Bible Verse for Today

Daily Bible Verse for Today 20 December 2024

DAILY BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY 20 DECEMBER 2024, FRIDAY

Daily Bible Verse for Today 20 December 2024 – Fidelity To Our Pledges

For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name. — Ps 61:5 BS

I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people, — Ps 116:18

The psalmist had been brought very low by the sorrows of death, but God mercifully delivered him in answer to his cry. Now, he walks before God in the land of the living, as though the cup of salvation had been placed in his hand, overflowing with blessings. He speaks of how God has loosed his bonds, like a wild creature trapped in the woods but now set free, full of life and joy once again.

In such circumstances, it is natural to ask, “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” The first and most reasonable response is to pay the vows we made when we were in trouble. Nothing deadens the heart more than vowing and not fulfilling it.

We should keep our vows for several reasons. First, it dishonors God to make promises lightly and break them. Second, it weakens our character when we resolve to do something and then fail to follow through. Each failure makes the next resolution even more fragile. Third, it undermines the faith of those who may have heard us make our vows. Lastly, when we don’t keep our vows, it shows that we failed to rely on the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill them. When a deed is done in God’s strength, from the first thought to the final action, it becomes permanent (John 3:21).

If you have vowed to be God’s servant, ensure that you live as you have vowed. If you have promised to serve, give, or live in devotion, be faithful to your word. The glorious declaration in Psalm 116:16 says it all: “O Lord, truly I am Your servant.” We, too, need to be bound by the cords of faith, hope, and love—bound by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Our resolutions may be frail, but God’s grace is sufficient to make us what we long to be in our best moments (Romans 12:1-2).

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Defend us, O Lord, from the deceitfulness of our unfaithful hearts. We are weak and prone to failure, but grant that we may bring our lives safely to Your desired haven. Amen.

ALSO, READ My Utmost For His Highest 20 December 2024 – The Right Lines of Work

Daily Bible Verse of the Day 19th December 2024

Daily Bible Verse of the Day 19th December 2024, Thursday Message

Daily Bible Verse of the Day 19th December 2024 Topic – The Elder Brother

The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours. — Luke 15:28-31

Of the two sons in the parable, I think the prodigal attracts more interest and affection than his elder brother. Esau seems a more likable character than Jacob, and the publican more appealing than the Pharisee who boasts that he is not like others. Perhaps this is because we feel a closer connection to the life of sense and passion than to the outward respectability and decorum that the elder brother represents.

The elder son had a great heritage. He enjoyed his father’s companionship through all the seasons of life and had the peace of mind that comes from never transgressing his father’s commands. He was free to access everything his father possessed, for his father told him, “All that I have is yours.”

This is our heritage as well, as sons and daughters of God. We can live in the constant presence and companionship of God, discussing all that concerns our lives with Him. We also have access to His vast resources in Christ, which we can claim by faith.

Yet, the elder brother’s spirit was loveless and selfish. He was jealous of the welcome given to the prodigal and resented the celebration for someone whose behavior was so different from his own. His self-righteousness alienated him from his father, who had to come out and plead with him to join the celebration. Selfishness always isolates. The spirit that magnifies its own virtues is not the spirit of true religion, no matter how outwardly correct the life may appear.

Let each of us ask: Can God address us with the same grace and blessing He gave to the prodigal? Can we be regarded as sons and daughters without rebuke? If not, then we are just as much prodigals as our wayward brothers, wasting opportunities that angels covet. Let us arise and return to our Father. Let us enter into His joy and allow His joy to fill our hearts so that we may rejoice and be glad.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Father, I have sinned. Bring me back into the blessed fellowship with You, that I may live with You on earth until You call me to live with You in heaven. Amen.

ALSO, READ Streams of Joy 19 December 2024 Devotional – Helped By Herod

Daily Bible Verse for Today 18 December 2024,

DAILY BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY 18 DECEMBER 2024, WEDNESDAY

Daily Bible Verse for Today 18 December 2024 TOPIC: – A New Name!

Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.” — Gen 32:28

The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name. — Rev 3:12 BSB

In the Bible, a name often represents nature. In those ancient times, names were not chosen for their pleasant sound but to reveal some aspect of character. Shepherds are said to name their sheep by their defects, and some Old Testament names seem to follow this same principle. It was true for Jacob. When the angel asked him, “What is your name?” he answered, “Jacob,” meaning “supplanter.” Never hesitate to call yourself by your true name when dealing with God—whether it be the least of saints, the chief of sinners, or the deceiver and cheat!

The first step toward losing our old nature is to admit that we have it. The next is to yield to God. Let yourself be conquered by Him; surrender to His will, especially in the area where His Spirit presses you most. Life is full of encounters with the wrestling Angel, but too often we resist instead of yielding to His hand. Every time we let God have His way in a new area of our lives, we are given a new name, a new character. Each time, a new aspect of His divine love passes into our being, transforming us more into His likeness, whose Name is above every name. Jacob becomes Israel; Simon becomes Peter, the Rock; Saul becomes Paul, the Apostle.

When God gives us a new name, He also reveals a new name for Himself. This means He gives us a deeper understanding of His nature. As we overcome sin, He reveals attributes of His character that were previously hidden. The Apostle John tells us in Revelation that every time we overcome, God gives us a white stone with a new name written on it, referring to the white diamond of the Urim and Thummim that Israel used to seek God’s will (Exodus 28:29-30; Revelation 2:17). Each person who conquers sin has their own stone, knows God’s will firsthand, and experiences revelations of God’s character that only they can understand (Matthew 11:25).

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Give us, O God, the white stone with the new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. Reveal Yourself to us as You do not reveal Yourself to the world. Amen.

ALSO, READ In Touch Devotional 18 December 2024 – The Reason for Our Boldness

Bible Verse of the Day 17 December 2024, Tuesday

Bible Verse of the Day 17 December 2024, Tuesday

Bible Verse of the Day 17 December 2024, Topic – Quiet Resting Places

Then my people will dwell in a peaceful place, in safe and secure places of rest. — Isa 32:18

Isaiah’s vision of rest and peace is portrayed in Isaiah 32:2, much like the Psalmist’s description in Psalm 23. It’s the scorching heat of noon. The glare from the limestone rocks is almost unbearable, and the sun’s rays feel like sword-blades. Every living creature has sought shelter from the relentless heat, except for the little green lizards darting in and out of the shadows.

The shepherd has led his flock to the cool, shaded valley, where great rocks cast dark shadows. You can hear the soft ripple of the brook as it winds between mossy banks and tumbles over pebbles. These are the green pastures and the still waters.

Do these not have parallels in our own lives? Think of the carefree days of childhood, when temptation was far away, and we hadn’t yet felt the strain of life’s responsibilities. Perhaps it’s the Sunday rest, with its pause from the week’s feverish activity, the calm of worship and meditation. Or maybe it’s a time of recovery after illness, slowly regaining strength. It could be an annual holiday spent by the sea or in the countryside. For our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, we need these moments of rest when life’s machinery can cool, and the waters can settle.

But if we want to enter into this peaceful habitation, we must meet the conditions. We must make Jesus our King and place the scepter of our lives entirely in His hands. We must hide ourselves under the shadow of the crucified Christ, who offers Himself as a shelter from the scorching winds and a refuge from the storm (Isaiah 32:1-2). Isaiah reminds us that this peace and quiet confidence rest on righteousness and justice. They are not given arbitrarily but are secured through the righteous work of Christ. “God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,” because in His Son, all claims have been met (Romans 5:1).

PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, grant us a pause from the rush of daily life, not just outwardly, but in our hearts. May our anxieties and cares be laid upon You, for You care for us. Let nothing disturb the peace and serenity of our hearts. You have ordained peace for us because You have accomplished all our works in us. Amen.

