Today’s Verse – 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. —2 Corinthians 12:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… While other preachers in Paul’s day were parading and bragging about their credentials, Paul refused to get into such self-centered contests to prove he was the most impressive of Jesus’ disciples. Even though he had the religious education and Jewish pedigree to silence his rivals, he preferred to acknowledge the areas of his weakness where God triumphed over his limitations. God had taught Paul that heaven’s power was most on display in Paul’s weakness, like Jesus’ power over the evil one, which he demonstrated through the cross — the ultimate sign of weakness (Colossians 2:12-15). God demonstrated his power through what Paul did in his weakness so the glory could go to God! Let’s be careful about determining someone’s ministryworthiness based on his or her resume or reputation. Instead, let’s honor people in whom God’s grace has triumphed through their weakness! My Prayer… Almighty and loving Father, thank you for sustaining and enabling me to serve you in ways I would never have dreamed of doing. Please help me serve you faithfully as I depend upon your grace in my weakness. 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 5:9-10
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! —Romans 5:9-10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus did more than die for our sins; he lives as our resurrected LORD. So, since God emptied heaven of the Son, had him die on the cross for our sins, and then raised him from the dead to save us, imagine what God has in store for us now that he has saved us! We have only seen the beginnings of God’s love for us, and even though what we have seen is amazing, God will do more than we can ask or imagine for us through the power and presence of our resurrected LORD and Savior, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that he gives us (Ephesians 3:20-21). My Prayer… Holy LORD, we look forward to the day we get to see you and experience your grace in all its glory when we meet Jesus in that glory.* Please inspire us to be courageous and confident when facing challenges in the future. We want to live faithfully and victoriously before others, knowing Jesus is alive forever for us. Father, we believe that the best of what Jesus wants to do in us and through us lies ahead, so use us to your glory. In Jesus’ name, we know we are forgiven as we pray confidently and anticipate our future glory with him. Amen. * This prayer was inspired by Colossians 3:1-4.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 5:6-7
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. —Romans 5:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Christ died for the ungodly. That’s us! We were included in this reality before Jesus! Christ died for me, you, those you love, and even those who do not love you. Without Jesus’ sacrificial death and God’s amazing grace, we could never save ourselves by our deeds or make ourselves fully righteous. Jesus did for us what we could not do: he lived a perfect life and died a horrible death to pay off the debt of our sin — something we did not have the power or resources to pay. He did it for us, not because we were good enough to be worthy of his sacrifice, but BECAUSE WE COULD NOT BE WORTHY WITHOUT HIM! My Prayer… Loving God, we thank you. Sacrificial Savior, we praise you. Holy Spirit, we live through your power. Words cannot adequately and fully express our thanks for the gift of your grace that cost you so much yet means so much to us. We give all honor, glory, and praise to you, GOD, our Father who sits on the throne, the LORD Jesus Christ who went to the cross, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live transformed lives. We pray this based on the authority of Christ Jesus, whose grace makes us worthy to come into your presence, dear Father, and through the intercession 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 – Romans 5:3-4
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. —Romans 5:3-4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What are you living to produce with your life? Wealth, fame, status, significance, legacy? How about character? Isn’t having the character of God our real goal in life? Perseverance, character, and hope can help us forge a stronger faith as we live for Jesus under the pressure and heat directed at us from the evil one and his demonic forces of evil. Even in our suffering, hardships, and persecution, nothing can steal our desired goal from us — developing the character of God as we live for Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit are transformed to become JESUShaped (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). My Prayer… Dear Father, please empower us as we seek to live consistently with your holy character in our fallen world. Please give us hearts of courage and compassion so we can more clearly demonstrate your grace and power as you transform us into disciples of courage, honor, and compassion. In Jesus’ name, 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 – Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. —Romans 5:1-2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Justified, peace, access, grace, hope, and glory are wonderful gifts! Each of these gifts is ours because of One — One reason, One person, and One LORD: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Savior. Our faith in Jesus opens the door for us to rejoice in our assured hope of sharing in God’s glory. In troubling times, this hope is precious. In good times, this hope promises us even greater things. In every circumstance, this assured hope can empower us to live for Jesus to the glory of God! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… We praise you, LORD Jesus, for all you’ve done to bless us with your salvation. We praise you, dear LORD, for your promise to return and invite us to share in your full, unveiled glory. We pray that you speed that day to come soon. As we wait, Father, please purify and make us useful for your service, to the glory of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, our mediator, 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 – Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. —Proverbs 10:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Do you want to know the difference between a righteous person and a wicked one? Simple! Jesus said to check the fruit of their life. One of the most visible forms of fruit in peoples’ lives is found in the way they talk, how they talk, and their empathy as they talk. Righteous people find ways to impart life through what they say. The wicked reveal themselves by what they say and how they say it. In a social-media-dominated world filled with vitriol, sarcasm, and bitterness, this is a prover we must heed! My Prayer… O LORD God, please hear my cry as I repeat the words of the Psalmist as my earnest prayer to you: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.* In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen. * From Psalm 19:14 ESV. 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 100:5
