Today’s Verse – 1 Corinthians 12:13
For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. —1 Corinthians 12:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Do you know what makes us family? In God’s family, the Holy Spirit makes us one. We are made a child of God by our new birth into his forever family by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God’s presence and power in us and God’s spiritual DNA that connects us to each other and to our Father. This spiritual bond transcends human family, race, nationality, gender, and all other human barriers. The Spirit’s presence ensures we are God’s children and enables us to function as Jesus’ Body here on earth. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for making my body a holy dwelling for your presence through the Holy Spirit. Thank you, LORD Jesus, for pouring out the Spirit on me and making me new. I ask, dear Father, that the blessed Holy Spirit continue to work in my heart to tear down any wall of prejudice that may exist toward any of my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that the Holy Spirit makes us one here on earth, just as the reality of our oneness is true with you in heaven. I pray this in the one who died to make us one in him. 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.
Finding Your Purpose
Note from Jesus Dear Follower, I know you sometimes wonder what your life’s purpose is and what My plan is for your future. I have spoken to you through the Scriptures about the big picture of your purpose. I know you would like more details, but sometimes those details are not nearly as important as the purpose I have for you in the place you are right now. Shepherds, including the ones to whom the angels appeared when I was born, had a tough life. The purpose to their life seemed very simple in the grand scheme of things as you so often think of grand things. They watched, protected, and cared for sheep. They made sure the sheep had food and water. They calmed them during the night when they were restless. They called them by name since they were individually known. Bottom line: When you look at the little details, it looks as if these shepherds were all about sheep. However, that was not the most important aspect of their purpose. That purpose was far greater: their purpose was to share the story of God’s wondrous love that sent Me into the world. Guess what? You have this same greater purpose. It doesn’t matter what the smaller details are — what your job is, who your family is, where your school is, what your problems appear to be. (And please know that I know and care about these details in your life.) The bottom line is that you have the same purpose as those shepherds from so long ago: your purpose is to share the story of God’s wondrous love that sent Me into the world! Don’t believe me? Just take a look at the words below from the good doctor, Luke, and one of my best-known apostles, Peter. You are here to share My story and bring praise to the Father for His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:3-14). Verses to Live Here’s what the shepherds discovered was their purpose (underlined for emphasis): After they saw the baby, they spread the story of what they had experienced and what had been said to them about this child. … The shepherds returned to their flocks, praising God for all they had seen and heard, and they glorified God for the way the experience had unfolded just as the heavenly messenger had predicted. (Luke 2:16-17; Luke 2:20) Here’s what Peter wants you to know is your purpose (underlined for emphasis): But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One Who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received it. (1 Peter 2:9-10) Response in Prayer All glory and praise to You, O God, the Father of mercy and the God of all grace. You have bought me from sin and re-made me to be Your precious and holy servant to influence others so that they can know Your grace and be reborn by Your Spirit. Use me, each day, dear God, to be a blessing to those around me to Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. —Romans 12:12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How can we keep our circumstances from determining our mood? How can we emancipate ourselves from the limitations that life deals us? The last in this trio of commandments from Paul opens the door for the other two to be true — we can rejoice in hope and be patient in affliction because we have been faithful in prayer. No matter our situation, we can pray joyfully because of our hope in Christ. We can remain patient, persevering through affliction, by presenting our requests and intercessions to God with thanksgiving. Prayer is God’s gift to us so that we can be patient and joyful, even when things don’t appear to be going well. We can be joyful in hope and patient in affliction because we are faithful in prayer! My Prayer… Father, I thank you because no matter my struggles, you assure me of my ultimate victory in Christ Jesus. I thank you, dear God because no matter the hardship or burden I face, I know you will help me through it and bring me into your presence with great joy. So until that day of ultimate and victorious joy, please ransom my heart from discouragement by the power of hope from your Holy Spirit. 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.
