Today's Verse - Romans 6:1

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

—Romans 6:1

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

Grace doesn't mean that we are sloppy with our sins. We have died to sin when we surrendered our lives to the Lordship of Christ. We don't want sin, or its power, to have control over us. We don't want to take lightly the awful cost Jesus paid to cover our sin. The apostle Paul uses the strongest language possible ("By no means!" is way too tame a translation: "God forbid!" "Unthinkable!" "Abomination!" would all be much more accurate.) As those saved by grace, we realize that sin is more than breaking a divine command. Sin is making light of Jesus' love for us by choosing our sin over his sacrifice. Ouch! That is a startling revelation. Sin is rebelling against the Father who paid such a high price to adopt us into his family. Sin is breaking our Father's heart because we are choosing our sin over our love for him. Finally, sin is choosing our own will rather than God's will; a choice that leads us down a path of self-destruction.

My Prayer...

Father, thank you for your incomparably generous grace lavished upon me through Jesus' death on the Cross and the salvation I have received through him. Please make my own sin abhorrent to me. Please give me a passion for holiness and a deeper appreciation of what it cost you to make me holy. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Today's Verse - Isaiah 40:30-31

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

—Isaiah 40:30-31

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

What is your strength? Is it your youth? ...your conditioning? ...your wisdom? ...your friends? ...your experience? ...your intellect? None of us can depend on our human ability. Health, wisdom, and wealth are all vulnerable to the fragility of life and circumstance. Only the LORD can ensure that we can survive the unthinkable, thrive in the mundane, and soar in good times. Let's call upon, let's wait upon, let's depend upon the LORD and trust him to supply what we need to live for his glory!

My Prayer...

O LORD, thank you for sustaining me through the hard times in my life. Thank you for helping me soar, doing things for you that I never dreamed I could accomplish in the best of times. Father, thank you for blessing me during the everyday comings and goings of life. I depend upon you for help and strength. For every good thing in my life, I praise you and thank you. In Jesus' name 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...

Christianity, following in the way of Christ Jesus, is all about dying to ourselves. Some see this as hideous, onerous, and weak.

"Why give up your desires, wants, and longings for something someone else mandates? That sounds like slavery!"

However, they fail to realize that surrendering our wills to Christ is like a bird surrendering to air currents or a fish to the water. The Holy Spirit is God's "Breath of Life" within us. When we surrender to the LORD, he gives us the power to be what we were made to be — enabled to be useful in ways that are eternal, empowered to have life not limited by mortal boundaries, and blessed by communion with the Creator as our Father. What is lost in this surrender to Christ living in us? Only our selfishness, self-interest, self-will, and self-damage are caused by our own stubbornness and rebellion.

Video Commentary...

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My Prayer...

Holy Father, thank you for your work in my life through Jesus. As you remake me to be more like your Son and my Savior, I trust you will use me in ways far grander than I can imagine. Please take my heart and cleanse it thoroughly. Please take my life and use it mightily for your glory. Please expand my thoughts and help me dream more majestically about things that matter to you. May all of this be empowered by your Son's life in me, and may all I do, dream, and desire be for your glory. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.