Today's Verse - Romans 12:4-5

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

—Romans 12:4-5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

An arm detached from a living body is just a dead and useless body part. Fingers detached from the hand can't write, grasp, work, or paint. A foot detached from a living body can't walk. We belong to each other because we need each other. We belong to each other because we belong to Christ, who holds his Body together and fills it with life because of his leadership and grace. We find our freedom to be what God has made us to be when we walk in harmony with each other and follow the lead of Christ, who is our Head! The Body of Christ finds its purpose and usefulness as each part offers itself to the Body for the good of the Body. We as disciples discover our usefulness when we offer ourselves to the rest of the Body and the work of the LORD.

My Prayer...

Dear Father, thank you for making me a part of something that is living, dynamic, powerful, and eternal. Thank you for giving me special abilities and gifts to use for the Body of Christ. Please help me find and use my gifts and abilities for the good of your people and to glorify Jesus, my Lord, 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 - 1 Corinthians 12:3

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

—1 Corinthians 12:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Say it today as often as possible: "Jesus is LORD." But more than just saying it, mean it from your heart. Look up the word "LORD" in a Bible concordance, then read all the references to it in the New Testament. Open your heart, ask Jesus to be LORD of your life in every way, and live with that commitment like the earliest disciples. Jesus is LORD! As you cry out, "Jesus is LORD!" you can know the Holy Spirit is filling you and empowering you to say and live it in your life. Jesus is LORD whether you or I recognize it or not. However, one day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is LORD to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11) Let's get on board while it matters most to us and to those we love! Jesus is LORD!

My Prayer...

Father, you are God Almighty. Thank you for raising Jesus from death, seating him at your right hand in power, and making him both LORD and Christ. I want your Son, Jesus, to be my LORD today and reign in my heart every day until he comes to take me home. Jesus, as Thomas confessed, is "My Lord and my God!" I make this confession by the power of the Holy Spirit and to honor the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, and my LORD. 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 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

—Romans 12:2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Sooner or later, we must decide: Will I be a nonconformist? Will I refuse to be squeezed into conformity with the world? Will I be part of a Christian counter-culture? Will I be God's person, an alien and an exile in the world, a follower of Jesus put here to have a redemptive influence? Jesus calls us his disciples. So, bottom line: until we are ready to step across the line of cultural conformity and live totally for the LORD Jesus, we're not going to recognize fully what God's will is for us. There are no armchair quarterback Christians. There are no sideline disciples. There are no back-seat-driver Christians. We either choose the Lordship of Jesus and refuse to be conformed to the world or reject it. So what's your decision? Let's be non-conformists and live for Jesus.

My Prayer...

Holy God, I believe that Jesus Christ is LORD and Savior. I believe he came to earth as a human, lived an exemplary life of grace and power, and died for my sins so I could live for you and with you forever. Please forgive me, O God, for the times I have hedged on my commitment to you and flirted with the darkness. I want to live for you with passion, joy, and fulfillment. I offer myself to you so that the Holy Spirit can continue transforming me into being like Christ and living in nonconformity to the world. In his name, Jesus the LORD, 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.