Live Like Jesus

TODAY’S VERSE
Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The world is looking for Jesus. The truth is that people love what Jesus stood for and how He lived His life. It is the way we, the church, live that turns them away from Christianity. Paul knew this. It was the love and grace of Jesus that consumed him, so he knew if we were going to make an impact in the world at all, if anyone around us were going to come to Jesus, then it would have to be through an accurate portrayal of the person we name our self after. If we are Christians, Paul says that we “must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.” And what was this attitude? It was an attitude of love and selflessness. Paul said it this way, “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Today, let us humble ourselves and live as Jesus would. Might He live in and through us so much that people would have to take a second look, mistaking our love for the Lord Himself.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me to live the way You would. Help me have the same attitude that You do. Help me live for You so much that those around me will be compelled to know You as I do.
AMEN

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Living love

TODAY’S VERSE
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:10 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Paul starts Romans 12 by telling us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. Then he shares how we can do it. We serve God sacrificially by loving one another. It is the Christian trademark. It is the distinguishing call of Jesus to all His disciples. If we follow Jesus, then we must be devoted to one another in brotherly love. This is a love that puts others above ourselves. It is this form of community that the world is looking for. It is this kind of love that completes us as human beings. This unconditional love that we offer each other allows us to mature into the type of people God has called us to be. Praise God that you have been called into this wonderful fraternity called His church. Bless God that you can be part of a fellowship where you love each other dearly, putting the needs of each other above your own. Today follow Jesus, devoting yourself to loving others.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I thank You for Your love for me. Thank You that You have called me to the same kind of love. Help me devote myself to others around me. Help me honor others above myself. Help me love like You do.
AMEN

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Anger

TODAY’S VERSE
And ‘don’t sin by letting anger control you.’ Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26-27 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
One of the pieces of evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our life is “self-control”. And there is nothing harder to control than our anger. God originally created anger as a defense mechanism to protect us from life-threatening danger. But that is where the problems arise. The truth is that the majority of what we get angry at is not life-threatening at all, it only feels that way. Embarrassment, fear of consequences, inconvenience toward reaching a goal we feel is imperative; depending on what we are believing about ourselves, these seemingly common circumstances can trigger an anger response. Paul warns us about anger. He suggests that we control anger before it controls us. He wrote, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Today, get a grip on your anger. Consider what is really bothering you and give it to God. Make up your mind that anger will not get control of you. Instead, if anything is going to control you, let it be the Holy Spirit.  

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You that You don’t ask me to do anything that you won’t help me with. I am asking You today to help me with my anger. Holy Spirit, help me control my anger and not give any foothold to Satan.
AMEN

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Love

Love

TODAY’S VERSE
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:36 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jesus was our example. For over two thousand years, people have heard the story of His amazing Love. Jesus commanded us to be loving, full of compassion, mercy, and pity for a lost and broken world, just like He and His heavenly Father were. Love is more than a duty; it is our calling. It is the result of knowing Christ. It is the byproduct of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul defined this kind of love when he wrote, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” Today, ask Christ to fill you with that kind of love and compassion. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live a life of love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I am helpless to live the life of love you have called me to without You. Fill me with Your Spirit. Convict me, forgive me, empower me to love the way You love.
AMEN

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Extend Grace To Others

TODAY’S VERSE
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.
Galatians 6:1 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
We all do wrong and need help sometimes. But why is it, those of us who are forgiven so much, can be so stubborn when it comes to understanding someone else’s sin? Where is the restoration? Where is the grace? Paul sees this lack of love in the church and instructs us to restore a person by being gentle and humble. In the classic book, “Truefaced” the authors write, “One of the greatest gifts we can offer another person is a safe place to fail.” How true is that? Indeed, that is what Christ has done for us. The authors also write, “Grace frees Christians to see others as saints who sin, rather than sinners striving to be saints.” Yes, we should praise God that He has saved us and forgiven us of all our sins, but we should also remember that we are saved by “grace” and are called to live by grace as well. Today, let us offer grace to those that need it in the same proportion that God has given it to us.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your grace. Help me to be gentle and humble and extend that same grace to those around me.
AMEN