ALSO, READ Our Daily Bread 17 December 2024 Tuesday – Jesus Our Rescuer

Daily Bible Verse for Today 15 December 2024

Daily Bible Verse for Today 15 December 2024, Sunday

Daily Bible Verse for Today 15 December 2024 Topic: – Confessing Our Sins

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. — 1 John 1:8-9

To sin is to miss the mark. That’s the meaning of the original word.

When the prodigal son returned, his first words were, “Father, I have missed the mark.” Aren’t we all constantly missing the mark, falling short? Sin is both negative and positive. As the Confession of the Church of England and the Shorter Catechism both acknowledge: “We have done the things that we ought not to have done; we have left undone the things that we ought to have done.”

Sin consists not only in breaking God’s law, but also in failing to conform to His will. It is important to consider both aspects. Imagine a group of men headed to a recruitment center where the height requirement is exactly six feet. While one man may be proud that he stands two inches taller than the others, he still falls short of the required height. In the same way, you may be better than many people in your circle, but you still need Christ’s forgiveness and salvation just as much as the worst!

To deal with sin, we must confess. “Do not hide or cover your sins before your Heavenly Father, but confess them with a patient, humble, and contrite heart.” Don’t wait for your evening prayer or for a quiet moment alone. Even in the busy street or during your daily work, lift your heart to Christ if you’ve done wrong, and say, “I have gone astray; seek Your servant.”

It’s not enough to confess to Christ alone. If you’ve wronged someone else, you must go and make it right with them first. Then, come and offer your gift at the altar. Confess and make amends! It’s not enough to be extra kind or suggest something nice; you must specifically ask for forgiveness.

When God forgives, He forgets (Isaiah 43:25). As David, who knew this well, says, “He restores my soul.” Remember, God delights in mercy. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse. Because of the sacrifice of Calvary, God can be both perfectly just and the Justifier of those who believe in Jesus.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your forgiving, compassionate love. I know that my sin cannot change Your love, though it may dim my enjoyment of it. I pray that You will free me from the love and power of sin, so that it will not block the light of Your countenance. Amen.

ALSO, READ Our Daily Bread 15 December 2024, Sunday Message – A Grandma’s Faith

Daily Bible Verse 14 December 2024, Saturday

DAILY BIBLE VERSE 14 DECEMBER 2024, SATURDAY

Daily Bible Verse 14 December 2024 – TOPIC:  Communion And Transformation

And when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was unaware that his face had become radiant from speaking with the LORD. — Exod 34:29 

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. — 2 Cor 3:18

When Moses returned from the mountain where he had glimpsed as much of God’s glory as a human can bear, there was a strange radiance on his face. He was unaware of it, but everyone else could see it. Moses had spent enough time in God’s presence that he became saturated with His light and glory. It’s no wonder that his face shone with it, and that he had to cover it with a veil!

St. Paul refers to this event, explaining that the light shining from Moses’ face symbolizes the character transformation that occurs in those who behold or reflect the glory of the Lord. As we gaze upon the glory in the face of Jesus Christ, we are transformed into His likeness.

There are two key principles for Christian living: keep looking at Jesus until you become like Him, and reflect Him to others. As we reflect Him, the process of transformation continues. The old saying goes, “Tell me the company a person keeps, and I will tell you their character.” We could also say, “Tell me the subjects of their constant meditation, and I will tell you the expression on their face.” If we desire to be pure, good, and Christ-like, we must live in close fellowship with Christ. By beholding and reflecting His glory, even the lowliest and most sinful can be transformed into His image.

