Bible Verse for Today

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
— Romans 14:19 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse..."Make every effort!" That's quite a challenge. But notice where that exertion is to be focused: peace and mutual edification. Both sides of this exhortation are two way responsibilities. I must pursue and share peace if I am going to have it myself. I must edify, and be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen. In other words...

 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
— 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Where do you need to grow in your walk with the Lord? How about keeping the tandem targets of grace and knowledge together as your goal. So often we pursue one or the other. But something seems to come unhinged in our soul when either of those becomes more important than the other. Let's keep grace and knowledge together...

 

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
— Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God is with us! That's the great message of the story of Jesus (Matt. 1:23). That's the message of hope Zephaniah gives the defeated people of God. God is among us. He is mighty to save. He loves us. He delights in us. He stills the storms of our hearts with his loving touch. He...

 

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Want to know something you can do that will please God? Rejoice in his grace. Pray for others. Give thanks for your blessings. It's simply something that he wants us to do.My Prayer...Heavenly Father and Almighty God, I am thrilled at the very thought of being your child. Abba Father, please hear my prayer of...

 

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?� They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.� Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
— Acts 16:30-32 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Faith in Jesus is the absolutely crucial response to God's grace and is such a life-transforming...

 

Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
— Romans 14:4 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Paul is talking about passing judgment on folks in matters that are central to our faith. He reminds us whose job it is to judge these sorts of matters. He also reminds us that the person we are judging actually belongs to the Lord and what right do we have to pass judgment on that person. So often...

 

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
— Romans 14:13 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...It is so easy to be judgmental of others. We don't know their struggles. We don't know their situation. Most of all, we don't know their hearts. When we are judgmental, we erect a barrier between others and ourselves. We often spread that judgmental impression to others in gossip. Our...

 

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
— 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...God is love. God is also the source of love. He pours love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). So how do we make our churches, our families, our small groups, and communities more loving? We pray for God to grow the love in those in groups, let them know that we are praying that prayer for them...

 

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.
— Romans 14:1 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...Our life in Christ is such a blessing! We welcome new Christians into our fellowship to share that blessing. We don't bring them in to scrutinize their past failures or the current struggles, but to bring them into the love of God's family. God has welcomed us graciously and compassionately. Let's do the same with new Christians.My Prayer...Father, please make...

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
— Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...I guess we could call it the irony of discipleship. To follow Christ means that we give up everything and follow him. To follow Christ means that we receive untold blessings in this life and eternal...