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Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. — Ephesians 2:4-5 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God is rich in mercy and generous with grace! Isn't that wonderful for us? I don't know about you, but I sure know I have failures, shortcomings, sins, and transgressions. Without God’s mercy, I would be lost in my sins ( Romans 3:23-25 ). Without his grace, I would be cut off from the life God longs for me to have ( Romans 5:6-11 ). God is rich in mercy and generous with grace! He acted on our behalf when he sent Jesus to show us his love ( 1 John 4:9-10 ). Now, because of his rich mercy and generous grace, we are dead to that old sinful self, and our lives are now tied to Jesus' glorious future ( Colossians 2:12 , 3:1-4 ). "God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ" ! My Prayer... Father of all grace and mercy, thank you. Thank you fo...

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. — 1 John 4:18 Thoughts on Today's Verse... What is there to fear since nothing can separate us from the love God has for us in Christ Jesus? ( Romans 8:38-39 ) What is there to fear since God has poured his Spirit into our hearts to transform, strengthen, and make us holy? ( 2 Corinthians 3:18 ; Galatians 5:22-23 ; 1 Corinthians 6:11 ) What is there to fear since God sent his Son to die to redeem us and present us to God as holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation" ? ( Colossians 1:21-22 ) As the apostle Paul declared: What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ( Romans 8:32 ) We are God's children. He loves us. His love for us i...

The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. — Romans 13:9-10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to have laws to keep people in line! That's the point behind Paul's message here. Treat our neighbors as we would like to be treated. Love them as we want to be loved. If we do that, then we're not going to do anything that would hurt them, much less violate a command of God's law that would hurt them. My Prayer... Loving Father, you are God who gave Moses the Law on tablets of stone. Please write your character and will on my heart ( Proverbs 3:3 ; Jeremiah 31:33 ) that I might be a living testimony of your righteousness and grace toward all peo...

He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. — Proverbs 17:9 Thoughts on Today's Verse... You've probably heard this poisonous statement many times: "It's just a little harmless gossip." The Wise Teacher reminds us that gossip is neither little nor harmless. Sharing someone else's stumble, offense, failure, or flaws separates friends and causes horrible damage. The consequences of such gossip are severe, and its damage is often lasting and devastating, especially to relationships. Instead, it is much better to be a peacemaker and an offense-mender, someone who covers over an offense with grace, forgiveness, and love. As Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God ( Matthew 5:9 ). A peacemaker is one who covers over an offense and promotes love and peace. Let that be said of us! Video Commentary... ToGather Worship Guide | More ToGather Videos My Prayer... Father of ...

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. — 1 John 4:11-12 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Can you imagine what an honor it is to have the Creator of the universe, the LORD God Almighty, living inside of you? Yet when we love each other, that is exactly what happens. When our hearts are full of love, there is room for God, a great deal of room for God, because God is love. When they are not full of love, we leave little room for God to take up residence and produce his character in us. Let God complete his love in you: commit to doing loving things for others today, and each day that follows, until you can express your love for your Father, face-to-face in glory! My Prayer... Abba Father, I find it so comforting to know that you are not far away - that I live in you and you live in me ( Colossians 3:1-4 ). Please help me see others with your eyes an...

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Separation is a primal fear, whether it is separation from something we fear, whether it's separation from a child, a parent, a sibling, a spouse, a friend, but especially separation from God is a deep fear for those of us who love him. Jesus endured separation from God by becoming a human and by going to the cross. As Paul put it so eloquently: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 ). Because of Jesus' sacrifice, and our faith that he did it for us, we are in Christ. We know we'll never have to be separated from God's love. He bore the separation so we would never have to fear ...