Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 2:14

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

—1 Corinthians 2:14

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The Holy Spirit is God's abiding gift, God's seal, our anointing, and our promise of future glory.* The Spirit is our assurance that what God began with Jesus' sacrificial death and our participation in it through faith and baptism, he will bring to completion at Jesus' return. But the world cannot understand this great promise, just like it cannot understand much of Scripture. Without the gift of the Holy Spirit, their eyes only see what they can touch with their fingers and cannot fully see what is true in God's heart and what God has revealed in his Word.

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* The things said about the Holy Spirit come through clear statements in the Scriptures from places like John 14:18-23; Romans 8:9-39; Titus 3:3-7; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13; and 1 John 2:20, 26-27.

My Prayer...

Father, I thank you for sending Jesus. Jesus, I thank you for sending the Spirit. Spirit, I thank you for never leaving me alone. As I am filled with the Spirit, O LORD, so fill me more and more until my will and my life more perfectly reflect your desires and character, just as they were expressed in Jesus. Use me to bless others just as your presence now blesses me. Thank you, Jesus, for pouring out your Spirit upon us. Now, please motivate us to share your gifts of salvation and the Spirit with others so they can know the incredible plans you have for us! In your 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 - Matthew 6:33

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

—Matthew 6:33

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus is speaking in his Sermon on the Mount. He wants us not to worry about all the stuff we often pursue. So, let's seek (pursue relentlessly) God's Lordship over our lives and his righteousness, which reflects his holy character in our daily dealings. Everything else we pursue is temporary. Only God and his Kingdom remain. As we pursue God's Kingdom and his righteousness, Jesus promises that the one who gives us his Kingdom and his righteousness will also bless us with what we need in this life, as well!

My Prayer...

Holy LORD, only in you do I find what satisfies my soul's deepest desires. The things that have captured my eye are boring after only a short while. The artificial things I have pursued, all of my addictive interests, have left me empty, enslaved, and in debt. I find hope and help only in you alone. I join with the psalmist, David, and confess:

In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation. He is my fortress; I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

I rest my life in you alone, O LORD. I seek first your Kingdom. All my other pursuits and striving are a mere chasing after the wind. So, I draw near to you so you can correct, discipline, lead, and mold me into your faithful servant. In Jesus' name, I pray and confess. 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 - 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.

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.