He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
—John 1:40-42 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Almost every time we see Andrew in the New Testament, he brings someone to meet Jesus (John 1:40-42, 6:5-9, 12:20-22). Aside from this truth and that Andrew was Simon Peter's brother and a fisherman, we learn little else about Andrew in our Bibles. But doesn't Andrew have the kind of reputation you would like to have? "And he brought him to Jesus." I want to have the reputation of always bringing people to Jesus. Don't you?
My Prayer...
God, our source of salvation, please bless me as I seek to share Jesus with my friends and family. Please help me follow the example of Andrew, becoming someone who is always leading others to Christ. In Jesus' name, I 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.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
—1 Peter 5:1-4 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
What a wonderful blessing for God's people when their congregation is led by godly leaders who are loving shepherds. As much as we love these kinds of shepherds and follow them with respect as we honor their examples (Hebrews 13:7-8, 17, 24), we know that they will receive even greater appreciation from Jesus, the Chief Shepherd when he appears to take us home in glory!
My Prayer...
O glorious God, please bless every faithful and concerned leader in your Church with a clear sense of your blessing and appreciation. Please use me to show this love to your faithful servants as well. In Jesus' name, I 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.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
—Psalm 121:7-8 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
One of my most complex challenges as a parent is knowing that I can't ultimately protect my children from some hurts and heartbreaks. Some of that pain is necessary to help them mature and grow. Some of it is just the agonizing result of living in a fallen world. However, we can be fully confident that if we share the Lord with them and they give their lives to his will, nothing can steal them from his ultimate victory, care, and reunion with him and with us. Knowing how we love them, imagine how much the Father loves us and longs to bring us to that place of safety in his house! Until we get home, isn't it comforting to know that he is watching over us and those we love, now and forever?
My Prayer...
O, Father, I know you see and watch over me, but sometimes I miss seeing you and find it hard to wait to be comforted and blessed in your presence and my eternal home. Watching and waiting, Father, I look forward to our first face-to-face meeting. Until then, I recognize your watching care over all of my ways, and thank you now for everything I will one day receive. In Jesus' name. 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.
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.
—Deuteronomy 18:15 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Jesus is that prophet like Moses. He has come and taught us God's truth. He has taught us with his words recorded in the Gospels. He has taught us with his example, through the deeds he has done. He is teaching us through his abiding presence in us and through the Spirit he has given us. But he teaches us most effectively when we put into practice what he has said.
My Prayer...
El Shaddai, who thundered from Mount Sinai and gave your Law to your servant Moses, I believe you are still speaking today through Jesus. Help me not only hear his voice, but listen to his message and life and put it into practice today. Gently correct and lead me in the way of obedience so that I may more perfectly glorify you with the worship of my daily life. Through the mighty name of Jesus I 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.
Which in time past [you] were not a people, but [you] are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
—1 Peter 2:10 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Excluded. Rejected. Discarded. Abandoned. Forgotten. Pushed aside. Not picked. Each of these describes an aspect of feeling like you are a nobody. Satan gives our sinful flesh the tools and the opportunities to speak these words of self-condemnation to ourselves. God, however, has extended us his mercy and grace. ”But now…” — two of the greatest words in the Bible — God has loved us in Christ, and brought us into his family and gave us a purpose. We are now part of the people of God! We have been chosen for the victorious team of teams. We have received mercy! Grace has washed over us and the love of God has adopted us in his family. Peter is giving maligned and persecuted people the reminder that they can choose to see themselves as "nobodies" or they can choose to see themselves by their new identity. Thankfully, Peter's words speak to our hearts, too. You, dear friend in Jesus, are God's child. You are part of his eternal and conquering people — like Moses, Esther, Paul, and Mary Magdalene. Mercy has reversed the power of sin and failure and put grace in place empowered by the Holy Spirit's presence in you. So don't live today as you once "were": live today as you are in Jesus!
My Prayer...
O Father of Mercy and God of all grace, thank you for making me new — your child, part of your people, and a purpose put in the world around me on purpose. Please help me hear your description of me and not Satan's. Please help me define my identity by your words and not my own words of self-condemnation. I thank you for who I am and that I a no longer bound by what I once was. In Jesus' name I 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.