Fulfilling the Father’s Plan
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, In your world, independence, autonomy, self-sufficiency, and doing your own thing are of utmost importance for some people. A little independence can be good, but living your life in rebellion to the Source of life — the One Who made you and knows what is best for you to find joy and fulfillment in life — is self-destructive. Often, it’s only when you can’t figure out how to put things together that you go back and read the directions or seek the help of an expert. So I challenge you to be more interdependent and seek the counsel of spiritually wise people. Even more, I challenge you to open up the Father’s word and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you are reading. After all, I sent the Holy Spirit to “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13 NIV). When I was on earth, I always lived to please the Father (John 5:30; John 6:38). My words were the words the Father wanted to be spoken, and the things I did were the very things the Father wanted to be done (John 14:10). From your point of view that may not seem like a very exciting life — living, saying, and doing only the things that please the Father — but I can tell you that it is most exciting. In fact, it is a trailblazing way to live (Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 12:2), as evidenced by what the Father called Me to do and what He accomplished through Me — it’s a life full of grace with unlimited challenges, experiences, and opportunities. So I want to challenge you to live to please the Father. This way you are not enslaved to what others think about you. You are not always trying to figure out what those around you think is cool or valuable or significant. Instead, you will discover life — “real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of” (John 10:10 MSG). Verses to Live My life was lived to fulfill the promises the Father had given through the prophets and to fulfill the requirements of the Torah. This fulfillment began with My birth. So every time you talk about My birth, My Advent, remember how I came to honor the Father and obey His will, and let My life on earth challenge you to do the same. My ancestry fulfilled the expectations and promises that God gave to Abraham and David to have a descendant Who would bless all nations and reign forever: This is the family history, the genealogy, of Jesus the Anointed, the coming King. You will see in this history that Jesus is descended from King David, and that He is also descended from Abraham. (Matthew 1:1) Abraham and David were linked with 14 generations, 14 generations link David to the Babylonian exile, and 14 more take us from the exile to the birth of the Anointed. (Matthew 1:17) Even from My earliest days, My mother and Joseph made sure things were done in the way that the heavenly Father wanted them done. Eight days after His birth, the baby was circumcised in keeping with Jewish religious requirements, and He was named Jesus, the name the messenger had given Him before His conception in Mary’s womb. After Mary had observed the ceremonial days of postpartum purification required by Mosaic law, she and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord. They were fulfilling the Lord’s requirement that “every firstborn Israelite male will be dedicated to the Eternal One as holy.” (Luke 2:21-23) Response in Prayer Abba Father, You are majestic beyond my wildest imagination and yet personally concerned for my welfare. Help me, dear Father, to see that the way You call me to live is for my blessing so that I will discover the life that is full, rich, and meaningful. As I follow Jesus, I am convicted that I need to yield my will to Yours in order to discover how to live life abundantly. Today, as I think about Jesus’ birth, I feel called to re-commit my words, thoughts, and actions to honor You. In Jesus’ name. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:11
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. —Romans 12:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul is emphatic that Jesus’ disciples must be full of spiritual fervor to serve the LORD. Jesus was even more emphatic that God wants us to be passionate about our Christian life. He told the believers in Laodicea to repent and be passionate when he said: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:15-16) Jesus has done so much to redeem us. Let’s live passionately for the LORD, and “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep [our] spiritual fervor”! My Prayer… Holy LORD and King of the Ages, I confess: I have sometimes let my spiritual fire die down and my spiritual fervor wane. Jesus, please have the Spirit come with holy fire, kindling a renewed zeal and passion for you in me as I live my life and influence those around me. I want to zealously and shamelessly pursue your mission in today’s world and live a vibrant life that shows I love Jesus as my LORD! I ask this in Jesus’ name and to honor you, Father. 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.
