Today’s Verse – 1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. —1 Peter 4:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God gave us gifts to use in his Kingdom at least for two primary reasons: To bring glory to God. To bless others. Whether we serve or speak, we are to do so with these two goals in mind, knowing that God will supply the strength to do what he has gifted us to do. All glory for what we do and say that brings others God’s blessing belongs to the gracious Giver of these good gifts! My Prayer… Holy Father, thank you for saving me and giving me the abilities and gifts to bless your people and honor you. Help me find the ways you want me to use these gifts and abilities. I ask that you display the goodness and grace of Jesus through me as I use them. O, dear Father, I yearn to be a conduit of your gracious blessings. 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 – 1 John 4:10
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. —1 John 4:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Love is demonstrated, not just communicated verbally. When the Scriptures tell us that God loves us, they always show God’s actions that demonstrate that love. Here, John wants us to realize that God’s love goes first. God demonstrates and shares his love with us before we demonstrate our love for him. He doesn’t wait till it is safe to love us. He doesn’t wait until he will get something in return. Instead, he goes first and defines his love in this way so that we can know that genuine love redeems when all hope seems lost — when we are not worthy, and when we are not ready. God is love, and we know this because of what his love does, had done, and will give to us even before we choose to love him. My Prayer… Thank you, dear Heavenly Father, for loving me so extravagantly. Please help me see the opportunities to love others you place in my path every day. Use me, please, dear Father, to demonstrate your love to someone today and the following days of my life. Help me go first with love in 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.
Today’s Verse – Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. —Philippians 4:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I don’t know about you, but I genuinely hope my life reflects what I say and teach. What a great statement to be able to make to those we lead, whether in the classroom, with our families, while at work, or serving in the church: Put into practice the actions you have seen in my life and heard me instruct you to do. Wow. Paul’s statement shows great confidence in how he has lived his life as an investment in living a holy life in partnership with others. Paul’s example in saying these words becomes a good definition of good leaders: Do what they say because they back it up with the character and quality of their lives to show it is true! My Prayer… Almighty and Most High God, please bless me with the integrity that comes when my convictions, words, and actions are consistent and righteous as I live in genuine partnership with others. 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 – James 4:7-8
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. —James 4:7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… James always packs a lot of truth into short messages. Let’s focus on the center of this call to holiness: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. … Come near to God…” Let’s draw our hearts closer to God. When we come into God’s presence and draw close to him, we know our thoughts, motives, and behaviors will be seen for what they are in the light of his holiness, righteousness, and grace. At the same time, we know that the devil is forced out of our presence by the radiance of our Father’s holy and righteous character. Let’s seek God — his righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful love and justice. Let’s draw near to God, yearning to be in his presence so we can be more like him in our daily lives. Let’s ask God to cleanse us, make us holy, and wholly his! My Prayer… Righteous Father, thank you for your love and forgiveness. Now, dear Father, help me as I yearn to draw closer to you, know you better, and reflect you more fully in my daily life. Purify my heart of any duplicity or secret sin. Cleanse my conscience and empower me to exemplify your grace and holiness. 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 – 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. —1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The call to holiness is easy to ignore in a world that lives by very different standards than God’s will revealed in the Scriptures. Satan gets us to compare our lifestyle with those around us, deluding us into devaluing our sins. However, the issue is not comparing our sins with others. The goal is to have a thankful heart, cleansed through Jesus’ work, being made holy more and more each day through the work of the Holy Spirit, and all because of God’s grace. Ignoring or toning down the Spirit’s call for our holiness is rejecting God, demeaning grace, and making light of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Let’s be passionate about holiness in our lives because it is what God wants and what we should seek if our hearts recognize the gracious love God has given us in Jesus. My Prayer… Father, forgive us for trying to water down the significance of our sins and how they hurt your heart and displease you. We invite the Holy Spirit to kindle your passion for holiness in our hearts as the Spirit empowers us to live holy lives that honor you for all you have done to save me. 