Unlike Moses, the glory of Christ is unveiled to us. Let us be careful of anything that might bring a veil between Him and us—sin and inconsistency being the most likely culprits. Moses did not know his face was shining, just as Samson did not know the Lord had departed from him (Judges 16:20). There is a blessed unconsciousness, but also a tragic one. Let us watch and pray, that we may not be caught unaware, losing our purity and strength without realizing it.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
We long to be holy as You are holy, to love as Christ loved us, to be patient and unwavering as He was, and to reflect Him in such a way that others will love Him for what they see in us. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse 13 December 2024, Friday

DAILY BIBLE VERSE 13 DECEMBER 2024, FRIDAY MESSAGE

Daily Bible Verse 13 December 2024 – Topic: God’s Thought Of Me

So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!” — Gen 16:13 

How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God, how vast is their sum! — Ps 139:17

Hagar was an Egyptian slave-girl, brought up in the idol-worship of Egypt, with no idea that the gods could have any interest in someone as insignificant as her. In Abraham’s camp, she had probably heard of Jehovah, but likely thought of Him as distant and unconcerned with her life. What interest could the God of her master and mistress have in her as she fled from Sarah’s harsh treatment and faced possible death in the lonely desert? But in her despair, she suddenly heard the voice of the Angel of the Lord speaking to her. She called Him “The Living One who sees me.”

For Hagar, this thought was a source of comfort and inspiration, giving her the strength to return and submit herself to Sarah. But for many, these words are associated with fear and judgment, as they imagine God watching their every wrong move. However, the true meaning of these words is not about spying or condemning, but about the fact that we can never wander so far or experience such loneliness that God doesn’t tenderly notice us. God sees even the sparrow that falls to the ground, and He sees us, too.

The Psalmist expresses the same idea in Psalm 139. When he says that God knows his every movement and thought, he speaks with joyful confidence. It is the privilege of true friendship to treasure the presence and thoughts of a friend. The highest mark of Christianity is that we are invited into personal friendship with our Lord, who knows our thoughts from afar. He shares in our anxieties and discouragements.

Wherever we go, He goes before us and follows behind. His care surrounds us completely. Let each of us open the door to this great Friend, remembering that His only test is obedience: “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” Then we will find that His presence is the delight of our lives (Revelation 3:20).

PRAYER OF THE DAY
We thank You, O God, that You have been with us on our path, knowing all our ways, and surrounding us with Your blessings. Your eye has been upon us to deliver us from death and be our help and shield. For all Your gracious care, we give You thanks. Amen.

ALSO, READ Our Daily Bread 13 December 2024 – God’s Keeping Presence

Daily Bible Verse 12 December 2024, Thursday

Daily Bible Verse 12 December 2024, Thursday

Daily Bible Verse 12 December 2024, Thursday Topic – In The Beginning God

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. — Gen 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. — John 1:1-3

The book of Genesis means “Beginning.” In it, we find the origin of many streams—some clear and some murky—that still flow through the world today. Genesis tells us of the beginning of the heavens and the earth, of the human race, of sin and redemption, of marriage and the home, of the sciences and arts that have shaped our civilization, of the Hebrew race, and of the division of humanity into various nations. But not all these beginnings can be attributed to God, for regarding sin, pain, and sorrow, we must acknowledge that “an enemy has done this.”

In the Hebrew text, the word for God is plural, but the verb that follows it is singular, pointing to the mystery of the Holy Trinity. In His earthly life, Jesus prayed to the Father, asking to be glorified with the glory they shared before the world began.

Let us make God in Christ our beginning—the beginning of our lives, of our prayers, of our daily work, of our marriages and homes, of our interests and pleasures. He is the chief cornerstone on which the whole building of life can be properly constructed. He is the key to the harmony of life’s symphony. He is the source of all joy, strength, and beauty.

God is a faithful Creator. What He begins, He finishes. He does not grow weary or faint. Human love may falter, but God’s love never will. If you have never entered into the life He offers, begin today by putting God in His rightful place as Alpha—the First. If we cry out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me,” He will answer, “Behold, I make all things new.” Listen to His promise: “I am the Alpha and the Omega… the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, my Father, the Supreme Good and Beauty of all things beautiful, I entrust to You everything You have given me, that I may lose nothing. You made me for Yourself, and my heart is restless until it rests in You. Amen.

