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I urge, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. — 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God wants us to be a praying people, just as Jesus was our praying Savior. God wants us to pray for people: "for everyone - for kings and all those in authority." The blessing of that kind of prayerful life is that we get to "live peaceful and quiet lives" full of "godliness and holiness" as God answers our prayers. Let's pray as if world peace and our influence in our world depend on it, because they do! Let's intercede for the needs of the people around us, regardless of whether they are believers or unbelievers. Let's give thanks when things are good and for the blessings God has given us. Let's do so because our world needs peace, quiet, godliness, and holiness! So, let's h...

He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. — Ephesians 1:9-10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Jesus is LORD! He's not just our LORD as Christians, but he is LORD of all ( Acts 10:36 ). God's plan was "purposed in Christ" ; centered on Christ coming at the right time ( Romans 5:6 ; Galatians 4:4 ), to bring unity in Christ by making him LORD of all and to have everyone acknowledge his lordship ( Philippians 2:9-11 ). This also brings God great pleasure. Jesus is both our Savior and our LORD. Our hearts seek to honor him because he has done so much for us. We also honor him as LORD because he is worthy of that honor. Those options, Jesus as Savior and LORD, are available to all people who come to him. So, let's ask ourselves, "What area of my lif...

Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also 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 13:5-6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Ouch! Most of us hate taxes. But we should also admit that we enjoy many of the privileges and blessings those taxes provide. Paul reminds us in Romans 13 that civil authorities are God's tools to hold back anarchy, chaos, and lawlessness. Oh yes, I know, and Paul knew that some government officials abuse their positions. As Christians, most of us are immune, or should be, to most laws because our faith in Jesus and love for others are going to regulate our behavior far more strictly than any civil legal code. We obey them because we first obey Christ, who ...

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. — 2 Corinthians 3:6 Thoughts on Today's Verse... God "has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant." God has willingly entered into a new covenant of love, grace, and purpose with us, his adopted children. He sealed that covenant with the blood of his Son Jesus and LORD. Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit to give us the power to live the life of this new covenant.* God has made a covenant of love and grace with us. The Almighty has then turned around and made us worthy and "competent" to share that covenant with others. God's covenant with us is life-giving because it brings life to us and life to others, through us! * The thoughts and prayer today are rooted in Paul's teaching in Romans 7 and Romans 8 , Titus 3:3-7 , and 2 Corinthians 3 , which ends with these words: And we all, who with unveiled faces ...

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. — Romans 13:1 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Yes, many of us don't like things about our governments, no matter where we may live. However, God has truly blessed many of us so that we can enjoy the protection of the authorities where we live. Paul is reminding believers to honor our governments and the laws under which we live. That said, like the first disciples, we also live in the time of some of the worst persecution ever known in the Christian era. Brothers and sisters in many parts of the world face opposition, persecution, and prejudice. In those cases, believers must honor God before their national and local laws. So, as we pray for our leaders and thank God for our freedoms, let's not forget the persecuted church all over the world. Let's pray for their deliverance, protection, and per...

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. — 1 Peter 2:10 Thoughts on Today's Verse... Excluded. Rejected. Discarded. Abandoned. Forgotten. Pushed aside. Never picked. Each of these describes what it feels like to be a nobody. The evil one gives our sinful flesh the tools and the opportunities to speak these words of self-condemnation to ourselves. God, however, has extended his mercy and grace to us. "But now…" - two of the greatest words of hope when God is attached. "But now" we can trust that God has loved us in Christ, brought us into his family, and given us a purpose. We are now part of the people of God! We have been chosen to be part of the victorious team of teams. We have received mercy! Grace has washed over us, and God's love has adopted us into his family. Peter is reminding maligned and persecuted believers that they can choose to see themselves as "no...