Today's Verse - Matthew 7:3-5

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

—Matthew 7:3-5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus reminds us in his Sermon on the Mount about a destructive sin that often afflicts his followers: trying to deflect our guilt by finding fault in others. Finding fault with someone else is all too easy for most of us. Finding fault in ourselves is much trickier. Jesus reminds us that we must deal with the shortcomings and sins in our own lives before we start telling others how to live their life. Deflection, blaming, and finding fault are destructive to our allegiance to the LORD and our desire to honor him. So, let's confess our sins (James 5:16) and not find fault in others (Matthew 7:1-2). Seems pretty simple. But we all know it isn't. So, dear friend of Jesus, let's pray for the Holy Spirit's help to be gracious and forgiving toward others, and humbly confess our faults to one another.

My Prayer...

Father, please forgive me because I have sometimes been severe, harsh, and judgmental toward others. I am aware that there are issues in my own life that I need to address with the guidance of your Holy Spirit. I confess that there are routine sins that I often excuse in myself. Please, dear LORD, forgive my sins of deflecting my guilt by blaming others and finding fault in others. Please empower me to move beyond it to become a more gracious and redemptive disciple of Jesus. Amen.

Today's Verse - Isaiah 43:2-3

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior...

—Isaiah 43:2-3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We must be careful. These verses are NOT promises to an individual, but to Israel as the people of God in the days they were written (Isaiah 43:1). God is reminding ancient Israel that they are precious to him. He formed them and redeemed them. He was not about to abandon them. No matter what challenges or difficulties they face, he would be with them to deliver them and bring them to safety and victory. As followers of Jesus, whom God brought into his people by grace (1 Peter 2:9-10; Galatians 6:14-16), we can accept these promises as God's people today, as Jesus' church. As believers in Jesus, we can see how God has preserved his people in the past and redeemed them time and time again. We can celebrate how God delivered his people from impossible situations in the past and brought them to the Messiah, Jesus. God will not forget us! We know it by promise. We know it from history. We know it because of our faith! God will bring us victoriously to himself with great joy (Romans 8:37-39; Jude 1:24-25).

My Prayer...

Thank you, Almighty God, for always being near us. We confess that there are times when we are not aware of your nearness and your miraculous intervention in history for us. Nevertheless, we do believe, dear Father, that you are ever-near even when we feel alone. In those times, dear God, please give us confidence and perseverance to stand through the times of trial so that we can also share in your triumphs through us. We believe, O God, that you are with us! In Jesus' name, pray and confess our faith in you. Amen.

Today's Verse - John 17:26

"I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

—John 17:26

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus reveals God to us. That's John's Gospel in a nutshell, and his clear message in John 1:1-18. Jesus even promised that as we love each other and obey him, he is present with us, reveals himself to us, and he and the Father make their home in us (John 14:21, 23). One of the reasons Jesus does this is so that we can know who God is and what is important to our Father. The most significant thing on Jesus' heart in this prayer is that we share his love for one another. In this way, Jesus comes to life in us, is real to us, and makes his presence known through us.

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My Prayer...

Almighty God and loving Father, please fill me with your love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to honor you in the way I treat them and share the love of Christ in the way I interact with them and serve them. So, please bless me as I seek to be a more gracious child of your love. I pray this in Jesus' name, so that I may become more like him in his love for your children. Amen.