ALSO, READ Our Daily Bread 12 December 2024 – Room for Jesus

Daily Bible Verse 10 December 2024, Tuesday

Daily Bible Verse 10 December 2024, Tuesday

Daily Bible Verse 10 December 2024 – The Broad And The Narrow Way

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. — Matt 7:13-14 

At the beginning of life, each soul stands before two paths. In all of us, the love of life is strong, and there is a natural desire to get as much as possible out of the years we are given. Amiel expressed this strong passion for life when he said, “A passionate wish to live, to feel, to express, stirred the depth of my heart. I was overpowered by a host of aspirations. In such a mood, one would fain devour the whole world, experience everything, see everything, learn everything, tame everything, and conquer everything.”

In our early years, we awaken to the powerful urges of natural impulses, and it’s tempting to argue, “If God has given me these strong desires, why shouldn’t I fulfill them?” Why not let these desires carry us wherever they may? But doing so means entering through the wide gate and following the broad road. This is the path of the majority—the way of the world. No one who chooses this route, allowing their course to be dictated by natural impulses, need fear being thought strange or eccentric.

In the beginning, the broad way is generally easy and even enjoyable. The boat launched on a flowing stream sweeps along merrily; the road’s gradient slopes gently, making the journey pleasant; the sun shines, and the path is lined with bright flowers. But a life of self-indulgence has only one end—destruction.

There is a better way, but it is too narrow for the trailing garments of passionate desire, too narrow for pride, greed, and self-indulgence. It is the Way of the Cross, but it leads to life. The remarkable truth is that those who expect to get the most out of life through self-indulgence end up losing everything, while those who seem to limit themselves by following Christ gain it all. “Few find and enter this path,” laments our Lord. Let us put our hand in His, that He may lead us along the path of life, “which shines brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Dear Lord, as Enoch walked with You of old, so may we walk each day, choosing the narrow path. Guide our steps in Your way, and graciously walk with us. Amen.

ALSO, READ Our Daily Bread 10 December 2024 – The Perfect Gift

Daily Bible Verse 9th December 2024, Monday

Daily Bible Verse 9th December 2024, Monday Message

Daily Bible Verse 9th December 2024, Monday Topic – Christ’s Revelation Of God

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? — John 14:8-9

Philip’s question reflected the growth of his soul. Just three short years before, Christ had found him, a young man much like others of his time—concerned about the arrival of the Messiah but with limited and narrow views. He expected Christ’s coming to mean the re-establishment of David’s kingdom and freedom from Roman oppression. But three years with Jesus had made an extraordinary difference. Now, Philip was no longer satisfied with seeing the Messiah; he wanted to know the Father: “Show us the Father, and it will be enough for us.”

Yet this request was based on a misunderstanding. Philip wanted to see the Father, but how can you make Wisdom, Love, or Purity visible except in a human life? Philip was so focused on seeking something transcendent that he missed the revelation of the Father that had been right in front of him for three years. Jesus said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?”

Jesus revealed the Father in His works (John 14:10-11). His miracles are like pages from God’s diary. We should not simply say, “This is what Christ did,” but rather, “This is what God is always doing—healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, restoring the broken, and raising the dead.”

Jesus reveals the Father in answering our prayers (John 14:13). He is always eager to answer our petitions, so that we might come to know the nature and glory of God our Father.

He reveals the Father by giving us the Holy Spirit, who comes to live within us. No miracle can show us more of God than the Spirit does when He imparts to us the divine nature. When Jesus says that He will reveal Himself to the obedient soul, and that the Father will make His home with us, He not only shows us the Father, but He gives us the Father (John 14:21-23). Through Jesus’ life and ministry, both on earth and throughout history, we see the Father in all His sweetness, tenderness, and strength—a love that fills the universe.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
We thank You, Lord Jesus Christ, for revealing the Father to us and bringing us close to God. Make us pure in heart, both in our actions and in our inner attitudes, so that we may always see God and not be hindered by our own nature. Amen.

ALSO, READ Joyce Meyer 9 December 2024 Devotional – Embracing Change