Today’s Verse – John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” —John 4:13-14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Water! That precious gift for the tired and thirsty. Water! That essential refreshing liquid we all need for life. Water! That spring of living water welling up to eternal life and renewing our spirits. Jesus offers water we don’t have to carry, find, purify, or resupply. Jesus’ water wells up within us. The Holy Spirit brings us Jesus’ water because we are his disciples who believe in him (John 7:37-39). Jesus’ water gives us eternal life, which begins now, lasts throughout each day we live, and continues forever (John 4:14, 5:24). This water of eternal life is a gift from Jesus, our LORD! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, I know Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in me when I became a Christian, a disciple of my LORD. I ask that my stubborn will and my sinful desires will be overcome with the Spirit’s transforming power so that my life will display the joy and confidence that your refreshing presence brings. In Jesus’ name, and because of his living water, 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 – John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. —John 3:17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God sent Jesus to save the world. God is not the mean ol’ Scrooge in the sky, critically looking down on his flawed children, waiting to condemn them for their mess-ups. Instead, our Father in heaven saw how broken, flawed, and messed up we were, and he entered our world in Jesus to save it and save us from ourselves. God’s purpose in sending Jesus was to give us lasting life, eternal salvation, and out of that grows our earthly mission – to join God in saving the lost world. My Prayer… O heavenly Father, deliver us from the sin that entangles our actions and pollutes our hearts. Create in each of us a clean heart and renew a right spirit in us through your sanctifying Holy Spirit. Please, awaken us to our salvation so that we don’t keep it to ourselves, but share it with those who desperately need it. Thank you for your forgiveness, grace, and salvation. In Jesus’ name, we pray with thankfulness and a renewed sense of our purpose. 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 – John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What else needs to be said? “For God so loved the world…” Ah, we should say, “Praise God!” We should say, “Thank you, Jesus!” We should say, “I believe!” We should say, “Let’s go share Jesus’ saving grace with the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). My Prayer… Thank you, Father, for loving us with everlasting love and for demonstrating that love in Jesus. We love you! We look forward to sharing the longest part of our lives with you in glory, enjoying your presence forever because you sent Jesus. Until then, loving Father, please use us to share this saving message -this message of your gracious and redeeming love -with others so they can believe and not perish. You sent Jesus so no one would perish. We commit to join you in sharing your love with the world. In Jesus’ mighty name, we 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 – Psalm 3:8
From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. —Psalm 3:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Deliverance does come from the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our spiritual fathers from previous generations. We can trust in this deliverance because of God’s faithfulness to his people under the Old Covenant (the Old Testament). We see God’s deliverance as the Father sends his Son, Jesus, as our Savior. We experience this deliverance in the outpouring of the Spirit by the resurrected Savior. So, as this verse suggests, we can confidently ask the LORD to bless us with his richest and greatest blessings as his people because we know that he has already given us the greatest gift of his Son. So, we believe with the apostle, Paul, that since God has done this to save us, “how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32) My Prayer… Thank you, O God, for the salvation you have given to us in Jesus. Use us, your people, to spread this blessing to others so that all nations – all peoples – will know your love and come to know your deliverance found in your Son, our Savior and LORD. In the name of our Deliverer, we 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 – Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted him… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:9-11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I love the fact that I do each day what everyone will one day do: bow before the majesty and proclaim the glorious Lordship of Jesus Christ to honor the Father’s glory. How wonderful it is to be able to make that proclamation because of grace rather than in fear at the end of a life that has been spent wasted in rebellion, denial, and selfishness. I gladly bow my knee, humble myself, and prostrate myself before the King of Glory, Jesus Christ my LORD! My Prayer… Father, I do praise you for the truth about Jesus. I believe that his greatness will one day be realized fully by everyone who has ever lived. Doubters, haters, hypocrites, and pretenders may have sway in our fallen world, but Jesus is coming. I can’t wait to see him in his glory! May my life display the truth of Jesus’ glory in sacrifice through the way I treat people today. May my lips suitably proclaim this truth so others can know Jesus is LORD, today. In the name of your Son and my Savior, 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 – Philippians 2:9
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… —Philippians 2:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… For Jesus, the formula for saving grace was tough! graciousness + faithfulness + sacrifice + suffering = True Glory Yes, salvation’s math doesn’t make much human sense in our selfish, self-promoting world. However, from the perspective of faith, salvation’s math is powerful wisdom. Jesus came to our world because of God’s graciousness. Jesus was faithful and left heaven to face the hardships of humanity. The LORD was willing to sacrifice himself to serve all humanity, even though it required his suffering and humiliation on the cross. Because he faithfully lived salvation’s math, the Father crowned the Son with all glory and honor, which has been rightfully his since before creation. The apostle Paul reminds us in this passage (Philippians 2:5-11) that God doesn’t forget our sacrifices, hardships, persecutions, or service. He honors them with his pleasure and glory because people who choose this way walk the path of their LORD, Jesus, as they live with others. My Prayer… Holy Father and LORD God, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, my Savior and LORD. I surrender my heart and want to have no rival to the lordship of your Son in my life. I want to serve and bless his disciples as he served and blessed me. I want to live my life passionately, as I seek to reach the lost people of my world. Continue to mold my heart and mind to be more like Jesus. I pray this to honor him in thought, word, and deed. 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 – Philippians 2:5, 7-8
