Today’s Verse – Matthew 22:37-39
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. —Matthew 22:37-39 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Some things are just not complicated to understand. However, that doesn’t mean putting them into practice is easy for me. Jesus was clear in what he said. Living for God can be boiled down to two principles: Loving God with everything I am and have. Loving others and treating them as I would like to be treated. Those principles are certainly not too hard to understand. It’s the living of them that is our challenge. So, let’s not just understand these two principles of love; let’s live them out in our daily lives: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. … Love your neighbor as yourself. My Prayer… Dear Father, the one true and living God, please accept the work of my hands, the words of my mouth, the moments of my rest, and the love of my heart as my worship to you this day. I pray that these are pleasing and refreshing to you as I seek to live out your two love commands in my life today. In the name of your Son, 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 – Ephesians 2:4-5
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. —Ephesians 2:4-5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is rich in mercy and generous with grace! Isn’t that wonderful for us? I don’t know about you, but I sure know I have failures, shortcomings, sins, and transgressions. Without God’s mercy, I would be lost in my sins (Romans 3:23-25). Without his grace, I would be cut off from the life God longs for me to have (Romans 5:6-11). God is rich in mercy and generous with grace! He acted on our behalf when he sent Jesus to show us his love (1 John 4:9-10). Now, because of his rich mercy and generous grace, we are dead to that old sinful self, and our lives are now tied to Jesus’ glorious future (Colossians 2:12, 3:1-4). “God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ”! My Prayer… Father of all grace and mercy, thank you. Thank you for being who you are – the Father of mercy and the God of all grace (1 Peter 3:13, 5:10)! Thank you for extending your grace when we did not deserve it. Thank you for giving mercy when we most needed it. Thank you for blessing us with life when we thought our lives were doomed and hopeless. May we be rich in mercy. May we be people of grace. We desire to be wealthy in these ways, like you, more than being rich in earthly riches that are destined to perish (Matthew 6:19-20). Help us, O LORD, to be more like you, to be rich in mercy. In the name of 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 – Romans 13:9-10
The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. —Romans 13:9-10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to have laws to keep people in line! That’s the point behind Paul’s message here. Treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated. Love them as we want to be loved. If we do that, then we’re not going to do anything that would hurt them, much less violate a command of God’s law that would hurt them. My Prayer… Loving Father, you are God who gave Moses the Law on tablets of stone. Please write your character and will on my heart (Proverbs 3:3; Jeremiah 31:33) that I might be a living testimony of your righteousness and grace toward all people. Help me to think more carefully about how my neighbors feel and what they need before I act or react to them – not just today, but every day! In the name of your Son, 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 – Proverbs 17:9
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. —Proverbs 17:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… You’ve probably heard this poisonous statement many times: “It’s just a little harmless gossip.” The Wise Teacher reminds us that gossip is neither little nor harmless. Sharing someone else’s stumble, offense, failure, or flaws separates friends and causes horrible damage. The consequences of such gossip are severe, and its damage is often lasting and devastating, especially to relationships. Instead, it is much better to be a peacemaker and an offense-mender, someone who covers over an offense with grace, forgiveness, and love. As Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). A peacemaker is one who covers over an offense and promotes love and peace. Let that be said of us! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father of Glory, I confess that I am often more a peace lover than a peacemaker. Being a peacemaker seems to be a lot harder for me. Covering over offenses feels a lot more difficult than passing on the gossip about an offense. So, please give me the character not to repeat gossip, but instead to have the wisdom and strength to be an offense-mender and an offense-coverer. Through the Prince of Peace, himself, 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 4:11-12
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. —1 John 4:11-12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Can you imagine what an honor it is to have the Creator of the universe, the LORD God Almighty, living inside of you? Yet when we love each other, that is exactly what happens. When our hearts are full of love, there is room for God, a great deal of room for God, because God is love. When they are not full of love, we leave little room for God to take up residence and produce his character in us. Let God complete his love in you: commit to doing loving things for others today, and each day that follows, until you can express your love for your Father, face-to-face in glory! My Prayer… Abba Father, I find it so comforting to know that you are not far away – that I live in you and you live in me (Colossians 3:1-4). Please help me see others with your eyes and respond to their needs with your heart so that your love may be complete in me and demonstrated in my actions. In the name of Jesus, the Servant and Savior of all, 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 3:11
