Today's Verse[John 13:34 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

[Jesus said] "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

— John 13:34 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Wow, that's a tall order to fill, isn't it? Jesus has just washed the feet of his disciples. Over the next few hours, Judas will betray him with a kiss, Peter will deny him three times, and the other 10 disciples will forsake and leave him when he faces his death. Yet he still washed their feet knowing they would do this. He still goes to the cross for them while knowing they will abandon him. I'm not sure that I can love like that ... yet. However, with the Holy Spirit's help, I will make a renewed commitment to love others who have hurt and disappointed me. I will also seek to mend relationships where I have hurt and disappointed others.

My Prayer...

Faithful Father, thank you for your never-ending love. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and pour love into my heart so I can love others as Jesus has loved me. I need your help to love those who have disappointed and hurt me. O God, I don't want my bitterness or resentment to keep someone from serving you and knowing Jesus' grace. In the name of my loving Savior I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse Illustrated

Bible Verse of the Day[Galatians 5:6 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What matters most? Priorities must be valued disciplines in our everyday lives if we are to be successful and productive. This is equally true in our discipleship. We should want to concentrate on what is key, essential, and most important. Paul reminds us what is essential: Faith showing itself in loving actions. Faith that does not show itself in loving and helpful action is dead (James 2). Jesus wants our faith to express itself in vibrant and loving service.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, please forgive me for the times I have lost sight of what is essential and focused on what is peripheral. Please forgive me for the times when my own interests and concerns were more important to me than loving service to others. Please give me eyes to see the people you would have me serve today, and each day, so that others may know of Jesus' love through my actions and words. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse Illustrated

Bible Verse of the Day [ 2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

— 2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Our message is not ourselves. Jesus is Lord. One day all of creation will acknowledge and praise him. But for the people around us to praise Jesus today, they need to see him alive in us. We serve others in Jesus' name. We are his body -- his hands of compassion, his heart of mercy, and his voice of tenderness. So let's lift up Jesus -- not just by telling others about him, but serving others as his presence in the world.

My Prayer...

God of grace, thank you for the privilege of sharing your love with others. Thank you for saving me FROM my sin. Thank you for saving me FOR service to bless others for Jesus' sake. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse Illustrated

Bible Verse of the Day[2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

— 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What do you see most clearly today? Is it what is seen or what is unseen? No matter our belief system, we ultimately have to trust what we can't see. Even the most atheistic scientists trust gravity, breathe air, and depend upon principles they cannot see until these realities produce results in the tangible world of human perception. But as Christians, we don't believe the seen world is any more real as the unseen world. In fact, most of the seen world is subject to death, disease, disaster, decay, disorder, and death. I don't know about you, but if it isn't any more permanent than that, it's not going to be very real for any of us for very long. I want to hang on to something that allows me to look past the seen and to find my Father who is unseen. He is the one who guarantees the unseen!

Today's Verse Illustrated

Today's Verse[Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

— Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We have two choices for our lives. We can either live by faith or by sight. We can trust in God's abiding presence and power or we can depend upon our own resources. But wealth -- like health, status, and reputation -- is subject to decay and disappearance. Only one Source is always there for us and we know we can depend upon him, because he has been there for so many who have come before us. Never is forever and this one "never" I cherish: "Never will I forsake you!"

Today's Verse Illustrated

Bible Verse of the Day[John 16:33 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

[Jesus said,] "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

— John 16:33 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

This world is a place of struggle. Yes, we can live above the struggle for awhile. We can find a way to simply ignore or re-label the struggle for a time. But in the end, the struggle will find us. But in the midst of struggle, we can remind ourselves that our victory is secure. Jesus has won! We will share in his great triumph. In case you didn't know, the final outcome is already determined and Christians "win big" through Jesus. And this victory is a forever win!

Today's Verse Illustrated

Bible Verse of the Day [John 14:1-3 (NIV)]

Today's Verse

[Jesus said,] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

— John 14:1-3 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

He's coming back! As much as the world likes to remember Jesus' first coming during the Christmas season, we need to remind them that his Second Coming will be even greater. We want to be prepared -- lives dedicated to his glory and hearts full of expectation at his coming.

Bible Verse of the Day[Matthew 11:28]

[Jesus said,] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."


— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

At the end of the year, it sure is nice to be invited to rest in Jesus. So before we begin a new year, let's pause and place our hopes, our future, our dreams, and especially our burdens down at his feet and let him give us rest.