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My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. — James 1:19 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Let's just put this in cornbread English: "We must pump the brake on our speech and hit the throttle for our ears." When possible, we should let our emotional temperature cool for a few days before responding, pray to determine whether we need to respond, craft a response (written or verbal) with care, and then carefully edit and filter it before delivering our message - especially when we've had a zinger come our way. We keep our mouths shut, our hearts pure, and our ears open. Now, if we would all obey what James 1:19-21 teaches in this whole passage, we'd all be more blessed: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral fi...

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. — Romans 12:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Being "devoted to another in brotherly love" requires that our church talk - we're family, brothers and sisters, children of God - be more than mere words. We must enter into each other's lives, getting to know one another so that we can serve, love, and bless one another. The many "one another" commands of the New Testament remind us that this is the heart of being followers of Jesus. Each of us needs to ask ourselves: "What have I done lately to get more involved in the lives of my fellow Christians?" Devotion to others follows a commitment to know and be known by them, so that we can honor each other appropriately, love each other fully, and bless each other based on each person's needs. My Prayer... Father, thank you for giving me a worldwide family. Thank you for loving me so completely. Father, I ask that you he...

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. — Romans 15:2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Being disappointed and dissatisfied with life can stem from a myriad of problems. For many of us, however, these disappointments are symptoms that we have focused too much on ourselves and have allowed ourselves to become angry with life. We have forgotten to count our blessings, neglected to give thanks to God, grown silent in our praise to our Father, and quit helping those around us. Thinking of others is how Christ lived, and we are going to live for others if we are going to have a JESUShaped life. When we follow his example, our actions make a difference in the lives of those we bless, and we find ourselves immensely blessed as well. Let's get our focus off ourselves and look to bless our neighbors! As the ancient Christian hymn Paul quoted reminds us: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, d...

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. — Galatians 5:13 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our freedom as followers of Jesus, the freedom to live by the power of the Spirit and not by law ( Romans 8:1-4 ; Galatians 5:1 ), is a wonderful gift, especially when it is handled with responsibility and grace ( Romans 14:13 ; 1 Peter 2:16 ). Not being under law is such a sweet grace, but we want to pass that sweetness on to each other through service, kindness, and care ( Romans 13:10 ). Just because we are free to do something doesn't mean doing it is beneficial to our brothers and sisters in Christ or to those we are trying to influence toward Jesus. Freedom gives us the opportunity to do things in love, not just because we are commanded to do them. Love should be, could be, and must mean more than law. Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... O Great God...

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. — 1 Corinthians 1:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... If people in our congregations are ever going to get along, the leaders of those churches must remind God's people of the importance of unity. Shortly before facing his passion, Jesus' prayer was that we would be one ( John 17:1-26 ). Why? If the world knows we are Christians because of our love for one another ( John 13:34-35 ), then the world needs to see our loving unity so that the lost can know that the Father has sent Jesus to save them ( John 17:20-21, 23 ). When we are divided, we tell the world we're not offering them something the world doesn't have on its own. All we have is just a religious message that doesn't produce consequential changes. So, unity is not only important; it is also essential. It...

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. — Romans 15:5-6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Unity comes from God's Spirit as we all draw closer to Jesus ( John 17:20-21 ). As we are drawn to Jesus through the Spirit, we immediately find ourselves drawn closer to one another ( 1 John 1:1-4 ). Unity also has a purpose much deeper than our getting along with each other. Jesus prayed we would be one so that the world would know that God sent him into the world as the Son to save the world ( John 3:16-17 , 17:21, 23 ). We want to be united so that our praise can bring glory to God and lead others to him. Unity is far more than a goal; it is a process through which the world learns of Jesus. At the same time, we glorify the Father who sent Jesus to save us when we live together in unity. Leading others to Jesus and gl...