Today's Verse - 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

—1 Corinthians 10:13

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

TEMPTATION... We've all faced it. We know it is the evil one's carefully crafted weapon, specifically designed to ensnare us mortals. We can sometimes even hear the voice of the evil one in our heads, saying, "No one will ever know. Besides, it won't hurt anyone!" But in our hearts, we know that to cave in to temptation matters because we've allowed ourselves to give in to what is wrong and given away part of ourselves. Thankfully, we can defeat temptation if we do what this verse reminds us:

• To recognize temptation when it presents itself.
• To know this specific temptation we face is common to mortals, so I can overcome it because others have.
• To remember that God is faithful. My Father in heaven won't let me be tempted above what I can handle.
• To believe that God will provide a way of escape, so I need to look for it, and resist the evil one behind it, as I draw near to God (James 1:13-15, 4:7-8).

My Prayer...

Righteous and loving Father, guard my heart from temptation and my life from sin. I want to serve you with wholehearted devotion. Forgive me for my past sin, and by your grace and through your word, strengthen me with your Holy Spirit so that I may overcome the temptations the evil one uses to separate me from you. Through my Protector and Redeemer, Jesus, I pray with confidence. 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 - Philippians 2:14-16

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.

—Philippians 2:14-16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Stars! They've always been a source of constant hope for God's people. "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven..." God told Abraham (Genesis 22:17). "When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them..." David asked (Psalm 8:3-4). The Wisemen, Magi from the East, followed a star to discover baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1-2). Luke reminds us that Jesus was the light coming from heaven to shine on those in darkness (Luke 2:32). And now, we're stars - God's points of light in the dark sky of the universe. Let's make today a day that our light shines God's glory to a dark world around us. We will live for Jesus without complaining or arguing, living pure lives so we can shine God's grace to those who do not know him through Jesus! Let's hold out the word of life in our dark world.

My Prayer...

Almighty God, the incredible expanse of your universe, with its billions of stars, exceeds my limited comprehension. But I thank you for calling me to be a person of light in the dark world around me. I pledge to shine your light in the lives of all those I influence. Through the name of Jesus, your bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16), 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 - Galatians 5:16

Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

—Galatians 5:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

I don't want you to think about an orange rhinoceros flying with blue wings. Now quit it. I don't want you to think about that orange rhinoceros anymore. You know there is no such thing as an orange rhino that flies, much less one that flies on blue wings. Quit thinking about him and his blue wings!
Of course, the point is straightforward: the more we try not to do something, the more we focus on it, the more we ensure that we will do what we are not supposed to do. That's why the gift of the Holy Spirit is so important to us as we seek to honor and obey our LORD and Savior Jesus and avoid sin. He enables and empowers us to move beyond our sin and to quit thinking about it. The Spirit empowers us, not by focusing on the sin we want to avoid, but by enriching us and "distracting" us with the important things of God (Galatians 5:22). As we focus more on Jesus, the more the Spirit transforms us away from our sin that we want to avoid and thinking about, and transforming us toward the character of Jesus:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces reflect and contemplate* the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17-18).

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* The Greek word (κατοπτριζόμενοι) means both "reflect" and "contemplate" as most translations suggest in their footnotes.

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My Prayer...

Abba Father, I thank you for your Holy Spirit that lives in me and is now interceding with you for me (Romans 8:26). Please fill me with your Spirit so that my life more nearly reflects your will and focuses on your concerns as the Spirit transforms me to become more and more like my LORD and Savior. Through 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.