Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul is instructing Timothy to urge a group of people in Ephesus not to teach different doctrine.

1 Timothy 1:5 “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Observations: The aim (telos – goal, desired outcome) of our teaching should be love (agape).  Teaching love comes from: 1. A pure heart, 2. A good conscience, and 3. A sincere faith.  He will go on to say: “Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions” (vv.6-7).

Application:  Through the work of the Holy Spirit, I must maintain a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith, if I am going to teach truth in love.  My personal position before God must come before I try to instruct others.  Know it and live it.

Do you have, through the work of the Holy Spirit, a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul has been encouraging the church in Thessalonica through hardship.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Observations: In my own words… regardless of the situation, God wants me to pray with thanksgiving and joy through Christ.

Application:  I am learning a lot about prayer as I study John 17.  This morning I am reminded to pray with a joyful heart at all times.

Is your prayer life driven by guilt or by rejoicing?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Paul opens his letter to the Thessalonian church with thankfulness to God.  Note – The Bible never records a believer thanking another believer directly.  They always thank God for them.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers…”

Observation: They are thanking God in prayer… always and constantly.  Verse 3 will continue by explaining what they are thanking God for: “your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Application: I will spend time today thanking God for the faith in my wife, my family, many of my friends and those in my church.

Who are you thanking God for today?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, explains that followers of Christ should love one another, because God is love.

1 John 4:9 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.”

Observations:

• “In this the love of God was made manifest among us,
  • that God sent His only Son into the world,
    • so that we might live through Him.”

Apply: I want to spend time thinking about the love that God has shown me through Jesus.

Do you know that God loves you?  Do you know Jesus?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context:  John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, has argued that we know love because Jesus laid down His life for us.  As a result, we should lay down our life for others (1 John 3:16).

1 John 3:23 “And this is His commandment, that we believe in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us.”

Observations:

God’s commandment:

1. Believe in the Name of His Son Jesus Christ.
2. Love one another.

Apply: Ultimately, God’s will for me today boils down to believing in Jesus and loving others.  I want to look for tangible opportunities to “not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:18).

Is God’s commandment (believe and love) being realized in your life?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, has explained that he is writing so that his Spiritual children will not sin.  But if they do sin, they have an advocate with the Father – Jesus.

1 John 2:3 “And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

Observations:  How do we know if we have a relationship with Jesus?  Our obedience.  (Note: Scripture is clear that we cannot be obedient apart from the work of the Spirit in our lives through faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  Scripture is also clear that faithful men who knew Jesus experienced times of disobedience – see Romans 6-7)  John will continue: “Whoever says ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the Truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His Word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

Application: I want to walk like Jesus walked today.  I want the words of the song “Trust and Obey” to be my motto.  “Lord, give me courageous and obedient faith!”

By John’s definition, do you know Jesus?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: The author of Hebrews challenged us to fix our eyes on Jesus and receive the discipline that He offers His children.

Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Observation: Our gratefulness overflows in acceptable worship.  Acceptable worship is offered with reverence and awe in response to the consuming power of God.

Application: I want to live today in worship.  I want to be grateful for God’s gifts and aware of His power.  “Lord, help me to offer acceptable worship.”

Are you offering to God acceptable worship?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: The author of Hebrews has explained clearly that we have “confidence to enter the holy places by the Blood of Jesus.”

Hebrews 10:35 “ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”

Observation: Confidence in our faith brings us great reward.  We can throw it away.  He will add in a few verses: “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Application: I must be confident in my spiritual position through faith in Christ.  I want to purposefully watch my life today.  If I shrink back from any opportunity to be used by God, I want to apply this verse and move forward.

Are you experiencing the reward of the confidence you can have through faith in Jesus Christ?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: The author of Hebrews is encouraging his audience to maturity through obedience.

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Observation: God sees your service.

Application: I want to rest in this fact – God sees my service.  I don’t have to try to impress others or do anything “big.”  I just need to work hard by showing love for His Name through serving the saints.

Are you encouraged by this verse today?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: The author of Hebrews has just expressed: “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Observation:

• Draw near to the throne of grace (Jesus)
  • That we may receive mercy and find grace (undeserved favor)
    • To help in time of need (when we are tempted)

Application: Often, my first response in temptation is to hide myself from God.  Instead, I need to draw near to Him.  That is where I will find help.

What do you do when you are tempted?  Make the decision to draw near to the throne of grace.