Today's Verse - Philippians 1:6

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

—Philippians 1:6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God finished his work of creating our world in six days. The LORD continues to sustain it with his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3). He is still working on us, in us, and through us. He will continue to work his will in us till we fully share in his glory (Philippians 2:12-13) and Christ comes to take us home to be with him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). And this promise isn't just for us personally, but for us as part of Jesus' people, his church, his bodily presence in the world. As Paul says to the Philippian believers:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13).

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Thank you, Father, for being at work in my life and in the lives of my brothers and sisters. We confess that at times we neglect our faith, and you seem distant and unreachable to us. However, looking back over the crucial moments of our lives, we can see your fingerprints on us and your grace leading us to where we are today. Dear Father, please make your presence even more powerfully known in our lives as we seek your will and commit to live to your glory. In the name of Jesus, our LORD and Savior, 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 - Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

—Ephesians 3:20-21

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Of all the names for God in the Bible, my favorite is "Him Who-is-Able"! Our God can "do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine"! Our God is the same God who parted the Red Sea and fed 5,000 people on a green hillside with only a couple of sardine sandwiches. Our LORD not only longs to do more through you and me and the Spirit at work within us, but Jesus also gave us this incredible promise as those who believe:

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:12-13).

Unfortunately, most of us haven't really given Jesus much of a challenge with our wimpy dreams and shallow prayers. Let's dream big dreams for God. Let's have great ideas of what he can do through us to reach the lost world. Then hang on for the ride that is more than we can even imagine!

My Prayer...

Almighty and Awesome God, we pray the prayer of Habakkuk, your prophet:

LORD, [we] have heard of your fame; [we] stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time, make them known... (Habakkuk 3:2).

Please, O LORD, give us faith to imagine and ask for greater things to be done for your glory. Amaze us with your works, which show how shortsighted our faith has really been. We ask this for your glory and the salvation of our world. In Jesus' name, we ask this. 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 - Psalm 138:2

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

—Psalm 138:2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For Christians, God's temple is one of two related things: either the Christian's physical body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) or the group of people who make up his Church gathered together (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:4-5). Because of the flaws in the people who make up our churches, many are overly critical of our bouts with hypocrisy and weakness. The problem with most churches is that they are made up of people like the one we see in the mirror each day. Despite our flaws and failures as God's people, his Church is precious to him. We should also value the Church, the temple of God, as precious. Anyone who destroys the LORD's Church, the LORD's temple, through division will be utterly destroyed (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). God has demonstrated his faithfulness to his people by preserving the Church through the ravages and persecutions of history, and by sustaining it through the failures of some of its most significant leaders. He has done this by his patience with the flawed people in his Church. God is still the center of the Church, the place where he chooses to dwell. So, dear friend in Jesus, we must value the Church, our congregations, the people that we share faith with, as we obey the word and will of God, and as we praise God and exalt him for his love, grace, and faithfulness.

My Prayer...

Holy and incomparable God, I praise you for your steadfast love and faithfulness revealed in your preservation of your Church through all the years and centuries of history. I will cherish your Church and do all I can to help it grow and mature into the bodily presence of Jesus. Through 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.