Today’s Verse – Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:25 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “Going to church” isn’t very attractive phrase to many folks. This reality shouldn’t surprise us. Doing things as an act of discipline isn’t very popular and often isn’t easy. Plus, doing things for others doesn’t always fill our hearts with joy — although it probably should. On top of these realities is another spiritual reality that may be even more important: “going to church” is a concept nowhere found in Scripture — church is not a place we go, but something we are! The Holy Spirit’s message in our Verse of the Day reminds us that WE need to be with God’s people because they need us to encourage, bless, and motivate them! Church is a gathering of Jesus’ disciples to honor him and bless each other. The LORD would prefer us to think of encouragement, comfort, and exhortation as being church rather than gathering in a box we fill to worship him. But don’t misrepresent this truth. The Holy Spirit isn’t saying we can skip out on gathering together. He is commanding the opposite. “Assemble! Don’t quit meeting together,” the Spirit commands us here. Where we meet isn’t nearly as important as gathering together and blessing each other when we regularly meet. Each of us needs encouragement to keep living for Jesus as his return grows ever nearer! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, please bless the group of Christians with whom I regularly meet. Bless them through my words, attitude, and influence as we walk beside and encourage each other to honor you. Stir me to bless your disciples and encourage them to live for Jesus as we await his return. 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 – Jeremiah 10:24
Correct me, LORD, but only with justice — not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. —Jeremiah 10:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jeremiah frequently struggled with the hard message the LORD gave him to communicate to God’s people. He often wept over and complained to God about what he was given to communicate. While he knew he was wrong to complain, he begged the LORD to correct him with justice and mercy, not anger and punishment. This request reminds me of a similar request a good friend regularly makes of the LORD when he prays, recognizing his own weaknesses and failings: “Humble me gently, Father,” he often prays. Our transformation, which requires correction and grace, is hard work and requires even more patience on God’s part than on our part. So we thank God for his grace, which lets us admit our sin and yet still come into his holy and awesome presence, knowing he will be both just and merciful, righteous and gracious. Thankfully, the LORD doesn’t treat us as we deserve but as we need (Psalm 103:1-22). We, too, can pray, “Correct me, LORD, but only with justice — not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.” My Prayer… Dear God, I sin. I don’t like it when I sin, but I still find myself succumbing to some of my long-standing weaknesses. Please correct me and put me on the path of righteousness, dear Father, but please humble me gently, not correcting me in your anger but in transforming me by your discipline and grace. Even more than wanting to please you, dear Father, I want to honor you even more. So please, gently and consistently rid my heart of duplicity, deceit, and spiritual weakness. Nurture me in holiness. 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 – 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“Everything is permissible” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” — but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. —1 Corinthians 10:23-24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Freedom is a wonderful gift! Freedom in Christ is more significant than any other kind of freedom. God entrusts it to us. But we don’t want to use our freedom to impinge on someone else’s freedom or damage their faith. We don’t want our liberty to cause others to sin or to lose sight of Christ. So, let’s use our freedom wisely and redemptively — only to use it for what is “beneficial” and “constructive”! My Prayer… Precious God and Almighty Father, thank you for the many gifts you have poured into our lives as Jesus’ followers. We especially want to thank you for our spiritual freedom in Jesus. Please empower us to use our freedom to bless and build others up — to be “beneficial” and “constructive” to other believers. Rather than bringing glory to ourselves by exercising our freedom, we want to encourage and bless others, especially new and weak believers. Please help us see others as the place of your work in the world and lead us to join you in that work in the ways we use our freedom and also in the way we withhold it from ourselves. 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 – Matthew 10:22
“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” —Matthew 10:22 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wow! Jesus’ words are emphatic and decisive! He chose these challenging words because his followers — that’s us today — must realize they will not be the dominant or accepted culture during most of the world’s history. Discipleship is difficult and demanding; most folks want things simple and easy. The values Jesus called his disciples to embody are generally unfavorable to the dominant cultures of our world. “So, be ready!” Jesus was essentially telling us. “Be ready to face criticism and rejection.” While we know life as a disciple may be an uphill battle to change the hearts of men and women of the world, with the Spirit’s help, we can be God’s tools to bless others and lead them closer to him! Jesus called us to do that throughout his teaching and example during his earthly ministry (Matthew 5:11-16). Salvation in all its glory awaits us at our journey’s end. Hopefully, we will influence others to join us in our journey to Jesus despite the opposition of those who reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ! My Prayer… Forgive us, dear Father, for we have often grown impatient with the world around us and started seeing it as the enemy rather than our target for your grace. Please give us the wisdom and the courage to balance our understanding of the world with your passion to redeem it through Jesus, 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 – Deuteronomy 10:21
He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. —Deuteronomy 10:21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God is our praise! The God who parted the Red Sea and supplied manna to the Israelites in the wilderness is also the God who did the most amazing miracles for us and in us — he has turned our selfish hearts to do his will, turned our lives to do his eternal work in the world, and tuned us through the Holy Spirit’s work to become more like Jesus! After doing all those things in us and for us, God has gifted and empowered us to do those things he has placed in our hearts to do. He is our praise, and he is worthy of that praise. He is the One we worship even as he is the One who makes us worthy worshipers! My Prayer… You are worthy, Abba Father, of all glory, honor, and praise. You have done great and mighty works throughout the history of your people, Israel — most of whom were everyday people you used mightily. Thank you for using us to do your work in our world, today. We praise you, dear Father, for using everyday folks like us to do your eternal work. In the name of Jesus, our King, 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 – Deuteronomy 10:20-21
Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. —Deuteronomy 10:20-21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What do you find yourself holding onto most often? What is your source of security, reassurance, hope, and stability in what frequently feels like troubled and perilous times? What do you encourage folks to do, and who do you encourage them to hold onto during their times of trouble? We humbly reverence God with a loving and holy fear that respects him for the many ways he has delivered us in the past and will deliver us in the future. One way we do this is in reverent praise that points our heart to him and takes our eyes off our troubles! My Prayer… Dear God and Abba Father, please be with several people we each know who are undergoing trials and temptations. Use us to bless them and encourage them. Please uphold them with your powerful hand. Finally, dear Father, strengthen and empower them to hold on to you through life’s storms. In Jesus’ name, we reverence you and enter your presence to find your grace. 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 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. —Proverbs 10:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We are constantly filling our world with noise. If it is not the sound of our own voices, then we turn up some other source of noise to fill the silence. With the proliferation of radio talk shows, we can sound off to that noise. With YouTube®, Instagram®, Snapchat®, Facebook® and the ever-growing new and emerging social media, we can fill our days with noise, information, and entertaining distractions. Unfortunately, all too often, we say things that are harmful, hurtful, incendiary, or foolish. God’s wisdom reminds us to learn to hold our tongue and let silence rule over more of our time rather than generate the noise of our words that clutter our world. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” My Prayer… Holy God, please give me wisdom so that I can keep my mouth shut more often, the noise around me turned down, and my ears attentive to your guidance and the needs of others around me. Purify my heart and cleanse my speech so that my words will be helpful to others and bring glory to you. Help me filter what I expose my ears and heart to hear. 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 – Ecclesiastes 10:18
If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks. —Ecclesiastes 10:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Laziness is not just an attitude; it is a lack of action. It is a choice to let important matters suffer and neglect what is necessary. The results of this choice of laziness over action may not always be immediately evident. However, with time, the accumulating signs of decay make the results of idleness very clear. This is doubly true spiritually. I wonder how many people have remained lost because God’s people were lazy about reaching out to the lost and broken. I wonder how many great Kingdom projects never happened because we chose not to make the effort to see them through to completion. Laziness isn’t just an attitude of neglect but also a choice not to act! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Stir in me, dear Heavenly Father, a passion to do what is true, good, and righteous. Please help me as I seek to do those good things now while I have the conviction and the moment in time to do them. Convict my heart, dear God, that when I neglect what is important, I neglect your work in my world. At the same time, dear Father, please help me discern the difference between laziness and my genuine need for rest as I try to balance my life between my many responsibilities. I ask for your guidance, O LORD, to honor you with my life, work, rest, and diligence. 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 10:17
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. —Proverbs 10:17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God has given each of us a circle of influence, a place where our lives impact others for either good or ill. In much the same way, each of us is also influenced by others, some of whom can help us see and overcome our problems and shortcomings, while others seem to only drag us down into the mire of sin. However, if we reject or snub discipline and correction, we not only harm ourselves but also lead others astray — we drag others down with us into the mire of sin. Our choices don’t just determine our destination; they also significantly impact others for good or evil! My Prayer… Dear God, please forgive my times of foolish arrogance and lazy indifference to your truth, correction, and wisdom. You have humbled me by the realization that you have made my life a significant influence on others. So, please empower me, dear Father, to use that influence to gently and humbly lead others in the way of your life. 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 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? —1 Corinthians 10:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Apostle Paul makes clear, as Jesus earlier made certain when he instituted the LORD’s Supper, that believers anchor the heart of the Gospel in the death, burial, resurrection, and resurrection appearances of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The LORD’s Supper, sometimes called Holy Communion, is vital to our walk with Christ. It is a time when we proclaim the story of the Gospel as we share in remembering it (1 Corinthians 11:26). However, Communion is more than a time of proclamation; it is a time of participation. We share in the Supper with each other and with Christ. We are united with Jesus in his death so that we can leave our worship gathering to live his life in the world. This participation revitalizes our walk with the Savior and helps us re-live his saving death and resurrection, so that we can continue his work in the world. My Prayer… Holy God and loving Father, thank you for giving us the LORD’s Supper. It is such a beautiful and convicting reminder of the tremendous cost Jesus paid for our sins. The Supper is also a powerful reminder of your love for us and the ransom paid to free us from sin and death. Thank you for inviting us to share in the gift of your Son and our Savior. May we never take his sacrificial love for granted or misuse your precious gift of grace in Jesus. In the name of our LORD 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.