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For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. — Psalm 149:4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Jesus left heaven and made himself a servant. No wonder God could say to him, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" ( Luke 3:22 ). God expressed his delight to his Son as he lived as an example of a servant ( Mark 10:45 ). He did so to enable the last of this world to be counted as first in the Kingdom of God ( Matthew 20:16 ). Jesus declared that the servant of others is greater than those who are served ( Luke 22:25-27 ). Jesus demonstrated that those often considered the least important in our world are the most important to him ( Matthew 25:40, 45 ). The arrogant, the abusive, and the parading powerful have found it easy to reject the call of Christ for centuries - after all, Jesus died for the sinful and the weak. They consider themselves "important" and feel that they do not need a Savior. However, those who are hum...

The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; it is he who will save us. — Isaiah 33:22 Thoughts on Today's Verse... When we think about God as our Judge, we normally think of falling under judgment and receiving punishment. Isaiah reminds us that God's being our Judge means he will judge us according to his will, rule, and grace. He is on our side and is looking to save us, not condemn us ( John 3:16-17 ). His commands are rightfully given as our Creator and King, yet given to us to protect us and bless us. Using the New Testament idiom, when we stand before our Judge, we see our loving Father, and at his right hand is our Savior, who gave his life for us ( Hebrews 1:3 ). As Paul so beautifully told us: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back in fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our...

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. — Psalm 119:160 Thoughts on Today's Verse... The requirements of morality and holiness are not temporary or fleeting because they reflect the nature of our Holy God, who is eternal. They don't shift with the wishes of culture or the trends proposed by the so-called enlightened. God's truth is true across cultures, times, and wishes. We do not adapt God's will to our times, but we redeem our times by adapting our wills to his truth. My Prayer... Righteous God Almighty, may my life reflect your righteous character, gracious compassion, and faithful love and justice. You, your nature, and your values are forever, and I want to invest my life in what endures and is eternal. Please give me wisdom to see through the fleeting temptations of today, the fads of culture, and the degradations of morality, as I seek to do what honors you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are ...

The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. — Psalm 119:130 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Years ago, before GPS, driving to a distant place required a map, and sometimes several maps. As you journeyed to that place, the route became increasingly more straightforward as you unfolded the map and found your destination. Sometimes the right path is not so difficult to find; we need to know where to begin our search. We need to unfold our map by reading God's words. As we unfold them, the way we should travel in life becomes increasingly clearer. The right way is very seldom just the property of the bright, wise, and scholarly; it can be very clear for any of us who choose to look for it in God's words, and then unfold them so God can get us to his destination for us. My Prayer... O holy Father, thank you for making your will known through your words in Scripture. Bless me as I open your Word, as I listen to your words, and as I focus on your wi...

This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it — the LORD is his name: Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. — Jeremiah 33:2-3 Thoughts on Today's Verse... In a universe of billions of stars, think of the power of God who made them and knows each of their names. Think of all he knows that we don't. Think of all he has seen that is not in our history books. Think of all he has done and can do and will do. Add to this that he invites us to speak to him about the things of our hearts and understands what is in our hearts. He even allows us to ask him to reveal to us what we don't know. And he invites each of us to come to know him ( John 17:3 ) - not just know about him, but to know him! He invites us to become his children ( John 1:12-13 ), and he promises to let us share in his glory ( Colossians 3:2-4 ). Ah! This LORD is incredible, so let's ask him the great and unsear...

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. — 1 Samuel 16:7 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Have you ever wondered how many potentially good friends you may have lost simply by judging them on your first impression of them? And how many people that you looked at that seemed to be remarkable, ended up turning out to be not very good people? I'm amazed at how the first impression we have of many people very seldom tells us much about their substance. We're not really going to be able to evaluate people properly until the LORD reveals what is really in their hearts at judgment. But we also know that what comes out of people's mouths and what we see in their behavior emanate from their hearts ( Matthew 15:18-19 ). Over time, we do get to see what their hearts are about: their hearts reveal the person inside them. So, don't you think that we should give people time to reveal what is in their hearts...