Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. —Luke 12:23 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… In the rush of the holiday season and the grab at getting and giving gifts while eating good food, it is very important to remember that life is much more than the most basic things we think we…

For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. —1 Samuel 12:22 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The great and holy God will not be unfaithful. He will act to show his character and honor his holy name, even when we,…

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. —Romans 12:21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… A friend used to remind me that the number one goal in dealing with difficult people or circumstances is this: “Don’t become what you hate.” He wasn’t talking about hating the person, but he meant that we don’t…

“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.” —1 Samuel 12:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Israel wanted a King. This rebellion against God as LORD and King crushed Samuel’s heart and angered God at the…

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. —Proverbs 12:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “Tell the truth the first time, then you won’t have to remember what you said.” This truism by the famous Speaker of the House, Sam Rayburn, is good medicine for us today. Telling a lie seems gratifying…

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. —1 Corinthians 12:18-20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Apostle Paul reminds us…

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. —Romans 12:17-18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… REDEMPTIVELY — That’s how Jesus lived! He sought to make a difference in the…

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. —Romans 12:16 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… “Don’t be conceited!” That’s a command for someone else, right? I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who genuinely felt they were conceited. But, when…

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. —Romans 12:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… While misery may love company, grief can lead many of us to withdraw and hide. So, let’s remember those who have lost loved ones, especially this time of year. Let them know how you value and miss their loved…

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. —1 Corinthians 12:14 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The human body is an amazing arrangement of parts, members, vital organs, systems, and interdependent structures. When the body is healthy, these many different organic structures and systems work together, and the human body can…

For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. —1 Corinthians 12:13 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Do you know what makes us family? In God’s family, the Holy Spirit makes us one. We are…

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. —Romans 12:12 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How can we keep our circumstances from determining our mood? How can we emancipate ourselves from the limitations that life deals us? The last in this trio of commandments from Paul opens the door for the other two to…

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. —Romans 12:10 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… I love the old saying, “He who toots his own horn plays in a very small band!” A very selfish part of us wants all attention and appreciation focused on what we have done, sacrificed, and…

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. —Romans 12:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Special Note: Remember that this year, we are letting our verse reference be determined by the date. So on December 9, the twelfth month and ninth day, we have been led to Romans 12:9 as our…

Wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous stands firm. —Proverbs 12:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The principle of this proverb is true in every culture. An evil leader who has made his way to the top by murder, deceit, and violence ends up being murdered by one even…

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” —Hebrews 12:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse……

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. —Romans 12:4-5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… An arm detached from a living body is just a…

Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. —1 Corinthians 12:3 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Say it today as often as possible: “Jesus is LORD.” But more than just saying it,…

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. —Romans 12:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sooner or later, we must decide: Will I be…