Today’s Verse – Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. —Galatians 5:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Have you ever noticed how we get to fussing and fighting about things that we think are significant, but in reality, these issues don’t pertain to the central matters of our faith? Too often, we fuss and fight over tangential issues and lose the most essential thing to Jesus — our love for each other. In the first century, this fight often involved Jew/Gentile issues — racial and cultural practices and prejudices. While race, culture, and heritage are important, what is most important is showing the world that we can value cultural and racial diversity in each other and still find our unity in Christ. In today’s high-tech and AI-focused world, isn’t it interesting that the essential human issue is the same as it was two thousand years ago — faith displaying itself in loving action? My Prayer… Dear LORD, please help us tear down every wall that divides and separates your people. Forgive us, for our prejudice toward and against each other can dissolve in your grace. Stir a deep yearning in our hearts to share the unity of heaven* in our world today. In the name of Jesus, the atoning sacrifice for all the peoples of the world, I ask this. Amen. * Notice the unity of heaven, where folks from every nation, tribe, people, and language worship together in joyous praise (Revelation 7:9-12). 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 – Philippians 1:3
I thank my God every time I remember you. —Philippians 1:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Certain people are such special blessings. It doesn’t matter if we visit with them on the phone, receive an encouraging email, receive a handwritten letter, or see them face to face. Any time we remember these kinds of people, we thank God for them. So, let’s follow Paul’s example and let them know they give us reasons to give thanks! I thank my God every time I remember you. Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Loving LORD, thank you for the following precious people you have brought into my life… (Place the names of several people who have blessed your life here). They have blessed my life and done it in so many ways. Please bless their lives with your grace, power, and Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I thank you for these precious people. 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 4:20
If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. —1 John 4:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Singing “O how I love Jesus!” and “I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul rejoice…” sounds great. However, Jesus responds to us singing these words by asking us a simple and clear question: How well are you doing with loving your brothers and sisters? We can’t love God, we can’t appreciate Jesus, and we can’t be filled with the Holy Spirit if we won’t love those around us. My Prayer… Forgive me, dear Father, for the times I have harbored pettiness in my heart or been unforgiving to those who needed my grace. I recognize that when I am unloving to my brothers and sisters in Christ or even unloving to my neighbors, I am unloving to you. Please bless me as I work to reconcile some recent unresolved Christian relationships, remove long-held bitterness, and offered genuine love toward those who have wounded me. Help these mended friendships bring glory to you and vitality to your Church. 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 – 1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us. —1 John 4:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As human beings, we like to think of ourselves as the center of our universe. We determine the greatness or validity of most things around us based on their impact on us. Some of us even consider ourselves great adventurers, inventors, and investigators. However, in our most important quest, we did not act first; God did. He loved us sacrificially. He loved us personally. God loved us first. Our love is a response to his grace of going first with love. Our love is simply sharing with others what has been lavished upon us. We love because he loved us first. My Prayer… Almighty God and Abba Father, I know that I don’t fully understand the fullness of your love, but I know that you have blessed me with it in ways I could not have imagined. So please, dear Father, help me remember your great love for me when I am faced with temptation, led to doubt your grace, or wonder about my worthiness. I want your love to be reflected in my daily life. Thank you for loving me so completely. Thank you for loving me sacrificially. Thank you for loving me when I was a sinner and alienated from you. Most of all, thanks for loving first! In Jesus’ name, I praise 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 – 1 John 4:17
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. —1 John 4:17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we live lovingly toward others as Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death our Savior did. We can place our spirits in the hands of God. We can trust our future to his grace. We don’t have to worry about standing before God in judgment. However, our confidence is not in our personal achievements, religious efforts, or good deeds. Our confidence on the day of judgment is based on the work of our Savior and being joined to him and safeguarded with him in glory (Colossians 2:12-15; 3:1-4). His love has not only redeemed us from sin; it has changed us to trust him and live in his love. His love is not only a gift to us but also given through us. We can be confident because we know that Jesus’ life is present in us until we stand with him in the presence of our Father. My Prayer… Holy Father, thank you for the power to love others. Thank you for the confidence your love gives me. You have done so much to save me. Thank you for your loving grace and my confidence in Jesus, in whose 