Today’s Verse – 2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. —2 Peter 3:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Where do you need to grow in your walk with the LORD? How about setting the tandem goal of growing in the grace of God and knowledge of Christ Jesus, our LORD and Savior? So often we pursue one or the other, grace or knowledge. However, something comes unhinged in our soul when either of those becomes more important than the other. Let’s keep grace and knowledge together, because we see them united in the Father’s gracious sending of His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who created everything and was before anything (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-17) My Prayer… Holy God, I desire to grow into becoming more of JESUShaped. I know I cannot do that without the power of your Holy Spirit, and my heart desiring such growth. I also want to grow into a more gracious person as I know and experience Jesus’ presence and truth in my life. Please bless me in this holy quest and use me to help others do the same. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. —Zephaniah 3:17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Isn’t it comforting, powerful, and restorative to know that God is with us! That’s the great message of the story of Jesus – Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). That’s the message of hope Zephaniah gives the defeated people of God. God is among us. He is mighty to save. He loves us. He delights in us. He stills the storms of our hearts with his loving touch and mighty voice. He sings us lullabies of joy over us. Why? Our Father longs to be close to us and invites us to draw near to him. What will our response be? Oh, I want to move closer to this God! My Prayer… Father, strengthen my resolve as I turn away from evil and draw near to experience your presence. I don’t want any imitation relationship with you. I don’t want some artificial symbol of you. I want to know YOU. I want to experience YOUR presence and for you to use me as a tool of YOUR grace in the lives of others. I need your presence to settle the disquietude of my soul and reassure me of my purpose in Jesus, in whose name I pray and thank you for your presence. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. —1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Do you want to know some things you can do to please God? Rejoice in his grace. Pray for others. Give thanks for your blessings. These are simple things God wants us to do, and doing them to honor him changes everything. Doing these things is not only spiritual, but also life-giving! My Prayer… Heavenly Father and Almighty God, I am thrilled at the very thought of being your child. Abba Father, please hear my prayer of concern for several people who are on my heart today… Loving God, thank you so much for the blessings you pour into my life each day. In Jesus’ holy name, I rejoice in your grace, pray for these others I have mentioned, and give thanks for your many blessings. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Acts 16:30-34
“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God — he and his whole household. —Acts 16:30-34 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Faith in Jesus is the most crucial response to God’s grace and a life-transforming blessing. For the jailer, faith meant hearing the gospel of Jesus as LORD and responding by believing that message, demonstrating a life change, being baptized immediately, and sharing in fellowship with other believers (Acts 2:38-47). Imagine going from being the jailer over men to washing their wounds in your own home! Think about being responsible for the painful incarceration of men, then having these men baptize you and your family that same night! Imagine locking men in chains who would later sit at your table sharing a meal! Isn’t God incredible! Isn’t his grace indescribable! No wonder we rejoice when those who are lost fully believe! Life is forever different them. My Prayer… Father, thank you for the surprises you have brought into my life through your grace. Please bless me as I strive to share your grace this week by presenting the Gospel of Jesus to those I love. May we see whole households turn to you because you surprised them with your amazing grace! In the name of the LORD Jesus, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 14:4
Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. —Romans 14:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The apostle Paul warned early believers against passing judgment on other Christians in matters not central to the faith. He also reminded them of whose job it is to judge in these matters – the LORD. He also emphasized that the person on whom they passed judgment belonged to the LORD – that person was HIS servant. Paul then asked them (and us): What right does anyone have to pass judgment on a person for whom Christ died and who is also a servant who belongs to the LORD? (Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11) Unfortunately, the evil one makes it easy for us to find fault and pass judgment on others about something nonessential while never dealing with the obvious sin in our own lives. We must not judge other believers in matters that are not central to the faith. We will answer to God for our sin and our judgmentalism. Jesus warned that the harshness we use to judge others will be the harshness the LORD will use with us on judgment day (Matthew 7:2). That’s sobering, and a reminder to not judge each other. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, please forgive me. I confess that I have wrongly passed judgment on others when I had no right or authority to do so. I know Jesus died to redeem them and want to use them for your glory. I know you love them and have a plan for each of them. I know that I have things wrong in my own life. Please redeem my heart and use me to be an encouragement, never a stumbling block, to your precious, blood-bought children. