Bible Verse for Today

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted.
— Romans 6:17 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Paul stresses in Romans 6 that obedience to the will of God does not mean we are being manipulated or put under a bunch of arbitrary rules or formal laws. No, obedience of our grace-filled God is liberation -- liberation from the bondage of sin and the certainty of death, liberation from the haunting...

 

... what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
— Galatians 6:16 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Paul ends his breathtaking letter to Galatians with this incredible reminder: both Jews and Gentiles who are justified by faith in Jesus Christ are God's people, his Israel. Like Abraham who left on a long journey trusting in God's promise, so also all who are spiritual Israel follow God's lead and cling to God's promise through...

 

But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
— Matthew 6:15 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Can you think of a more frightening thought than God not forgiving our sins? We know how much he paid so our sins could be forgiven! We know how much he loves us! We know how much he wants us to be in relationship with him! So why would he withhold his forgiveness? Because we demonstrate that we have not received it or do not understand it! God is gracious...

 

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
— Galatians 6:14 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Do you have a basis for pride? What is your source of that pride? Paul reminds us that our one, true, and dependable source of boasting is boasting in what the Lord has done for us on the Cross. This one source of boasting has absolutely nothing to do with anything that we have done, attained, or...

 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
— Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Since we are in a spiritual war, we must put on spiritual armor. More than saying our daily prayers and perfunctorily reading our daily Scriptures, we must learn to recognize the spiritual armor God has given us for our spiritual protection and prepare ourselves for spiritual...

 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
— Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...This is war! We face a daily battle and it is not just with sin and temptation. We have a real foe whose desire for us is our destruction. But, our foe has already been defeated and his angels stand rebuked. So, let's keep our spiritual...

 

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
— Romans 6:11 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Just as Jesus died to sin, we also died to sin. But, simply putting aside sin isn't going to keep sin away from us. We must embrace Jesus' new life for us every day, with our hearts open to the Lord's exciting will for us. Let's let what is dead remain buried and in the past. Let's live passionately for God with our eyes focused on Jesus and his future for us...

 

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
— Galatians 6:10 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We are to be a people who do good deeds. That's a very significant part of who we are as Jesus' followers. So let's look for the many opportunities that God places in our paths to bless others. Let's use all of these blessings to bring God glory!

My Prayer...Almighty LORD, please give me the eyes to see and the...

 

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
— 1 Timothy 6:9 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...This is not a message for folks who are financially rich. No, this is for all of us who want to have that wealth. Craving it, coveting it, and going in pursuit of earthly wealth expose us to grave danger. Let's be reminded of Jesus' words: "Seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness, and...

 

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
— Genesis 6:8 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Reminds me of what God told Jesus at his baptism -- "... in you I am well pleased!" Even in the middle of a culture steeped in sin in Noah's time, God could find the one heart loyal to him and use him and his family to be a blessing and provide the world a future. May we each be such a person in our day, in our job, in our school, in our neighborhood. Can you imagine the difference it would...