Today’s reading is 2 John 1
“Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”

‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2jn.1.9-11.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” Why would we chose not to abide in Christ? There are many temptations out there that I fall into when I’m not abiding in Christ. I don’t have the ability to see the lie, but Christ does. Abiding in Christ is something we get to do and He enables us because of the resurrection. Please pray that we and our friends realize the awesome opportunity of abiding in Christ all day today. Please pray for Dusty and Forrest’s group. 

Today’s reading is 1 John 5
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1jn.5.1-4.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Everybody puts their faith in something. Even Atheists put their faith in something, but it’s not God. Christ brings us life by us making decisions faithful to His commands. His commands may not seem the best for us at times, but that’s where the faith part comes in. Please pray that we and our friends put Christ commands as the basis for all our decisions today. Please pray for Tyson’s group. 

Today’s reading is 1 John 2
“I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:26-28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1jn.2.26-28.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you”. Do we appreciate how great it is to be able to abide in Christ? It’s easy to be deceived when we are not abiding in Him. The peace and joy that occurs when we know Christ is in us and enabling us to do His will is better than any feeling. Augustine said, “our hearts are restless until we find rest in thee”. Please pray that we and our friends seek His rest today. Please pray for Jeremy and Gary’s group. 

Today’s reading is 1 John 1
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1jn.1.5-10.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” How tempting is it to fashion our own God? We want to be with God, but not necessarily obey Him. That somehow, we know better than He does as to what is best for us. He loves us and wants to give us the fruit of the Spirit(love, joy, peace…Gal 5:22), but will not force us to obey Him. Please pray that we and our friends seek to walk in the light today in all we do. Please pray for Wes and Brian’s group. 

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 3
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:8-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2pe.3.8-10.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Is repentance fun for you? It may not be fun getting there, but it sure is peaceful when it happens. Is there anxiety in your life or are you experiencing the peace that only God can provide. Please pray that we and our friends ask God to reveal any areas of sin in our heart(Ken Boa). Please pray for Stacey Kessler as she recovers from Brain surgery.  

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 2
“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:17-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2pe.2.17-21.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome”. Is it possible for any of us to be “entangled in them and overcome”? Can any of us be like the lukewarm church in Revelation? We must know that we are either trusting in the Spirit or trusting in ourselves. Which one is being feed? Please pray that we and our friends feed the Spirit today and dwell in the Spirit all day. Please pray for Doug and Brandon’s group. 

Today’s reading is 2 Peter 1
“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2pe.1.16-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.” I’m so thankful for Easter more and more each year. I am so thankful for the forgiveness of my sins and it makes me more and more grateful. I can’t imagine how grateful Peter was after denying Jesus three times. He saw the miracles. He heard God from Heaven. He saw Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah. Please pray that we and our friends appreciate the power of Jesus working in us to present us unblemished. Please pray for Steven and Cheever’s group. 

Today’s reading is 1 Peter 3
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:18-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.3.18-22.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit”. Christ brings us to God by enabling us to ignore the flesh and then LIVE in the Spirit. Christ told His disciples that to follow Him, they must deny themselves, pick up their cross and THEN follow Him. Notice the first part is to deny self. It’s impossible for Christ to bring us to God with our flesh still in control. Please pray that we and our friends notice when we are living in the flesh as opposed to living in the Spirit. Please pray for Gary Adams group. 

Today’s reading is 1 Peter 2
“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.2.13-17.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” We can chose to be servants to our jobs, status, lifestyle or we can be a servant of God. We can’t serve two masters. We are told to be subject to “every human institution” and we also are expected to “work as working for the Lord”(Col 3:23). Can we do all while putting God as the highest? Yes. Please pray that we and our friends serve one Lord today. Matt 6:33. Please pray for T.C. and Bradley’s group. 

Today’s reading is 1 Peter 1
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:3-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1pe.1.3-5.esv
All,
This stands out because Peter says, “who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” How are you being guarded by faith? How else does God guide us through His purpose? Faith is a active verb that enables us to walk the path He wants us to walk otherwise we would walk the path of human understanding and eat the fruit of that path. Please pray that we and our friends put our faith and trust in God today. Please pray for Dusty and Forrest’s group.