Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 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? For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 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. (Psa 9:1-2, 8:3-4; 1Thes 5:9-10; 1John 3:1-2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (Psa 46:1-3; Pro 14:26; 2Cor 3:5, 12:9)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 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. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (Psa 32:1; 2Cor 5:21; Isa 53:4-5; Rom 8:1-2; 1John 5:11-12)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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, assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 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. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Rom 6:4; Eph 4:21-24; Col 3:1-3)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. 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, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. (Isa 12:5; Psa 40:2-3; Eph 2:4-6, 1:6; Psa 96:2)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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? Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 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. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (Rom 8:31-32; Psa 105:1-3; Col 1:13-14; 1Pet 2:9)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 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. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace. (Psa 8:1, 108:4-5; Eph 1:3-7)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Titus 3:3-7; John 3:16; Heb 7:25)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 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. 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. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1John 3:23; Gal 3:26, 4:6; Col 1:13-14; John 3:17-18; 1Cor 15:49)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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. 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. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 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. (Php 3:20-21; Rom 8:24-25; Heb 11:1; 2Cor 4:6)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Psa 100:1-2, 98:1; Php 4:4; Eph 5:20; 1Pet 1:8; Heb 13:15)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 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. Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Psa 95:6; Eph 1:3-6; Psa 29:1-2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 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 I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Eph 4:15; Col 1:10-12; Micah 6:8; Gal 5:16, 22-23)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 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. 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.” But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (1Tim 4:7-8; Php 3:14-15; 2Pet 1:3; 1Pet 1:14-16; 2Pet 3:18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. (Rom 12:2; 1Cor 3:11; Eph 4:11-15)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 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. (2Cor 5:17; Rom 8:29; 2Cor 3:18; 1Cor 15:49, 52; 1John 3:2)

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? The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. 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, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Micah 6:8; Psa 19:1; Isa 66:2; Titus 2:11-14)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose. Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water? While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant. Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish. You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, “No one sees me”; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me.” Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Pro 20:24; Psa 25:4, 12; Job 8:11-13; Isa 47:10; Mat 11:28-29)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Psa 25:4-5, 119:66; Jer 10:23; James 3:17-18; Gal 5:22-25)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told. Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 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. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 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. Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Psa 40:5; Heb 1:1-2; 2Cor 4:6; 1Cor 1:30; Col 1:13-14; Job 26:14)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, for we walk by faith, not by sight, 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. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. But when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 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. (Heb 11:1; 2Cor 5:7, 4:18; 1Cor 13:12, 10; Php 3:20-21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. I can do all things through him who strengthens me, being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph 6:10; Psa 46:1, 28:7; Php 4:13; Col 1:11; Eph 3:14-19)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

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. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. (1John 4:9; Isa 53:3; John 1:12-13; Eph 4:1-2; 1Pet 1:23)

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. 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. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. (Isa 8:20; Psa 19:7-9; 2Tim 3:14-15; 1Pet 2:2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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. 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. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (John 1:14; Php 2:8-9; 2Pet 1:17-21)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 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.” For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 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. (Psa 17:15, 73:25-26, 16:11; 1Cor 2:9, 13:12; 1John 3:2)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life. 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! 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. (Psa 90:12; Pro 3:13-14; Pro 6:23; 2Cor 13:5-6; Col 3:16-17)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 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. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (John 15:18-19, 16:33; 2Tim 3:12; 1Pet 1:6-9)

Today's Thought

Today's Thought:

Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 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. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (1Cor 15:49; Rom 8:29; 2Cor 4:7; Php 1:6; 2Cor 3:5; Php 2:13)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. 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. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (Rom 6:4; 2Cor 5:17; Col 3:12; Eph 5:8; 2Cor 4:6, 3:18)

Today's Thought

 Today's Thought:

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, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began. 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. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Col 3:1-2; Titus 1:2; 1Pet 1:17-21; Heb 10:23)