Today's Verse - Hebrews 10:30-31

We know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

—Hebrews 10:30-31

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God hates injustice, unfairness, brutality, and abuse. In a world where the greedy, the murdering, the thieving, the raping, the mugging, the abusive, and the bullies often get away with their shameless and despicable behavior, God is the ultimate assurance that justice will be done. The wicked will not triumph. The evil will have to give account to the one who will judge them (Acts 10:42-43; 1 Peter 4:3-5). While those who love and serve Jesus expect his return with anticipation and joy, those who are evil and vile will find out what a dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God. The hands that wipe away the tears of Jesus' wounded disciples in heaven (Revelation 7:17, 21:4) will also be the hands that avenge those who have perpetrated evil, abuse, intimidation, harm, and desecration on the helpless (Isaiah 58:6-7; Proverbs 6:16-19; Jeremiah 7:6-7).

My Prayer...

Holy and Righteous God, my Heavenly Father, I am comforted to know that you will bring justice on those who have violently abused the innocent, weak, helpless, underprivileged, and infirm. I hate to see anyone lost. I hate it even worse when evil people abuse and practice injustice on those who are good, kind, and godly. I hate it when people claim to be good, but their deeds are evil, and they masquerade as victims while they inflict their evil deeds on others. So, please give me the courage to stand between the evil of my world and those on whom it preys. Because of Jesus' grace and victory over sin and death, and because of his passion to protect the marginalized and forgotten, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - 1 John 2:1

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense — Jesus Christ the Righteous One.

—1 John 2:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God hates sin. Don't you? I know I do. But isn't it amazing how we'll fall back into the same old traps again and again? The goal is not to sin even one sin! But knowing our struggle against flesh, John also gives assurance to those of us who are trying to live faithful and pure lives. He wants us to know that when we do sin, the sacrifice for our sins, God's Son, is also our defense attorney who proclaims us sinless before God by his blood (Colossians 1:22; 1 John 1:7, 2:2). So let's draw close to Christ. Let's invite him into our hearts each morning as we begin the day (Revelation 3:20). Let's trust in his power and grace to sustain us and carry us through. As Paul prayed for new believers in Thessalonica:

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

God, no one and nothing is like you - even comparable to you. I did not have to provide the sacrifice for my sins. Even though my sins broke your heart, you provided that sacrifice. So, please use me today as I try to give myself, my life, and my future back to you as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you (Romans 12:1-2), because I want to thank you for your grace. Through Jesus, and in his name, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Hebrews 10:35-36

Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

—Hebrews 10:35-36

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Some tough times come with living. They're inescapable. There can also be even tougher times for those who believe and seek to share Jesus. We call that persecution. That's when our confidence in the LORD's salvation and our relationship with him get tested! It is one thing to sing "it is well with my soul" at the end of a peel-the-paint worship service. It is quite another to be able to sing those words when they auction your house off at the courthouse steps, you are told you have a long-term debilitating illness, you lose a child to death, or you are ridiculed and persecuted for your faith. Faith can't take a holiday when we travel through the suburbs of hell - when times are tough. If we quit then, we'll never find our way out. We must persevere. So don't throw away your steadfastness in faith. Hang on, hang in, persevere! Don't give up. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, trusting that God will give you the strength for the next step. No matter how hard it is at the moment, please don't give in to despair. Be like Job or Jeremiah, who both argued and complained to God, but never let go of God. Don't quit. Christ is coming for you with grace and glory. His deliverance awaits!

My Prayer...

Holy and Almighty God, today is a good day. However, I am deeply aware that some of those I love are close to giving up their confidence in your love, mercy, grace, peace, and deliverance. Please use me to encourage them. Even more, dear Father, I ask that you use your Holy Spirit to renew their hearts. I pray that you intervene directly to change the course of events, give them relief, and make your gracious presence known to them. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.