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who… made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! —Philippians 2:5, 7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Christianity is not for wimps or the faint-hearted. Our example, Jesus, “made himself nothing… taking the very nature of a servant… humbled himself… and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” That’s tough stuff. What’s more, he is our example of how to live and sacrifice for others. The story of Jesus may begin with a sweet child, a tender virgin girl, and a loving, strong man who protected them. However, it also starts with his crib being the trough where animals ate their food, while an evil king was plotting to murder him. The birth stories of Jesus are precious and powerful. They are not, however, saccharine-sweet fake sentiment. Jesus’ way of life is about servants who are willing to pay the price to redeem the ungrateful and undeserving, and disciples who are different because they know their Redeemer and are determined to become like their Teacher, Savior, and Lord (Luke 6:40). My Prayer… Almighty God, loving Father, thank you for placing the gospel story in the real world where I live. Jesus, thank you for being a Savior who has come into my world and faced its toughest edges and worst ugliness. Help me, please, as I learn to be sacrificial, obedient, redemptive, and humble so that I can be used to help others find your grace. 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 – Philippians 2:5-6
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped… —Philippians 2:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus did not cling to his heavenly glory but surrendered it to save us. He was born in a stable, made his first bed in a manger, and was welcomed to this world by lowly shepherds. His adoptive dad, Joseph, had to flee to Egypt with Mary to protect young Jesus. The LORD made his boyhood home in despised Nazareth, apprenticing in Joseph’s carpenter’s shop. Paul uses Jesus’ surrender of his heavenly glory as an example for us. Paul, God’s apostle to the nations, expended his human energy so Jesus would come alive in those who followed Jesus as LORD (Colossians 1:28-29). He reminded all disciples to focus on Jesus, to obey his teaching, and to follow his example. As we do, the Holy Spirit transforms us, with increasing likeness, into our Savior’s sacrificial character. Now, we must serve each other as Jesus served. We must think of others’ needs before our own comfort, preferences, and rights. Jesus’ incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were revolutionary. Now it is our turn to join the revolution and turn our fallen world upside down – a revolution we give our lives to help come to pass! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O Father, please mold me through the transforming power of your Holy Spirit as I pursue becoming more JESUShaped. May my thoughts be JESUShaped thoughts. May my heart’s desire reflect the passions of the Son. In Jesus’ name, I choose to relinquish my sense of self-importance to serve others as Jesus did. 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 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. —Romans 1:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Are you ashamed? Culture tries to make us ashamed about our faith, portraying people of faith as stupid, insensitive, judgmental, and hypocritical. Are you ashamed? Or, because you reverence Jesus as LORD in your own heart and life, you are willing to share your faith humbly and gently with those who do not know Jesus as their LORD (1 Peter 3:15-16). Are you ashamed? Your hero left heaven to come to earth and risk everything so that you could go home to heaven with him. This Gospel is powerful. This Gospel is transformational. This Gospel, and the salvation it brings, are for all people. So let’s not be ashamed; let’s be joyous and generous with this incredible gift that we have received and share this grace with all peoples of the world! My Prayer… Father in heaven, please give me wisdom, sensitivity, humility, and courage to share your wonderful story of grace with those around me who do not know Jesus as their LORD and Savior. In Jesus’ name. 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 1:22-23
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” — which means, “God with us.” —Matthew 1:22-23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God had repeatedly promised his people his presence. During the Wilderness wanderings, he was with them with the cloud during the day, the pillar of fire at night, and in the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle. Men, women, and angels (1 Peter 1:10-12) had long anticipated our receiving God’s presence close to us. Then, with Jesus’ incarnation, his coming in human flesh, it happened. God came to us in his Son. Jesus is Immanuel – Immanu-El, God with us! We live on the visited planet, touched by the very presence of God the Creator among us, as one of us, who lived, died, and was raised from the dead for us (See John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; and Colossians 1:15-23 for the declaration of these truths). And it was just as the prophets of old had said. My Prayer… LORD God, my heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your promises, especially when it was so incredibly costly for you to do so in Jesus. You came to us in Jesus, the Son, to reveal yourself to us and show us how to live. I want to know you better, O God, not just as someone I study in Scripture, but as someone I encounter in my daily life. Please make your presence known as I seek you and use the Holy Spirit to transform me and mold me into someone who is truly JESUShaped (2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:28-29)! In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, our Immanuel, we 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.