Today’s Verse – Acts 9:4-5
[When the light from heaven flashed around him, Saul] fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. —Acts 9:4-5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… When Paul later teaches in his letters that the Church is the Body of Christ (Romans 12:3-4; 1 Corinthians 10:10-16-17; Ephesians 5:23, 29; Colossians 1:18, 24), he isn’t being theoretical. The Church IS Jesus’ presence, his Body alive and at work in the world. What is done to the Church as a collective group of people is done to Jesus. What is done to individual Christians is done to their Savior. Jesus made this clear to Paul, then known as Saul, by emphasizing that Saul’s persecution of believers was also persecution of Jesus — “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Jesus is present in the world today through his people! The saying is true: the only Jesus many will see today is the Jesus they see through you and me. My Prayer… Dear Father, please “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me, all His wonderful passion and purity; May His Spirit divine, all my being refine; Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.” In the name of my Savior, I pray. Amen. (From the song by Albert W.T. Orsbom.) 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 9:3
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” —John 9:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Let’s ask God to help us view people through the eyes of Jesus so that we will see them as someone in whom the work of God needs to be displayed. When Jesus and his followers approached a man who was blind from birth, the disciples assumed that this misfortune had happened because someone had sinned. Jesus saw their labeling of the man as dehumanizing to the man and a dismissal of his value as a person because they thought he had sinned or his parents had. So, Jesus taught them, and if we pay attention, he teaches us to see a person’s hurt as our opportunity and responsibility to bring God’s grace to someone in need. So, what is this work of God we are to help display in people’s lives? Jesus had answered that question earlier in his ministry: “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:28-29) — Jesus! My Prayer… Father, please help me see the people around me as Jesus does. I want to ensure that your work is done in their lives. Please give me patience with rude people, tenderness with hurting people, and boldness with those who are ready to hear the Good News of Jesus. Use me to help others display your work in their lives! In the name of Christ 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 – Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. —Isaiah 9:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God fulfilled this great promise of the prophet Isaiah with the coming of John the baptizer and Jesus (Matthew 4:15-16; Luke 1:76-79). Jesus came as the Light of the World (John 9:5) to cast out the darkness of Satan, evil, and death (John 12:31). So, as darkness falls tonight, find a street light and capture it in your memory to remind you to do two things every time you see such a light: Thank God for sending his Light, Jesus, to cast out our darkness. Commit to sharing that Light with those you know trapped in darkness. My Prayer… Loving and eternal God, thank you for shining your Light into my heart through Jesus (2 Corinthians 4:6). I ask you, dear Father, for the Holy Spirit’s help as I use my words and actions to bless those around me. I want them to see the Light of your grace and salvation that Jesus brings. My heart yearns for others to find their hope in him, your Son, our Savior. So, I pray in Jesus’ name, hoping my influence helps others see Jesus more clearly as the Light for their lives. 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 9:1
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. —Psalm 9:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The words of Jessie Brown Pound’s old hymn, “Will You Not Tell It Today?” say it best: “If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell it today?” Prayerfully select someone who needs to know of the goodness and graciousness of God, then please, lovingly, share Jesus with that person. A heart filled with praise to God will not only praise him but will lead others to do so as well. I can’t think of a better example of this than Andrew, who heard about Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was tell his brother Simon Peter and bring him to Jesus (John 1:40-42). My Prayer… O LORD, I praise you from the bottom of my heart. In addition, dear Father, please bless me today as I seek to bring others to know and honor you more fully by following Jesus. In Jesus’ name, I pray, asking for your power and grace to be with me as I seek to lead others to Jesus. 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 – Mark 8:31
[Jesus] then began to teach [his disciples] that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. —Mark 8:31 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Knowing Jesus is God’s Messiah is one thing. Following Jesus as our LORD is quite another. Getting our minds, hearts, and lives to line up with Jesus is always a challenge. Once Jesus’ disciples confessed him as the Christ, he knew he had to teach them the real road to glory. Each of the Gospels reminds us that this road led to the cross of agony before it led to the crown of glory. The early church captured it in a song that reminded them that they, too, must walk that same road of the cross as their Savior and LORD walked (see Philippians 2:5-11). We are heaven-bound people, but we can be sure that we will encounter potholes and bumps along the road and face some steep hills to climb as Satan tries to derail and defeat us. Our Savior, however, has already walked this road triumphantly. He is our great reminder that the path of the cross also leads us to share in our LORD’s glory! My Prayer… Dear Father, I know several believers who are struggling to follow Jesus faithfully. I ask that you give them strength and courage to endure. Please use me to encourage them and to help them through this dark time in their lives. May my life and my words point them to Jesus. I want to specifically mention several people by name, people who are struggling… [Insert the names you want to mention.] and ask you to bless them. 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 8:30
