Today's Verse - Psalm 119:7

I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.

—Psalm 119:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Praise is integrally connected with our character. For us to worship God properly, the intent of our hearts and the effort of our lives must show our determined desire to know and live his will as we reflect his holy character, gracious compassion, and faithful loving justice. While we will never do this perfectly, his grace covers us as we seek to live for his glory, and as the Holy Spirit is always at work transforming us into greater Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). However, we must never use God's grace as a pretense to excuse spiritual laziness, intentional weaknesses, and persistent sins. True praise comes from an upright heart and a life aligned with our Creator's loving purposes, and reflected in our knowing what he wants and obeying what he calls us to do.

My Prayer...

Holy God, I want to be more like you in character, even though I will never fully be like you in might or majesty. But, Father, I do want your values to be seen in my life. Please open my eyes and enlighten me as you transform me through your Holy Spirit. I seek to know your will in your Scriptures and live them obediently for you, and before you, in my daily life. Forgive me of my sin and please create a clean and holy heart, wholly determined to do your will. 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 - Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

—Romans 1:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For the rich and poor, young and old, weak and strong, thin and heavy, there is still just one message, one name, and one story that makes the eternal difference. It's the good news of Jesus - the gospel. That one message, story, and name are announced in the gospel - God's good news to the world in Jesus Christ. God's good news of life in Jesus Christ is the story, message, and hope for us all. As Paul the apostle tells the Galatians:

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26-28).

We must not be, cannot be, will never be, ashamed of the gospel because it is the power to bring people to salvation in Jesus, and bring us together as God's family.

Video Commentary...

ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos

My Prayer...

Great Redeemer, please empower me to be bolder in proclaiming your good news. Please give me eyes to see people from all walks of life and all nations who are waiting to hear about your love and grace in Jesus. Please fill me up with your Spirit so that I will not be ashamed but will gladly and effectively proclaim your gift of Jesus. Please fill my life with the assured hope of Jesus' glorious and victorious return so that I might share your message - your good news, your gospel - with passion, and others will know of your redeeming grace. In the name of 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 - Colossians 2:9-10

In Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.

—Colossians 2:9-10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

If we had known Jesus' address when he was a boy in Nazareth, we would have found him apprenticing as a carpenter, and could have said, "That boy with wood shavings in his hair is God come to live among us!"
I believe that the doctrine of Jesus being fully God and fully man is impossible to grasp completely, yet it is taught in the New Testament and is something we must believe. Beautiful explanations, like our verse today, exist. Another is the beautiful Christ-Hymn Paul quotes in Philippians 2:5-7. This song reminds us that Jesus was equal with God, but emptied himself of divine prerogatives and became human and suffered death on the cross. God taking on human flesh and being Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23), is an awesome reality of grace. God chose to be like us because we could not make ourselves like him. God came to us because we could not go to him. In Jesus, God took on human flesh so we could be given fullness in Christ. By faith and in baptism, we were joined to Jesus in his death, burial, and resurrection (Colossians 2:12, 15). That faith experience means God's victory in Jesus over sin, death, demons, and hell, and also delivered us from these things as well (Colossians 1:13-14). What's more, our future glory with Christ is fully assured (Colossians 3:1-3). Jesus Christ is head over every power and authority for us!

My Prayer...

Almighty God, I acknowledge that you are too great for me to comprehend fully. You are far greater than my mind can grasp. Your grace amazes me. Thank you for sending Jesus so I can be forgiven, delivered from the evil one, and go home to you and live forever. In your name, Christ Jesus, I confidently 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.