Daily Verse

Ruth replied [to her mother-in-law, Naomi]: "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."—Ruth 1:16Thoughts on Today's Verse...This beautiful statement of loyalty makes its way into thousands of weddings each year. Incredibly, this wasn't originally a pledge of a bride or groom. […]

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.—Titus 1:15Thoughts on Today's Verse...Rust stains, grass stains, blood stains, chocolate stains. ARGH! Those stains are real nightmares in the laundry room. They don't just leave a stain on the fabric's surface, but they also leave a residue that infiltrates the fibers […]

You were marked in [Christ] with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession — to the praise of his glory.—Ephesians 1:13-14Thoughts on Today's Verse...God is faithful to his word. He keeps his promises. But that faithfulness was not enough for him. He wanted us to have the full assurance of our future with him. So, […]

For [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.—Colossians 1:13-14Thoughts on Today's Verse...Rescued! Redeemed! Forgiven! As Paul declares in this short passage, God gives us these three transforming realities in Christ. Maybe an even more crucial gift is represented by the phrase "the Son he loves." God didn't just […]

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.—James 1:12Thoughts on Today's Verse...This beatitude comes from Jesus' brother, James. He had experienced trials; he didn't just teach about them! James knew it was worth "hanging in" and "hanging on" when his faith was attacked. He affirmed that God […]

And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."—Mark 1:11Thoughts on Today's Verse...Shortly after Jesus' baptism, he went to face Satan in a grueling forty days of temptations. Do you remember Satan's opening words to this time of temptation? "If you are the Son of God..." Wasn't it great that God had already reassured Jesus of his relationship, love, and […]

My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.—Proverbs 1:10Thoughts on Today's Verse...The real issue isn't "if" but "when" we're enticed and tempted! Our children face tremendous peer pressure and temptations. We do, too! We must help them resist the enticements of this pressure. Also, we must never tire of resisting them ourselves. One example of a parent preparing his child for trials and temptations is found […]

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.—Colossians 1:9Thoughts on Today's Verse...Paul wrote these words to the Christians at Colossae, but he had never been there. Despite his lack of "in-person" knowledge of them, he ministered effectively to them. He prayed specifically for them to better […]

Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.—Joshua 1:8Thoughts on Today's Verse...Just as God reminded Joshua in today's verse, we need to be reminded that God gave his Law to be a blessing to his people. God gave Israel the Law […]