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.
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.
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.
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.
Today’s Verse – Proverbs 3:9
Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops… —Proverbs 3:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Honoring God must come first in everything. We don’t give him the last, the least, or the leftovers. He gave us his best, most precious, and most perfect of gifts – his Son Jesus and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gifts! How could we give him anything less than our best, our first, and our most precious – our firstfruits in everything! My Prayer… Gracious God and loving Father, thank you for every good and perfect gift you have lavished upon me. Please accept the offering of my heart, which I freely give to you. Soften it and make it gracious and generous. I commit to offer you and your work in the world my first and my best. In Jesus’ name, I make this pledge in prayer. 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 14:8
If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. —Romans 14:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We are the LORD’s care. We submit our lives to him because he bought us out of bondage to sin and death and brought us into his eternal family of grace. We have voluntarily placed our lives into his hands. No matter what we do or where we go, his grace goes with us. He has promised never to leave us (Hebrews 13:5-6). He has assured us that nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:32-39). So let’s live with a sense of excited anticipation, looking to see where the LORD will lead us next. Let’s face our difficulties, trials, and even death, with the assurance that we will not face tough times alone or forever. The glory we anticipate is far greater than any of our trials (Romans 8:19). Even as we walk in the dark shadows of death, we don’t have to fear what the evil one and his minions can do to us. Our LORD is with us to guide us, protect us, and bring us home (Psalm 23:4-6). We are the LORD’s! My Prayer… Father, thank you for sending your Son to redeem me. LORD Jesus, thank you for coming to earth, paying the price for my sin, and sending the Holy Spirit to be your presence in me. Take my life and use it to your glory. May my faith never fail in the face of life’s worst challenges. I pray that as I live and when I die, that you, O LORD, will always be glorified in me. I genuinely believe that whether I live or die, I am yours, O LORD. In Jesus’ name, I rejoice in this truth. 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 – 2 Corinthians 9:7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. —2 Corinthians 9:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is working in us to conform our character and will to be like his own. God is a giver. God finds delight in generously blessing us. When we praise God for his grace, we are praising him for his gracious gift of love given to us in Jesus. He’s a giver! Now he asks us to be like him: to be generous and full of grace. Giving is not an arbitrary task imposed on us to fund our churches and ministries; instead, giving is part of our character transformation as we become more and more like God. Giving to others in need and to the work of the Kingdom is one of the most genuine ways we demonstrate our allegiance, dependence, and participation in the gracious work of God. We are most like God when we give… lovingly… cheerfully! Remember how the most famous verse in the Bible begins? “For God so loved the world that he GAVE…” Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, please forgive me for the times I have been miserly with the abundance you have shared with me. Open my heart to the richness of your generosity. Use me as a conduit of your generous blessings, bringing them to others. I know that all I have is yours. Please help me use it as you would, lovingly and generously sharing it with others. In Jesus’ name, I yearn to be gracious and generous like you, my Father. 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 – Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” —Hebrews 13:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How can we be confident in what happens today? What is our assurance for tomorrow? Where do we muster excitement about eternity? The LORD is our helper! Fear will not be our master because our future, our destiny, our eternity rest in the hands of the eternal LORD. The worst that man can do is to send us home to our LORD, who will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Nothing the evil one can do can separate us from our Father’s love (Romans 8:32-39). We say with confidence, “The Lord is our helper; we will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to us?” My Prayer… Almighty God, my Father and my helper, I place my trust in you. As the Alpha and Omega, the God who is the great I AM, I trust you for all my tomorrows and rest my dependence in you and your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name, I rely on you and praise you for your never-failing love. 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 6:5-6
If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin… —Romans 6:5-6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul reminds us that our baptism was more than just a dunking in water. In baptism, we share in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. What he did to save us, we now get to share with him in doing. We died to sin and were raised to be a new person, cleansed and made holy, empowered and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. We have been set free from the power and penalty of sin and the limits of our mortal physical bodies. This experience we had with Jesus is our physical connection, our assurance of our future spiritual glory with him! Why? Since “we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” My Prayer… Father, thank you for giving me new life in Jesus. I am truly thankful that your grace covers my guilt, makes me holy, and gives me assurance of my future. I ask for the Holy Spirit’s power to live my life in freedom from sin. Please forgive me for allowing my passion to slip into mediocrity and sin. Give me a strong sense of revulsion toward anything that would pollute my soul or distract my heart from your will. I refuse to be a slave to sin, and I choose to build my life on my promised future with you. In the name of Jesus, I thank you and recommit my life to you today. 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 – Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” —Psalm 91:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “In God we trust.” That’s the phrase written on much of the money in the United States. It’s a great reminder. The global financial climate is inherently vulnerable to instability, as it is prone to fluctuations and susceptible to chaos and political turmoil. Only God is our refuge and fortress during the storms of life – whether they be health, financial, relational, or emotional storms. He is steadfast. He is God, the forever “I AM” and LORD. He is eternal. He desires to bless us and promises to never leave us or forsake us. He has repeatedly demonstrated his love for us. He has earned our trust. So, let’s say of the LORD“He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” My Prayer… Heavenly Father, I am so thankful that I can trust my life and future with you. Mold me and use me in ways that are a blessing to others, as I make you the source of my security and strength. Please continue to make your presence known in my life, helping me to maintain my trust in you as my refuge from life’s storms and my fortress when the evil one and my adversaries attack. In Jesus’ name, O LORD, I place my trust and hope in 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.