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Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance. — Titus 2:2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... "Worthy of respect": What a goal for our lives, whether we are a man or a woman! Don't you want your life to reflect the character of God because your faith expresses itself in a life that is temperate (reverent), self-controlled, faithful, loving, and steadfast? Paul wants Timothy to urge the older men to genuinely display these character qualities as they live in the presence of and have influence over others in the family of God. Such character is the work of the Spirit in our lives ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) and manifests only as we dedicate ourselves to pursuing Christ-likeness and offering ourselves to the Holy Spirit for God's transforming work in us ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). As we grow older, we often worry about securing our financial investments so we can live comfortably in our older years. The apostle...

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. — Psalm 143:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We want the Holy Spirit to be at work in us, transforming us to become more like Jesus ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). For this to happen, we must seek Jesus and open our hearts to God's will. There are no greater words God wants to hear than "teach me to do your will." That is what it means for him to be our God. We invite him to have control over our lives and influence over our wills. This is a key part of what it means for us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength ( Matthew 22:37-38 ). As we open ourselves to the Father in this way, the Holy Spirit sets us on God's level ground and leads us on our journey home to our Father, maturing us to be more like Jesus, doing God's will. My Prayer... Almighty God, I want you to be God in and over my life. I renounce any attempt to manipulate or use your grace and kindne...

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we present everyone perfect in Christ. — Colossians 1:28 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our goal as Christians, as disciples of Jesus, is not to obey some ancient law, adhere to some arcane set of rules, or even follow some prescribed spiritual discipline. Our goal as Christians is to be conformed to the character, way of life, and heart of Jesus ( Luke 6:40 ). We want to be JESUShaped people. This is also the Holy Spirit's work in us ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). As Paul the apostle makes clear here and elsewhere ( Galatians 4:19 ), his goal is to see "Christ formed" in new disciples. Shouldn't this be our work as parents, friends, and spiritual mentors, too? We want to see each other, those we love, those we influence, and those in Jesus' family, fully and perfectly mature in Christ Jesus. My Prayer... Holy LORD, conform my heart, words, life, ministry, and actions to those of Jesus. I wan...

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." — John 14:23 Thoughts on Today's Verse... At many Christian funerals and memorials, the preacher emphasizes that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us to join him in heaven, but will one day come back for us and bring us home with him ( John 14:1-3 ). Just a few verses later, the LORD deepens his promise. He promises that if we love him and obey him, he will love us and reveal himself to us ( John 14:21 ). On top of that, he and the Father will love us and make their home in us until we can go home to be with them ( John 14:23 ). As we love God and obey Jesus' commandments, our relationship, closeness, and experience of God's presence as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, deepens because they live inside us - make their home with us. Obeying Jesus' teaching is our pathway to a closer walk with God! My Prayer... Holy God, I k...

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." — Matthew 28:18-20 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Last words matter! The last words of a parent to a child leaving for college... The last words of a loved one at the bedside of someone dying... The last words of a friend before moving to a distant place... Our last words are chosen with care because we know they leave a lasting impact on those who hear. They are important to us. We want those who hear them to know them and keep them. Jesus' last words are our authoritative marching orders for us as his disciples. These words are also very clear: Make disciples of all peoples by... Going to all nations. Baptizing believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spi...

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. — 2 Timothy 1:13-14 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We live in a world of keys, locks, alarms, passwords, passkeys, and security systems. Paul's words shouldn't surprise us. We protect the things that are most valuable to us. So ask yourself, "What is more precious to me than the truth of God's saving grace in the Gospel, in faith?" Nothing. So thankfully, God has pre-wired each of us with a security system to help protect that incredibly precious hope. This security system lives in us and has given us God's Scriptures by inspiration. This security system is the Holy Spirit, given to us when we were born into God's family through the Spirit's work. So, let's value the Spirit's presence more. Let's ask for the Spirit's help more p...