Today's Verse - Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

—Proverbs 14:34

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Wow, what an indictment, so please bear with me as we think through this and open our hearts to God.
When we vote our pocketbook more than character, and when we excuse the indiscretions, infidelities, and illegalities in the leaders of any political party, we have reached a very sad state indeed! When we ignore the anti-biblical stands politicians and their parties make to vote for a candidate because we hate the other candidate, we give the future away to godlessness. So, what do we do? We can and should pray for wisdom when we go to the polls. But there is a more important issue for each of us. Before we rant and rave about the sad state of morality and ethics in our public officials, let's make sure we're honest with ourselves about the sin in our own daily lives. What do we do in private when we think no one is looking? What corners are we willing to shave off of holiness and honesty to justify our indiscretions, falsehoods, lusts, and distortions? Do we say cruel things and gossip about others behind their backs? Are we faithful to our marriages? Do our hearts seek purity more than security? Do we treat others who serve us with dignity and respect? Is our word trustworthy, empty of malice, while being full of kindness? Let's make sure we expect higher standards of ourselves than we do of others. Let's also live to bless our nation through our righteous living. Let's seek to be sinless, bringing honor to God and his people. Then, let's ask our officials, politicians, and church leaders to do the same.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Father, we honor you as the only true, living, almighty, and holy God! We join the angels of heaven in saying, "Holy, holy, holy are you, the LORD God Almighty." May we bring you glory through what we think, say, and do. Please forgive us of our sins as we seek to banish hypocrisy from our character. Please bless us with purity, righteousness, holiness, compassion, and love as we pledge ourselves to live for your glory. In Jesus' name, we 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 - Jeremiah 17:9-10

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."

—Jeremiah 17:9-10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus told us that what is in our hearts ultimately works its way out into our public lives (Luke 6:43-45). The wise man of Proverbs told us to guard our hearts because the heart is the wellspring of our lives (Proverbs 4:23). Jeremiah wants us to know that God knows our hearts. At Heartlight.org and verseoftheday.com, we want to stress the importance of what goes into our hearts because it really makes a difference in what goes on inside our hearts and heads, and what comes out in our lives as behaviors. Please, invite the LORD into what you do, plan, think, read, scroll, swipe, watch, and hear. Ask the LORD to remove deceit from you. Ask the Spirit to help you see if what you are doing is truly worthy of your time and interest as a child of God and one who lives for the Kingdom of heaven.

My Prayer...

Righteous Father, please help me guard my heart. Help me be wise enough not to place things into it that would rob it of its purity and devotion to you. I want to be holy through and through - body, soul, mind, and spirit. Please search me and help me remove everything that would steal my devotion from you and that would ruin my influence with others for you. In the name of Jesus, 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 12:3

By the grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

—Romans 12:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

The wisdom of heaven reminds us:

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Knowing this, we must try to balance two truths: I must not be prideful, but I must understand just how much God values me. It's not easy. Satan can use our self-denigration, what I call "the worthless worm syndrome," to discourage and demean ourselves as God's creation. He longs to keep us from using our spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10-11) and living for God's purposes (Psalm 139:13-16). The evil one wants us to forget our value to God. On the other hand, pride takes God out of the picture. We attribute any contribution we make to God's Kingdom and our world to our own efforts, rather than to God. To be both image bearers of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and part of fallen humanity (Romans 3:21-24) is more than a theological issue; it is the daily struggle of being JESUShaped disciples who know our sinfulness but also God's love, mercy, and grace. We maintain our proper balance of humility as flawed mortals and divine utility as beings uniquely created and recreated (2 Corinthians 5:17) by God. When we praise the One who made us his children and give thanks for being adopted into God's family because of his grace for us in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21), we think of ourselves properly.

My Prayer...

Holy Father, I know that I am your child, not because of my deservedness, but because you redeemed me at the cost of Jesus' life. I know I am loved and valuable to you. I know you have given me the gifts, abilities, and experiences that have shaped me. May I ever be your humble yet valuable child, I pray this in the name of Jesus. 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.