Today's Verse - 1 Peter 1:18-19

You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

—1 Peter 1:18-19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

If value is determined by price, we are incredibly valuable to God. Our Father took the most precious treasure of heaven and redeemed us out of sin, evil, and death to adopt us into his family through Jesus' sacrifice. Silver and gold pale in comparison to that value. Without this redemption, we were in a mess. We were trapped in "the empty way of life handed down to us". To know the depth of that empty way of life, we need to remember who we were before Christ (Ephesians 2:1-3; Romans 5:6):

• Dead in our transgressions and sins.
• Following the ways of the evil ruler of the spiritual realm, who is at work among the disobedient.
• Gratifying the cravings of our flesh.
• By nature deserving of God's wrath.
• Powerless and ungodly sinners living as enemies of God.

But God chose to redeem us in love through "the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." Now that we are redeemed, Christ presents us to God as "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (Colossians 1:22). We are redeemed, bought out of our slavery to the emptiness of the sinful life the world chooses. So, dear brothers and sisters, let's live as who God has made us to be: valuable and precious to our Father!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Holy God, may I live each day more aware of my inestimable value to you. May my words, thoughts, and actions be permeated with your sense of my worth and not my regrets for a past life wasted on the empty ways of the world; not so that I might seem important to others, but so that I might display your holiness and righteous character in my life, bringing glory to you for the incredible gift of grace in Jesus. Through whom 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 14:11

It is written, "As surely as I live," says the LORD, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God."

—Romans 14:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We live in anticipation of the day when every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). Until that day, let's do all we can to influence as many as we can to receive the grace of God through faith in Jesus. We want them to bow before Jesus now as their Savior and LORD, today, so on that great future day, they can join with the host of heaven in joy, not in regret or fear, and acknowledge Jesus for who he is: LORD of all!

My Prayer...

Father, I thank you for saving me. May my anticipation of the day of Jesus' victory move me to be your agent of reconciliation so that others are ready for that day and will welcome it and our Savior with joy. Give me eyes to see those who need to come to Jesus today and confess that Jesus is LORD. Through him 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 1:20

Since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

—Romans 1:20

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The touch of the Master's hand is all around us. We can see it in the order, beauty, specificity, and dazzling variety of creation. The great expanse of space, with its billions of stars, along with the incredible world of the microscopic, is all testimony to an Orderer of great creativity and inestimable power. Our heavenly Father has left his fingerprints all over his world, his creation, his universe, so we can know that he has been here and will not abandon the work of his hands. But, will we respond to this beauty in creation by seeking to live by the ways of the Great Orderer, the Creator of the universe, or will we choose for ourselves, or something else, to replace God? Will we choose to reflect his righteous character, gracious compassion, and loving justice over asserting our human arrogance and destructive self-will? God has revealed himself, and we are without excuse. Will we choose our own way, or God's?

My Prayer...

O God, thank you for your creation. Thank you for its beauty and variety. Thank you for the changing seasons and the beauty of Spring and Autumn. Most of all, thank you for choosing to show yourself to us, your creatures, in the things you have created. We pledge to respond to such bountiful grace with loving obedience. We commit our lives and this prayer of thanks to you, in the name of Jesus. 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.