glorified You on earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).
As a Christ follower, you are a part of God’s special envoy to this world. Paul called each believer an ambassador of Christ, a representative of Him in this world (2 Corinthians 5:20). The words of 1 Peter 2:11-17 echo an exhortation of Jesus: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify Your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Today, aim to glorify God by living in a way that points the lost to Him.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
February 18
Read 1 Peter 1:1-21

The insane and evil Nero was rising to power in Rome, and persecution was on the horizon for the believers in Asia Minor to whom Peter wrote this letter. They were un settling times for these Christians, to say the least. These believers could have embraced dread and been paralyzed by fear, but instead they chose to be joyful in the midst of a trial. Peter wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials” (1:6). They were fully assured that they were kept by God, and they boldly walked through dark days with faith and joy.
The trials we face are meant for a purpose. Each trial is meant to prove, purify, and perfect our faith, and knowing this purpose helps eradicate our fear. As our faith is strengthened, our joy increases (Nehemiah 8:10). Peter used a picture from the work of a goldsmith to illustrate how God purifies our faith. Fire is how gold is put to the test. Dross is removed, making a purer gold. The goldsmith’s fire is a symbol of the trials we encounter. God purifies our faith when, through trials, doubts are weakened and our assurance is strengthened. Tried and proven faith is trusted and precious faith. Gold will perish; true faith will not.
Do not fear the temporary, multi-faceted, dark trials that may come into your life. They do not take God by surprise, and they are necessary for the purifying of your faith. As Peter said, “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon His grace” (1:3).

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

February 17

Read James 4:11 – 5:20

Mark Twain once wrote, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” Elijah, the man who prayed there would be no rain for three and a half years (1 Kings 17-18) is the example James used to encourage God’s people to pray. The danger in examples is that we may feel we do not measure up. But James said that “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” (James 5:17). The power of Elijah’s prayer did not lie in Elijah’s ability, but in God’s ability.
James repeatedly encouraged God’s people to pray (1:5-6; 4:2). Effective prayers are not often flowery, but they are always fervent. God works mightily through our prayers. Call upon the resources of heaven for every problem you face today. Turn to God in prayer!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

February 16

Answer the following Questions regarding your readings from this past week:

1.)     Hebrews 12:6 says, “Whom the Lord loves He chastens.” List some of the             things God has taught you throughout your life through correction or                 chastisement.

2.)    Our tongues can get us into a world of trouble. What are things you                 personally find helpful as you work on taming your tongue and controlling             your conversation?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
February 15
Read James 3:1-4:10
Most of us understand how powerful the human tongue can be. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” which tells us we can use our words for great evil or great good.
James wrote, “if anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (3:2). Most occurrences of the word “perfect” in Scripture do not mean “sinless”; perfect usually means “mature.” So those who do not stumble and do not offend in word are mature. James was saying that a test of spiritual maturity is the ability of a believer to control his or her tongue.
Jesus said we are to be very careful about our words because “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). In other words, your words are an indication of what is in your heart.
Ask God to purify your heart and to give you self-control and wisdom as you choose your words. Heed the instructions of Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Use your tongue to love, bless, and build up those around you and to honor and worship the Lord.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
February 14
Read James 2:1-26
James discussed something that is absolutely incompatible with the Christian faith: the sin of partiality (2:1-13). It is essentially playing favorites or being snobby in the house of god. It is letting yourself be influenced by some kind of outward consideration rather than pausing long enough to see what’s really on the inside. But if a true New Testament church understands the teachings of the Scriptures, it is a community in which everyone is someone and Jesus Christ is Lord.
Proverbs 28:21 says, “To show partiality is not good.” Why? Because every person is of great worth to God. Favoritism says there are some people who are worth more than other people. Proverbs 22:2 says, “The rich and the poor have this in common, the Lord is the maker of them all.”
When Jesus came into the world and died on the cross of Calvary, He died for all. Anyone who wants to be saved can be saved! It has been said that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. That is absolutely true! If we are the people of God following the Word of god, we simply must not play favorites among each other.
How could your interactions with different people within the body of Christ be described? Do you treat those who are wealthy, powerful, or nice-looking better than those who are not? Is there anyone you consider insignificant or undeserving of your attention, respect, and love? If you are guilty of showing favoritism, acknowledge it as a sin and repent of it. Ask God to put His heart in you, so that you may sincerely value and love people as He does.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

