Today’s Verse – Romans 8:11
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. —Romans 8:11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Holy Spirit doesn’t just empower us now (Ephesians 3:14-21) — for sure, he does provide us power and strength, insight and guidance — but the Holy Spirit’s work is not just powerful now, giving life to our “mortal bodies”. The Spirit is also our guarantee for our future (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:5) and our assurance that we will see God face to face (1 John 3:1-2) and share in his glory (Colossians 3:1-4). The Spirit is alive in us “as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies,” and promises us life that never will end in the presence of the Father, and with the Son, because of the Holy Spirit. My Prayer… O God and Father of all nations and races, thank you for your Spirit who is my guarantee that you will raise me from the dead and empowers me right now. As I look forward to that great day, I know I will join Jesus in your presence forever. So, dear Father, I praise you in Jesus’ name, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, I thank you as I anticipate that great day and live for you today. 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 8:10-11
Jesus straightened up and asked [the woman caught in the act of adultery], “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” —John 8:10-11 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Forgiveness is wonderful when it leads to a life change that honors the LORD. Jesus came to call us from sin and into his presence. When we turn our back on our previous sins and let him remove our shame and condemnation, he is greatly pleased and we are wonderfully blessed. He gave us grace to not only be forgiven of our past sins but also to call us away from that sin and into a life of productive service, service which he planned for us and designed us to do (Ephesians 2:1-10). We are not just saved FROM something horrible; we are saved FOR something wonderful! My Prayer… O LORD my God, you are holy and gracious in all your ways. So, dear Father, please transform my heart and life so I can live in your divine will. Please give me the assurance of forgiveness, confidence in my deliverance from shame, and courage in my future with you so I can leave my sin behind and embrace the life of productive service you have prepared for me to do. In Jesus’ name, I ask you for your gracious and unlimited power to mold my heart and shape my life into a clearer reflection of 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 – Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. —Romans 8:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… We show who is in control of our lives by how we live. Do we live as children of God? Then we show we are submitting to the leadership of the Holy Spirit! We show our relationship as children of the Father by living with his character in our world. We trust the Holy Spirit to help us become transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18) to be more like Jesus, our older brother (Romans 8:14-17; Hebrews 2:14-18) as we display the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). So, let’s live under the control of the Spirit — obeying the Spirit’s inspired Word in the Scriptures and following the Spirit’s lead in our daily lives. In this way, we can show and share Jesus in all we say and do! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Dear Father, please help me display Jesus’ beauty, grace, and holiness in my life. May I demonstrate the Holy Spirit’s leading, power, and fruit in all I do each day? I ask for this grace as I pray in Jesus’ name and under his authority. 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 8:8-9
But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. —1 Corinthians 8:8-9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Both Jesus and Paul emphasize that food and drink don’t bring us closer to God or distance us from God — it’s what comes from our hearts that makes us clean or unclean (Mark 7:14-23; Colossians 2:16). Their teaching means that we have incredible freedom as to what we eat and drink under grace in Christ. However, our freedom never gives us the license to destroy a weak brother or sister’s walk with the LORD. We don’t have a right to lead them into sin or cause them to stumble because of what we eat or drink. Let’s use our freedom considerately, especially toward our new brothers and sisters in Christ. These new Christians need our encouragement; they already have enough stumbling blocks. Let’s also focus on our hearts — what motivates us to do or not do, and what we choose to say, eat, and drink. Let’s remember that whatever doesn’t come from faith is likely going to lead us into sin (Romans 14:22-23). My Prayer… God of all grace, please help me to be an encouragement and a good example to new Christians and those who are weak in their faith. Please, Holy Spirit, give me wisdom and help me guard my life from being a bad example to others. 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 8:7
When they kept on questioning [Jesus about the woman caught in the act of adultery, Jesus] straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” —John 8:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When we find it easy to identify the sins of others, God wants us to be reminded of how important it is for us to take a rigorously honest inventory of our own sinfulness. He wants us to deal with our sins before we evaluate anyone else. My responsibility before God is not to condemn others but to condemn the sins and sinful desires I find in me, then live differently, wholly and holy, to honor the LORD God! My Prayer… Forgive me, please, dear God, for my sins. Forgive me, especially dear Father, for the sins arising from a critical and judgmental spirit. Deliver me from such hurtful and evil habits. Forgive of my sins, and please bless me as I seek to live for you with faithfulness. 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 – Hebrews 8:6
