Today's Verse - Philippians 2:5-6

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped...

—Philippians 2:5-6

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus did not cling to his heavenly glory but surrendered it to save us. He was born in a stable, made his first bed in a manger, and was welcomed to this world by lowly shepherds. His adoptive dad, Joseph, had to flee to Egypt with Mary to protect young Jesus. The LORD made his boyhood home in despised Nazareth, apprenticing in Joseph's carpenter's shop. Paul uses Jesus' surrender of his heavenly glory as an example for us. Paul, God's apostle to the nations, expended his human energy so Jesus would come alive in those who followed Jesus as LORD (Colossians 1:28-29). He reminded all disciples to focus on Jesus, to obey his teaching, and to follow his example. As we do, the Holy Spirit transforms us, with increasing likeness, into our Savior's sacrificial character. Now, we must serve each other as Jesus served. We must think of others' needs before our own comfort, preferences, and rights. Jesus' incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were revolutionary. Now it is our turn to join the revolution and turn our fallen world upside down - a revolution we give our lives to help come to pass!

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My Prayer...

O Father, please mold me through the transforming power of your Holy Spirit as I pursue becoming more JESUShaped. May my thoughts be JESUShaped thoughts. May my heart's desire reflect the passions of the Son. In Jesus' name, I choose to relinquish my sense of self-importance to serve others as Jesus did. Amen.

Today's Verse - Romans 1:16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

—Romans 1:16

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Are you ashamed?
Culture tries to make us ashamed about our faith, portraying people of faith as stupid, insensitive, judgmental, and hypocritical.

Are you ashamed?
Or, because you reverence Jesus as LORD in your own heart and life, you are willing to share your faith humbly and gently with those who do not know Jesus as their LORD (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Are you ashamed?
Your hero left heaven to come to earth and risk everything so that you could go home to heaven with him. This Gospel is powerful. This Gospel is transformational. This Gospel, and the salvation it brings, are for all people. So let's not be ashamed; let's be joyous and generous with this incredible gift that we have received and share this grace with all peoples of the world!

My Prayer...

Father in heaven, please give me wisdom, sensitivity, humility, and courage to share your wonderful story of grace with those around me who do not know Jesus as their LORD and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verse - Matthew 1:22-23

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" — which means, "God with us."

—Matthew 1:22-23

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

God had repeatedly promised his people his presence. During the Wilderness wanderings, he was with them with the cloud during the day, the pillar of fire at night, and in the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle. Men, women, and angels (1 Peter 1:10-12) had long anticipated our receiving God's presence close to us. Then, with Jesus' incarnation, his coming in human flesh, it happened. God came to us in his Son. Jesus is Immanuel - Immanu-El, God with us! We live on the visited planet, touched by the very presence of God the Creator among us, as one of us, who lived, died, and was raised from the dead for us (See John 1:1-18; Hebrews 1:1-3; and Colossians 1:15-23 for the declaration of these truths). And it was just as the prophets of old had said.

My Prayer...

LORD God, my heavenly Father, thank you for keeping your promises, especially when it was so incredibly costly for you to do so in Jesus. You came to us in Jesus, the Son, to reveal yourself to us and show us how to live. I want to know you better, O God, not just as someone I study in Scripture, but as someone I encounter in my daily life. Please make your presence known as I seek you and use the Holy Spirit to transform me and mold me into someone who is truly JESUShaped (2 Corinthians 3:18; Colossians 1:28-29)! In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, our Immanuel, we pray. Amen.