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Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. — 1 Peter 3:18 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Having stood over the open graves of friends, family, and strangers, I know the feel of death's finality and our human frailty. Christ's death, however, powerfully reminds us that death's hold on us depends on our perspective and faith rooted in the saving work of Jesus. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that Jesus is the firstfruits of those of us who believe in him ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 ). I believe he was raised from the dead, not just in spirit form, but in bodily presence to defeat death and bring us " life and immortality to light" beyond death ( 2 Timothy 1:10 ). Because Jesus lives, so will we! No grave could hold him, and because of him, no grave can hold us. And in that new life that is ahead, Jesus will bring us to God, and to each other who...

It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. — 1 Peter 2:15-16 Thoughts on Today's Verse... What does the world most need to see and hear from you and me today? I believe the world needs to see our lives tuned to the melody of grace we claim comes from God in Jesus. Doing good and being like Christ is Peter's answer to opposition, cynicism, and even persecution ( 1 Peter 3:15-19 ). We are free in Jesus, but freedom doesn't mean we have to flaunt it pretentiously. Instead, we can live for Jesus, who died to conquer death and renounced the evil one's power over us, to give us heavenly freedom so we could find life in him ( Philippians 2:6-11 ). Like Jesus, we can live as servants to bless others, and we can serve God as we seek to lead others to discover Jesus! Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My...

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. — Colossians 1:9 Thoughts on Today's Verse... In a world where we can feel so isolated and alone at times, despite all the ways we can connect online, it's important to know someone is praying for us and our spiritual needs. That also means we need to let others know we are praying for them, and tell them what we are praying for them! As I think of the hundreds of thousands who are a part of Verse of the Day , I cannot help but pray that each of them, that you specifically, are blessed by knowing that you share a spiritual journey with people all over the world, and that today, we will be praying for each other. And of course, there can be no better prayer than the one that Paul prayed for the Colossian friends he had never met: [I ask] God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual ...

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. — 1 John 2:15-16 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Love for things, especially temporary ones, can sure get us into trouble. We can begin to assume that these worldly things will make us happy or fill the empty places in our souls. These assumptions soon become cravings. Acting on these lusts, cravings, and pride then drives, enslaves, and addicts us. Not only do these false allures from the evil one leave us unfulfilled, but they also lead us away from the LORD and the life he longs to share with us ( John 1:4 , 10:10 ). Only when we truly place our hopes and yearnings in our Abba Father, seeking to know and experience him in our lives, do we find truly satisfying and lasting life ( John 17:3 ). My Prayer... ...

God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, "Fall on the earth," and to the rain shower, "Be a mighty downpour." — Job 37:5-6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Aren't those beautiful words?! "God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding." Amen! Isn't that so?! Instead of spending a lot of time talking or thinking about how marvelous God is - if he is greater than our words can capture (And he is!) - let's praise him in prayer through what we do today; not just in words, but in words and deeds. Like the rain and snow, let's do what the LORD asks of us and bring refreshment to our dry and weary world! My Prayer... Holy, righteous, and eternal God, you alone are marvelous, mighty, gracious, and holy. God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - we can barely comprehend the distant "outskirts" of your ways,* but we do love you. We...

"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...