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"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." — Isaiah 1:18 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Nothing stains and leaves a foul spiritual residue on our hearts quite like sin and rebellion against God. However, God's grace is lavish when we turn our hearts to him - when we hear his call to reason with him and receive his grace. When we confess our sins, God doesn't just forgive them; he doesn't just forget them; he cleanses us and removes both the sin and its residue ( 1 John 1:9 , 2:1-2 ). Our sins are gone forever. Sin's stain is removed; our guilt is taken away. We are cleansed by his grace ( Romans 5:6-11 ). "Come ... let us reason together," says the LORD. Well, let's listen to reason and submit to his grace! My Prayer... OH, the glorious joy your grace gives us, dear God! We can never thank you or prais...

If serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.... As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. — Joshua 24:15 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Joshua's words to the people of Israel many centuries ago are as relevant now as they were then! While we can't speak for everyone in our family, we can commit to what everyone in our family should desire: We will serve the LORD! But more than commit, let's set the example and lead the way for the rest of our families to follow. Let's not only say, "I will serve the LORD, TODAY!" Let's do it. Let's make serving the LORD our highest priority. Then let's set an example for our families to follow and challenge them to join us. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. My Prayer... Please give us wisdom, O tender Shepherd, on how to lead our families to love, honor, and cherish you as LORD. Please bless those who are parents. Please give th...

I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God wants us to be a praying people, just as Jesus was our praying Savior. God wants us to pray for people: "for everyone - for kings and all those in authority." The blessing of that kind of prayerful life is that we get to "live peaceful and quiet lives" full of "godliness and holiness" as God answers our prayers. Let's pray as if world peace and our influence in our world depend on it, because they do! Let's intercede for the needs of the people around us, regardless of whether they are believers or unbelievers. Let's give thanks when things are good and for the blessings God has given us. Let's do so because our world needs peace, quiet, godliness, and holiness! So, let's h...

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. — Ephesians 1:9-10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Jesus is LORD! He's not just our LORD as Christians, but he is LORD of all ( Acts 10:36 ). God's plan was "purposed in Christ" ; centered on Christ coming at the right time ( Romans 5:6 ; Galatians 4:4 ), to bring unity in Christ by making him LORD of all and to have everyone acknowledge his lordship ( Philippians 2:9-11 ). This also brings God great pleasure. Jesus is both our Savior and our LORD. Our hearts seek to honor him because he has done so much for us. We also honor him as LORD because he is worthy of that honor. Those options, Jesus as Savior and LORD, are available to all people who come to him. So, let's ask ourselves, "What area of my lif...

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. — Romans 13:5-6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Ouch! Most of us hate taxes. But we should also admit that we enjoy many of the privileges and blessings those taxes provide. Paul reminds us in Romans 13 that civil authorities are God's tools to hold back anarchy, chaos, and lawlessness. Oh yes, I know, and Paul knew that some government officials abuse their positions. As Christians, most of us are immune, or should be, to most laws because our faith in Jesus and love for others are going to regulate our behavior far more strictly than any civil legal code. We obey them because we first obey Christ, who ...

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. — 2 Corinthians 3:6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God "has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant." God has willingly entered into a new covenant of love, grace, and purpose with us, his adopted children. He sealed that covenant with the blood of his Son Jesus and LORD. Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live the life of this new covenant.* God has made a covenant of love and grace with us. The Almighty has then turned around and made us worthy and "competent" to share that covenant with others. God's covenant with us is life-giving because it brings life to us and life to others, through us! * The thoughts and prayer today are rooted in Paul's teaching in Romans 7 and Romans 8 , Titus 3:3-7 , and 2 Corinthians 3 , which ends with these words: And we all, who with unveiled faces ...