Today's Verse - Matthew 11:27-28

"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

—Matthew 11:27-28

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Life-giving rest, like eternal life, are our gifts from knowing the God and Jesus Christ whom God sent (John 17:3). The LORD is our shepherd who brings us life, health, restoration, protection, goodness, both now and eternally (Psalm 23:1-6). Jesus came and revealed God to us as Immanuel, God with us (John 1:14-18; Matthew 1:23). Only the Son knows the Father intimately because he is one with the Father (John 10:30). Only Jesus can take away our burden of seeking to please God as imperfect and sinful people because only the Son can remove the burden of our past sins and enable us to stand holy, blameless, and free from accusation before God (Colossians 1:21-22). And, as our Good Shepherd, Jesus blesses us with abundant life that lasts forever (John 10:10-15). We can come to Jesus and find the rest our souls crave (Matthew 11:29). Praise God!

My Prayer...

Father in heaven, please bless me with your grace, bring me life, and bless me with rest. May I never take these gifts from my Good Shepherd for granted. Please empower me to serve you with joy and gladness, having had my burdens lifted by your grace and finding my rest and restoration in Jesus. In his 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 - John 11:26

"Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

—John 11:26

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

These were Jesus' words to Martha when her brother had died. She still hoped Jesus would intervene and do something about her brother's death. What Jesus says here fits well with something we emphasized several days ago. Christians who die physically are never really separated from their relationship with God's loving presence in Jesus (Romans 8:32-39). Their life is joined with Jesus, and that relationship is not severed by death (Philippians 1:18-23). In today's passage, Jesus challenges us to believe a similar truth: "Whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Do you believe the genuine living part of you made by God in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13-16) will never die? Even though your physical body dies, do you believe you are still alive in Jesus? I hope so because this is an incredible thought! We are eternal, immortal, and joined with Jesus. His future is joined with us because of him (Colossians 3:1-4)! So, will we live believing this powerful truth?

My Prayer...

Almighty God, I do believe that because of Jesus, I will never die, that I am never separated from you because my life and future are joined to Jesus. Please bless me, dear Father, so that I can make every minute count while I am here in this life. At the same time, dear God, I look forward to seeing you face to face. In the meantime, please help me live by faith and not fear. 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 - Mark 11:25

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

—Mark 11:25

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

This passage is one of the most challenging reminders of God's will in Scripture. I MUST forgive others! When I refuse to forgive, I build a dam, stopping the stream of forgiveness God longs to give me. Forgiving others is seldom easy. It is often quite difficult and painful. However, God has commanded us to do it and given us his Son as an example of how to forgive (Luke 23:34). Jesus has promised to empower us to do his will by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:14-21) as we are transformed to become like him (2 Corinthians 3:18). The real issue: Will I let go of my bitterness toward those who have wounded me? Yet when we harbor bitterness and unforgiveness, we hold ourselves hostage to our hate and resentment. As the saying says, "Forgiveness is setting the captive bird free, then realizing you were the captive bird!"

My Prayer...

Dear God, I confess this is a hard command. But, dear Father, I want to forgive these people (please add the names you are committing to forgive) of the sin they have committed against me. Please block cynicism and bitterness from my heart. Please empower me to forgive as Jesus did. Please pour your Holy Spirit into my heart and fill me with love and forgiveness. In addition, dear Father, please teach me what my commitment to forgive means for the genuine life changes I need to make. 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.