Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (Titus 3:4-7; Rom 8:21; John 3:17-18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (John 6:37, 44; 1Cor 1:30-31; 2Cor 5:17, 4:7; Eph 2:10; Php 1:6)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Psa 30:4, 149:1; Col 3:15-17; Php 4:6-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” (Psa 139:17, 31:19; 1John 4:9-10; Eph 1:7-9; 1Cor 2:9)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (Rom 8:16-17; 2Cor 5:5; 1John 4:13; Gal 5:16-17; 1Pet 2:11)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (Deut 33:27a; Pro 18:10; 1Cor 1:30; Rom 8:1-2; Eph 1:3-6; Isa 26:4)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. (Micah 6:8; James 4:6, 10; Eph 2:4-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Jesus said.., “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength. (Isa 45:22; John 1:14, 3:18, 14:6, 6:40; Acts 4:12; Isa 45:22a)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2Cor 8:9; Php 2:5-11; 2Cor 5:21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy... After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” (Psa 145:10, 96:11-12; Rev 19:1, 5-6, 5:13)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Ecc 6:7, 4:6; Mat 6:27; Php 4:6-7; Pro 3:5-6; Psa 127:2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. (Psa 139:1-4, 86:11; Rom 7:18; Psa 139:9-10)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (1Tim 2:1-4; Titus 2:11-13; Rom 3:25-26)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (Heb 11:1; Col 3:1-2; Heb 12:2; Col 3:4; Rom 8:24-25; 2Cor 4:18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Psa 103:1-2; 2Pet 1:2-4; Eph 2:7; 1Pet 1:6-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? (Jer 32L17; Neh 9:6; Psa 148:2-5, 19:1, 8:1-4)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (1Pet 1:3; Eph 5:1; 1John 3:2; Titus 2:11-13; Php 3:20-21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God! Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (1Pet 1:14-19; Psa 50:23; James 3:13)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Isa 8:20; Rom 12:2; 2Cor 13:5; Php 1:9-11, 4:8)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Titus 3:4-7; 1Cor 1:30; Rom 6:4-6)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (Gen 1:26-27, 2:16-17, 3:6; Rom 5:12; 1Cor 15:21-23)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (2Tim 4:2; 1Tim 2:3-6; Rom 10:16-17)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. (1Tim 2:1-2; Rom 13:1; 1Pet 2:13-16)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food? Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (Job 12:11; Col 3:16; Php 1:9-11; Col 3:17; 1Thes 3:12-13)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (Psa 84:11; 2Pet 1:3; Rom 8:32; 1COr 2:12; 2Cor 4:6; 1Thes 5:23-24)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation--if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. (Psa 1:1-2, 19:7-10; 1Pet 2:2-3)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. (Rom 15:3-6; 1Pet 1:3; Psa 86:9-12)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Psa 86:15; Titus 3:3-7; Col 1:13-14)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Psa 49:7-8; 1Pet 1:18-19; 1John 4:9-10; Col 1:13-14)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. (Rom 12:18; Psa 34:13-14; Col 3:15; Rom 14:18-19; Php 2:3-5)