Today's Verse - Galatians 6:16 (verse 15 follows)

Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule — to the Israel of God. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

—Galatians 6:16 (verse 15 follows)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Paul ends his breathtaking letter about God's grace to Galatians with this incredible reminder: both Jews and Gentiles who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ are God's people, his Israel. Like Abraham, who left on a long journey trusting in God's Promise, all who are "the Israel of God" follow God's lead and cling to God's Promise through faith in Jesus Christ. Like those delivered through the Exodus from Egypt by the power of God and with the sprinkled blood of the Passover lamb, God's people today have been blood-bought and delivered from their bondage to sin and death. In Christ, both Jews and non-Jews are included in God's Promise by grace through their faith in Christ Jesus. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female; we are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 5:26-29). As God's people, they are the recipients of mercy and peace — mercy and peace that God's people should now practice with each other.

My Prayer...

El Shaddai, LORD God of the Covenant, thank you for our great Patriarchs of faith who kept the faith and trusted in your Promise. Thank you for fulfilling your Promise to us, and all people, in Jesus. Thank you for blessing me and including me as one of your children through my faith in Jesus. Now, may we, your people, bring you praise, in the name of Jesus our 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 - Matthew 6:15

[As Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he reminded them:] "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

—Matthew 6:15

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Can you think of a more frightening thought than God not forgiving our sins? We know how much Jesus paid so our sins could be forgiven! We know how much the LORD loves us. We know how much our heavenly Father wants us to have a relationship with him. So why would any of us withhold our forgiveness of others when God has so lavishly given his forgiveness to us? When we don't forgive, we demonstrate that we have not graciously received the LORD's forgiveness or did not understand that our forgiveness is not confirmed until we share it with others! God is graciously forgiving and will not accept those not graciously forgiving of others!

My Prayer...

Holy God, there are those whom I find difficult to forgive. Right now, while I'm praying, please soften my heart with your Spirit, cleanse my soul of any bitterness or resentment, and empower me to let go of the pain of the past and forgive. I thank you for this grace to not only be forgiven but also forgive. 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 - Galatians 6:14

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

—Galatians 6:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Do you have a basis for pride? What is your source of that pride? Paul reminds us that our one, true, and dependable source of boasting is boasting in what the LORD has done for us on the cross and through his resurrection. This one source of boasting has absolutely nothing to do with anything that we have done, attained, or accomplished on our own. All other reasons to boast are fleeting glimpses at hollow fame compared to the joy and assurance of sharing in Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. May our boast be in the LORD and his sacrificial triumph through the cross!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Forgive me, O Abba Father, for the times I have thought myself important because of some transitory accomplishment. Thank you for giving me a bedrock source of boasting in Jesus' love and Jesus' grace demonstrated in the Cross. In Jesus' name, I thank you. 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.