Today's Verse - 1 Peter 3:18

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.

—1 Peter 3:18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Having stood over the open graves of friends, family, and strangers, I know the feel of death's finality and our human frailty. Christ's death, however, powerfully reminds us that death's hold on us depends on our perspective and faith rooted in the saving work of Jesus. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus is the firstfruits of those of us who believe in him (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). I believe he was raised from the dead, not just in spirit form, but in bodily presence to defeat death and bring us "life and immortality to light" beyond death (2 Timothy 1:10). Because Jesus lives, so will we! No grave could hold him, and because of him, no grave can hold us. And in that new life that is ahead, Jesus will bring us to God, and to each other who believe in him, in glory (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

My Prayer...

Almighty God, thank you for the gifts of your grace, Spirit, forgiveness, and eternal life. Most of all, thanks for the gift of your Son, who brought "life and immortality to light" in me through your salvation. While I have no great desire to die, or go through the process of dying, I know I can look through death to being with you and sharing your victory with me through Jesus. Please give me the courage to live confidently for you each day until the day you take me home to you in glory. 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 Peter 2:15-16

It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

—1 Peter 2:15-16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What does the world most need to see and hear from you and me today? I believe the world needs to see our lives tuned to the melody of grace we claim comes from God in Jesus. Doing good and being like Christ is Peter's answer to opposition, cynicism, and even persecution (1 Peter 3:15-19). We are free in Jesus, but freedom doesn't mean we have to flaunt it pretentiously. Instead, we can live for Jesus, who died to conquer death and renounced the evil one's power over us, to give us heavenly freedom so we could find life in him (Philippians 2:6-11). Like Jesus, we can live as servants to bless others, and we can serve God as we seek to lead others to discover Jesus!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Holy Father, our great Emancipator, you have freed us from sin, law, and death at the cost of your precious Son. Jesus, we recognize that you gave up your rights and your freedom to serve us and save us. We open our hearts to your grace, forgiveness, and freedom. Thank you for your gift of redemption and the freedom it brings from fear, sin, death, hell, and purposelessness. Please accept the actions of our lives, the words of our mouths, the thoughts of our minds, and the emotions of our hearts today as our offering of thanks as we serve others 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.

Today's Verse - Colossians 1:9

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

—Colossians 1:9

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

In a world where we can feel so isolated and alone at times, despite all the ways we can connect online, it's important to know someone is praying for us and our spiritual needs. That also means we need to let others know we are praying for them, and tell them what we are praying for them! As I think of the hundreds of thousands who are a part of Verse of the Day, I cannot help but pray that each of them, that you specifically, are blessed by knowing that you share a spiritual journey with people all over the world, and that today, we will be praying for each other. And of course, there can be no better prayer than the one that Paul prayed for the Colossian friends he had never met:

[I ask] God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Please join me in prayer today for our brothers and sisters in Christ in over 190 countries and in fifteen languages who share fellowship through VerseoftheDay.com!

My Prayer...

Oh precious and divine Father, today we pray for the other believers in our worldwide family of faith, believers seeking to live for Jesus. Though we live all over the world and have all sorts of needs, we also realize that our deepest need is to know you, the true and living God, and to live out your will confidently, believing that you know us and love us. Please fill us with the true knowledge of your will through Spirit-led wisdom and understanding. We want to know, honor, serve, and ultimately, see you and each other face-to-face in glory. In the name of our older brother Jesus, 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.