Today’s Verse – Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. —Matthew 5:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As Christians, we are not called to isolate ourselves from culture. We are not called to be hermits detached from the lost world around us. Instead, we are to recognize that we are in this world of darkness to live as light — not as little candles tucked away in some inner bedroom, but as bright lights set on their stands so all can see their light. As Jesus’ disciples, we are called to be a city on a hill whose lights can’t be hidden. Of course, our goal is not to call attention to ourselves but to help others see the glorious grace of our Father so they will come to Jesus, who is the one, true Light of the World! My Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, may my life bless others so they can see you and your love more clearly. 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 – Ephesians 5:15
Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. —Ephesians 5:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Living with urgency doesn’t mean living recklessly. It means living with holy abandon to honor God and with a holy passion to make each moment count for righteousness while knowing that we are at war against the evil powers (Ephesians 6:10-12). That means we must be intentional about our choices, taking care to use our moments wisely as we live a life of character, yielded to God, and different from the world around us because we are servants to Jesus. My Prayer… Fill me with wisdom, O God, that I may honor you with my choices and use of time each day. Protect me from the deceptive influences of the evil one, and grant me a holy and productive use of the time you bless me with each day. In the name of Jesus, my LORD, 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 – Amos 5:14
Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. —Amos 5:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Many illicit and evil groups claim to have God on their side. Horrific things have been done under the disguise of a “Christian” movement. Jesus, however, told us we could recognize people by their fruit. Those who seek good and abhor evil, live with righteous character, and practice faithful love, justice, and mercy are the ones who have God with them. Let’s make sure the visible holy qualities of God in us match our claim that God’s presence and approval are in our lives! My Prayer… Thank you for your presence in my life, Almighty God and loving Father. Please forgive me for the times when I let sin and selfishness crowd you and your character out of my life and bring reproach to your name. Empower me with your Holy Spirit to live as your holy child while displaying your righteous character to the world. In Jesus’ name, I ask and yearn to more perfectly reflect your righteous character, gracious compassion, faithful justice, and tender mercy. 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 John 5:13
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Yes, we can KNOW we have eternal life! Don’t settle for less!! Confidence is so crucial that God sent his Son to die and be raised so we could know that eternal life with Jesus is our destination, not just our journey. While that eternal life begins and is experienced now (John 5:24), what we experience here is only a hint, a foretaste, of what lies ahead in our glorious and eternal future with the LORD Jesus. My Prayer… Thank you, heavenly Father, for your plan of salvation and the cost you paid to make it happen. Thank you for giving me confidence now in my eternal future with you as your child. Thank you for heaven, hope, and my home with you forever. To you belong all the glory and praise, and I pray in your name, LORD 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 – 1 Thessalonians 5:12
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. —1 Thessalonians 5:12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What are you doing to bless the lives of your spiritual leaders? Do you pray daily for them? Do you send them notes of encouragement? Do you thank them for their loving attention? Do you respond to their correction and take heart in their affirmations? Leaders don’t need to be followed unthinkingly, but often, they get no support for their efforts. Let’s make their work a blessing and not a burden (Hebrews 13:17). Let’s respect our leaders who work hard among us! My Prayer… Thank you for our spiritual leaders, Almighty God, the Great Leader of Israel. Bless their families with faithfulness, their lives with health, their influence with Godly impact, and their leadership with willing followers. May you, dear God, be praised and glorified by the unity of your people and the quality of our leaders. 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 – 1 Timothy 5:10
