Today's Verse - Ephesians 3:17-19

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

—Ephesians 3:17-19

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Love that surpasses knowledge is truly powerful, but difficult to explain. However, when you have loved your spouse for decades, and he or she is as close to you as any bodily organ, you experience what this means. Love that surpasses knowledge. You know each other, and each other's faults and weaknesses, but your love is deeper than when you first fell in love. When you love a child and do for them what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase. Love that surpasses knowledge. And when you stand before God, adopted as a full heir of all his great riches (Romans 8:14, 16-17), a full sibling to Jesus Christ the LORD (Hebrews 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-2), and Jesus presents you to the Father as holy, without reproach, and blameless (Colossians 1:22), you begin to understand this phrase. Love that surpasses knowledge.

My Prayer...

Holy and incredible God, help me to know in my soul the love that is greater than words and greater than knowledge, so that I may not only be like you, but that I may know you in experience just as I know you in faith. Thank you for loving me first, now use me to love others with a love that surpasses knowledge. Through Jesus, and by his authority, 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 Thessalonians 5:11

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

—1 Thessalonians 5:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

While Paul's exhortation here is excellent, it is the style of the exhortation we should especially notice. We live in an age where we are constantly pressured to emphasize the novel, new, or improved versions of things. But in our lives as Christians, our knowledge always exceeds our obedience - we very seldom live up to the truth we know, even though it is old truth and established truth. So, more often than we like to think, we need to remind each other of what we are doing that is right, good, obedient, and holy. Our words of affirmation and encouragement don't need to be elaborate or profound or novel or new. We can say, "Hey, you're doing well; just keep doing what you're doing! I know your Father in heaven is pleased with you!" Let's encourage each other and build each other up, as in fact some of us are already doing, and need to do so more and more.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Faithful Father, thank you for noticing and keeping record of the things I've done that are good and pleasing to you. Thank you for choosing to forget those things you have forgiven me. Please help me to keep doing those things that please you, only help me do them better, more completely, so that you may be pleased and glorified. And, dear Father, help me see the good things others do, and encourage and affirm their goodness. I want to be the kind of disciple who catches people doing good things, then lets them know I appreciate them. In Jesus name and to become more JESUShaped, 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 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

—1 Chronicles 29:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Praise is the direct address of God that lets him know we recognize him for who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing. But more than informing God of his greatness, praise is rejoicing before him in his greatness, while recognizing that not only is his grace without comparison, his majesty and might and holiness and faithfulness and righteousness and mercy and love and forgiveness and justice... are all without comparison. The LORD God is God. My praise is my thankful celebration and recognition of him as God, my God, the one and only true God, and let's him know I rejoice in him!

My Prayer...

Great and gracious God, the Holy One who is without anyone to compare. You and you alone are truly worthy of my best words, deepest thoughts, and greatest imaginings. I not only worship and submit to you, but I also rejoice that you are who you are, and that you have revealed yourself to us, your creations. I celebrate what you have done. I long for what you are yet to do. You are magnificent, my Father and my God. In the name of Jesus, and because of your matchless love, I praise you for all you are to me, and what more of you I have yet to discover. 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.