In the Beginning, God

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Genesis 1:1

God was in the beginning of everything, now we want to put God in the beginning of everything we are and do, even our day.

Welcome!

Welcome to the daily Bible reading devotional for the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue in Lutz, Florida for our annual 2016-2017 theme.

Download the reading schedule here. Read along with us 5 days a week and come here to get a daily devotional that goes along with the reading. If this benefits you, pass it on to your friends.

You can also subscribe and get the devotional sent directly to your inbox.

Our first day of reading and devo will be September 5, 2016.

See you then.

The Bride of Christ

Today’s reading is Revelation 21-22.

We’ve learned about the harlot city of Babylon and her fall. Now we read of the Bride city of the new Jerusalem and her marriage to the Lamb. The point is not that heaven is going to be great (though it is). The point is Christ’s city, His bride, the church is a city that cannot be defeated. Christ has adorned His bride, His city beautifully and fortified her magnificently. No matter how Babylon attacks, no matter how the enemy assails, we cannot be defeated or cast off from Christ our Savior and groom. Here is the key. If you want to be in this city in eternity, you have to be in it now. Make your choice. Will you seek asylum and find victory in Christ’s city or will you fall with Babylon? The choice is yours.

Monday’s reading is Luke 1.

We will be moving to a new site next Monday: click here to go to our new annual Bible reading devotion website.

Deceived

Today’s reading is Revelation 19-20.

Warning: on the day of judgment the defense saying, “But, he told me this” and “But, she told me that” is not going to fly. As Revelation 19:20 says our enemy’s plan is to deceive. His goal is to get people to tell you things that are wrong, to deceive you, to lead you astray. But God has revealed His truth. You can read it for yourself. Don’t let the deceptions of the devil lead you away from the Lord because you won’t be able to cry that he deceived me anymore than Eve was able to say that about the serpent. Listen to God’s truth, never turn your back on it, it is the only thing that will set you free.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 21-22.

Babylon Is Fallen

Today’s reading is Revelation 17-18.

Babylon once stood against Jerusalem, and though it won the battle, in reality it lost the war. Babylon fell and Jerusalem was restored. No wonder God used the imagery of Babylon to speak of the enemies of Christ’s church in Revelation. Sometimes it looks like Babylon has taken the day. But in the end, God wins. God’s people win. The use of Babylon gives us another insight. Enemies come and go–Egypt, Philistines, Assyria, Babylon, Greece, Rome, perhaps even the modern U.S.A., or whoever else might stand in Babylon’s place against God’s people. Though for a time it may look like the enemy wins, in the end the cry will always be, “Babylon is fallen!” Never side with Babylon, she’s already lost.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 19-20.

Judgment Is Coming

Today’s reading is Revelation 15-16.

The early Christians were facing great tribulation. There were repeated persecutions around the empire. No doubt, plenty of the time it felt like they were going to lose, like they had sided with the wrong King. At times, it seemed like Caesar was going to defeat Jesus. But Revelation explains, God wins. Judgment is coming. Those who attack Christ’s church will lose. Yes, there will be a great deal of time in which we suffer at the hands of our enemies (and please, don’t remotely think we have gotten there in our day yet). But God always wins. Stay on His side. He will judge those who turn against His people. We will win! Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 17-18.

Mirror and Mock

Today’s reading is Revelation 13-14.

Perhaps we see the greatest scheme of the devil revealed in Revelation 13. He tries to mirror and mock and get as close to God and His goodness as he possibly can. But he twists it and distorts it and in the end destroys us by it. Notice how he tries to mirror even the tri-unity of God. There is the dragon, corresponding to the Father; the sea beast, corresponding to the Son–exercising authority and recovering from a fatal wound; and the land beast, corresponding to the Spirit–pointing people to the authority of the sea beast and getting them to worship him. But these beasts fall short. Their number is 666, not 777. Their number does not represent completeness and perfection, but falling just short of it. The devil copies, mocks, and mirrors, but always falls short. Don’t be deceived by the similarity, stay true to God. He wins.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 15-16.

Check out the New Daily Devotional Blog

I really hope you have benefited from “In the Beginning, God” over the past year. Next Monday, we are moving to a new location. These devotions follow the annual theme and daily Bible reading plan for the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue.

Next week, we start a new annual theme. That means a new them for our daily devotions. There will be no more daily devotions added to this blog. All new Bible reading devotions will be at our new site. Click the following link to go to that site and when you get there, make sure you find the “Follow” link on the right hand side of the page to keep receiving these daily devotions.

Disciple-making Disciples Daily Devotions

Devil Defeated

Today’s reading is Revelation 11-12.

There is evil in the world. The evil in the world is not merely a disembodied force. Rather it is driven by a personal being–the dragon, the serpent of old, the devil. Do not be deceived. He is real. However, do not be deceived, he is defeated. A baby came into the world who grew to deliver a death blow to the head of that serpent. What we are witnessing in the world now is not the power of the devil, but rather the cornered striking of a snake that knows it is about to come to an end. A dragon may be powerful, but our God is more powerful. Hang on to God no matter what the devil does because God wins always.

Monday’s reading is Revelation 13-14.

Call to Repentance

Today’s reading is Revelation 9-10.

What awful judgment is coming on the world in Revelation 8-9. Over and over again a third is affected by the judgment, whether it is a third of the light, a third of the sea, a third of the earth, or a third of the people on earth. But the key to this is found in Revelation 9:20-21. God allows these partial judgments in order to bring the rest to repentance. Are those who are destroyed in these initial forays into judgment worse sinners than the rest? No, indeed we will all likewise perish unless we repent. When tragedy happens today, we are certainly not able to specify that it is God’s purposeful hand of judgment, but whether it is or not, let it be to us a reminder that our end is coming and we want to be on God’s side. Turn to the Lord and hang on to Him no matter what.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 11-12.

The Lamb is My Shepherd

Today’s reading is Revelation 7-8.

The Lamb is my shepherd. He is the one who leads me. However, I remember He is the Lamb that was slain, who was a ransom for His people. When I follow Him, I must not be surprised when I also face tribulation. Thus, those clothed in white robes had gone through tribulation. However, they came out on the other side, being led by the Lamb who was slain to victory, to comfort, to protection, to living water. I don’t know what you’re going through today, but if the Lamb is your shepherd, He’ll bring you through. Hang on to Him.

Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 9-10.