No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. —1 Timothy 5:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… This devotional falls near Mother’s Day for many in the Western Hemisphere. For all of us, however, it is a great time to honor our godly mothers, especially widows. To our shame, many modern churches have copied the leadership roles (or at least the leadership names) listed in the New Testament. We have bishops, elders, shepherds, pastors, ministers, deacons, ministry leaders… Why have so few churches had a “Widows List”? Why have we seldom recognized and valued godly women like the early church leaders did? Paul said that the women on the “Widows’ List” had proven their godliness in lives well lived with genuine character. Paul emphasized that the Church should help support and care for them so they can continue their lives of ministry unworried by their essential needs. In a time when the world honors mothers, let’s make sure our godly women, especially godly widows, are honored for their good deeds and service to God’s people. Let’s ensure they receive the love, support, and respect God wants them to have in the Church! Notice that this year we are using the date to be a selection tool for our verses — May 10 (5/10) for 1 Timothy 5:10 — which challenges us to consider overlooked verses like this one! Video Commentary… ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer… O Father, thank you for those women among us who have been faithful to their husbands, loving to their children, and hospitable to your people. Forgive our churches for not valuing these godly examples and resources of inspiration and ministry more. During this challenging time, open our eyes to those godly women among us whom we need to serve, support, and bless. 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 Thessalonians 5:9-10
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. —1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God didn’t save us to condemn us (John 3:17). No, he saved us so we could come home to him and enjoy his gracious presence for all eternity. God wants us in his presence; that’s what salvation is all about. He is not about to let anything keep us from that presence when our hearts belong to him. We are all headed home to our Father so that “we may live together with him” — whether we are awake (by that he means alive) or whether we have fallen asleep in Jesus (by that he means dead in Christ) — we’re going to live together with him, forever! My Prayer… Loving Father, thank you for my confidence in Jesus! I know that whether I live till Jesus comes or if I were to die this very day, I can have confidence that my future is with you because it is tied to Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and hell. Thank you for giving me a home with you as my ultimate future. In Jesus’ 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 – Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God didn’t wait till we were “good enough” to bring us his salvation. Notice the words in this context (Romans 5:6-10) to describe us without grace: powerless, ungodly, sinners, and enemies. God sent Jesus when we were lost and desperately needed his grace. But then, that’s what love really means by God’s definition and chosen actions (1 John 3:16). It’s more than something declared or felt; it’s something radically demonstrated! My Prayer… Holy and loving Father, thank you for demonstrating your love in such powerful and sacrificial ways 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 – 1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on [God] because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Isn’t it absolutely wonderful that the God who made the universe cares about us and our needs, hurts, anxieties, and fears?! So let’s trust that he will do what is best for us and show that trust by living for him, loving him, and seeking to live out his purpose in our life (Romans 8:28-29). My Prayer… Loving Father and Almighty God, I consciously place all my anxieties, worries, cares, and frustrations into your hands. I will need the Holy Spirit’s help as I do my best not to dwell on them and seek to trust that you will do what is best for me and for those I love. In Jesus’ name, I thank you for this promise and ask for your help in receiving 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.
Today’s Verse – Deuteronomy 5:6-7
[The LORD said to Israel,] “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” —Deuteronomy 5:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God had delivered his people from Egypt through the Red Sea, the ten plagues, and led them to this mountain, where he came down to give Moses and his people his Ten Commandments. They didn’t earn God’s presence, deserve his deliverance, and certainly had not earned his affection. However, God had blessed them with deliverance because of his grace and to honor his promises to Abraham. As God, the LORD, is Sovereign, all-powerful, and without rival. Amazingly, throughout the Scriptures, God follows this same pattern. He repeatedly blesses his people with grace; only then does he call his people to worship and obedience. The gods of other religions demanded adherence, sacrifice, and obedience BEFORE they would bless people with their favor. As the LORD, the great “I Am,” revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:4-13), he is worthy of being recognized as God. Having demonstrated his grace, love, mercy, and incomparable glory to Israel, he now calls on them to have no other gods; he alone is to be worshiped! My Prayer… Almighty God, you alone ARE worthy of all honor, worship, and praise. I want my heart always to revere you, respect your glory, and appreciate your grace. Please don’t let me outlive my love and allegiance to you. I pray this in Jesus’ name with all my love and respect. 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.