From: "FamilyNet" 

Bible Reading for December 15

Philemon 1
[1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto
Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, [2] And to our beloved
Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
[3] Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[4] I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, [5]
Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and
toward all saints;
[6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the
acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. [7] For
we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the
saints are refreshed by thee, brother. [8] Wherefore, though I might be
much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
[9] Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul
the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. [10] I beseech thee for
my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: [11] Which in time past
was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
[12] Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
[13] Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have
ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: [14] But without thy mind
would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity,
but willingly. [15] For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that
thou shouldest receive him for ever;
[16] Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved,
specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the
Lord? [17] If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
[18] If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine
account; [19] I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it:
albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self
besides. [20] Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my
bowels in the Lord.
[21] Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that
thou wilt also do more than I say.
[22] But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your
prayers I shall be given unto you.
[23] There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; [24]
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. [25] The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

1 Peter 1
[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2] Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of
the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. [3] Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath
begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, [4] To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
[5] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time.
[6] Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are
in heaviness through manifold temptations: [7] That the trial of your
faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be
tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the
appearing of Jesus Christ: [8] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom,
though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable
and full of glory: [9] Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation
of your souls. [10] Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and
searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
[11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was
in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ,
and the glory that should follow.
[12] Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they
did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
which things the angels desire to look into. [13] Wherefore gird up the
loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to
be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
[14] As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the
former lusts in your ignorance:
[15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner
of conversation;
[16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. [17] And if ye call
on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every
man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
[18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers;
[19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:
[20] Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but
was manifest in these last times for you, [21] Who by him do believe in
God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith
and hope might be in God. [22] Seeing ye have purified your souls in
obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren,
see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
[23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by
the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [24] For all flesh is
as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass
withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: [25] But the word of the
Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is
preached unto you.

1 Peter 2
[1] Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and
envies, and all evil speakings,
[2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
[3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. [4] To whom coming,
as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and
precious,
[5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.
[6] Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion
a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall
not be confounded.
[7] Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the
head of the corner,
[8] And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which
stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time
past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. [11] Dearly beloved, I beseech
you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war
against the soul; [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles:
that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good
works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. [13]
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it
be to the king, as supreme; [14] Or unto governors, as unto them that are
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them
that do well. [15] For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may
put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
[16] As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but
as the servants of God.
[17] Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. [18]
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good
and gentle, but also to the froward. [19] For this is thankworthy, if a man
for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
[20] For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye
shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye
take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. [21] For even hereunto were
ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in
his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously: [24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the
tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
[25] For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

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