Today's Verse - Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

—Romans 5:1-2

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Justified, peace, access, grace, hope, and glory are wonderful gifts! Each of these gifts is ours because of One — One reason, One person, and One LORD: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and our Savior. Our faith in Jesus opens the door for us to rejoice in our assured hope of sharing in God's glory. In troubling times, this hope is precious. In good times, this hope promises us even greater things. In every circumstance, this assured hope can empower us to live for Jesus to the glory of God!

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

We praise you, LORD Jesus, for all you've done to bless us with your salvation. We praise you, dear LORD, for your promise to return and invite us to share in your full, unveiled glory. We pray that you speed that day to come soon. As we wait, Father, please purify and make us useful for your service, to the glory of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, our mediator, we pray. 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 - Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

—Proverbs 10:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Do you want to know the difference between a righteous person and a wicked one? Simple! Jesus said to check the fruit of their life. One of the most visible forms of fruit in peoples' lives is found in the way they talk, how they talk, and their empathy as they talk. Righteous people find ways to impart life through what they say. The wicked reveal themselves by what they say and how they say it. In a social-media-dominated world filled with vitriol, sarcasm, and bitterness, this is a prover we must heed!

My Prayer...

O LORD God, please hear my cry as I repeat the words of the Psalmist as my earnest prayer to you:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.*

In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen.

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* From Psalm 19:14 ESV. 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 - Psalm 100:5

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

—Psalm 100:5

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

We come to the final devotional thought based on Psalm 100:5. The focus is on God's enduring love and faithfulness that continues through all generations. The genealogy of Matthew 1:1-16 lists the generations that God used to bring us Jesus, our LORD and Messiah. I usually speed-read through biblical genealogies. However, let's invite the Holy Spirit to awaken us through this genealogy to celebrate God's love and faithfulness, which brought us the Messiah through those generations. We can close our meditations on Psalm 100:1-5 with the joy of knowing that the LORD's faithful love continued through all these generations and saved us through Jesus. What God has done so faithfully in the past, he will do even more in the days ahead as we await the glorious return of his Son and our Savior, the LORD Jesus Christ. The Father brought us the Son through his faithfulness, and we celebrate that enduring love by the power of the Holy Spirit's inspired praise of Psalm 100:5:

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

My Prayer...

Dear Father, in my world of change and unfaithfulness, everyone seems to want something from me or out of me, even though there are very few I can depend upon. Thank you for your love, which is more enduring than the mountains and more glorious than any beautiful sunrise. I praise you in the name of Jesus, your Son. 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.