Bible Verse for Today

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
— Romans 15:7 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...I hate racism and exclusivity. But my loathing does not match God's revulsion at these things. On the other hand, we can anticipate the choir of heaven (see Revelation 7:9ff.) if we will accept one another in Jesus and not let race, language, culture, or suspicion keep us from loving each other as we have already been loved by the Savior.

My...

 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
— 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...I have a friend in Jesus who has taught me the power of sharing a spiritual blessing with others. I can't think of a better one than the short blessing in today's verse! Grace, love, and fellowship -- all rooted in the eternal, sacrificial, and gracious nature of our God. We share these blessings with God's children...

 

Rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.
— Joel 2:23 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."The prayers go up and the blessings come down..." The words to this children's song are only half right, because God sends his blessings many times even when we don't pray. But just as we love the special smell that comes with a drought-breaking rain, God loves the aroma of his...

 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
— Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...The goal in Christian communication is not just clarity. The goal is not just to be understood. The goal is not just to be truthful. The goal is to be appropriate, encouraging, and building up others based on the needs of the other person.

My Prayer...Tender Shepherd...

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interest of others.
— Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Do you remember one of the earliest questions in the Bible? "Where is your brother Abel?" To which Cain responded: "Am I my brother's keeper?" Paul's answer is a clear and undeniable yes! We must look to the interest of others and not...

 

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
— Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Before and after -- that's the story of grace. "I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind but now I see." If we could only fully grasp what we so easily sing then life would be filled with more grace and our churches with more confident servants of God.

My Prayer...Lord God Almighty, by your grace I know today that I stand before you welcomed into your presence and received...

 

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
— James 3:13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...The character of a loving and humble lifestyle shows who is truly wise. It is so easy for people to act arrogantly, yet in the Lord's eyes they are worse than silly; they are woefully ignorant. Wisdom is not about flaunting knowledge but about living a godly life. Which more closely resembles you in your walk...

 

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...How do you know God is at home in your heart? You know when you are doing loving things to bless the lives of others! Just as we trust and rely on God's constant love for us, our brothers and sisters in Christ need love demonstrated to them, too!

My Prayer...Loving God and Almighty Father, fill me with your Spirit so I can be...

 

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
— Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Our call to sacrificially submit ourselves to others does not begin with our sacrifice, but with God's blessings. The actual grammatical construction of this statement is...

 

Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
— 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Unity and harmony are no accident! They happen because of intention and submission. But more than just states of being, they are commanded by God. How do we have unity and harmony? Peter reminds we must have three commitments in our "church" lifestyle -- 1) actively share the sorrows and concerns of those who grieve; 2) love each other just...