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However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. — Acts 20:24 Thoughts on Today's Verse... How important is grace? Paul said that sharing the good news of God's grace was more important to him than his life! In fact, that was his life after his conversion to Jesus. The wonderful thing for Paul is that he aligned his life's mission to be an expression of God's grace. That's why he could tell the Philippians: I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain ( Philippians 1:20-21 ). The challenge for us is to find out where we fit in God's story of unfolding grace and live into that role as our life's mission. We don't have to be a missionary,...

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. — John 3:17 Thoughts on Today's Verse... How do you view God? Is he someone looking for a way to condemn or punish you? Is he an out-of-touch ol' curmudgeon who doesn't really know what it's like in our modern world? Is he too pious and holy to soil himself with the concerns of mere mortals and has left it up to us to work everything out for ourselves, including earning our salvation? No. NO. NO! God chose to enter our world and experience it from the side of mortality ( John 1:14-18 ; Hebrews 2:14-18 , 4:14-16 ). Why? Because he loves us and yearns to save us. God chose to enter our world, not to condemn us or it, but to redeem it and each of us. Jesus is the great reminder that God longs to save us, not condemn us. He's looking for ways to give us life, not to exclude us from his presence. Thank God for God! Thank God for Jesus, who was and is Immanuel, God with us ( M...

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. — James 1:19 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Let's just put this in cornbread English: "We must pump the brake on our speech and hit the throttle for our ears." When possible, we should let our emotional temperature cool for a few days before responding, pray to determine whether we need to respond, craft a response (written or verbal) with care, and then carefully edit and filter it before delivering our message - especially when we've had a zinger come our way. We keep our mouths shut, our hearts pure, and our ears open. Now, if we would all obey what James 1:19-21 teaches in this whole passage, we'd all be more blessed: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral fi...

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. — Romans 12:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Being "devoted to another in brotherly love" requires that our church talk - we're family, brothers and sisters, children of God - be more than mere words. We must enter into each other's lives, getting to know one another so that we can serve, love, and bless one another. The many "one another" commands of the New Testament remind us that this is the heart of being followers of Jesus. Each of us needs to ask ourselves: "What have I done lately to get more involved in the lives of my fellow Christians?" Devotion to others follows a commitment to know and be known by them, so that we can honor each other appropriately, love each other fully, and bless each other based on each person's needs. My Prayer... Father, thank you for giving me a worldwide family. Thank you for loving me so completely. Father, I ask that you he...

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. — Romans 15:2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Being disappointed and dissatisfied with life can stem from a myriad of problems. For many of us, however, these disappointments are symptoms that we have focused too much on ourselves and have allowed ourselves to become angry with life. We have forgotten to count our blessings, neglected to give thanks to God, grown silent in our praise to our Father, and quit helping those around us. Thinking of others is how Christ lived, and we are going to live for others if we are going to have a JESUShaped life. When we follow his example, our actions make a difference in the lives of those we bless, and we find ourselves immensely blessed as well. Let's get our focus off ourselves and look to bless our neighbors! As the ancient Christian hymn Paul quoted reminds us: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, d...

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. — Galatians 5:13 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our freedom as followers of Jesus, the freedom to live by the power of the Spirit and not by law ( Romans 8:1-4 ; Galatians 5:1 ), is a wonderful gift, especially when it is handled with responsibility and grace ( Romans 14:13 ; 1 Peter 2:16 ). Not being under law is such a sweet grace, but we want to pass that sweetness on to each other through service, kindness, and care ( Romans 13:10 ). Just because we are free to do something doesn't mean doing it is beneficial to our brothers and sisters in Christ or to those we are trying to influence toward Jesus. Freedom gives us the opportunity to do things in love, not just because we are commanded to do them. Love should be, could be, and must mean more than law. Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... O Great God...