Bible Verse for Today

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
— 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...We are chosen with a purpose. We are brought out of the darkness of sin and given the wonderful light of salvation so we can help others. You see, we are blessed to be a blessing and given light to shine to others. Most of all, we are called to point...

 

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
— Psalm 112:4 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...What a powerful promise! Just as night passes into dawn, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous, dawn comes even in the worst nights of deep spiritual darkness. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that even in those worst times of cultural decay and decadence, Satan's darkness will not rule forever. His darkness cannot stay where...

 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
— John 8:12 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Are you walking in light or darkness? Can you clearly see your path, or do you find yourself stumbling along an uncertain path? Jesus wants us to boldly follow him. The way may not always be easy, but the destination is assured, and your way can be certain. Most of all, you won't ever...

 

Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
— Ephesians 5:3 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."Not even a hint!" Hmmmm! Don't you wish it were true? The church I attend and the person I see most often in the mirror don't quite measure up to this directive. If sexual temptation doesn't get us, greed often does. In a culture of conspicuous consumption, greed concerns me more than...

 

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
— Matthew 5:14 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...For Christians, there is no playing hide and seek with the world. Having been rescued from darkness, we have to let our light shine. That sometimes means that others see God's light reflected in us and learn to glorify God through us. At other times, however, it means that we stand out in a world of darkness and become targets because of our faith. Either way, there is no...

 

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves...
— Colossians 1:13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God doesn't just hear our cries for deliverance; he sends a powerful Deliverer! God sent Moses in response to the Israelites' cries from Egypt (see Exodus 3). God also sent Jesus in response to the world's cries for deliverance from its bondage to the evil prince of darkness. Our new world, our Kingdom, is built on love -- the...

 

O LORD, ... be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord. Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
— Psalm 35:22-23 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God sometimes seems to be distant and not to be listening to us. Think of the hundreds of years Israel was in bondage praying for God's promised Deliverer. "Isn't God listening?" they must have repeatedly wondered. Yet at the right time, God sent his Son and brought deliverance. Thankfully, God doesn't ask us to...

 

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
— Daniel 12:3 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God promised a sifting between the righteous and unrighteous. Jesus repeated the same assurance in his parables. For God's people, however, these are not fearful warnings. Instead, these are words of promise. Those who have wisely honored and lived for God will shine brilliantly for all to see...

 

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
— Psalm 69:30 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...When was the last time you sang praises to God outside a church or devotional service? Why not open up the Psalms and find several verses that reflect your own praise and thanks to God and give them a tune -- your own tune! God doesn't care if your spiritual gift is music or not; he's just listening for your heart to be full of joy as you share your praise and...

 

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
— Philippians 2:14-15 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...I guess it's only natural to think that the problems of our own time in history are due to the pervasive depravity of our own time. Thankfully the Bible repeatedly reminds us that God's people have always had to swim upstream...