Today’s Verse – 1 Timothy 6:9
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. —1 Timothy 6:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This is not a message for folks who are already financially rich. No, this is for all of us who WANT to have that wealth. Craving it, coveting it, and going in pursuit of earthly wealth exposes us to many grave dangers. In a world so prodded and lured by advertising and social media messages that lead us to want all we see, we must remember, “You shall not covet…” is still one of God’s Ten Commandments. Jesus reminded us of the positive command to help prevent this coveting: “Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father, for your many blessings. Please help me to be satisfied and generous with the blessings you have already given me. Please help me keep my focus on you and your Son and allow you to make me a conduit of your blessings to others! I pray in the name of your Son and my Savior, 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.
Today’s Verse – Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. —Genesis 6:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This statement reminds me of what God told Jesus at his baptism — “… in you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22). Even in the middle of a culture steeped in sin when Noah lived, Noah was blessedly different! God found Noah’s heart loyal to him and suitable for Noah and his family to be a blessing and to provide the world with a future. Living with righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithfulness to God is hard in a world in rebellion to him and his ways. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” May the same be said of each of us in our day as we live for God in a world so devoid of his light. Let’s be that light in our jobs, schools, neighborhoods, friendships, and recreation. Can you imagine the difference we would ultimately make if each of us decided to be like Noah? My Prayer… Loving Shepherd and Holy God, please bless me as I seek to passionately live a life that pleases you and brings you joy. Please use me and my church family to make a difference in the world for good. In the name of the LORD 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 – Galatians 6:7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. —Galatians 6:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We’re not going to fool God. We will not escape a fundamental principle on which our world works. While we might put up a facade for others, God knows our hearts. What our hearts invest in our lives will ultimately display. We reap what we sow! So, if we spend our wealth, time, and interest in other things for ourselves and only give God the crumbs, we need to know that we will not reap a bounteous spiritual harvest. What we do to others is equally vital in sowing what is good. We must love our neighbors as we love ourselves, doing good to them because each person matters to God, and each should matter to us. Let’s sow the seed that God loves so we can harvest what blesses us and those around us! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O LORD God Almighty, who sees all things and knows all hearts, please give me the wisdom to see the people in whom I need to invest myself and help them find your grace. Help me, O LORD, to seize the opportunities you place before me to do good to others and sow love and grace into their lives. I ask for this help, in Jesus’ name, and to honor Jesus as I serve others. 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.
07 Jun 2024
And even as we trust God for a breakthrough, may we serve Him. We will be busy and that will keep us positively occupied while we are having impact. Matthew 4:18-22.
Today’s Verse – Matthew 6:6
[Jesus taught his disciples, “When] you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” —Matthew 6:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Prayer is an incredible invitation from God to share what is on our hearts with him. Even when we don’t have words, he helps us through his Spirit in those moments to assure us that we are heard fully (Romans 8:26-27). This incredibly intimate conversation, sustained by the precious and powerful Spirit of God within us, must never be debased by crass showmanship or pride (Matthew 6:5). Prayer is not done to prove our holiness to others but to deepen our relationship with Almighty God and reassure our hearts that our Father hears us and cares about us — our dreams and hopes as well as our struggles and concerns! My Prayer… Abba Father, thank you so much for the incredible gift of prayer. Thank you for listening to both my words and my heart. Thank you for being near and not far off. Thank you for blessing me with the Holy Spirit within me to intercede for me when I can’t quite find the words to say. Please forgive me when I don’t call upon you as often as I should or when I take your gracious listening ear for granted. In Jesus’ name, I am humbled and blessed when I pray with 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.
06 Jun 2024
May we not lose hope, even when things look bleak. May we understand the season we are in and learn the lessons the Lord wants us to learn. May the Lord still be gracious to us even in our darkest moments and may we see His deliverance. Habakkuk 3:17-19.
Today’s Verse – Romans 6:5
If we have been united with [Christ] like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. —Romans 6:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… So, here’s the great news: if we have died with Christ through faith and baptism, we’ve already died the one death that really matters. Our lives are joined with Jesus’ life, so we can be confident that we will share in the LORD’s glory when he returns (Colossians 3:1-4). Even death cannot separate us from Jesus’ presence in our lives (Romans 8:35-39) because we have been given the victory over death through Christ Jesus our LORD (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). We do not have to fear the future judgment or the second death because we have already passed over from death into life (John 5:24). As Paul so confidently states, “We will certainly also be united with [Jesus] in his resurrection”! My Prayer… Paul exclaimed with a prayer we can repeat: “Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our LORD!” Thanks be to God for this gift too wonderful for words to describe or our mortal lives to limit! Amen, and hallelujah! (Romans 7:24-25) 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.
05 Jun 2024
Because of his experience with God, David gives on advice on how to live and the benefits of doing so. May our lives bear witness of God’s faithfulness and may we be like epistles that others read and watch, and are then convicted of God’s love and mercy. Psalm 34:8-22.
Today’s Verse – Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. —Ephesians 6:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… In Malachi 4:6, God promised that fathers and children in God’s coming Kingdom would be reunited in heart. Let’s make that real in our homes today by nurturing and correcting our children, using a balance of nurture and correction. Let’s not make our faith so full of rules and restrictions that it becomes impossible for our children to obey or hear that they are our beloved children, with whom we are well pleased! Let’s not grant so much freedom, however, that our children feel neglected and uncertain about how to live in today’s morally chaotic world. Let’s turn our hearts toward them and pray for God to turn children’s hearts toward their homes with us and our Father in heaven! My Prayer… O LORD God Almighty, Abba Father, our land lies under a curse because many Fathers have spiritually and physically abandoned their children. Please raise up parents, especially fathers, daddies, who will balance the challenging tasks of love, nurture, and correction and heal our families so our children may know your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, we beg you to help our fathers. 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 2024
In Psalm 34:6-7, we see an expression of David’s faith in God. He was confident in God because He had seen God’s faithfulness before. May the Lord deliver us over and over again and may that build our faith in Him.