Today’s Verse – 1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. —1 Thessalonians 5:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… So many sleepwalk through life. They are never really spiritually awake enough to be fully alive. However, as followers of Jesus, we choose not to do that with our lives! We are awake. We are alive because we know Jesus has come and brought us life eternal (John 5:24; 1 John 5:11-13). The Son has shown us how to live. So we are going to be alert. We are going to be self-controlled. We’re going to be fully alive because we know Jesus’ return is imminent, and our day of salvation and deliverance is near. Until then, we are not going to be like others – those who sleepwalk through life – we are going to be alert, self-controlled, and anticipating the day of our Savior’s return. My Prayer… Forgive me, Heavenly Father, for the times that I have lost my sense of urgency to live for Jesus. Please use the Holy Spirit within me to arouse my passions to serve him with my eyes wide open and heart set on great and heavenly things. I know you can and will do more than I can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21), so please, awaken me to dream great dreams and imagine great things for your glory, then astound me with even more. 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 – John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. —John 1:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Jesus is God’s message. It wasn’t a message contained in a book or given in a vision. This message from God wasn’t revealed on a mountain to only a watchful few. God’s most complete message was human flesh, bone, and blood – God’s incarnation in human flesh as Jesus of Nazareth. God’s message came and lived among us as God’s Word – the pre-existent Word. He faced our hardships, got our dirt between his toes, felt our disappointments, struggled with our temptations, suffered our treachery, and bled real blood to redeem us. Yet, living in our world, God’s message brought us more than truth; he delivered us from death by his grace and showed us how to live and share his message. My Prayer… Almighty God, thank you for speaking in the past through your prophets (Hebrews 1:1-3). Thank you for making the proclamation of your Word powerful today through the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. I pray I will hear your truth through your Word, Jesus! Most of all, Father, I praise you for speaking your clearest, most profound, and most accessible message in Jesus as the consummate Word, the ultimate Word, the true message you want us to see, hear, and know. Because of Jesus, I know you love me, I know you have cleansed me, and I know I will share heaven with you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and may my gratitude be seen in the quality and character displayed in my life. In the name of Jesus – your greatest Message, the Word – I thank you and seek to honor 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 – Romans 14:5
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. —Romans 14:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… So often, we let personal preferences, peer pressure, and peer concerns about celebrating certain days, especially holidays, have a divisive effect on our Christian relationships. We’re not to try to press our opinion or position on anyone else. We’re not to judge others because they don’t celebrate a special day to the LORD we celebrated. We’re not to judge another because she does celebrate special days. Celebrating certain days as holy is a matter of personal conviction that revolves around our desire to please the LORD and to honor him in ways we feel are appropriate. Let’s not be so insecure that we have to do what everyone else does. Likewise, let’s not force anyone to do what we prefer. Instead, let’s remember the right angle to take with everything: honor God with all that we are and do and consider the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ even before our own (Matthew 22:37-40; Ephesians 4:29). My Prayer… O Father, please forgive us for fracturing the fellowship of your people based on human observances and special holy days as we hold our preferences about them. As for me, dear Father, please give me the courage to honor Christ according to my convictions and his commands. Please also give me the wisdom to do so in ways that bless your people and do not cause division. With the help of your Spirit, I will find ways to bring you the glory due you and maintain my fellowship with your children. Please purify my heart, and guide me in all that I do and approve. In Jesus’ name, I ask for your help. 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 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 8:38-39 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Amen and hallelujah! This passage is incredibly hopeful. Nothing could keep Jesus from coming to save you and me – not the distance between heaven and earth, not the difficulty of an unexpected pregnancy, not a city fully of travelers and parents tired from a long journey, certainly not a maniacal king who sought to snuff out his life, not jeering mobs crying crucify him, not disciples that abandoned him, not soldiers that mocked him, not a whip that raked his flesh, and not a cross that claimed his physical life. So what makes you think God would let you go or give up on you after his love has captured your heart at such a high price to him? Nothing in the created world can separate us from God’s love! Nothing that the evil one throws at us can stop God’s love from holding us fast. The apostle Paul is emphatic: Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” My Prayer… Abba Father, help me understand your love more fully. It’s unimaginable. It’s unspeakably good. Thank you! Please bless me with the strength to overcome the doubts the evil one tries to plant in my heart. Please bless me with your gracious power and transform me out of my own weakness into a helpful tool for your service. Knowing you are with me, as I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, whose hand will not let the waves claim me, please do not let my doubts destroy my confidence in your everlasting love. In Jesus’ mighty 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 – John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” —John 4:13-14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Water! That precious gift for the tired and thirsty. Water! That essential refreshing liquid we all need for life. Water! That spring of living water welling up to eternal life and renewing our spirits. Jesus offers water we don’t have to carry, find, purify, or resupply. Jesus’ water wells up within us. The Holy Spirit brings us Jesus’ water because we are his disciples who believe in him (John 7:37-39). Jesus’ water gives us eternal life, which begins now, lasts throughout each day we live, and continues forever (John 4:14, 5:24). This water of eternal life is a gift from Jesus, our LORD! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Father, I know Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live in me when I became a Christian, a disciple of my LORD. I ask that my stubborn will and my sinful desires will be overcome with the Spirit’s transforming power so that my life will display the joy and confidence that your refreshing presence brings. In Jesus’ name, and because of his living water, 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 – John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. —John 3:17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God sent Jesus to save the world. God is not the mean ol’ Scrooge in the sky, critically looking down on his flawed children, waiting to condemn them for their mess-ups. Instead, our Father in heaven saw how broken, flawed, and messed up we were, and he entered our world in Jesus to save it and save us from ourselves. God’s purpose in sending Jesus was to give us lasting life, eternal salvation, and out of that grows our earthly mission – to join God in saving the lost world. My Prayer… O heavenly Father, deliver us from the sin that entangles our actions and pollutes our hearts. Create in each of us a clean heart and renew a right spirit in us through your sanctifying Holy Spirit. Please, awaken us to our salvation so that we don’t keep it to ourselves, but share it with those who desperately need it. Thank you for your forgiveness, grace, and salvation. In Jesus’ name, we pray with thankfulness and a renewed sense of our purpose. 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 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What else needs to be said? “For God so loved the world…” Ah, we should say, “Praise God!” We should say, “Thank you, Jesus!” We should say, “I believe!” We should say, “Let’s go share Jesus’ saving grace with the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). My Prayer… Thank you, Father, for loving us with everlasting love and for demonstrating that love in Jesus. We love you! We look forward to sharing the longest part of our lives with you in glory, enjoying your presence forever because you sent Jesus. Until then, loving Father, please use us to share this saving message -this message of your gracious and redeeming love -with others so they can believe and not perish. You sent Jesus so no one would perish. We commit to join you in sharing your love with the world. In Jesus’ mighty 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 – Psalm 3:8
From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. —Psalm 3:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Deliverance does come from the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our spiritual fathers from previous generations. We can trust in this deliverance because of God’s faithfulness to his people under the Old Covenant (the Old Testament). We see God’s deliverance as the Father sends his Son, Jesus, as our Savior. We experience this deliverance in the outpouring of the Spirit by the resurrected Savior. So, as this verse suggests, we can confidently ask the LORD to bless us with his richest and greatest blessings as his people because we know that he has already given us the greatest gift of his Son. So, we believe with the apostle, Paul, that since God has done this to save us, “how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32) My Prayer… Thank you, O God, for the salvation you have given to us in Jesus. Use us, your people, to spread this blessing to others so that all nations – all peoples – will know your love and come to know your deliverance found in your Son, our Savior and LORD. In the name of our Deliverer, 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 – Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted him… that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. —Philippians 2:9-11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I love the fact that I do each day what everyone will one day do: bow before the majesty and proclaim the glorious Lordship of Jesus Christ to honor the Father’s glory. How wonderful it is to be able to make that proclamation because of grace rather than in fear at the end of a life that has been spent wasted in rebellion, denial, and selfishness. I gladly bow my knee, humble myself, and prostrate myself before the King of Glory, Jesus Christ my LORD! My Prayer… Father, I do praise you for the truth about Jesus. I believe that his greatness will one day be realized fully by everyone who has ever lived. Doubters, haters, hypocrites, and pretenders may have sway in our fallen world, but Jesus is coming. I can’t wait to see him in his glory! May my life display the truth of Jesus’ glory in sacrifice through the way I treat people today. May my lips suitably proclaim this truth so others can know Jesus is LORD, today. In the name of your Son and my Savior, 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 – Philippians 2:9
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… —Philippians 2:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… For Jesus, the formula for saving grace was tough! graciousness + faithfulness + sacrifice + suffering = True Glory Yes, salvation’s math doesn’t make much human sense in our selfish, self-promoting world. However, from the perspective of faith, salvation’s math is powerful wisdom. Jesus came to our world because of God’s graciousness. Jesus was faithful and left heaven to face the hardships of humanity. The LORD was willing to sacrifice himself to serve all humanity, even though it required his suffering and humiliation on the cross. Because he faithfully lived salvation’s math, the Father crowned the Son with all glory and honor, which has been rightfully his since before creation. The apostle Paul reminds us in this passage (Philippians 2:5-11) that God doesn’t forget our sacrifices, hardships, persecutions, or service. He honors them with his pleasure and glory because people who choose this way walk the path of their LORD, Jesus, as they live with others. My Prayer… Holy Father and LORD God, I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, my Savior and LORD. I surrender my heart and want to have no rival to the lordship of your Son in my life. I want to serve and bless his disciples as he served and blessed me. I want to live my life passionately, as I seek to reach the lost people of my world. Continue to mold my heart and mind to be more like Jesus. I pray this to honor him in thought, word, and deed. 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.