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Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 Thoughts on Today's Verse... We have victory, ultimate victory over death. If we don't have the answer for life's biggest test, death, then we have no lasting victory, ever. The Super Bowl and World Series are played every year. A champion is a victor for only one year and has to earn it again and again by competing and finishing the season in triumph. But a Christian is a champion forever. Because of Jesus, each true disciple of Christ Jesus has lasting victory over death. Yes, "thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." My Prayer... Thank you, God, for blessing us with lasting victory in Jesus Christ. In our daily struggles with sin, please make your will triumphantly present in us now, just as it will be when...

Christ has indeed been raised, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. — 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Being eternal is nothing new; in the beginning, God made us to live forever in fellowship with him. Being like Jesus ( 1 John 3:1-3 ) completely, eternally, will be new, however, when we're raised from the dead. When Jesus' lifeless body was placed in the ground, our lives with God forever in glory hung in the balance with him. Praise God. The Spirit of God revived Jesus from his death sleep. Jesus' resurrection also ensures our own, because our lives are hid with Christ in God ( Colossians 3:1-4 ), that death can no longer claim us. The only death that really matters for us is dying to our sin, through faith in baptism with Jesus ( Romans 6:4 ). If we have shared in that death, we will m...

If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. — Romans 10:9-10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Imagine Jesus being proud of you! He said if we confess him before others here on earth, he will speak up for us in heaven and claim us as his own ( Matthew 10:32 ). Not only that, because we have confessed Jesus as our Savior and LORD, Jesus presents us to God as "holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." Confessing Jesus as our LORD is acknowledging the truth, the reality of Jesus' true identity that every person will acknowledge one day. Our confession is the anticipation of what is to come when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus as LORD to the glory of God the Father ( Philippians 2:9-11 ). My Prayer... Mighty God, your Son is ...

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:18 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Power! We love power. We love the sound and fury of power. We love the power's ability to bring positive change to dreadful situations. The greatest power ever unleashed on this earth was the power displayed when the Almighty God held back his might and fury while his Son was persecuted, abused, belittled, battered, and murdered on a cross. Now that's an awesome display of power, and it was displayed specifically for us and to save us. Plus, we know the cross was not the end of God's powerful grace; it was the doorway to Jesus' glorious and triumphant resurrection. We now live by the power of God who raised Jesus from the dead ( Ephesians 1:18-21 ). Praise God for his power that is at work within us ( Ephesians 3:20-21 ). Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My ...

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. — Romans 13:8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Jesus paid the debt we owed God for our sins, trespasses, and rebellious actions ( Colossians 2:13-14 ; 1 Peter 1:18-10 ). Thank God we no longer owe the debt for those transgressions because of God's grace ( Romans 6:23 ). However, I do owe others the love, respect, forgiveness, and grace that God has lavished on me ( Ephesians 4:32 ). As Paul reminded us yesterday : 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 13:7 ) Why is this so important? We are to keep paying installments on the "continuing debt to love one another" as Jesus has loved us! My Prayer... Holy God, everything in heaven and earth is yours, yet you have graciously shared them with us, your children. We thank you for not just pur...

This is 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 13:6-7 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Ouch! Tax day. Not my favorite day, how about you? But where would we be without government, order, and laws? Anarchy! Rebellion! Lawlessness! Dog-eat-dog days where all people are "in it" only for themselves! While we may not always like how the system functions, we need to know from God how he wants us to live with flawed people in community. Paul is not naive. He knows he is likely going to be imprisoned and martyred by the Roman government. So, we can follow Paul's example as we seek to be redemptive in our living, obedient in our citizenship, and ask God to bless our countries and bring revival to them. Jesus left us this principle: "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar...