Today's Verse - Mark 8:36

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his very soul?

—Mark 8:36

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Advertising, easy online purchasing, and social media lead us to chase after so many worldly things. We feel like we're lacking if we don't have all this stuff, or thousands of likes, or all these friends and followers on social networks. However, only one thing is needful. Having a fist full of dollars, a post that has thousands of likes, a magnificent estate, and a lot of prestige don't mean a whole lot in life if we've gone to your eternal address without the LORD. Lying awake at night only to find ourselves in a barren place where Christ does not dwell, and life is not found, is horrifying - worse than our worst nightmare, horrifying and forever. Let's not lose our life, our soul, our meaning, to chasing after what is not lasting and can only satisfy for a moment until we achieve the next bigger and better thing.

My Prayer...

Father, help me keep my priorities in order, my life holy, my love genuine, my heart open to your will, and my desires free from covetousness for things that don't last. I ask for the Holy Spirit's help so my own self-seeking, greed, ambition, and pride do not blind me to what is most important in my life - my walk and my relationship with Jesus. In his precious name, I pray this, as I seek to find what is truly and lasting life. Amen.

Today's Verse - Ephesians 5:25-26

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy.

—Ephesians 5:25-26

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

For husbands, there is sacrificial love in our purpose with our wives, and purpose in our sacrifice as we give up our wills to help our wives as they are molded to become more like Christ by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18) . We are to give up ourselves to actively love our wives. Jesus is our example here, and he gave up everything to serve and bless us (Mark 10:45). His example demonstrates our purpose in our relationship with our wives. Just as Jesus sought to make us holy and beautiful in God's sight, so also we should love our wives with that same purpose. Our motives are to be equally as sacrificial and pure in surrendering our rights to bless and love our wives (Philippians 2:6-9). As Paul reminds all believers, and specifically husbands in their relationship with their wives, that we, too, are to submit ourselves to bless our wives. This does not mean, however, spinelessness; it means service and sacrifice to bless and bring glory to Christ in how we love and serve the ladies in our lives!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Holy God, help our families to be full of love. May this loving service begin with me, today, in my family. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

—Ephesians 6:4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

It seems that many mothers have an inside track with their children because of the bonding that occurs in a child's earliest days and weeks of life with her, both in the womb as they hear her voice and feel her comfort, and after delivery, as she nurses and suckles her child. So, I find it interesting that God commands fathers to be about the work of spiritual nurture with their children, yet they are to do it without exasperating the child with overly harsh discipline. I don't believe Paul means to exclude mothers, but he emphasizes the importance of a strong, gentle guiding hand from a man who is not overly harsh, but still has expectations. No, I think Paul assumes most moms will do their part in training and instructing children. However, the father's influence and intentional training of each child are also essential for the child to know the father's love and see that both parents support the proper direction the child should take in behavior, faith, and life. Dads, we have the awesome opportunity to help our child know a father's love so they can come to know the love of our Father in heaven.

My Prayer...

Abba Father, may my children come to find your love in the way that I instruct, nurture, discipline, and train them. Thank you for providing your church family, which can offer support, love, nurture, and help when a child does not have the blessing of two loving and godly parents. No matter who is raising a child, we pray that they can lead them and love them in the way that points them to you, our Father. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.