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 – Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. —Galatians 4:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The first vocalizations of many babies are the syllables “ab-ba, ab-ba, ab-ba.” Not surprisingly, in Jesus’ day, abba was the tender name babies used for their physical fathers. When God saved us, he gave us his Spirit. The Holy Spirit blesses us in many ways. One of the key blessings is the Spirit’s work with us in prayer. He intercedes for us when words can’t express the emotions we have inside us (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit helps us approach God with familiarity, dependency, and respect as we call God our Abba Father. My Prayer… Thank you, Abba Father, for loving us, saving us, and inviting us into your family. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping us share our thoughts, words, and emotions with the Father when words won’t do — they are simply inadequate to express our emotions inside of us. Thank you, dear Abba Father, for giving us the power to be what you want us to be. Thank you, Jesus, for the Holy Spirit at work in me, validating me as God’s beloved child. In Jesus’ name, I thank and praise 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 – Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. —Colossians 4:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus warned us that we will answer to God for every idle word we share with others (Matthew 12:36-37). In our time when social media echoes with mean-spirited, ugly, and divisive words, we must hear the LORD’s warning about choosing our words carefully. Paul also challenged us to be vigilant about what we say and how we say it. The apostle emphasized how significant our influence can be on those who don’t know Christ. We want to seize every opportunity to open the hearts of unbelievers to Jesus. We must show kindness, demonstrate care, and exercise control in how we use our speech — to outsiders and our brothers and sisters in Christ. The eternal destiny of outsiders often rests on our conversations and actions with them. Let’s season our speech with care, using gracious speech and kind words. Let’s take advantage of every opportunity we have to open the hearts of others to the grace of Jesus! The following ToGather video was originally used on Sunday, April 5, 2020, during social distancing restrictions on our larger gatherings. We hope this ToGather video is an added blessing for you today. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Holy and Righteous God, I know we sometimes break your heart when we, your people, wound and drive unbelievers away with thoughtless and insensitive talk and unkind posts on social media. Please help me as I seek to display a winsome attitude with all people, especially toward those who do not yet know Jesus as their LORD and Savior. Use my life and my words to open people’s hearts to Jesus. In his 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 – Galatians 4:4
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. —Galatians 4:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wow! What a rich passage loaded with many wonderfully challenging ideas. God made history ready for the Savior, then sent his Son as that Savior. God’s Son then dealt with all the difficulties of the law, the religious politics, and the frailties of mortality. Our Father bought our freedom at the terrible cost of his Son’s crucifixion on a cross in front of a jeering mob jealous of his Son’s popularity and afraid of his power. God allowed this so he could raise Jesus from the dead, and you and I could become his honored children, entitled with the Son to the Father’s full inheritance (Romans 8:17). Paul is not being prejudiced or sexist in saying that we are given the rights of sons because in his day, daughters often didn’t have any rights of inheritance. So, he is saying everyone — men and women — have the full rights of an honored son. God’s perfectly timed plan and perfect Son led to the Father’s perfect sacrifice that paid our ransom from sin and death, bringing us salvation and the assurance of glory in the future. My Prayer… Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all the pain it caused you to send Jesus and to see him persecuted, ridiculed, and crucified. Thank you for redeeming me from my sinful condition, for buying me out of the death that would have been the consequence of my sins, and for giving me the gift of freedom in Christ and the assurance that I will receive the full inheritance of your honored Son. To you belongs all glory, honor, and praise for your marvelous grace. 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.
