Bible Verse for Today

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
— 1 John 4:20 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."O how I love Jesus!" we sing. Jesus responds by asking how well we are doing with loving our brothers and sisters! We can't love God if we can't love those around us. My Prayer...Forgive me, dear Father, for the times I have harbored pettiness in my heart or been unforgiving...

 

We love because he first loved us.
— 1 John 4:19 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...As human beings, we like to think of ourselves as the center of our universe. We determine the greatness or validity of most deeds based on their impact upon us. We consider ourselves great adventurers, inventors, and investigators. However, in the most important quest of all, we did not act first; God did. He loved us sacrificially. He loved us personally. He loved us first. Our love is a response to...

 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
— 1 John 4:18 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...There are many kinds of fear. Some of these are legitimate. Others are imagined. Still others are irrational. Thankfully, as Christians, we don't have to be afraid of the one crucial event in our life -- judgment. God's love saves us, empowers us, blesses us, works in us, and touches others...

 

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
— 1 John 4:17 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...When we live lovingly like Jesus did, we can have the same confidence in the face of death and before God in judgment. Our confidence is not in our efforts, but in our Savior. His love has not only redeemed us, it has changed us. His love is not only a gift to us, but it is a gift through us. We can be...

 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
— 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We can be sure that God loves us. He wants us to live in and be blessed by his love. That love is more than just the grace that reaches us when we are saved. God's love extends through us. His love is redemptive in our loving behaviors to others. His presence is seen in our loving attitudes and deeds. God wants his love to...

 

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
— 1 John 4:15 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."Jesus is the Son of God." Six simple words. They are much more than simple words, however; they are the doorway that opens our heart to God. So tonight, as you confess Jesus as God's Son, consciously and intentionally welcome God into your heart. The Father lives in the person who confesses the Son!My Prayer...Father, I want to live my life and center my...

 

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
— 1 John 4:13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Our sign of authenticity showing we are truly God's children is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit helps bring forth the character of God in our lives (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit helps us when we pray (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (Romans 8:13) and gives us strength to do things we would never imagine were possible...

 

We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
— 1 John 4:13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Our sign of authenticity showing we are truly God's children is the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Spirit helps bring forth the character of God in our lives (Gal. 5:22). The Spirit helps us when we pray (Rom. 8:26-27). The Spirit empowers us to overcome sin (Rom. 8:13) and gives us strength to do things we would never imagine were possible (Eph. 3:14-21)...

 

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
— 1 John 4:12 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...What an incredible thought! God can be seen in my home. The Father of the universe lives in my church. The Almighty God's love is recognizable in my life. How so? When I love those around me, when they love me back, when we choose to be loving instead of petty, unforgiving, critical, and harsh, God's presence, power, and perfection...

 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
— 1 John 4:11 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We are loved by the Creator of the Universe. He knows us personally. Our Heavenly Father cares about us tremendously. Although God knew about our weaknesses and sinfulness, he was willing to pay a terrible price to redeem us. Even though we are sometimes weak or rebellious, he loves us, forgives us, and welcomes us back when we are willing to confess our sins and come...