February 13
Read James 1:1-27

We are living in a world where people desperately need the wisdom of God. It is God’s desire that as believers we be complete, which means mature and lacking nothing (James 1:4). But if we are to be mature, we need to live according to God’s wisdom.
True wisdom is a supernatural gift from God that enables you to take your own knowledge and the knowledge you gain from reading Scripture and apply it appropriately to your daily problems. If we are honest, it is not a matter of if we lack wisdom (James 1:5) — we most certainly do! We find ourselves in a hundred situations every day where we desperately need the wisdom of God.
1 Timothy 1:17 refers to God as He “who alone is wise.” God has cornered the market on wisdom. Whenever you lack wisdom, you must go to God to get it. Be encouraged by the fact that God “gives to all liberally and without reproach” (1:5)! It is the character and nature of God to give — He is just waiting for us to ask!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

February 12
Read Hebrews 13:1-25

God calls us to live in a way that pleases Him. Paul told believers, “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. . . . Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). If we desire to be pleasing to the Lord, this must be our spiritual practice. The transforming of our lives is an inside working of the Holy Spirit.
The people who first read this letter to the Hebrews had just recently moved away from the religious system and into full salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus. These individuals had previously tried to live their lives for God on the basis of ceremony and law. They were accustomed to thinking if they kept enough rules & rituals, somehow they were going to be pleasing to the Lord and gain favor and merit with Him. They needed to hear the truth that “it is good that the heart be established by grace (Hebrews 13:9).
The grace way of living is not about trying to live the Christian life in your own strength and ability — it’s about depending on Christ. In the Person of the Holy Spirit, God has come to live inside you. Now on the basis of the indwelling grace of God, you can live a life that is pleasing to God. Surrender to the Spirit, and let Him lead you in obedience and worship today.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

February 11
Read Hebrews 12:7-29

The great theme of the entire letter to the Hebrews is clear in this statement: “Let us go on to perfection” (Hebrews 6:1). That doesn’t mean we will ever arrive at sinlessness in our lives, but it does mean we are called to go on to full maturity in the Lord. We often have to be reminded that God corrects us because He loves us. He wants what is best for our lives! The word “correction” means “the whole training and education of a child.” In other words, it refers to all the discipline and correction that is essential for a child to grow and become what that child is intended to be. When we fail to accept God’s correction and chastisement, we fail to become all that God intends for us to become by His grace. You see, there is the potential in that grace of God to provide us every power, every opportunity, and every strength necessary to grow to maturity in the Lord Jesus.
Paul wrote, “By the grace of god I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). He was simply saying, “I am saved by the grace of God, and anything my life has become is due to the working of God’s grace in my life.” The whole point of God’s correction in our lives is that we will not fail to become all that grace can make us.
What an honor and privilege it is to be in the family of the Lord Most High. By His grace, let’s be all we can be for Him!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

February 10
Read Hebrews 11:23-12:6

The fact that God corrects His children is almost a forgotten truth among believers today. Many choose to focus only on God’s loving acceptance, and as a result, they do not have a balanced, biblical view of God. They fail to acknowledge He is a holy God who hates sin and that sin is a serious matter in the life of a believer.
Numbers 32:23 says, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” That statement was addressed to the children of Israel, God’s chosen people. God does not ignore in His children what He does not condone in the unsaved. When God chastens us, it means He is interested in us. He teaches and helps us through His correction and chastisement. It’s evidence of His love, just like parents who correct their children. When parents really love their children, they are closely involved with their lives, and discipline is a part of that involvement.
Pray that you will be quick to receive God’s love in all forms, even correction and discipline.