A Brief Look Back
Note from Jesus Dear Child of God, What drew you to follow Me? What called your heart to open up to Me? What convinced you that We — Father, Son, and Spirit — deeply love you and want you as part of Our family? During the last week before My crucifixion, Philip and Andrew brought some Greeks (non-Jews) to Me. They had come to worship at the Passover festival and wanted to see Me. The coming of non-Jews seeking to meet Me and learn about Me was a huge confirmation in My heart that the time had come for Me to go to the cross. You see, My death on the cross was for all people. It was one of the Father’s ways of drawing the hearts of all people to Him so they could know His love for them (John 12:32-33). For Me, going to the cross was the ultimate way to glorify the Father. In going to the cross, the Father exercised His power to reach out to Jews and non-Jews — including you today, whatever your racial identity. My cross called to the hearts of all those seeking for something more to life than what they had found — those seeking to know the one true God. As an instrument of execution, the cross was brutal, gross, morbid, and ghastly. While crucifixion was an excruciating death, the primary intention was to execute a person in as humiliating a way as possible. Crucifixion was intended to be a deterrent aimed at all those aligned with or sympathetic to the person crucified. For Me, as a Jew, crucifixion also carried another significant consequence: the person hung on a cross — sometimes called a pole or tree — was considered cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). The apostle Paul would pick up on this theme and speak great truth about the cross when he said the following: The Anointed One [Christ], the Liberating King, has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. It was stated in the Scriptures, “Everyone who hangs on a tree is cursed by God.” (Galatians 3:13) My resurrection reversed the whole meaning of My execution on the cross. All of the shame, humiliation, pain, mockery, and rejection that I endured during My trial and crucifixion was turned into blessing — forgiveness, redemption, ransom, and salvation. I endured the worst aspects of humanity and hell to redeem you from them. And My salvation isn’t just for any one race or nation or people, but for all who find themselves drawn to My sacrifice, My love, and My grace. My body was planted like a seed in the ground. It lay there dead to life. Then the power of grace renewed My life, and I rose a victor over sin, death, and hell. Now, on your side of the resurrection, millions upon millions have accepted My offer of salvation, forgiveness, and grace. What I appeared to have lost in humiliation is now given back many times over. Such is the power of the resurrection and of My love, the love of your Savior. On top of all the blessings that stream from the mercy and grace of the cross and the empty tomb, remember this: this resurrection power is available to you to help you as you live for Me (Ephesians 1:17-20). My resurrection from death’s hold changes everything for you… even in the middle of the week, on a normal Thursday, that seems so far away from resurrection Sunday. I was lifted up from the earth so that you could be lifted up to share with Me in resurrected glory (Colossians 3:1-3). So blessings to you this Thursday as you live for Me by resurrection power from the Holy Spirit! Verses to Live So here is a brief look back as I was headed to the cross. After you read this, I hope you will remember the short little parable of the grain of wheat included in the following verses. Because of the resurrection power at work in you, when you offer yourself to Me and the work of the kingdom, your sacrifices and efforts are multiplied by grace to touch more hearts. That is the power of My cross and the empty tomb… even on a seemingly unimportant Thursday — a day to plant seeds and share in the future harvest of grace! Pharisees (to one another): Our efforts to squelch Him [Jesus] have not worked, but now is not the time for action. Look, the world is following after Him. Among the crowds traveling to Jerusalem were Greeks seeking to follow God and worship at the great feast. Some of them came to Philip with an important request. Greek Pilgrims (to Philip): Sir, we are hoping to meet Jesus. Philip, a disciple from the Galilean village of Bethsaida, told Andrew that these Greeks wanted to see Jesus. Together Andrew and Philip approached Jesus to inform Him about the request. Jesus (to Philip and Andrew): The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth: unless a grain of wheat is planted in the ground and dies, it remains a solitary seed. But when it is planted, it produces in death a great harvest. The one who loves this life will lose it, and the one who despises it in this world will have life forevermore. Anyone who serves Me must follow My path; anyone who serves Me will want to be where I am, and he will be honored by the Father. My spirit is low and unsettled. How can I ask the Father to save Me from this hour? This hour is the purpose for which I have come into the world. But what I can say is this: “Father, glorify Your name!” Suddenly a voice echoed from the heavens. The Father: I have glorified My name. And again I will bring glory in this hour that will resound throughout
Today’s Verse – 1 Thessalonians 4:3
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality… —1 Thessalonians 4:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sanctified sounds “churchy” and old-fashioned to many people today. However, sanctified is a powerful God-fashioned word that means to make someone or something special, holy, reserved, and prepared for God’s use and glory, something or someone that is not common. We are called to be an uncommon people, holy, and set apart for God (1 Peter 2:9-10). This is especially true regarding sexual immorality, something pervasive in the culture of the early church and today. We’re to stay far away from it, glorifying and honoring God with our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18-20) while celebrating God’s plan for joyful sexual fulfillment in marriage (Proverbs 5; 1 Corinthians 7:1-7). My Prayer… Father God, please protect and empower us as we seek to resist sexual temptation in our sexually charged culture. We consciously offer ourselves and our bodies to you as holy sacrifices, seeking to glorify, honor, and please you in how we use our bodies. In Jesus’ name, each of us longs to worship you with all our heart, mind, speech, and physical strength. 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.