Bible Verse for Today

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
— Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Going to church for most folks just isn't very attractive. But, that shouldn't surprise us. Doing things as an act of discipline isn't very popular. Doing things for others isn't seen as something necessary. The Holy Spirit's message, however, reminds us that we need to go to be...

 

Correct me, LORD, but only with justice-- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.
— Jeremiah 10:24 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...I love a request that a good friend regularly makes of the Lord: "Humble me gently, Father." Transformation is hard work and requires even more patience on God's part than it does on our part. We thank God for his grace which lets us admit our sin and yet still come into his holy and awesome presence. Thankfully he doesn't treat us as we...

 

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
— 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Freedom is a wonderful gift! Freedom in Christ is greater than any other kind of freedom. God entrusts it to us. But, we don't want to use our freedom to impinge on someone else's freedom. We don't want our liberty to cause others to sin or to...

 

All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
— Matthew 10:22 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Jesus' words are very strong! His emphasis is for a reason. Christians need to realize that they are not going to be the dominant culture. Discipleship can be hard and demanding; most folks want things simple and easy. The values that disciples are called to put into place in their lives are not going to be the dominant cultural ones. "So be ready!"...

 

He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.
— Deuteronomy 10:21 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...He is our praise! The God who parted the Red Sea and supplied manna to the Israelites in the wilderness is also the God who did the most amazing miracles in us -- he has turned our selfish hearts to do his will and turned our lives to do his eternal work in the world. Then, after doing those things in us, he has...

 

Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him...
— Deuteronomy 10:20 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...What do you find yourself holding onto most often? What is your source of security, reassurance, hope, and stability in times of trouble? What do you encourage folks to do and who do you encourage them to hold onto during times of trouble?

My Prayer...Dear God and Abba Father, please be with a number of people I know that are undergoing great trials and temptations. Use me...

 

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
— Proverbs 10:19 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We are constantly filling our world with noise. If it is not the sound of our own voices, then turn up some other noise to fill the silence. With the proliferation of radio talk shows, we are even given the opportunity to sound off to that noise. Unfortunately, quite often we say things that are harmful, hurtful, or foolish. God's wisdom reminds us to learn to...

 

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
— Proverbs 10:17 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God has given each of us a circle of influence, a place where our lives impact others for either good or ill. In much the same way, each of us is also influenced by others, some of whom can help us see and overcome our problems and shortcomings. However, if we reject or snub discipline and correction, we not only harm ourselves, but we...

 

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
— 1 Corinthians 10:16 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...The Apostle Paul makes clear that the heart of the Gospel is found in the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The Lord's Supper, Communion or Eucharist as it is sometimes called, is a key part of our walk with Christ. It...

 

But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now."
— Judges 10:15 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...When God's people realized the depth of their sin and the impending punishment by God, they repented and asked for his help. Unfortunately we often hide, avoid, or skirt the issue of our own sin. We don't like to admit our sin, much less confess it and turn from it. "It's not that bad! I know a lot folks who do a lot worse...