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 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. —1 John 4:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We can rely on God’s love because he demonstrated it by sending Jesus to save us (John 3:16-17). The Father wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reached us when God saved us. We experience God’s love when he extends it through us to others who need it. His love is redemptive and manifest — shown through our loving behaviors toward others. His presence is demonstrated and experienced through our loving attitudes, words, and deeds expressed to our brothers and sisters in Christ, our neighbors, and even our enemies. As we share God’s love with others, his love blesses us as we experience the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit, making their home in us (John 14:21, 23, 25). My Prayer… Father in heaven, I rely on your love. I cannot imagine my life without it; I would be lost entirely. However, I know you love me, Father. I am confident about my future because of that love. I am full of joy as I stand on tiptoe in my heart, looking over my life’s horizon to the time I experience your love in its full glory at Jesus’ coming and I see you face-to-face. Thank you for loving me. In Jesus’ name, I thank and praise 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 – 1 John 4:15
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. —1 John 4:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “Jesus is the Son of God.” Six simple words. However, they are much more than simple words when we believe them! They are the doorway that opens our hearts to God. So, today, as you confess Jesus as God’s Son, consciously and intentionally welcome God into your heart. He longs to live with you and in you. And as you pursue Jesus by knowing more about him, the Holy Spirit is at work transforming you to become like your LORD (2 Corinthians 3:18). As you listen to Jesus and obey him, he promises us that he and the Father will join the Holy Spirit (our Comforter and helper) and make their home in us (John 14:21, 23, 26) because we have confessed the Son and are seeking to live for him! My Prayer… Father, I want to live my life in and center my heart on your Son. I gladly confess that Jesus is the Son of God. He is also my LORD and my Savior. I praise and thank you in the name of Jesus Christ, trusting in the intercession of the Holy Spirit who lives in me. 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 4:13
We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. —1 John 4:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Our sign of authenticity, showing we are truly God’s children, is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit helps bring forth the character of God in our lives (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit helps us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (Romans 8:13) and gives us the strength to do things we never imagined possible (Ephesians 3:20-21). The Spirit comforts us in our brokenness and makes God’s presence real in us (John 14:15-26). The Spirit continually pours God’s love into our hearts (Romans 8:5). The Spirit is the most accurate sign that we are God’s children (Romans 8:9) because the Spirit helps us display what helps others know that we are God’s children — our love for each other (John 13:34-35). Thank God for the blessed Holy Spirit! [As God’s children, the Holy Spirit does many other vital things in our lives. Check out God’s Holy Fire, our free daily devotional on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, available online and by email.] Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, I praise you for your holiness, majesty, and power. I thank you for your loving grace. I am humbled by your sacrificial love that has saved me. But today, dear Father, I thank you most for your Holy Spirit, who lives in me and empowers, cleanses, and comforts me as the Spirit makes your fatherhood accessible and real to me. Thank you, in the name of Jesus, from the bottom of my heart, for the gift of the Holy Spirit! 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 4:12
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 4:12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What an incredible thought! God can be seen in my home when I love those in my family. The Father of the universe lives in my church, and his presence can be recognized when I love those in my church family. Almighty God’s love is recognizable in my life when I love those around me and when we choose to be loving instead of petty, unforgiving, critical, and harsh to our brothers and sisters in Christ. God reveals his presence, power, and perfection in us! God is love; we reveal his presence when we do love each other. My Prayer… O Father, please make your presence, power, and perfection known through my love for your children and our love for each other. In Jesus’ name, I ask this. 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
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. —1 John 4:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Creator of the Universe loves us personally. He knows us and made us intentionally. Our Heavenly Father cares about us tremendously. Although God knew about our weaknesses and sinfulness, he was willing to pay a terrible and outrageous price to redeem us. Even though we are sometimes weak or rebellious, he still loves us, forgives us, and welcomes us back when we are willing to confess our sins, turn from them, and come home to him. So if God has consistently, faithfully, and graciously loved us, how can we not share that love with each other? My Prayer… Thank you, Abba Father, for your awesome and gracious love. Please continue to pour your love into my heart through your Holy Spirit. Help me be more forgiving, patient, and sacrificial in my love with your children. In Jesus’ name, 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.