Today's Verse - Colossians 3:12

As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

—Colossians 3:12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"I wonder what we should wear to that meeting?" This is an expected question when we are invited to an event or an occasion of great honor. In this passage, Paul reminds us to put on the set of clothing that is always in style, especially with God. We should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience! We wear this clothing because we are special. We are God's chosen people who are holy and dearly loved. This clothing is from the Ultimate Designer's "Godly Character Collection." We should best wear it when with other people, and when we are alone by ourselves, and we think no one is looking. These qualities are hard to wear, but always a blessing to those who meet us when we're decked out in this wardrobe. Our prayer is that when we put on these clothes, others will not notice us, but the gracious God who chose us, loves us, and made us his holy children!

My Prayer...

Abba Father, thank you for bringing me into your family. May I never disappoint you in the way I treat others. May they see in me the qualities of character that they can only attribute to your presence and grace in my life. To you be the glory and the honor, forever and ever, in the name of Jesus and in the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in my life by your grace. 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 - Acts 4:10-12

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "... It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

—Acts 4:10-12

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

"Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! There's just something about that name!"* The words to the song are right. Salvation from our broken world and our warped nature is found in no one else except Jesus. He is our Savior because he was willing to come to this world, bear our limitations, endure the shame of the cross, carry the weight of our sin, and then triumph over all of it to bring us grace (Philippians 2:6-11). We wholeheartedly agree: "Salvation is found in no one else"!

My Prayer...

Through the precious name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, my LORD, I thank and praise you, God Most High. Your love provided the sacrifice for my sin. Your power guaranteed my resurrection from the dead. Your Son's willingness to spend a lifetime with us has given me a Great High Priest who intercedes with empathy for my struggles (Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 4:14-16). His example shows me your great love. Thank you, O Father! Thank you for being so gracious and giving me such a wonderful Savior. Even the very name of Jesus is precious to me! O praise his name and thank you for his grace. Amen.

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* From the Bill and Gloria Gaither song "There's Just Something About That Name"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 - 2 Peter 1:5-8

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

—2 Peter 1:5-8

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Wow! What a message. God wants us to be productive in our lives. He wants us to have more than just head knowledge; he wants us to put our knowledge to work in our lives and be effective and productive with it. I've got to make a genuine effort to grow in these qualities. While the Holy Spirit is doing God's work of transforming me to become like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18) and produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), God wants me to do my part and "make every effort" to grow in these qualities "in increasing measure." God wants these qualities to be readily seen in my life. I'm ready; how about you? Let's get after those qualities and begin today.

My Prayer...

Holy God, we are committed to "making every effort" to grow into your character. Please bless our efforts and receive them as our heartfelt expression of appreciation for your love for us, even when we were undeserving of your grace. You loved and moved to redeem us when we were "helpless," "ungodly," "sinners," and your "enemies" (Romans 5:6-10). We thank you for such loving grace and commit to being productive in our lives of faith so we can bring glory to you. We are determined to live for the praise of the glory of your grace (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14), 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.