Today’s Verse – Romans 6:3
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? —Romans 6:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… More than an outward symbol, baptism is coming to the core of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and sharing in it by grace (Romans 6:1-15) based on our faith (Galatians 3:26-29). What an incredible blessing to be able to do what Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry to please God (Luke 3:21-22), and also know that through our faith in God’s power to raise Jesus from the dead, God joins our lives with Christ until we can share in his glory (Colossians 2:12; 3:1-4). My Prayer… Loving Father, thank you for your grace. Thank you for raising Jesus from death. Thank you for letting me share in his death, burial, and resurrection through faith. Thank you for reassuring me that I will share in his glory. Thank you for letting me be your beloved child who brings you delight and pleasure! Thank you, 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.
Today’s Verse – Galatians 6:2
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. —Galatians 6:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “I didn’t know Jesus had a law!” He doesn’t have a written one like we find in the Old Testament (2 Corinthians 3:2-10). Jesus is Spirit-imprinted on our hearts and transforms our character. We love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This kind of “law” gives us liberty from a law written on tablets of stone (James 2:12-17) and emphasizes the undergirding principle that guided Jesus’ life, sacrifice, and service for others (Philippians 2:5-11). We are going to love others. Far more than a written law, this is a passion for Christ and a commitment to be like Christ. My Prayer… Almighty and compassionate Father, may Jesus’ passion for helping others be my passion so that others may see your love and grace through my life and glorify you! 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 – Luke 5:31-32
[When accused of being a friend of sinners,] Jesus answered [his critics], “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” —Luke 5:31-32 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus’ religious adversaries frequently criticized him for deliberately associating with people who were suspect in their eyes. Jesus, however, had a reason for this behavior. He wasn’t associating with sinners to be popular, weird, bizarre, or hip. The LORD associated with all kinds of people because he loved all types of people! He came to redeem the enslaved, find the lost, mend the broken, and reclaim the sinner. So, Jesus associated with all sorts of people! As Jesus’ bodily presence today in the church, can we strive for anything less than following Jesus’ example of seeking to save all people? Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Forgive me, Father, when I choose security in my acquaintances and avoid potentially messy entanglements in my relationships. Change my heart to be different in those ways and be open toward those around me. Please open my eyes to see the lost, the lonely, the forgotten, and the needy. Use me to lead them to your grace and to help them find their family with your people as they turn their lives around to honor you. 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 – Acts 5:30
[Peter continued the apostles’ defense for proclaiming Jesus as Messiah and Lord:] “The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.” —Acts 5:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Peter is making clear that his faith in Jesus didn’t just begin with Jesus. It began with God’s promise to the Patriarchs, the great Jewish fathers. The God who blessed them also raised Jesus from the dead! These Jewish opponents threatening the early believers had made sure that Jesus had been executed in the most heinous and degrading way possible for a faithful Jew — he was nailed to a cross, hung on a pole in front of a jeering mob, something that was both illegal and a sign of being cursed under Jewish Law (Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13). But God raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him and made him our Savior and our LORD (Acts 5:31). Praise God! No wonder Peter was bold in his defense. My Prayer… Thank you, Father, for showing your power over evil, sin, hate, jealousy, scandals, curses, and death. In the name of Jesus, my LORD and Savior, I offer my praise and thanksgiving as I commit to boldly proclaiming Jesus as my resurrected Lord and Savior. 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 – Acts 5:29
Peter and the other apostles replied [to their religious critics among the Sadducees, priests, and Sanhedrin]: “We must obey God rather than men!” —Acts 5:29 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Against a stern warning from the ruling council in Jerusalem, called the Sanhedrin, Peter and the other apostles proclaimed Jesus as LORD. This Sanhedrin is basically the same group that presented Jesus to the Romans to have the Savior crucified! However, Peter and the other apostles knew that Jesus had triumphed over the attempts of his enemies to extinguish him and his ministry. They chose to blatantly disobey the orders of the very same people who had Jesus crucified. By any standard, that is faithful courage. Their reason for this boldness? They had been sent by God, through Jesus, to proclaim the truth throughout the world, beginning in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). Their actions challenge us to ask ourselves a question: How are we doing in standing up for Jesus in a culture dogmatically set against his will? My