Verse for Today

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Verse for Today

May 17th, 2024

May 17, 2024 • Matthew 28:19

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‭Matthew 28:19 ESV‬

[19] Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

https://bible.com/bible/59/mat.28.19.ESV

The Mission of the Church

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, he spent 40 days on earth ministering to people and preparing His disciples for life without Him. Jesus planned on leaving earth and ascending to heaven, but before doing so, He gave His disciples a mission found in Matthew 28:19-20. We often call this mission The Great Commission.

The Great Commission begins with getting up and going to places where people need to hear about the good news of Jesus. This doesn’t mean you have to leave your country—there are people in your own neighborhood and workplace that need to hear the hope of Jesus.

The ultimate goal of the Great Commission is to make followers of Jesus. So as we go about sharing the good news of Jesus with people, we're to show people how Jesus has changed our lives, and invite them to discover Jesus for themselves.

Jesus also instructs us to baptize new believers. Baptism is a symbol of someone’s incorporation into the family of God. It is their public display of their new faith in Jesus. Baptism is such an important part of the Christian life that Jesus made sure to include it in our mission.

It can be easy to think that making disciples and baptizing believers is the responsibility of our church pastors and ministry leaders. While those things certainly are part of every church’s mission, Jesus intended for every believer to be making disciples.

So take a moment to think about someone in your own life who helped you grow spiritually. Ask God to bring to mind someone you can help and disciple. Then, allow God to give you the courage to share the hope of Jesus with those around you.

Verse for Today

August 18, 2024 • Galatians 5:16

Mark 9:24 ESV [24] Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” https://bible.com/bible/59/mrk.9.24.esv Wrestling with Unbelief Have you ever believed that God could do something, but wrestled with doubt at the same time? In Mark 9, we discover a story of a desperate father seeking healing for his son. The boy had been possessed by an evil spirit, causing him great suffering. The father, filled with both faith and doubt, approached Jesus to heal his son. In the midst of his plea, he cried out, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24). The reminder is a powerful one: it's okay to acknowledge our doubts and bring them before the Lord. It doesn't mean we have no faith. The father's declaration, "I do believe," reveals his faith in Jesus' power to heal. He also recognizes the presence of doubt within him. He humbly asks Jesus to strengthen his faith and help him overcome his unbelief. In this simple yet profound statement, the father shows a willingness to surrender his doubts to the One who can provide the answers and the assurance he seeks. Like the father in this story, you too may experience moments of doubt and uncertainty. You may question God's plans, struggle to understand His ways, or feel overwhelmed by the challenges you face. In those moments, remember that your doubts do not disqualify you from God's love and grace. Instead, they provide an opportunity for you to draw closer to Him, seeking His guidance and strength. Ultimately, Jesus commanded the evil spirits to leave the man’s son (Mark 9:25-26). The son received healing and even in his wrestling, the father’s prayer was answered. If you find yourself facing a difficult situation and you believe God can act but are also wrestling with doubt, remember that you are not alone. Bring your uncertainties to Jesus, just as the father did. Cry out, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Trust that He will meet you in your doubts, providing the reassurance and guidance you seek.

Verse for Today

August 15, 2024 • Galatians 5:16

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV [7] Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. https://bible.com/bible/59/2co.9.7.esv The Urgency of Giving Have you ever waited to do something you knew was the right thing to do? When Paul wrote his second letter to the Corinthians, the church in Corinth needed correction. In the ninth chapter, Paul focused on a promise the Corinthians had made a year before to help struggling Christians in Jerusalem. Not only had the Corinthians made this promise—to collect an offering and send it to Jerusalem—but they were so eager in their pledge, they had inspired other churches to follow their lead. However, the Corinthians were taking a long time to follow through on their promise, and in the meantime, their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem were suffering. Not only that, their eagerness to give had waned, and they were no longer setting the generous example they had before. So Paul wrote: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV When we are reluctant to give, we miss out on the chance to bless others. Disobedience can harden our hearts toward others. We can hold on to what we have because we think we know best. Instead, when you give with urgency, Paul says, “God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). He will bless you “so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Now, that may not always mean God will enrich you financially. But it does mean that God will always provide you with the means to be generous—with your time, energy, and money. And because God does not wait to provide for us, we shouldn’t wait to provide for others. Today, look for opportunities to show your generosity and share the good gifts God has given you—and when you see one, don’t wait to act! Instead, give with a cheerful spirit.

Verse for Today

August 14, 2024 • Galatians 5:16

Galatians 5:16 ESV [16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. https://bible.com/bible/59/gal.5.16.esv A Worthy Guide Is it possible to live a life that honors God? Is it achievable to train our minds and bodies to do what we know is right—instead of feeling powerless against temptation? Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia is a guide for such questions: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” Galatians 5:16 Without surrendering and submitting to God’s lead, our sinful nature is at war with what God has for us. Left to ourselves, we crave what the world desires. And the more we give into our unique shades of temptation, the more we crave (like craving sweets for the sugar, or craving pornography for the dopamine rush). But with the help of the Holy Spirit, who softens and molds and reshapes our hearts, we can learn to crave what God’s deemed best. To put it simply, the secret to living a godly life is the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit just so happens to be God—one of the three persons of the Trinity: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Jesus has already done the hard and beautiful work of salvation—by living, dying, and rising again for the sake of His children—but now He wants to continue His mighty work in us and through us. If it sounds impossible, it is impossible—if you’re fighting by yourself. But, as Jesus told His disciples, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27 NIV) The psalmist also brought another valuable perspective, writing, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalms‬ ‭119:9‬ ‭NIV)‬‬ When we cling to His Word, which was inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live a life that honors Him.