Today’s Verse – Luke 5:27
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. —Luke 5:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… After capturing the hearts of the crowd, Jesus now calls another disciple, Levi — also known as Matthew. Two things are significant about this calling. Jesus called someone no other religious leader would have chosen, a tax collector and Roman sympathizer — to any Jew of Jesus’ era, Matthew would have seemed very much like a traitor to his heritage and to his faith. Levi, this tax collector, followed Jesus, leaving behind his livelihood and his fortune. Jesus’ call of Matthew and Matthew’s definitive and immediate response to follow Jesus provide us a powerful reminder that we should write off no one as unreachable with the Gospel or unusable by our LORD. My Prayer… Father of all people, help us recognize the people you place in our paths today who are ready to know more about Jesus. Please give us the wisdom and the awareness to know when and how to speak with them about our Savior. We also ask, dear Father, for you to forgive us for the times we have come to a snap judgment about the unworthiness of some people who seem least likely to become disciples. We know that Jesus came to seek and save all who are lost, so please use the Holy Spirit to fashion our hearts to reflect the heart of our LORD and Savior, in whose 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 – Luke 5:26
Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” —Luke 5:26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus forgave a man who was lame and then showed he had the authority to forgive by healing him. As exciting and vital as this healing was, the most important thing was the reaction of those who witnessed it; they praised God out of amazement and awe. They recognized that Jesus had come to minister as God’s very presence. When we understand who Jesus is and what he has done and will continue to do for us, we must do the same thing today — offer our praises with amazement and awe. My Prayer… Almighty God and Heavenly Father, I glorify your name and thank you for the grace you so lavishly poured out on me through your Son and my Savior, Jesus, in whose name I offer this praise out of a heart filled with amazement and awe. 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 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. —John 5:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Aren’t you glad that not even death can stop us from hearing Jesus’ promised word to us: “RISE!”? We will hear his voice and live with him forever. Like Lazarus, we will come out of the grave and be free (John 11:32-44). Like the little girl Jesus took by the hand raised from the dead (Mark 5:35-42), we too will rise to life. Unlike Lazarus and the little girl, we will be free of death forever, alive to share in the LORD’s presence and glory! Such hope lifts my spirit as I await our LORD’s coming; how about you? My Prayer… Thank you, Almighty God, that Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated your power to destroy death. I have confidence in your Son’s promises to return, to raise me from the dead if I die before his return, and to take me home to be with you. In the Savior’s name and authority, 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 – Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. —Galatians 5:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we became Christians, we died to the old person of sin and were raised up a new person. In baptism, we shared with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-14) so that we can share in his victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell. Our lives are now securely joined to Jesus and his future glory (Colossians 2:12-15, 3:1-4). While we have battles with temptation and face trials in this world, we also now have the power of the resurrection and the Holy Spirit at work within us to help us overcome them (John 16:33) — to keep the old, dead, and sinful person buried as the new person awaits the arrival of our LORD and King, Jesus! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Righteous Father, help me keep the dead and cast-away sin of my past far away from my heart and out of my life. May my life be a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to you. I ask for the Holy Spirit to fill me with confident hope, knowing that in Jesus, I can overcome the trials and temptations of this world. In the name of my Savior, 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 – 1 Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. —1 Thessalonians 5:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We have chosen our verses for this year to reflect the date. Today is May 23, so we found a passage that was from chapter 5 and verse 23, or 5:23. This way of choosing our “Verse of the Day” challenges us and blesses us to find verses we might otherwise overlook. “Today’s Verse” is a blessing from the apostle Paul that we do not want to overlook! We know that true righteousness and holiness are perfectly possessed by only God. Amazingly, God uses his Spirit to make those qualities a growing reality in our lives when we yield to his leadership. Yesterday, we committed to let the Spirit work on maturing us in our weakest areas. Let’s take an extra five or ten minutes sometime today, open God’s Word, and read several passages of Scripture that apply to the character qualities we want to acquire — 2 Peter 1:2-11 is an excellent passage to help us. Let’s ask God’s Spirit to grow us in these areas to be more like Christ! My Prayer… Dear Father, may Jesus come soon with grace and glory! May I be found blameless on that day, beloved Father, not by my power and effort but because of your transforming power at work within me. