Bible Verse for Today

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
— Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God is slow to exercise his justice when that justice demands his people's punishment. "Gracious and slow to anger" is a phrase repeatedly used to describe God in the Old Testament. God longs to be gracious and bless his people. He extends time for us to repent and turn to him. In Jesus, God even...

 

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
— Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Close spiritual friends -- the kind that can hold us accountable when we need it, build us up when we're down, or celebrate with us when we've enjoyed success -- are truly rare. So many people are lonely; they're lonely for something, or better yet, someone, they've never experienced. We have a tendency in modern western culture to have...

 

I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
— Ezekiel 36:23 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God can and will use us even though we are not worthy vessels for him to use. Scripture gives us many examples of people God used who did not come up to his moral and holy requirements...

 

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
— Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Weariness is a part of life. Weariness is a part of ministry. Weariness is definitely something that overtakes us when we set our hearts on doing good for others. The wonderful blessing of God, however, is that he will renew us and sustain us and rekindle us. He does it through the encouraging word of a friend. He does it through...

 

For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
— Isaiah 54:5 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."For God so loved the world..." "The Father, from whom every family on earth derives its name..." God is not just the God of Israel. The LORD God, ruler of heaven and earth, is the God of all nations and one day, "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess... that Jesus Christ is Lord to...

 

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
— Galatians 5:6 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Ever notice how we get to fussing about things that are important, but still aren't the most important things of our faith. So often when we get to fighting the most important thing of all gets lost. In the first century, this fight often had to do with Jew/Gentile issues. While race, culture...

 

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
— 1 John 4:21 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...For over a week, John has reminded us again and again. We must love our brothers and sisters in Christ. This reminder, however, is the clincher. If we love God, then we must love his children and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Notice that the word isn't "should" or "will try" or "want to." No, we must. The Bible is careful not to put many "must do" or...

 

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
— 1 John 4:21 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...For over a week, John has reminded us again and again. We must love our brothers and sisters in Christ. This reminder, however, is the clincher. If we love God, then we must love his children and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Notice that the word isn't "should" or "will try" or "want to." No, we must. The Bible is careful not to put many "must do" or...

 

I thank my God every time I remember you.
— Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Certain people are blessings. It doesn't matter if we visit with them on the phone, get an encouraging email, receive a hand-written letter, or see them face to face. Any time we remember them, we thank God for them. So let's follow Paul's example and let them know they give us reasons to offer thanks to God.My Prayer...Loving LORD, thank you for... (place the name of several people who bless...

 

I thank my God every time I remember you.
— Philippians 1:3 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Certain people are blessings. It doesn't matter if we visit with them on the phone, get an encouraging email, or see them face to face. Any time we remember them, we thank God for them. So let's follow Paul's example and let them know they give us reasons to offer thanks to God.My Prayer...Loving LORD, thank you for... (place the name of several people who bless your life in here). They have...