JEREMIAH 48:
In yesterday’s reading, the Lord began giving oracles about different nations, with one chapter concerning Egypt and the next one about Philistia. Today we’ll hear about Moab.

PROVERBS 9:
Today’s chapter is the last of the thematic chapters at the beginning of this book. Lady Wisdom speaks, and we find that she is opposed by Lady [Folly/Stupidity].

1JOHN 2:
John continues to address us as his dear children, and tells us things that we must know in order to be on guard and remain in fellowship with the Father and the Son.

NLT Translation notes:
Pro. 9:7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
[I think we might as well let Lady Wisdom speak all the way through here.]
11 [I,] Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.
12 If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn [me,] wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
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1Jn. 2:6 Those who say they live in [unity, joined with] God should live their lives as Jesus did.
9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates [his/a] Christian brother or sister,a that person is still living in darkness.
10 Anyone who loves [his/another] brother[s and/or] sister[s] is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.
11 But anyone who hates [his/another] brother[s and/or] sister[s] is still living and walking in darkness. Such a person does not know the way to go, having been blinded by the darkness.
12 I am writing to you who are [my dear//God’s] children
because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.
14I have written to you who are [my/God’s] children
because you know the Father.
I have written to you who are mature in the faith
because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning.
I have written to you who are young in the faith
because you are strong.
God’s word lives in your hearts,
and you have won your battle with the evil one.
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit,and [that is why] all of you know the truth.
21 So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you [already] know the difference between truth and lies.
22 And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is [a follower of the/an] antichrist.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

JEREMIAH 46-47:
After finally being able to give a comforting message (“Stay here in Judah and don't go to Egypt. The Lord will take care of you”), the people not only ran off to Egypt but took Jeremiah with them. (Or did he go along willingly?) Perhaps he thought that in Egypt the Lord's message to stop worshiping idols would have some traction. But again, alas... No. Then yesterday we heard the short special message to the official Baruch, Jeremiah’s faithful secretary. In today’s reading, the Lord begins giving oracles about different nations.

PROVERBS 8b:
Lady Wisdom continues to speak.

1JOHN 1:
It is believed that John wrote this letter later in his life, somewhere between AD 85 and 95, and perhaps from Ephesus. He addresses everyone as his ‘children’. Like the emphasis of John’s gospel, this little book focuses on the word ‘believe’. And the word ‘know’ is used over 30 times in this short book. And it is because of that very word that this letter is famous for giving assurance— especially to any who have trouble accepting that God would choose or love them.

NLT Translation note:
1Jn. 1:3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our [inclusive] fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

JEREMIAH 44-45:
After all Jeremiah's messages of doom, he was able to give a comforting message to the Judeans who had been through so much. He might have thought, “At last I get to preach good news.” The Lord said through him, “I feel sorry for all you have had to suffer. Stay here. I will make the king of Babylon take pity on you. Don't fear the Babylonians.” That's the very thing the people had longed to hear for years. But even at this point, they break their promise and don’t listen to Jeremiah! After that, when he had been forcibly taken off to Egypt with the others, Jeremiah predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would come and defeat Egypt also.

PROVERBS 8a:
For the last two days we heard the wisdom of a father to his sons. Today Lady Wisdom speaks.

1CORINTHIANS 16:
Yesterday we finished the Resurrection Chapter, and today we see glimpses of the life of the early church through Paul’s final words.

NLT Translation note:
1Cor. 16:10 When Timothy comes, [please] don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.