You Can Find My Fingerprints
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, One of the most amazing things about My story is that I created the mother who gave birth to Me. Like every person who has ever lived, I created My mother, Mary, and had a plan for her even in her mother’s womb, even though she would carry Me in her womb (Psalm 139:13-16). This connection is part of the great mystery of My birth: the Creator entered His creation to redeem it and reclaim it by being part of it. When I was born in Bethlehem and celebrated by shepherds, hated by Herod, and honored by the gifts of the magi, I was offering Myself to those whom I created. They could accept Me or reject Me — respond to My love or rebel against it. Of course, I knit you together in your mother’s womb, too! You are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14 NIV). My fingerprints are not just on your world and the universe in which your world is found; My fingerprints are on you. I made you to seek after and find Me (Acts 17:27), which is what I exactly hope you will do during this season that celebrates My coming to earth, My Advent. I do not want our relationship to be Creator to creature, but family — Father to child, Brother to child of God, and Spirit that binds us together. Verses to Live Yes, I left my fingerprints on you! For You [the Lord] shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul. You see all things; nothing about me was hidden from You As I took shape in secret, carefully crafted in the heart of the earth before I was born from its womb. You see all things; You saw me growing, changing in my mother’s womb; Every detail of my life was already written in Your book; You established the length of my life before I ever tasted the sweetness of it. (Psalm 139:13-16) And My fingerprints are on the world I created, although many of the very people I created did not — and do not — receive Me or believe in Me. Before time itself was measured, the Voice [Jesus] was speaking. The Voice was and is God. This celestial Word remained ever present with the Creator; His speech shaped the entire cosmos. Immersed in the practice of creating, all things that exist were birthed in Him. (John 1:1-3) He entered our world, a world He made; yet the world did not recognize Him. Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him. (John 1:10-11). From the beginning, creation in its magnificence enlightens us to His [Jesus’] nature. Creation itself makes His undying power and divine identity clear, even though they are invisible; and it voids the excuses and ignorant claims of these people because, despite the fact that they knew the one true God, they have failed to show the love, honor, and appreciation due to the One Who created them. (Romans 1:20-21) Because you have put your trust in Me, I have given you the right, the authority, to be reborn as a child of God! But for all who did receive and trust in Him [Jesus], He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will. (John 1:12-13) So yes, honor Me as your Creator, but also know you are part of My family! Response in Prayer Almighty God, Who came to earth in such a small but eternally precious package, I thank You for the gift of Jesus Whom I recognize as my Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and Friend. Thank You for making me in the way that You did and please help me discover how to use for Your glory all that You made me to be. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I love the old saying, “He who toots his own horn plays in a very small band!” A very selfish part of us wants all attention and appreciation focused on what we have done, sacrificed, and accomplished. Christ Jesus told us that if we seek honor and recognition now, we have our reward now, on earth, and we won’t receive our reward in heaven (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21). One of the signs of spiritual maturity, however, is what Paul lists here. It’s a devotion to others who are our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This maturity means that we genuinely rejoice when others are honored. We are even more interested in honoring others than receiving honor. That is what devotion to others means. We care more about them being honored than us being honored, and that’s living like Christ (Philippians 2:1-11). My Prayer… Dear God, my loving Father, thank you for surrounding me with many godly and honorable people. Please help me see ways I can show my brothers and sisters in Christ my love, affirmation, and appreciation. And dear Father, please lead me to your people who need this love, affirmation, and honor. 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.
Hidden Treasures
Note from Jesus Dear Child of the Father, If you have had a loving, godly mother, then you have been profoundly blessed. No matter if you are rich or poor, famous or unknown, young or old, a godly mother is a treasure beyond measure. My earthly mother was Mary. Her heart was a deep well of mystery and secrets held together by a profound faith that the Lord was her Deliverer and that she was His servant. Like any earthly mom who has waited to hold her new-born child, she wondered what I would become. But for her, the secrets she treasured about Me were deeper, more profound, and more bewildering than normal. So it was Luke who tenderly talked about My mother after he gathered details of My birth. She was like every good mother, whether birth mom or adoptive mom: she saw Me, her child, as a gift and a treasure. She pondered the events surrounding My birth and early childhood as cherished moments, “treasuring each memory in her heart.” So be touched, My friend; be moved in your heart, for My mother was a great window to see Who I was in My incarnation, what I experienced, and how great the cost of My coming was. Look into her heart, examine her treasures, and realize that I can be your treasure, too. Verses to Live Yes, My birth created quite a stir. People talked about it a lot… at least for a while. My mother, on the other hand, treasured each moment, as indicated