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.
14 Nov 2025
Life can be complex at times and we may not know what to do. It helps to know that we serve a powerful God, one who is mighty and gracious. As we seek to know His will, may we trust that He is able to take care of us. Psalm 3:1-8.
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.
13 Nov 2025
Praying is talking with God. We should praise and adore Him, confess our iniquity, and ask for forgiveness, seek His help, and listen to His direction. We should desire His presence and allow Him to minister to us. Interact with Him and trust that He hears and knows what is best for us. May He order our steps and allow us to see His glory. Psalm 91:1-16.
12 Nov 2025
The next step is to pray in line with the word of God. Let us understand that we serve a God whom we can approach and who is willing and able to help us. Let us believe that He has promised to be there for us. Hebrews 4:16.
11 Nov 2025
I am trying my best to place my burdens at the feet of the Lord. Realising that only He can change some things is an important first step in entrusting those things to Him. Let us trust that He can solve those problems. Carrying them will not help. He is able to help us. May He reveal this to us, and may we stress ourselves less about these difficult circumstances. Psalm 9:9-10.
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.
Daily Prayer for November 11
I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Exodus 20:2–4, NIV Lord our God, we come to you, the source of all being. You have said to us, “I am your God. You shall have no other gods besides me. Honor none but me, your God.” We thank you for this wonderful message. Help us to recognize you more and more, so that our hearts are full of the goodness and blessing we already have on earth, so that we hear you, the mighty One, say, “Stop, O people. Make peace. No one of you is more important than any other. Remember that I am God of all, in south and north, in west and east, on the oceans and everywhere. I am the one God, and through Jesus Christ I am now your Father.” Amen. Recent articles on Plough The Freedom to Raise Our Children John W. Huleatt, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik and William Haun What is the role of the state and what rights do parents have in the education of their children? Read now The Collective Burden of War Phil Klay and Joy Marie Clarkson Phil Klay, a US Marines veteran, talks to Joy Clarkson about going to war, honor, penance, and the burden we should all share. Read now He Died to Save Civilization? Arthur Henry Woolston A soldier’s last letters home from the muddy trenches of World War I reveal no such idealism. Read now The Only Way to Work John Ruskin If you can’t work wholeheartedly, it might be better not to work at all. Read now A Story for the Making Joe Knight What’s the good of a family legacy if we fail to pass it on to our children? Read now
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.
10 Nov 2025
There may be times when we are exhausted, when we have no energy to face the day. May the words of Paslm 69:30-31 remind us the importance of gratitude. We are alive, we have breath, we have health. There is reason to be grateful.