Today's Verse - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

—2 Corinthians 9:7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God is working in us to conform our character and will to be like his own. God is a giver. God finds delight in generously blessing us. When we praise God for his grace, we are praising him for his gracious gift of love given to us in Jesus. He's a giver! Now he asks us to be like him: to be generous and full of grace. Giving is not an arbitrary task imposed on us to fund our churches and ministries; instead, giving is part of our character transformation as we become more and more like God. Giving to others in need and to the work of the Kingdom is one of the most genuine ways we demonstrate our allegiance, dependence, and participation in the gracious work of God. We are most like God when we give... lovingly... cheerfully! Remember how the most famous verse in the Bible begins? "For God so loved the world that he GAVE..."

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father, please forgive me for the times I have been miserly with the abundance you have shared with me. Open my heart to the richness of your generosity. Use me as a conduit of your generous blessings, bringing them to others. I know that all I have is yours. Please help me use it as you would, lovingly and generously sharing it with others. In Jesus' name, I yearn to be gracious and generous like you, my Father. 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 - Hebrews 13:6

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

—Hebrews 13:6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

How can we be confident in what happens today?
What is our assurance for tomorrow?
Where do we muster excitement about eternity?

The LORD is our helper! Fear will not be our master because our future, our destiny, our eternity rest in the hands of the eternal LORD. The worst that man can do is to send us home to our LORD, who will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Nothing the evil one can do can separate us from our Father's love (Romans 8:32-39). We say with confidence, "The Lord is our helper; we will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to us?"

My Prayer...

Almighty God, my Father and my helper, I place my trust in you. As the Alpha and Omega, the God who is the great I AM, I trust you for all my tomorrows and rest my dependence in you and your unfailing love. In Jesus' name, I rely on you and praise you for your never-failing love. 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 6:5-6

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin...

—Romans 6:5-6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Paul reminds us that our baptism was more than just a dunking in water. In baptism, we share in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. What he did to save us, we now get to share with him in doing. We died to sin and were raised to be a new person, cleansed and made holy, empowered and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. We have been set free from the power and penalty of sin and the limits of our mortal physical bodies. This experience we had with Jesus is our physical connection, our assurance of our future spiritual glory with him! Why? Since "we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection."

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for giving me new life in Jesus. I am truly thankful that your grace covers my guilt, makes me holy, and gives me assurance of my future. I ask for the Holy Spirit's power to live my life in freedom from sin. Please forgive me for allowing my passion to slip into mediocrity and sin. Give me a strong sense of revulsion toward anything that would pollute my soul or distract my heart from your will. I refuse to be a slave to sin, and I choose to build my life on my promised future with you. In the name of Jesus, I thank you and recommit my life to you today. 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.