One Year Pray for the Persecuted Bible - Flipbook - Page 22
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January 2
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting
with the wise men, and he learned from them
the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then
he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search
carefully for the child. And when you find
him, come back and tell me so that I can go
and worship him, too!”
9 After this interview the wise men went
their way. And the star they had seen in the
east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead
of them and stopped over the place where the
child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were
filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and
saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they
bowed down and worshiped him. Then they
opened their treasure chests and gave him
gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned
to their own country by another route, for God
had warned them in a dream not to return to
Herod.
1:1 Greek Jesus the Messiah, Son of David and son of Abraham.
1:3 Greek Aram, a variant spelling of Ram; also in 1:4. See 1 Chr
1:7 Greek Asaph, a variant spelling of Asa; also in 1:8.
2:9‑10.
See 1 Chr 3:10. 1:8a Greek Joram, a variant spelling of Jehoram;
also in 1:8b. See 1 Kgs 22:50 and note at 1 Chr 3:11. 1:8b Or
ancestor; also in 1:11. 1:10 Greek Amos, a variant spelling of
Amon; also in 1:10b. See 1 Chr 3:14. 1:11 Greek Jeconiah, a
variant spelling of Jehoiachin; also in 1:12. See 2 Kgs 24:6 and
1:21 Jesus means
note at 1 Chr 3:16. 1:19 Greek to divorce her.
“The Lord saves.” 1:23 Isa 7:14; 8:8, 10 (Greek version). 2:1 Or
royal astrologers; Greek reads magi; also in 2:7, 16. 2:2 Or star
2:6a Greek the rulers.
2:6b Mic 5:2; 2 Sam 5:2.
in the east.
PSALM 1:1‑6
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2
3
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the
riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
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5
6
But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered
by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time
of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the
godly.
For the Lord watches over the path of the
godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to
destruction.
PROVERBS 1:1‑6
These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s
son, king of Israel.
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3
4
5
6
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom
and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of
the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live
disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and
fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the
simple,
knowledge and discernment to the
young.
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and
become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive
guidance
by exploring the meaning in these
proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their
riddles.
THE KINGS THE PSALMIST SAW plotting against God aren’t alone.
In nations like Somalia, Syria, and China, leaders today also seek
to silence believers through restrictive laws, intimidation, torture,
or even death. Those leaders may not realize it, but they’re plotting
not just against God’s people but also against God. • LORD, GIVE
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS the grace not only to endure brutal leaders
but also to love those who cause their suffering. And may that witness
of love soften the hearts of those leaders toward you. Amen.
GENESIS 3:1–4:26
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild
animals the Lord God had made. One day he
asked the woman, “Did God really say you
JANUARY
2
must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in
the garden?”
2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees
in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only
