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Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. — Ephesians 4:29 Thoughts on Today's Verse... The goal in Christian communication is not just clarity. The goal is not just to be understood. The goal is not just to be truthful. The goal is not only to be appropriate and helpful, but also to be JESUShaped disciples ; it means we want to deliver our message based on their needs so it benefits, blesses, and builds up those who listen. Not only do we avoid crude, profane, or improper speech, but we are to fill our lives and the ears of those who hear us with the kinds of words that Jesus would share with people. God has called us to this high standard because we are to reflect and demonstrate Christ's character in our lives, bearing the fruit of the Spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23 ) as he transforms us to become more like our Savior ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ). My Prayer......

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. — Philippians 2:3-4 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Do you remember one of the earliest questions in the Bible? "Where is your brother... Abel?" To which Cain responded: "Am I my brother's keeper?" ( Genesis 4:9 ) Paul's answer to Cain's question is clear and undeniable: It is, YES! As Paul tells the Philippians (and us) in this verse, we must not look only to our "own interests, but also to the interest of others" ! We are our brother's keeper! We are our sister's keeper! We look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of those around us who need God's grace and our love. Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... Father, teach me to love your family as you love me. I get so c...

You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light... — Ephesians 5:8 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Our before and after: we were lost, now found; we were darkness, now light. This should be our journey of grace. "I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see," as the old hymn "Amazing Grace" has us sing. If we could only fully grasp what we so easily sing, then maybe our lives would be filled with more grace and our churches with more confident servants of God. Let's "live as children of light" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:5 ), transferred from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God's love ( Colossians 1:13-14 ), in whom we have light and life ( John 1:4 ). My Prayer... LORD God Almighty, by your grace we know that we stand before you today, welcomed into your glorious presence and received as your beloved children. You have rescued us from the dominion of darkness and flooded ou...

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. — James 3:13 Thoughts on Today's Verse... James promised that if we ask for wisdom in faith, God will grant it to us ( James 1:5 ). This kind of wisdom, God-granted wisdom, reveals itself through a loving, humble lifestyle. In worldly cultures, someone who is smart can easily justify acting arrogantly. In the LORD's eyes, however, smart but arrogant people are worse than those who are silly and foolish. The pridefully intelligent people of our world are woefully ignorant if they are ignorant. True godly wisdom is not about flaunting knowledge, but about living a "good life" characterized by good deeds done with humility. Which more closely resembles you in your walk with Jesus: Wisdom expressed through good deeds and a humble lifestyle, or an arrogant intelligence expressed in deeds and words of superiority and arrogance? My Prayer... Loving...

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. — 1 John 4:16 Thoughts on Today's Verse... How do you know God is at home in your heart? It's an important question! You know when you are doing loving things to bless the lives of others, and your love reflects the Spirit-formed kind of love Paul defines in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ; God is at home in your heart: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. When we consistently act in unloving ways, we show we really do not know God, no matter how much Bible we think we know! Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever d...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. — Philippians 2:1-2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... While our passage begins with an "If...," it would be better translated as "Since we have..." Our call to sacrificially submit ourselves to others does not begin with our sacrifice, but with Jesus' love, example, and sacrifice! We are called to unity in spirit and shared purpose after having received all these blessings from being in Jesus! We are encouraged by being united with Christ. We are comforted by his love. We do share in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We have received tenderness and compassion. So, dear brother and sister, how can we not share those blessings with our Christian family and find a way to live together in his Kingdom with lovi...