05 Jun 2025
As we work for the Lord, let us understand who we are working for. We are serving Jehovah, the creator of the universe. He is beyond comprehension. He is mighty and gracious, loving and able. We should be proud representing Him here on earth. Psalm 104:1-15.
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. —Romans 6:3-4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Baptism is far more than getting wet or checking off another thing on our obedience to-do list. What saves us is God’s grace working through our faith that Jesus died, was buried, and was raised on the third day for us (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). God gave us the incredible grace (Romans 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus’ saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Galatians 3:26-27). We die to the old way of life and bury it in the past. Those past — now dead — deeds no longer hold us. Our death to the past with Jesus is what matters most. Raised to a new life, our life is now joined to Christ, and his future becomes our own future (Colossians 3:1-4). The life we now live is to glorify God, and our destination is to live with him forever. That means the Gospel is not just something preached; it is something we experience by grace because of our faith in what Jesus has done for us! My Prayer… Thank you, Father, for raising me from death to your new life for me in Jesus. Thank you for your grace in sending Jesus. Thank you for making Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection something I not only believe but have experienced. May my life reflect your powerful grace given to me in the saving events of Christ’s Passion. 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.
04 Jun 2025
And as we walk in God’s ways, there are others who are looking up to us. They draw inspiration from us. May we be conscious of that and depend on God to be good role models and mentors. May He guide and equip us with grace, knowledge and anointing to mentor them well. And may we be blessed as we see them come to the faith and grow. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13.
Daily Prayer for June 4
The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope. Lamentations 3:22–24, TEV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for guiding us, your children, here on earth. We thank you that whatever happens to us, we can again and again find joy because you give us what is good even when times are evil and when we go through sorrow. We thank you that your goodness and your faithfulness penetrate everything, and that at last, at long last, they penetrate our hearts. Then we can know and be glad that your Spirit guides us. We can know we are never alone but can receive strength to help us in the struggle and toil of our life. Through your help everything becomes fruitful – good and evil, life and death, health and suffering. Everything must serve you through the working of your Spirit. Amen. Recent articles on Plough What Happened at Pentecost? Eberhard Arnold What was the all-important event that took place in Jerusalem at Pentecost? Read now Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 16:3
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. —Proverbs 16:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The real question behind this promise is very simple: How do I define success for my plans? The answer is very simple as well: bringing glory to God for his grace (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Committing our works and plans to God means surrendering them to God’s will (James 4:15), trusting that Jesus will be glorified in them (Colossians 3:17), and recognizing that it is not in our power to properly guide our steps (Proverbs 16:9). God longs to bless us and empower us — not for our selfish ambition (James 3:16, 4:3), but for our eternal good and God’s glory (Romans 8:28-29). Like Jesus, when we commit our plans and works to the LORD, we are saying, “Not my will, Father, but yours be done!” When we do that and seek his glory, we will find true success! My Prayer… Father, I want your will to shape all of my plans. I want your glory to be my goal and the result of my plans. I have things that I want to do. However, if these plans are not for your glory, if these plans are not a blessing to my family or those over whom I have influence, then please defeat me in those plans and please guide me into other areas of blessing. I want you to be glorified in what I do. I want to go where your grace leads. I commit my ways, my plans, and my works to you and your glory, and trust that you will bring the proper success. 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.
03 Jun 2025
It is delightful to know God, to walk in His ways. He makes a way where there seems to be no way. He heals and delivers. He saves us from affliction. He supplies our needs. May we purpose to know Him more. Psalm 62:5-8.
Daily Prayer for June 3
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:17–18, NIV Dear Father in heaven, we thank you for all your goodness and for the peace you give us. Unite us as your people, we pray. Unite us as one people with all your children who have ever lived, as one people with all who want to serve you. The more faithfully and joyfully we are your people, the more blessing you can give. Let the material world come under your hand. Guide your children on earth. Lead us in such a way that others may be helped. When we suffer, grant us strength and understanding of your will. Protect us today and every day. Amen. Recent articles on Plough Optimizing Pigs KC McGinnis The high-efficiency logic behind concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) has gone viral in our culture. Read now In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now
Daily Prayer for June 2
Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent. Psalm 104:1–2, NIV Lord our God, our Father in heaven, with all our hearts we want to thank you for giving us joy on earth and for sending us your radiant light from heaven. We praise you for the light you give our hearts, the light that lets us find great joy together because we become one in you, one in your Spirit, one in awaiting your promised good. Grant that we may be your children. May we always find the paths where you can go with us and give us what we cannot give ourselves. May our whole life glorify you and our every breath belong to you. Through communion with you may we remain in your safekeeping in body, soul, and spirit. For all you have done and for all you will do for us, we ask you to accept our thanks. Amen. Recent articles on Plough In Praise of Daydreams Robert Wyllie In his book The Spirit of Hope, Byung-Chul Han recommends an unusual cure for the crises facing society: boredom and love. Read now Those Good Old Days Joshua Sander Nostalgia is easily conjured – and easily exploited by marketers and politicians. Thankfully, there is a way to turn it to good ends. Read now The Fly in the Honey Aldous Huxley Are emotions a trustworthy guide to God? Read now The Keys Are in It Ben Henson When people talk about rural America, they see the pickups and the politics and assume they know the whole story. Read now Old Testament Enemy Lovers Israel Steinmetz Violence, war, and genocide are found lurking in the Old Testament, but there’s another subtle thread. Read now
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:1
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? —Romans 6:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Grace doesn’t mean that we are sloppy with our sins. We have died to sin when we surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Christ. We don’t want sin, or its power, to have control over us. We don’t want to take lightly the awful cost Jesus paid to cover our sin. The apostle Paul uses the strongest language possible (“By no means!” is way too tame a translation: “God forbid!” “Unthinkable!” “Abomination!” would all be much more accurate.) As those saved by grace, we realize that sin is more than breaking a divine command. Sin is making light of Jesus’ love for us by choosing our sin over his sacrifice. Ouch! That is a startling revelation. Sin is rebelling against the Father who paid such a high price to adopt us into his family. Sin is breaking our Father’s heart because we are choosing our sin over our love for him. Finally, sin is choosing our own will rather than God’s will; a choice that leads us down a path of self-destruction. My Prayer… Father, thank you for your incomparably generous grace lavished upon me through Jesus’ death on the Cross and the salvation I have received through him. Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Please give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy. 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 – Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. —Isaiah 40:30-31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is your strength? Is it your youth? …your conditioning? …your wisdom? …your friends? …your experience? …your intellect? None of us can depend on our human ability. Health, wisdom, and wealth are all vulnerable to the fragility of life and circumstance. Only the LORD can ensure that we can survive the unthinkable, thrive in the mundane, and soar in good times. Let’s call upon, let’s wait upon, let’s depend upon the LORD and trust him to supply what we need to live for his glory! My Prayer… O LORD, thank you for sustaining me through the hard times in my life. Thank you for helping me soar, doing things for you that I never dreamed I could accomplish in the best of times. Father, thank you for blessing me during the everyday comings and goings of life. I depend upon you for help and strength. For every good thing in my life, I praise you and thank you. 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.