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. —Romans 14:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… It is so easy to be judgmental of others. We must remember that we don’t know their struggles, circumstances, or discouragements. Most of all, we don’t know their hearts. When we are judgmental, we erect a barrier between others and ourselves as we set ourselves up as superior to a brother or sister for whom Christ Jesus died! If we are not careful, we can spread our judgmental impression of them to others in gossip. Our stubbornness to only view them with a judgmental spirit erects a stumbling block that can lead them to become discouraged and cause them to stumble. Jesus warns us sternly about such a damaging practice (Matthew 18:6-7). Let’s set our minds on being an encouragement and blessing to our brothers and sisters and not put an obstacle in the way of others. My Prayer… Father, I ask you to conform my attitude toward others to match the redemptive grace you have for them. I want to be more patient with the failures of others, just as you are patient with mine. Please forgive me for not being more encouraging to those who are weak and struggling. Open my eyes to the ways I can be a blessing. Forgive me for being a hindrance to others. Open my heart to share your blessings with them. Please use me as your instrument of grace and encouragement, never as a selfish stumbling block to one of your precious children. In Jesus’ name, I ask to grow in these graces. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 14:1
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. —Romans 14:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our life in Christ is such a blessing! We want to welcome new disciples into our fellowship to share the blessings that Jesus has given us. We don’t bring them in to scrutinize their past failures or the current struggles, but to bring them into the love of God’s acceptance as part of his eternal family. They will make mistakes and stumble, just as we did when we were new believers. Yet God welcomed us patiently, graciously, and compassionately. Let’s do the same with new believers as they learn to live for Jesus. As Paul commanded the Romans: Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God (Romans 15:7). My Prayer… Father, please make me more understanding and patient with my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those who are new to the faith. Give me insight and empathy so I can encourage them, build them up, and help them feel accepted into your family as your beloved children. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. —Matthew 11:28-30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We could call it the irony of discipleship. To follow Jesus Christ means that we surrender everything and follow Him. To follow Christ means that we receive untold blessings in this life and eternal life with God in the life to come. So is it hard? Yes, sometimes it is very challenging, downright exhausting, and at certain times, filled with rejection and persecution. Jesus said it would be that way at times. And let’s be honest, life is hard. So, can our burden be light as Jesus promised? Yes, because we do not live our lives in vain, and we are living life as God intended us to live. Our efforts make a difference, and we get to meet incredible people whom we will know forever. Then, when our life is over on this earth, it isn’t really over! We get to go home and be with our LORD in the glory, and our Savior will welcome us home. Our souls will find rest, and every burden will be lifted just as every tear will be dried! My Prayer… Please give me courage, O God, to face the challenges that I must confront. Give me charity to deal appropriately with those I meet. Give me thankfulness for all that you have done to bless me. Give me the foresight to see that living for Jesus is the best of all choices. As I walk this road of discipleship, dear LORD, please give me the rest I need to continue boldly, faithfully, and passionately. I trust that you will bring me home to you in glory, and I will find my rest in your presence, where your grace and glory will erase every pain, burden, and hardship. In the name of the LORD Jesus, I praise and thank you. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 3:9
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops… —Proverbs 3:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Honoring God must come first in everything. We don’t give him the last, the least, or the leftovers. He gave us his best, most precious, and most perfect of gifts – his Son Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gifts! How could we give him anything less than our best, our first, and our most precious – our firstfruits in everything! My Prayer… Gracious God and loving Father, thank you for every good and perfect gift you have lavished upon me. Please accept the offering of my heart, which I freely give to you. Soften it and make it gracious and generous. I commit to offer you and your work in the world my first and my best. In Jesus’ name, I make this pledge in prayer. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Today’s Verse – Romans 14:8
If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. —Romans 14:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We are the LORD’s care. We submit our lives to him because he bought us out of bondage to sin and death and brought us into his eternal family of grace. We have voluntarily placed our lives into his hands. No matter what we do or where we go, his grace goes with us. He has promised never to leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6). He has assured us that nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:32-39). So let’s live with a sense of excited anticipation, looking to see where the LORD will lead us next. Let’s face our difficulties, trials, and even death, with the assurance that we will not face tough times alone or forever. The glory we anticipate is far greater than any of our trials (Romans 8:19). Even as we walk in the dark shadows of death, we don’t have to fear what the evil one and his minions can do to us. Our LORD is with us to guide us, protect us, and bring us home (Psalm 23:4-6). We are the LORD’s! My Prayer… Father, thank you for sending your Son to redeem me. LORD Jesus, thank you for coming to earth, paying the price for my sin, and sending the Holy Spirit to be your presence in me. Take my life and use it to your glory. May my faith never fail in the face of life’s worst challenges. I pray that as I live and when I die, that you, O LORD, will always be glorified in me. I genuinely believe that whether I live or die, I am yours, O LORD. In Jesus’ name, I rejoice in this truth. Amen. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.