Prayer… LORD God Almighty; please empower me through the work of your Spirit to be courageous in proclaiming the glorious truth about Jesus. I do not want to back down from my convictions or renounce my faith 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 – Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. —Matthew 5:28 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Living in a sexually supercharged world and facing the prevalence of pornography on the Internet and in today’s media, how are you doing with this issue? Jesus challenges us to recognize that sin starts in our hearts and begins when we longingly seek what is not ours to have. While the world may think such rigorous guarding of our hearts as impossible or ridiculous, Jesus wants us to know he takes sexual sin — and the place it begins, the lust of our hearts — seriously. My Prayer… Loving Father, give me the strength to resist sexual temptation, the wisdom to stay away from it, and the character to triumph over it. Purify my heart, O God, and make it yearn for what is holy and life-giving. In the mighty 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 – Luke 5:27
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. —Luke 5:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… After capturing the hearts of the crowd, Jesus now calls another disciple, Levi — also known as Matthew. Two things are significant about this calling. Jesus called someone no other religious leader would have chosen, a tax collector and Roman sympathizer — to any Jew of Jesus’ era, Matthew would have seemed very much like a traitor to his heritage and to his faith. Levi, this tax collector, followed Jesus, leaving behind his livelihood and his fortune. Jesus’ call of Matthew and Matthew’s definitive and immediate response to follow Jesus provide us a powerful reminder that we should write off no one as unreachable with the Gospel or unusable by our LORD. My Prayer… Father of all people, help us recognize the people you place in our paths today who are ready to know more about Jesus. Please give us the wisdom and the awareness to know when and how to speak with them about our Savior. We also ask, dear Father, for you to forgive us for the times we have come to a snap judgment about the unworthiness of some people who seem least likely to become disciples. We know that Jesus came to seek and save all who are lost, so please use the Holy Spirit to fashion our hearts to reflect the heart of our LORD and Savior, in whose 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 – Luke 5:26
Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” —Luke 5:26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus forgave a man who was lame and then showed he had the authority to forgive by healing him. As exciting and vital as this healing was, the most important thing was the reaction of those who witnessed it; they praised God out of amazement and awe. They recognized that Jesus had come to minister as God’s very presence. When we understand who Jesus is and what he has done and will continue to do for us, we must do the same thing today — offer our praises with amazement and awe. My Prayer… Almighty God and Heavenly Father, I glorify your name and thank you for the grace you so lavishly poured out on me through your Son and my Savior, Jesus, in whose name I offer this praise out of a heart filled with amazement and awe. 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 5:25
I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. —John 5:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Aren’t you glad that not even death can stop us from hearing Jesus’ promised word to us: “RISE!”? We will hear his voice and live with him forever. Like Lazarus, we will come out of the grave and be free (John 11:32-44). Like the little girl Jesus took by the hand raised from the dead (Mark 5:35-42), we too will rise to life. Unlike Lazarus and the little girl, we will be free of death forever, alive to share in the LORD’s presence and glory! Such hope lifts my spirit as I await our LORD’s coming; how about you? My Prayer… Thank you, Almighty God, that Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated your power to destroy death. I have confidence in your Son’s promises to return, to raise me from the dead if I die before his return, and to take me home to be with you. In the Savior’s name and authority, 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 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. —Galatians 5:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we became Christians, we died to the old person of sin and were raised up a new person. In baptism, we shared with Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-14) so that we can share in his victory over sin, death, Satan, and hell. Our lives are now securely joined to Jesus and his future glory (Colossians 2:12-15, 3:1-4). While we have battles with temptation and face trials in this world, we also now have the power of the resurrection and the Holy Spirit at work within us to help us overcome them (John 16:33) — to keep the old, dead, and sinful person buried as the new person awaits the arrival of our LORD and King, Jesus! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Righteous Father, help me keep the dead and cast-away sin of my past far away from my heart and out of my life. May my life be a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to you. I ask for the Holy Spirit to fill me with confident hope, knowing that in Jesus, I can overcome the trials and temptations of this world. In the name of my Savior, 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.