Today's Verse - Romans 13:6-7

This is why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

—Romans 13:6-7

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Ouch! Tax day. Not my favorite day, how about you? But where would we be without government, order, and laws? Anarchy! Rebellion! Lawlessness! Dog-eat-dog days where all people are "in it" only for themselves!
While we may not always like how the system functions, we need to know from God how he wants us to live with flawed people in community. Paul is not naive. He knows he is likely going to be imprisoned and martyred by the Roman government. So, we can follow Paul's example as we seek to be redemptive in our living, obedient in our citizenship, and ask God to bless our countries and bring revival to them. Jesus left us this principle:

"So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (Matthew 22:21)

The apostle Paul explained and expanded Jesus' principle in our verse today:

Give everyone what you owe him. If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Now it is up to us, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to live up to that principle even in challenging times!

My Prayer...

Holy God, I thank you that I am free in you and belong to no one and no power other than you. To you, O God, I offer my full and undivided allegiance. Because I want your name and your people to be respected, I will obey the laws of my land as long as they align with your will. I know it is good for the spread of the gospel of Jesus and for the blessing of all people that we be at peace in our world (Romans 12:18), so, dear LORD, I pray for peace. 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 - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

—1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The story of the Gospel is simple. The grace of the Gospel is glorious. The sacrifice of the Gospel is incomprehensible. The victory of the Gospel is eternal. The core of the Gospel is Christ, and him crucified and raised on the third day. We live in light of God's third-day solution accomplished for us in Jesus' resurrection from the dead!

My Prayer...

Almighty LORD, thank you for the empty tomb and Jesus' victory over the grave. Just as Jesus' death pardoned my sin, his resurrection assures my future. Thank you for grace and glory. May my life be lived each day by the power of the resurrection. 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 - Romans 3:23-24

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

—Romans 3:23-24

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"I blew it!"
Come to think of it, we've all blown it! We don't measure up. We're not divine. We are not righteous on our own. We all fall short. We might be decent by the world's standards, but decent won't save us in the presence of a holy, infallible, and perfect God. Only the truly righteous make it past the grave and into glory. Thank God! Grace is freely given, and the price for our sin was paid by Jesus. While I "blew it," Jesus renewed it from sin, death, hell, and the evil one! While I "blew it" - and admit, you blew it, too - Jesus renewed our lives for life with him now, and in glory forever (Colossians 3:1-4). Jesus even presents us to the Father as "holy in his sight, without blemish, and free from accusation" (Colossians 1:22).

My Prayer...

Kind and Loving Father, thank you for being so generous with your mercy, grace, forgiveness, and cleansing. May I be as passionate for your righteousness as you were in redeeming me from my sin. Based on Jesus' authority and love, I ask for the Holy Spirit to help me with this, as I seek to please you and become more JESUShaped. 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.