Today's Verse - Nehemiah 12:30

When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

—Nehemiah 12:30

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Nehemiah had returned to Judea from serving a foreign king who authorized him to rebuild the broken structures in Jerusalem and rally the people to repopulate the Holy City, re-commit to purity, and rebuild the city walls to protect the people inside. As the people finished rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah insisted that the key leaders and everyday places must be purified. They had to do that before they began their normal daily lives inside the walls and continued their work of purifying the people. Nehemiah reminds us that before we try to "clean up" those around us, we must first offer ourselves to God to be consecrated and made pure by his grace. Then, we can live demonstrating the impact of God's holiness on those around us. This principle is similar to what Jesus told us to remove the plank from our own eye before we try to clean the speck out of someone else's eye (Luke 6:41-42). For leaders at any level — church, work, teams, families — dedicating ourselves to holiness is essential before calling others to holiness! God's most significant spiritual renewal movements begin with leaders consecrating themselves to the LORD and then leading others toward God's holy way of living.

My Prayer...

O Father in heaven, forgive me for my sins. I want to be pure and holy, cleansed by your Spirit and forgiven by your grace. Please bless me as I seek to live a holy life before those I seek to influence. I need your powerful help to be the example and person of character that you want me to be and that my friends need me to be. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my Savior and LORD. Amen.

Today's Verse - Matthew 12:29

"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house."

—Matthew 12:29

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus is quoting a popular truism in his day, using this "strong man" saying to refer to his own power over the evil one. Satan may be the strong man who has claimed us through our sin, but Jesus broke into the stronghold of the evil one and delivered us to freedom. Jesus is far stronger than evil, death, and hell. Through the cross, our Savior bound the strong man and then robbed him of us! He did this by becoming human and facing death with complete obedience to God. The LORD then rose from the dead, defeating sin, the evil one, death, and hell, giving us new life! Praise God! Jesus broke into the Strong Man's house. He overpowered him and bound him. What did he bring out of the strong man's house? Treasure, of course! And that treasure is us!!

My Prayer...

Thank you, LORD Jesus, for rescuing me from the dominion of darkness and ushering me into your victorious Kingdom of Light accomplished by you, the Son of your love!* Amen.

Today's Verse - Hebrews 12:28-29

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."

—Hebrews 12:28-29

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Every earth-made empire will eventually topple, and every man-made structure will decay and fall. God, however, has given us a kingdom that can't rust, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for us. What will we do in response to this great gift? Worship with reverence and awe! The Holy Spirit isn't talking about worship in a church building. Our worship in reverence and awe is what we do in our daily lives. We worship by...

• Keeping on loving each other as brothers and sisters (Hebrews 13:1).
• Offering hospitality to strangers (Hebrews 13:2).
• Remembering and caring for those in prison and those who are mistreated (Hebrews 13:3).
• Honoring marriage among us and keeping our marriage beds pure by keeping ourselves free from sexual immorality (Hebrews 13:4).
• Learning to be content with what we have and keeping our lives free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5).
• Honoring godly leaders as we imitate the holy things we see in their lives (Hebrews 13:7).
• Keeping ourselves away from novel and strange teachings (Hebrews 13:8).
• Following Jesus despite opposition, willing to bear disgrace for him (Hebrews 13:13).
• Offering God the sacrifice of our praise through Jesus as we profess our allegiance to God (Hebrews 13:15).
• Remembering to do good and sharing with others (Hebrews 13:16).

My Prayer...

All praise and adoration be yours, O great King of the Ages. Thank you for giving me a place in your incomparable, indestructible, and unconquerable Kingdom. In Jesus' name, I worship, love, and praise you. Amen.