But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to [those who served as priests in Old Testament times,] as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and it is founded on better promises. —Hebrews 8:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Old Testament is a beautiful covenant of love, as God redeems fallen humanity and sets in motion his promises and plans for grace to bring to us Jesus through the descendants of Abraham. But as powerful as that old covenant was, we have come to a superior covenant. It is far superior to theirs. Why? The mediator of this new covenant is Jesus, who is a better priest and the perfect sacrifice and guarantor of God’s great promises coming to his people and the lost world! My Prayer… Thank you, Almighty God, for sending Jesus to fulfill the promises and carry out the plan you set in place so long ago and revealed by your prophets of old. I thank you and praise you in the name of Jesus Christ, my LORD, the guarantor of a better covenant and hope. 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 – 2 Corinthians 8:5
And [the young Macedonian believers] did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. —2 Corinthians 8:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Paul’s encouraging the Corinthian brothers and sisters to support other believers in need in Jerusalem. Paul nudges the Corinthians and says he was surprised at the Macedonians’ generosity to the LORD’s work for two reasons: They were impoverished and had little to share. Rather than viewing what they had as their own, they gave themselves to God and then to his servants who were asking for help to minister to others. These enthusiastic new believers in Macedonia — Thessalonica and Philippi — were great examples to other believers. Their generosity reminds us of how we should approach our giving to help others in need: give ourselves first to God and then generously share what we have with others! My Prayer… O righteous Father and generous God, forgive me for being selfish with the blessings you have so richly entrusted with me. I give my heart, worldly goods, and life to you fully, not holding back anything from your will. I ask that you help me know how to use these blessings best and share them generously with those you want to bless through me. 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 8:4
Those who had been scattered [at the stoning of Stephen and the outbreak of subsequent persecution] preached the word wherever they went. —Acts 8:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When someone tries to stomp out the flame of dry broom weed, the sparks fly upward and ride upon the wind, spreading the sparks and igniting wildfires far and wide. Satan tried to use persecution and martyrdom to discourage the early church. As the evil one drove these Christians from their homes, they continued to share Jesus without fear wherever they went. God used their boldness to spread the message of Jesus far and wide like wildfire. Each believer was a spark driven by the Divine Wind — God’s empowering Spirit — to do what Jesus had commanded: to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). My Prayer… O great God of mercy and grace, please give me a holy passion to share your love and power with all I meet, no matter what circumstances led them into my acquaintance. Give me the wisdom to see and the courage to act on the opportunities to share Jesus with those you bring into my life. I pray all this in the name of the LORD Jesus, and for his glory and gospel. 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 8:3-4
For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. —Romans 8:3-4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Thankfully, God gives us two gifts that fulfill the Law’s righteous demands, which the Law itself could never give us. First, he gives us the perfect sin offering — his Son Jesus — to forgive, cleanse, and redeem us from our sin. Second, he gives us his Spirit to empower us to be what he wants us to be. God gives us in the New Covenant what the Law and the Prophets promised was coming. Praise God for his plan, his promises, and his gifts! My Prayer… Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your incomparable kindness and grace in giving me your great and perfect gifts — your precious and perfect Son and the blessed Holy Spirit to empower us. In Jesus’ name, and by the intercession of the Holy Spirit, I praise and thank you, dear Father. 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 8:2
[T]hrough Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. —Romans 8:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Praise God! Jesus delivered us from the principle of law-keeping as the way to prove our righteousness and earn our salvation. We are now enabled to live out the will of God in our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, who conforms us (Romans 8:28-29) and transforms us (2 Corinthians 3:18) to become like Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17). We are saved by grace, through faith, so we can do good deeds out of thankfulness to honor our Savior just as God planned long ago for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10). Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Thank you, dear Father, for your grace and mercy. I praise you, God Almighty, for your incredible sacrifice to bring my pardon. Glory and honor to you, O Sovereign LORD, for your gift of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me in your will and transform me into a person of your character, like Jesus Christ. In his name, I thank 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.