by the following two short scriptures from different times early in My incarnation, and she never forgot the mystery and grace of it all! The first scripture starts by referring to the shepherds’ story after the angels appeared to them and after they saw Me following My birth. The second scripture is when I was 12 years old, and My mother and stepfather found Me in Jerusalem talking with the Jewish religious leaders. Everyone who heard their [the shepherds’] story couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning. Mary, too, pondered all of these events, treasuring each memory in her heart. (Luke 2:18-19) Jesus: Why did you need to look for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be working for My Father? Neither Mary nor Joseph really understood what He meant by this. Jesus went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother continued to store these memories like treasures in her heart. (Luke 2:49-51) Response in Prayer Lord Jesus, You are my treasure. Holy Spirit, You are heaven’s gift given to me. Father God, You are the grace that has ransomed my life and given me everlasting hope, joy, and peace. All praise to God Almighty, Father, Son, and Spirit, for Your abundant grace, indwelling presence, and everlasting love. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today’s Verse – Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. —Romans 12:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Special Note: Remember that this year, we are letting our verse reference be determined by the date. So on December 9, the twelfth month and ninth day, we have been led to Romans 12:9 as our verse for this day, and it’s a short but powerful and call to live for Jesus! Our love cannot be feigned, faked, or fickle! That means that we abhor evil. We not only stay away from it but disdain it. At the same time, we commit ourselves to lovingly drawing closer to goodness and righteousness. There are no shades of gray in our intentions or motivations, only a passionate desire for what is right, good, and holy. We cling to what is good! My Prayer… Holy and Righteous Father, I know you declared me righteous and holy because of Jesus’ sacrifice and my faith in him. Now, I ask that you help me live up to what you have declared me to be by your grace. Through your indwelling Holy Spirit’s power, please fill me with your love and drive out anything unclean, evil, or rancid that dwells in my heart. I want my love to be sincere. I want to cling to what is good. I want to cast off all that is evil so I can bring you joy! In Jesus’ name, I 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.
Glory!
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, Glory? Glorious? “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”? It was not too glorious if you look at the place where My birth happened! I was placed in a feed trough and wrapped in strips of cloth. By most measures, My birth was less than ordinary… it was something only the poor and outcast would have experienced. Most would have missed the glory of the moment when I entered the world in the same way you did — pushed into the harsh reality of life through the birth canal. Being born in “less than royal” conditions, you might easily mistake My identity. I looked like any ordinary baby. But I had left the glory of heaven to accept the simple comforts of the manger and the loving arms of My mother, Mary, and My stepfather, Joseph. I came from the glory of God that shone long before the world began, yet I accepted the simplicity of the stable to connect with you. I wanted you to know that no matter where you are in society’s pecking order — the high thread-count sheets of the rich and famous or the simple strips of cloth of the poor — I came for you. I wanted you to know that you are welcome in My Father’s house even though I wasn’t completely welcomed into the world I had made. Glory? Glorious? “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”? Absolutely! Hear the angels. Watch the shepherds. Come to My manger and know you are gloriously loved. Verses to Live The glory that shone forth to those looking for it at my birth was a glory that I had before the world began and the glory that I came to share with you! Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2:13-14 NLT) [Jesus praying:] Now, Father, bring Me into the glory We shared before the world began. (John 17:5 NLT) So I ask you to redefine your concept of glory by what I did — don’t cling to fleeting earthly glory, but walk beside and bend down to help those who need you to share My glory! In other words, adopt the mind-set of Jesus the Anointed. Live with His attitude in your hearts. Remember: Though He was in the form of God, He chose not to cling to equality with God; But He poured Himself out to fill a vessel brand new; a servant in form and a man indeed. The very likeness of humanity, He humbled Himself, obedient to death — a merciless death on the cross! So God raised Him up to the highest place and gave Him the name above all. So when His name is called, every knee will bow, in heaven, on earth, and below. And every tongue will confess “Jesus, the Anointed One, is Lord,” to the glory of God our Father. (Philippians 2:5-11) Response in Prayer Almighty God, Who became human flesh and came to us in Jesus, how can I thank You for Your indescribable gift? You are glorious, yet left heaven’s glory. You are eternal, yet clothed yourself with mortality. You are all powerful, yet became vulnerable. You came to us as a baby placed in a manger to share our humanity so we can share Your glory. Open my heart to receive Your incredible gift of grace during this special time of year. Even more, help me see Your glory in the simplest things around me where You are at work. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. ‘A Year with Jesus’ is written by Phil Ware. © 1998-2024, Heartlight, Inc. ‘A Year with Jesus‘ is part of the Heartlight Network.All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Voice™. © 2008 by Ecclesia Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.