Even as [Jesus] spoke, many put their faith in him. —John 8:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… While we often talk about Jesus as our LORD and Savior, we can also find it easy to ignore his voice, or worse, hear Jesus’ words and ignore them. Our obedience to what Jesus says demonstrates that we have put our faith in him. To foolishly disobey, ignore, or neglect to do what Jesus says is to show that we don’t believe him to be our LORD to DO what he says to us as our LORD! Jesus promised a very rude awakening at judgment for those who take this attitude (Matthew 7:21-27). So, let’s commit to reading through each of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) before the end of the year. As we read about Jesus’ life and teachings, let’s do it as a search for the heart of Jesus and ask God to help us know him better and follow him more thoroughly and more obediently as the Holy Spirit conforms us to be more like him (2 Corinthians 3:18)! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… Be with me, dear Father, as I seek to know Jesus better and obey his words more faithfully as I read your holy Scriptures, which find their center in him. So, I pray for obedience in my daily life in the name of my LORD, Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, and my 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 – Mark 8:29
“But what about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” —Mark 8:29 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The sweetest confession any of us will ever make is this: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I want him to be LORD of my life.” Let’s repeat it, out loud, to the glory of God the Father: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I want him to be LORD of my life.” What other people say about Jesus and what they believe about Jesus is not the focus of the LORD’s question to Peter. Who do I say that Jesus is? Will you answer like Peter? I think we should. So, let’s say it again for the third time: “I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and I want him to be LORD of my life.” Now, let’s commit that before the year ends, we will invite someone else to say these words for the first time in their life! My Prayer… Thank you, LORD God Almighty, for having a plan that brought me your Messiah, Jesus. I believe, dear God, that he is your Son, and I want him to be the LORD of my life, and I want him to be my LORD for the rest of my days. I pray this in the name of Jesus, your Son, and my 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 – Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The real issue in our lives is not God’s faithfulness and goodness but ours. The history of God’s faithfulness to Israel and his promises is found throughout the Scriptures. We can depend and rely on him to do what he promises despite the apparent circumstances of our lives. The real issue is whether or not we choose to truly love him and live for his purposes when our lives become unbearable and faith becomes hard. This verse is no platitude or easy answer. It is the life ring of hope for those with gritty faith who choose to persevere when there is no easy reason for doing so. Faith like this is rooted in a Savior who triumphed over death, Satan, sin, and hell by voluntarily giving his life for our salvation. But he remained in the grave a second day. There appeared to be no hope, but hope burst forth as Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. So, will we choose to keep loving God and living for his purposes when things are hard — when we are caught on our own “second day” while waiting for the dawn of the third day and our complete salvation? My Prayer… Please give me courage, faith, and character, O LORD, and may I never outlive my faith and hope in you as I love you and live for your purpose in my 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 – Matthew 8:27
The men [in the boat caught in the storm] were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” —Matthew 8:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What kind of man is this? Ah, Jesus is much more than a man; he is our LORD, King, Messiah, Shepherd, and Savior. Most certainly, when Jesus came in the flesh to earth, he was fully a man. Yet this Christ Jesus is also the Master of earth, wind, and storm because he is the Creator of it all (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-18). Rather than merely talking about Jesus, we need to bow down and worship him for all that he is, all has done, and all he is in the process of doing to bring us home to him, safely and eternally! My Prayer… Tender Shepherd and Abba Father, thank you for emptying heaven of your choicest glory and sending Jesus to be my LORD and Savior (Philippians 2:6-11). As I face the storms in my life, please give me the courage to stand bravely in faith, trusting that my Savior will still the winds and the waves and deliver me safely home to you. In Jesus’ glorious 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 8:26-27
In the same way [as the Spirit blesses us in so many ways in our lives], the Spirit [also] helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. —Romans 8:26-27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling like BBs and fall to the floor, rattling around under our feet and tripping us up in mockery of our requests. Other times, we are overcome with emotion, and the words of our prayers can’t begin to capture what’s crashing around in our hearts. Thanks be to God for the assurance that the power of our prayers is not dependent upon the choice of our words but upon his grace given us by the Holy Spirit’s intercession. The Holy Spirit presents our requests — our words, our emotions, and even the things beyond our words and emotions — and he does so to God powerfully and acceptably, no matter what comes out of our hearts and mouths! My Prayer… Holy God and loving Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom I have the ultimate assurance that you hear and accept my words, thoughts, emotions, and even the conflicts of my heart when I pray. In Jesus’ name, I thank you for this 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.