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. 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 – Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. —Galatians 5:22-23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Where the Holy Spirit’s influence thrives, our human character is transformed, and we display spiritual fruit. This maturity isn’t developed overnight. It is, however, noticeable over the long haul of life when a person pursues Jesus and reflects the LORD’s righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful lovingkindness. So, what fruit does the Spirit bring alive in your life? In what ways have you matured to become more like Christ? In what areas do you want the Spirit to exercise greater control? Why not take a moment and consciously yield those areas in which you struggle to the LORD as we pray? My Prayer… Almighty and ever-present Father, we thank you for empowering positive changes in our lives as we seek to be more like Jesus. Please bring the fruit of the Holy Spirit to full maturity in our lives. You know where we continue to struggle with sin. We intentionally turn over those parts of our lives to your Spirit to redeem and fully sanctify us so the Spirit will continue to transform us to be more like our Savior. In his 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 – James 5:20
[R]emember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. —James 5:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When someone wanders from God’s path, let’s not take their rebellion frivolously. God has given us the tremendous blessing of carrying on the work of our Savior, Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost (Mark 10:45; Luke 10:10). Jesus calls us to help the wayward return home to the Savior and go find those who are lost and return them to the Savior (Matthew 18:10-14; Luke 15:1-32). My Prayer… Gracious Father, please be with those I love who are living in rebellion against you. Use me to be your agent of restoration to bring them home to you and help them discover your grace, mercy, and forgiveness. 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 – Mark 5:19
Jesus did not let [the man from whom he had cast out a legion of demons] come with him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” —Mark 5:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Amazingly, Jesus had given this formerly demonized man his life back. The Lord had powerfully delivered this formerly uncontrollable man from the power of Satan, demons, and the grave. How will this newly liberated man use the Lord’s grace? He will tell those in his family what the LORD had done for him. Apparently, the man obeyed Jesus because many people were waiting for Jesus the next time the Lord came to this area! Should each of us share with our friends and family what the Lord has done in us, for us, and through us? YES! My Prayer… Father, bless me as I seek to share my faith and your salvation with those in my family and among my friends who have not yet called on Jesus as LORD and have not yet surrendered their lives to him. Help me not to push them farther away, but instead, help them see all the ways you have blessed my life. 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.
Pentecost!
Note from Jesus Dear Disciple, A new era began after My resurrection. On the day of Pentecost, I poured out the Holy Spirit first on My closest disciples. Then I poured out the Holy Spirit upon all those who responded to their message (Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:3-5). The pouring out of the Spirit upon My disciples was done loudly and with no small disturbance. The apostles spoke about Me. People from many countries heard the message in their own languages. Yes, there were some skeptics — as there always are. Undeniably, something dramatic was happening. The words spoken by Peter and the apostles were powerful, but there was something more than convincing words touching the hearts of the people. My life, death, and resurrection were proclaimed. Conviction swept through the crowd like wildfire. Their yearning hearts cried out for relief from their rejection of the Messiah, their Lord and Savior — Me. Peter let the crowd at Pentecost know that the same Spirit Who propelled this message past their defenses and brought conviction to their hearts was now available to them if they repented and were baptized. And many were immersed that day based on their faith in Me and turning their lives around to follow Me! Luke, the writer of Acts, described it this way: Whoever made a place for his [Peter’s] message in their hearts received the baptism; in fact, that day alone, about 3,000 people joined the disciples. The movement of the Spirit in My disciples had begun and would sweep across the Mediterranean area in about thirty years. And you, My dear disciple, are a part of that movement that began at Pentecost. You are part of a movement centered on My death, burial, and resurrection. This gospel is proclaimed by people filled