This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. —1 John 3:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The original message? Love one another. The enduring message? Love one another. The most convincing message? Love one another. The most difficult message? Love one another. The clearest message? Love one another.This call to love one another reminds me of the convicting verse I once heard a preacher use about loving our brothers and sisters: To dwell above with saints we love, O that will be glory. But to dwell below with saints we know, Now that’s another story. But it’s the story we’re called to write with our lives. Love one another. It’s Jesus’ enduring message to us is clear: Love one another! My Prayer… Loving Father, I commit to you that I will intentionally show my love for your children in what I do and say. I do this trusting in your grace and the Holy Spirit to empower me to do more loving things and be more loving than I could be on my own. I want to obey my Lord’s command to love others as he did. Through Jesus, my Savior, 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 – John 13:34-35
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. —John 13:34-35 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How do you recognize Jesus’ followers? How do you find true Christians? Many people claim to be followers of Jesus, but are they really? How do we know? In the Gospel of John, Jesus gives us three ways that show we are his true disciples: we abide in his word (John 8:31-32 ESV), we bear much fruit (John 15:8), and we love one another (John 13:35). Today, we focus on our love for one another as a mark of true discipleship. Jesus said his disciples would love each other just as he loved them. In the immediate context, this kind of love is defined: like Jesus, we are willing to love and serve each other selflessly and practically – just as he washed their feet and later went to the cross while protecting them. The LORDs ministry revealed he would do almost anything to demonstrate his love for his disciples, whether extravagant, simple, or something in between. Imagine if we all followed the LORD Jesus’ example and proved ourselves his disciples by loving each other in the same way Jesus demonstrated his love to them and to us! My Prayer… Father of Compassion and God of all grace, we thank you for teaching me to love through the example and commands of Jesus. May our words and actions reflect his love toward your people today, tomorrow, and until you bring us all home to you. In the name of Christ, our Great Example and LORD, 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 – 1 Corinthians 13:6-7
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. —1 Corinthians 13:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Life as a follower of Jesus is always about love – loving God and loving others (Matthew 22:36-40), doing the things Paul lists here – not delighting in evil, rejoicing with the truth, protecting, trusting, hoping, and persevering always! Living this always loving way in a fallen world full of self-centered people is a very tough and tall order and sometimes very tough work. Only God is always. But then Christians are fueled to this always kind of love through the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that “The love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). No wonder this love, true love, Christian love, loving like Jesus is always love – it is God’s love, demonstrated by Jesus’ sacrifice, and now empowered through us by the Holy Spirit to be delivered to others by grace. My Prayer… Sweet and Glorious God on high, I humble myself before you, recognizing your boundless power to love always. I also recognize the incredible need for this always kind of love in the lives of those around me as I try to love that way with my limited capacity to love in my own strength. So, please pour your Holy Spirit into my heart and fill me with the power to love as you do: always. In Jesus’ sweet 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 Corinthians 13:4-5
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. —1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… True love does not focus on itself, but on others. Each of these qualities of love – patience, kindness, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no records of wrongs – is based on an affectionate, compassionate, and forgiving attitude that regards others as valuable to us, and to Jesus. Rather than placing value only on ourselves and our desires, we remember how Jesus lived and seek to have a heart like his (Philippians 2:5-11). This kind of love comes from the power of the Holy Spirit within us (Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:22-23). It is part of the Spirit’s transforming us into more JESUShaped people (2 Corinthians 3:18). The old saying is true: “In the middle of all SIN is a big I!” When “I” become more important than others, when what “I” want and how “I” win are more significant than what others truly need, then “I” have lost my way and do not display the love of Christ. My Prayer… Holy God and Sacrificial Father, please teach us to notice others and value them just as you do and as Jesus demonstrated while on earth. We know you loved us when we were not lovable, and redeemed us when we were not worthy. So we ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in having the heart like yours, as we take our focus off ourselves, and seek to see others as you do. In the name of Jesus, 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 – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. —1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Love! In the days leading up to Valentine’s Day, let’s remember the real meaning of true love (1 John 4:8-12) and not dilute it with the many sappy expressions of limited human love, oftentimes based in lust rather than genuine love. I am certainly not against expressing our love to others on Valentine’s Day, but it can get so sappy, sentimental, and manipulative. Without our motivations centered on why we are expressing love, all “Christian” activities are more motion and commotion than true love. True love is the expression of Christ’s sacrificial character through deeds of love offered to others without expecting anything in return (1 John 3:16-18). Let’s refuse to get lost in the annual trip down sentimentality lane. Too many of us forget the needed daily dose of love that so often gets lost in the grit of day-to-day relationships. Let’s be loving all year-round, showing ourselves to be Jesus’ true disciples (John 13:34-35). My Prayer… Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for demonstrating your love for us in Jesus. Help us to love as Jesus did – selflessly, sacrificially, and consistently – so others may know of your love through our actions and not just our words. In Jesus name, and to love as he has loved us, 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.