Today's Verse - Hebrews 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

—Hebrews 1:3

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus was Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). He was no imitation, no knock off, and no clone; he was God with us, God in human flesh (John 1:1-3, 14-18). To this day, he sustains all creation with his word - so much for "Mother Nature," it is brother Jesus, who sustains all things by his powerful word. And now, God-with-us has paid for our sins and is not just God-with-us, but he is also God-for-us, and is constantly at the Father's side to help us.

My Prayer...

Precious LORD, as you have so many times in the past, please take these humble human words and bring them to the Father as my friend and brother (John 15:15, 21:5; Hebrews 2:10-14). Thank you for your sacrifice for my sins. Thank you for your sustaining presence in our universe. Thank you for your daily intercession for me and my needs, and my brothers and sisters' needs. Thank you for being God-for-me at the Father's side. To the glorious, majestic, and holy God, who sent you, our Savior Jesus, be glory, honor, and adoration forever and ever. Amen.

Today's Verse - Romans 5:10

If, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.

—Romans 5:10

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Jesus didn't just die for our sins; he is alive forever for you and me. In fact, he is at God's right hand, claiming each of us as his own (1 John 2:1-2), proclaiming us to God as holy and blameless (Colossians 1:21-22), and living to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25). If God was willing for his Son to die to save us, why would he withhold anything from us now that the Son lives victoriously over death to save us and bring us home to our Father (Romans 8:32).

My Prayer...

Holy and Righteous Father, I thank you for Jesus, who is at your side and who knows my heart, my struggles, and my world. I thank you for your constant care and protection through all of my difficulties and triumphs. Please make your presence known to me, and in me, more clearly today than ever before as I try to serve you with wholehearted devotion and reflect your love, grace, and mercy to those around me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

—Galatians 2:20

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

When we were baptized into Christ, we shared in his crucifixion and burial, and were raised to be a new person through our faith in the power of God (Romans 6:3-7; Colossians 2:12-15). Christ is not only alive in us, but our life and future are joined with him in his glory (Colossians 3:1-4). The real challenge is for us to be Christ's presence to our broken world!
How do we do this? We do this as we live by faith in Jesus, who gave himself for us.
Our motivation to do this? It is not to earn our salvation, which has already been given to us by grace, and we received it by faith. Now, we do it to honor him who sacrificed his all to save us.
We can say with the apostle Paul:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

My Prayer...

Thank you, God, for loving me and sending Jesus to redeem me from my sin. I commit to you today that I will live by faith in your Son, who gave himself so I can spend eternity with you. I ask for the Holy Spirit's power and help so that Jesus' presence comes alive in me. Through Jesus, I pray and seek to live for your glory. Amen.