Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Christ has indeed been raised, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

—1 Corinthians 15:20-22

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Being eternal is nothing new; in the beginning, God made us to live forever in fellowship with him. Being like Jesus (1 John 3:1-3) completely, eternally, will be new, however, when we're raised from the dead. When Jesus' lifeless body was placed in the ground, our lives with God forever in glory hung in the balance with him. Praise God. The Spirit of God revived Jesus from his death sleep. Jesus' resurrection also ensures our own, because our lives are hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4), that death can no longer claim us. The only death that really matters for us is dying to our sin, through faith in baptism with Jesus (Romans 6:4). If we have shared in that death, we will most certainly share in his resurrection (Romans 6:5). Jesus was "the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." This means that because God raised Jesus from the dead, we too can be confident that we "will be made alive" in Christ and live with him forever. His resurrection forever guarantees our own (Romans 8:11). Praise God, indeed!

My Prayer...

Almighty and graciously powerful God, I praise you. I praise you today because of your grace given to me through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. I know I will see you face-to-face and share in your glory. Help me now to live that resurrected life before others, as the Holy Spirit transforms me each day into greater and glorious likeness to Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). In whose 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 10:9-10

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

—Romans 10:9-10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Imagine Jesus being proud of you! He said if we confess him before others here on earth, he will speak up for us in heaven and claim us as his own (Matthew 10:32). Not only that, because we have confessed Jesus as our Savior and LORD, Jesus presents us to God as "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." Confessing Jesus as our LORD is acknowledging the truth, the reality of Jesus' true identity that every person will acknowledge one day. Our confession is the anticipation of what is to come when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus as LORD to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

My Prayer...

Mighty God, your Son is our LORD and Savior. We love him and praise him for his redeeming sacrifice. We thank him for his conquest over death and the grave. We marvel at his sacrificial and triumphant grace. Jesus is LORD. We know those words sound sweet in your ears, O God, so we confess the truth again: Jesus is LORD! O Father, thank you for being so great that you would be so sacrificial in sharing your grace and glory of the Son with us. In the name of our LORD and Savior, Jesus the Carpenter and our King, we offer our deepest thanks and praise. 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 - 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

—1 Corinthians 1:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Power! We love power. We love the sound and fury of power. We love the power's ability to bring positive change to dreadful situations. The greatest power ever unleashed on this earth was the power displayed when the Almighty God held back his might and fury while his Son was persecuted, abused, belittled, battered, and murdered on a cross. Now that's an awesome display of power, and it was displayed specifically for us and to save us. Plus, we know the cross was not the end of God's powerful grace; it was the doorway to Jesus' glorious and triumphant resurrection. We now live by the power of God who raised Jesus from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-21). Praise God for his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Video Commentary...

ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos

My Prayer...

Holy and Majestic God, we praise you for your incredible might and power. We also thank you for your love, which guides the release of that power to bless and redeem us. Thank you for knowing that we are but dust, and without your sustaining Spirit, we will not have life in glory with you when our bodies fail. Thank you for saving us by withholding your mighty power when we sin, and for pardoning us through your sacrificial power released for us in Jesus. Because of your mercy, Father, and in the holy name of Jesus, we offer this prayer through the intercession of the Holy Spirit. 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.