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My High Priest

TODAY’S VERSE
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
What you believe about God makes all the difference in the world. The author of Hebrews shares one of the most poignant views of God in all of Scripture. He uses the illustration of a High Priest that stands between God and us. But not a High Priest that has the same frailties as us. Instead, a High Priest that faced all the same testing as we do, but without sin. A High Priest that paid the price for our sins so we could come boldly to God the Father and receive His love and forgiveness. And who is this High Priest? It is Jesus. It is Jesus who has made it possible for us to know God. Possible to receive mercy and forgiveness. Possible to find God’s grace when we need it the most. So today, listen to the author of Hebrews and come boldly to Jesus. Come for His mercy. Come for His cleansing. Come for His forgiveness. Come for His grace. He is waiting.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, thank You for being my Great High Priest. Thank You for Your death on the cross. Thank You for forgiving me. I Praise and Worship You for all Your grace given to me.
AMEN

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Harmony

TODAY’S VERSE
So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.
Romans 14:19 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
You would think that the church would be a place where each person is building the other up, but it’s not always the case. We can hurt each other, just like any other social group. Apathy, jealousy, gossip, anger, and bitterness often run rampant in the church. That is why Paul said to “aim” for harmony and to “try” to build each other up. We do that by submitting to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we do, the Holy Spirit produces in us His fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This enables us to build each other up in ways that will result in harmony. So today, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, mold you, and use you and let us aim for harmony and begin to build each other up.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, I invite You to produce Your fruit in my life. I want to live in harmony with others and help build them up. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Love In Action

TODAY’S VERSE
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Now here is a list to live by. We like to think of love as a noun. Some pretty valentine cards or songs we remember from our high school days. But love is a verb. It is love “in action.” Paul gives us a list that is unmistakable. Paul writes that love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love does not demand its own way and does not get irritable or keep a record of wrong. Love is not happy with injustice but rejoices in the truth. Finally, love has staying power. It never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and has endurance. Can you imagine what the world would be like if all of us would live by Paul’s definition of love? Today, let’s change our little part of the world. Let’s practice this kind of “love in action” wherever we go.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You are love, and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, You can help me love. Give me the courage, strength, and desire to love the way You do. Today, help me exemplify love in action.
AMEN

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Love Your Enemies

TODAY’S VERSE
Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
Luke 6:35 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Sometimes I forget how radical the teachings of Jesus really are. When I am tempted to be benevolent to someone that doesn’t seem deserving, when I am considering forgiving someone who has offended me, when I am accepting someone into my inner community whose background is troubled, I begin to get second doubts. Others start to question what I am doing, and my anxiety begins to rise. And then I come to Jesus. I read a passage like today’s, and I start to understand that I don’t even begin to understand. I see the depth of God’s love, and I am so far removed. I am so short of what He demanded. Love my enemies? Do good to them? Be kind to those who are unthankful and wicked? Sure, He has done that for me, but He is God. How can I love the way He does? It starts by committing myself to be like Him and then realizing the only way I can do it, is with the help of His Holy Spirit. I must be willing to let Him love others through me. If I do, His ways will become my ways. Today, decide to love the unlovely. Be kind to those who are unkind. Be patient with those that invade your space. Christ is our example. We are called by His name and empowered by His Spirit.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your high standards when it comes to love. Where would I be without it? Surely You have loved me with abandonment. Help me to go and radically love others.
AMEN

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Never Abandoned

TODAY’S VERSE
The LORD will not abandon his people – for it has pleased the LORD to make you his very own people.
I Samuel 12:22 (NLT)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I don’t know how it could be any clearer, yet if you struggle, as I have, with issues of shame and abandonment, this verse will seem like some vague concept you can’t quite get your thoughts around. However, I have come to believe that even in the most fearful of us, the Lord can meet us, open our eyes to the truth, and give us hope and peace. “The Lord will not abandon His people.” Don’t just read these words, feel them. Drop your guard, relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, and as you exhale slowly, let the emotion of this tremendous promise sink deep into your chest: “God, our Father, will not abandon you.” And if that is not enough, hear the author say, “It has pleased the Lord to make you His very own people.” And that you are! Today, know deep in your heart, “You are God’s child, and He will never, never, never abandon you.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, forgive me for my fear that you will abandon me and a lack of trust in Your love. I renounce this, Lord. Today, I accept the fact that it pleased You to make me Your child and that you will never leave me. I praise You, Lord, for this.
AMEN

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