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. —Psalm 100:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We come to the final devotional thought based on Psalm 100:5. The focus is on God’s enduring love and faithfulness that continues through all generations. The genealogy of Matthew 1:1-16 lists the generations that God used to bring us Jesus, our LORD and Messiah. I usually speed-read through biblical genealogies. However, let’s invite the Holy Spirit to awaken us through this genealogy to celebrate God’s love and faithfulness, which brought us the Messiah through those generations. We can close our meditations on Psalm 100:1-5 with the joy of knowing that the LORD’s faithful love continued through all these generations and saved us through Jesus. What God has done so faithfully in the past, he will do even more in the days ahead as we await the glorious return of his Son and our Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ. The Father brought us the Son through his faithfulness, and we celebrate that enduring love by the power of the Holy Spirit’s inspired praise of Psalm 100:5: For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. My Prayer… Dear Father, in my world of change and unfaithfulness, everyone seems to want something from me or out of me, even though there are very few I can depend upon. Thank you for your love, which is more enduring than the mountains and more glorious than any beautiful sunrise. I praise you in the name of Jesus, your Son. 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 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. —Psalm 100:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As we continue reflecting on the call to worship in Psalm 100, we realize that today’s exhortation comes from the days when God’s physical Temple was in Jerusalem. For us, God’s New Covenant people, God’s Temple is Jesus’ church (1 Corinthians 3:16) as well as our physical bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19). Let’s joyfully celebrate God’s goodness as we thank him with others in our church family when we gather to worship as a church family. Let’s also glorify God with our bodies surrendered wholly to him (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:20) as we live intentionally, in holiness, to honor and worship God in every area of our lives (Hebrews 12:28-13:16)! Let’s give thanks and praise God’s name in public, in private, and in the community. Let’s each love and worship our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:18-20). My Prayer… Father, we enter into the most holy place of your presence as we approach you through the presence and intercession of Jesus and the authorization and presence of the Holy Spirit. We are thrilled to know you listen to our hearts as we sing songs of praise. We are overjoyed that you welcome us into your presence as we come before you with thanksgiving and praise. We are delighted to be with you and tell you how much we appreciate all you have done for us. Thank you for meeting us in this place and time of prayer until we can come home and see you face-to-face with great joy. In Jesus’ name, we praise you and anticipate that glorious day. 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 100:3
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. —Psalm 100:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God made us and knew us even when we were unseen in our mother’s womb. He made us with loving care, a purpose for our lives, and his promise to be with us every step of our lives (Psalm 139:1-18). God cares for us much more than even the best shepherds care for their sheep. So let’s live as those who know our Leader, Creator, Shepherd, and King, and that he knows us intimately so we can display his character, share his grace, extend his mercy, and offer his forgiveness to others. Let’s show that we are God’s people and that we have learned to care for others from our powerful yet tender Shepherd! My Prayer… I am truly thankful, dear LORD, that you are my Shepherd, Father, and Hero. Please empower me as I seek to display your character and kindness to those around me. I want others to know the Great Shepherd of the Sheep, so I want to reflect your love, tenderness, guidance, protection, correction, and care. In Jesus’ name, I ask for your help to do 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 – Psalm 100:2
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. —Psalm 100:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Let’s not be limited to singing only in church buildings and sanctuaries. Worship is a whole body and heart worship from all of our life (Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 22:36-40), based on our joy for what God has done for us in Jesus (Romans 5:6-11). Let’s make today a day of joyful songs as we sing our thanks and praise to God! My Prayer… Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for giving the gift of music to your human creatures. Thank you for all those gifted to write and share praise songs that bring joy to our hearts. We want you to be pleased with our praise as we listen and sing “joyful songs” to show our love for you and our heartfelt thanks to you for all you do and the blessings you have lavished upon us. In Jesus’ name, we 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.