Daily Bible CEV November 02 Scroll

People Will Turn from Their Faith

1 Timothy 4 God's Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people will turn from their faith. They will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons. ²They will also be fooled by the false claims of liars whose consciences have lost all feeling. These liars ³will forbid people to marry or to eat certain foods. But God created these foods to be eaten with thankful hearts by his followers who know the truth. ⁴Everything God created is good. And if you give thanks, you may eat anything. ⁵What God has said and your prayer will make it fit to eat.

Paul's Advice to Timothy

⁶If you teach these things to other followers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus. You will show that you have grown up on the teachings about our faith and on the good instructions you have obeyed. ⁷Don't have anything to do with worthless, senseless stories. Work hard to be truly religious. ^8-9As the saying goes,

"Exercise is good for your body,

but religion helps you in every way.

It promises life now and forever."
These words are worthwhile and should not be forgotten. ¹⁰We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, but especially of those who have faith. That's why we work and struggle so hard.

¹¹Teach these things and tell everyone to do what you say. ¹²Don't let anyone make fun of you, just because you are young. Set an example for other followers by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity.

¹³Until I arrive, be sure to keep on reading the Scriptures in worship, and don't stop preaching and teaching. ¹⁴Use the gift you were given when the prophets spoke and the group of church leaders blessed you by placing their hands on you. ¹⁵Remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing. ¹⁶Be careful about the way you live and about what you teach. Keep on doing this, and you will save not only yourself, but the people who hear you.

Hezekiah Gets Sick and Almost Dies
(2 Kings 20.1-11; 2 Chronicles 32.24-26)

Isaiah 38 About this time, Hezekiah got sick and was almost dead. So I went in and told him, "The LORD says you won't ever get well. You are going to die, and so you had better start doing what needs to be done."

²Hezekiah turned toward the wall and prayed, ³"Don't forget that I have been faithful to you, LORD. I have obeyed you with all my heart, and I do whatever you say is right." After this, he cried hard.

⁴Then the LORD sent me ⁵with this message for Hezekiah:

I am the LORD God, who was worshiped by your ancestor David. I heard you pray, and I saw you cry. I will let you live fifteen years more, ⁶while I protect you and your city from the king of Assyria.

⁷Now I will prove to you that I will keep my promise. ⁸Do you see the shadow made by the setting sun on the stairway built for King Ahaz? I will make the shadow go back ten steps.

Then the shadow went back ten steps.

King Hezekiah's Song of Praise

⁹This is what Hezekiah wrote after he got well:

¹⁰I thought I would die during my best years

and stay as a prisoner forever in the world of the dead.

¹¹I thought I would never again see you, my LORD,

or any of the people who live on this earth.

¹²My life was taken from me

like the tent that a shepherd pulls up and moves.

You cut me off like thread from a weaver's loom;

you make a wreck of me day and night.

¹³Until morning came, I thought you would crush my bones

just like a hungry lion;

both night and day you make a wreck of me.

¹⁴I cry like a swallow; I mourn like a dove.

My eyes are red from looking to you, LORD.

I am terribly abused. Please come and help me.

¹⁵There's nothing I can say in answer to you,

since you are the one who has done this to me.

My life has turned sour; I will limp until I die.

¹⁶Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone,

including me. Please make me healthy and strong again.

¹⁷It was for my own good that I had such hard times.

But your love protected me from doom in the deep pit,

and you turned your eyes away from my sins.

¹⁸No one in the world of the dead can thank you

or praise you;

none of those in the deep pit can hope for you

to show them how faithful you are.

¹⁹Only the living can thank you, as I am doing today.

Each generation tells the next about your faithfulness.

²⁰You, LORD, will save me, and every day that we live

we will sing in your temple

to the music of stringed instruments.

Isaiah's Advice to Hezekiah

²¹I had told King Hezekiah's servants to put some mashed figs on the king's open sore, and he would get well. ²²Then Hezekiah asked for proof that he would again worship in the LORD's temple.

Isaiah Speaks the LORD's Message to Hezekiah
(2 Kings 20.12-19)

Isaiah 39 Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, was now king of Babylonia. And when he learned that Hezekiah was well, he sent messengers with letters and a gift for him. ²Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them all the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fine oils that were in his storehouse. He even showed them where he kept his weapons. Nothing in his palace or in his entire kingdom was kept hidden from them.

³I asked Hezekiah, "Where did these men come from? What did they want?"

"They came all the way from Babylonia," Hezekiah answered.

⁴"What did you show them?" I asked.

Hezekiah answered, "I showed them everything in my kingdom."

⁵Then I told Hezekiah:

I have a message for you from the LORD All-Powerful. ⁶One day everything you and your ancestors have stored up will be taken to Babylonia. The LORD has promised that nothing will be left. ⁷Some of your own sons will be taken to Babylonia, where they will be disgraced and made to serve in the king's palace.

⁸Hezekiah thought, "At least our nation will be at peace for a while." So he told me, "The message you brought from the LORD is good."

Psalm 119

¹²¹I did what was fair and right!

Don't hand me over to those who want to mistreat me.

¹²²Take good care of me, your servant,

and don't let me be harmed by those conceited people.

¹²³My eyes are weary from waiting

to see you keep your promise to come and save me.

¹²⁴Show your love for me, your servant,

and teach me your laws.

¹²⁵I serve you, so let me understand your teachings.

¹²⁶

Do something, LORD! They have broken your Law.

¹²⁷Your laws mean more to me than the finest gold.

¹²⁸I follow all of your commands,

but I hate anyone who leads me astray.

¹²⁹Your teachings are wonderful, and I respect them all.

¹³⁰Understanding your word brings light

to the minds of ordinary people.

¹³¹I honestly want to know everything you teach.

¹³²Think about me and be kind,

just as you are to everyone who loves your name.

¹³³Keep your promise and don't let me stumble

or let sin control my life.

¹³⁴Protect me from abuse, so I can obey your laws.

¹³⁵

Smile on me, your servant, and teach me your laws.

¹³⁶When anyone disobeys you, my eyes overflow with tears.

¹³⁷Our LORD, you always do right,

and your decisions are fair.

¹³⁸All of your teachings are true and trustworthy.

¹³⁹It upsets me greatly

when my enemies neglect your teachings.

¹⁴⁰Your word to me, your servant, is like pure gold;

I treasure what you say.

¹⁴¹Everyone calls me a nobody, but I remember your laws.

¹⁴²

You will always do right, and your teachings are true.

¹⁴³I am in deep distress, but I love your teachings.

¹⁴⁴Your rules are always fair.

Help me to understand them and live.

These daily Bible readings from the Contemporary English Version (CEV) are published by BibleNetUSA. The web site and BibleCard® designs are by iCreative. BibleCard® images copyright iCreative. All rights reserved.