Today's Verse - Hosea 10:12

Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

—Hosea 10:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In the middle of God's rebuke of his people through Hosea the prophet, God gives his people this beautiful challenge: "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love." God promises to help us break up the "unplowed" and hardened ground in our hearts as we seek him. As our hearts soften to God's loving grace, he promises to shower his blessing of righteousness on us as we pursue him and his ways. So, rather than seeing God's call for us to be righteous as a hard goal to pursue, let's see it as a great blessing to receive as we seek him and open our softened hearts to him!

My Prayer...

O LORD Most High, use your Holy Spirit to purify and cultivate my heart so that it is soft and receptive to your will and compassionate to those in need. Please make it a holy place for your Spirit to live as you shower your righteousness on me. 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 - John 10:11

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."

—John 10:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

These words come from Jesus, who describes his role as the Good Shepherd David described in Psalm 23. If we refuse to let the familiarity of these words get in the way of their astounding grace, we realize their astonishing reality. The supreme God of the universe loves us so generously and is involved in our individual lives specifically and lovingly! He has shown his kindness to us in the past through Jesus and the grace and mercy Jesus brought us when we were undeserving (Romans 5:6-11). The LORD now leads, guides, and cares for us as our Good Shepherd. And, he will dramatically show his love for us again when Jesus returns — not to give his life for us, not just to guide us in our lives today, but also to share his life with us forever! Come, sweet Shepherd, come!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing yourself to Israel as the Great Shepherd and for sending Jesus to be the Good Shepherd who sacrificed his life for me. Now, please accept the commitment of my heart and the actions of my life to be my sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise to you for all that you have done and will do as my Good Shepherd. 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.

Today's Verse - Jeremiah 10:10

"But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King."

—Jeremiah 10:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jeremiah is speaking the words of God to Israel and reminds them that there is only one true God, the LORD. All others are false gods, mere pretenders to the throne of the Righteous One, the eternal King. Yet, like the Athenians in Acts 17, our world continues to place idol after idol in the place that should be reserved for God alone. But we can be different. We must be different! We can live as radiant examples of the God of justice, righteousness, mercy, and grace. We can reflect his holiness into our world, share his hope for the lost and hurting, and make a redemptive impact for good in the places we go and the people we meet. So, let's get started doing it TODAY!

My Prayer...

Most High God, my Abba Father, thank you so much for the incredible gift of your grace and the sense of redemptive purpose you have placed within my life. I know you can use me to do your work in my world and bring you glory. Please do! In Jesus' name, I pray this. 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.