with the Holy Spirit. These people are built into a spiritual family that reflects my righteous character and gracious compassion. You can see that Luke emphasized all of this in his telling of the Pentecost story. Please know that I long to do in your day what happened in that time long ago. Come! Believe! Ask for the Spirit’s power to be at work in you, among your spiritual family, and with your efforts to bring the kingdom of God to the lost world around you. Verses to Live These verses talk about the birth of the new era of the Holy Spirit. Read through them a couple of times and then ask yourself if you have responded to the call of My gospel the way those early disciples did. Then open yourself to the work of the Holy Spirit in your day. I long to reanimate My people with grace and power. Don’t let the power of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, be dead in your day! When the holy day of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover, they [the disciples] were gathered together in one place. Picture yourself among the disciples: A sound roars from the sky without warning, the roar of a violent wind, and the whole house where you are gathered reverberates with the sound. Then a flame appears, dividing into smaller flames and spreading from one person to the next. All the people present are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in languages they’ve never spoken, as the Spirit empowers them. Because of the holy festival, there are devout Jews staying as pilgrims in Jerusalem from every nation under the sun. They hear the sound, and a crowd gathers. They are amazed because each of them can hear the group speaking in their native languages. They are shocked and amazed by this. Pilgrims: Just a minute. Aren’t all of these people Galileans? How in the world do we all hear our native languages being spoken? Look — there are Parthians here, and Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians, and Judeans, residents of Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygians and Pamphylians, Egyptians and Libyans from Cyrene, Romans including both Jews by birth and converts, Cretans, and Arabs. We’re each, in our own languages, hearing these people talk about God’s powerful deeds. Their amazement becomes confusion as they wonder: Pilgrims: What does this mean? Skeptics: It doesn’t mean anything. They’re all drunk on some fresh wine! As the twelve stood together, Peter shouted to the crowd: Peter: Men of Judea and all who are staying here in Jerusalem, listen. I want you to understand: these people aren’t drunk as you may think. Look, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! No, this isn’t drunkenness; this is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. Hear what God says! In the last days, I will offer My Spirit to humanity as a libation. Your children will boldly speak the word of the Lord. Young warriors will see visions, and your elders will dream dreams. Yes, in those days I shall offer My Spirit to all servants, both male and female, and they will boldly speak My word. … Everyone in Israel should now realize with certainty what God has done: God has made Jesus both Lord and Anointed King — this same Jesus Whom you crucified. When the people heard this, their hearts were pierced; and they said to Peter and his fellow apostles: Pilgrims: Our brothers, what should we do? Peter: Reconsider your lives; change your direction. Participate in the ceremonial washing of baptism in the name of Jesus God’s Anointed, the Liberating King. Then your sins will be forgiven, and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be yours. For the promise of the Spirit is for you, for your children, for all people — even those considered outsiders and outcasts — the Lord our God invites everyone to come to Him. Peter was pleading and offering many logical reasons to believe. Whoever made a place for his message in their hearts received the baptism; in fact, that day alone, about 3,000 people joined the disciples. (Acts 2:1-18; Acts 2:36-41) Response in Prayer Almighty God, do in our day what we heard
Today’s Verse – Luke 5:18
Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. —Luke 5:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is the best example of someone being a friend you have seen? The Bible offers numerous definitions and examples. One of my favorite examples is this story of the paralyzed man whose friends went to great extremes to get him to Jesus. When the crowd blocked their way to the Lord, they became creative and dug a hole in the roof to let their friend down to Jesus! Their faith and their effort to get him to Jesus ultimately resulted in the man’s forgiveness and healing. I don’t know about you, but that’s the kind of friend I want to be — someone who will do anything to bring friends to Jesus to be blessed by him! My Prayer… Holy Father, please bless me as I try to lead my friends and acquaintances (speak the names of several non-Christian friends here) to Jesus. I want them to experience Jesus’ saving power, loving grace, complete healing, and ultimate deliverance in Jesus. Please give me the tenacity and tact to do this with “gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15), never losing my sense of urgency to see them come to Christ. In Jesus’ name, I ask for wisdom and urgency as I try to share Jesus. 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.