When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” —1 Corinthians 15:54 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As Christians, even if our body dies, we don’t! Our physical death just means that we will be…

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the…

For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. —1 Corinthians 15:25-26 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… How many times have you stood over the grave of a recently departed friend or loved one? It hurts! When was the last time you tasted…

Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. —1 Corinthians 15:24 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Closing time! That’s when everything is counted, the doors are locked, and the final tally is made. Jesus is LORD of closing time. Even…

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. —1 Corinthians 15:20 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The angels at the empty tomb of Jesus asked the women (Luke 24:5), “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” These words are also the angels’ words to…

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death. —Proverbs 10:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wealth, especially wealth gotten through greedy and wicked means, proves to be of no lasting value. This rancid kind of wealth rots the heart of the one who gets it. Even when we have this rotten wealth, it…

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Throughout Scripture, God reminds us that as we trust him and share his blessings with others, he will ensure we have all we need and have even more so that we can help…

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. —Philippians 4:12-13…

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. —1 Corinthians 15:19 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Wow! What a powerful and sobering thought. Our faith in Jesus’ resurrection and being joined with him forever is so crucial that all else pales in comparison. Our hope…

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. —1 Corinthians 15:3-5 Thoughts on…

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. —1 Corinthians 15:2 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What saves us? What God did for us in Jesus! Let’s commit to let nothing make us relinquish our trust and dependency upon that hope,…

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. —1 Corinthians 15:1 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The pure Gospel of Jesus Christ is our hope, salvation, and foundation for faith. The first century apostles passed on this Gospel to…

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What can genuinely guard our hearts? What can authentically protect our minds? Did you know God wants his peace to guard our hearts and minds? That’s the apostle Paul’s promise…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —Philippians 4:6 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Anxiety is worrying about things that we cannot control and worrying over things that we cannot remove from our thoughts. Anxiety dominates and controls a passive mind and a…

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. —Philippians 4:5 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Extravagant over-reaction! That’s what we’re programmed to seek and to display in our modern world of sound bytes, social media “likes,” and the over-hyped cult of personality. But gentleness, the moderating grace amid chaos and conflict, is vital…

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! —Philippians 4:4 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, the squabbles among church folk can discourage us and lead us to lose sight of our incredible blessings in God’s family. We have many reasons to rejoice in the LORD. Let’s not lose sight of those reasons,…

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. —Philippians 4:9 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… As we seek to pass on the faith to our children, friends, and younger spiritual “children” in Jesus’ family, we would…

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God — that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. —1 Corinthians 1:30 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… God’s grace has brought us into a saving relationship with Jesus as our LORD and Savior. As believers, we recognize that…

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. —1 Corinthians 1:27 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The Cross is such an offensive symbol when viewed in its most basic and raw form (1 Corinthians 1:18-24). For God to allow…

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. —Ephesians 3:20-21 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What is your biggest…

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness…

For this reason I kneel before the Father… I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. —Ephesians 3:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What’s the greatest thing we can do to bless those…

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance…

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. —Romans 8:18 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Life in our fallen world, which is under the influence of the evil one, is hard and sometimes filled with suffering and persecution. Is it worth it trying to live…

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. —Romans 8:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Your older brother,…

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous. —Psalm 37:16-17 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… What do we want to be the basis of our security? Will it be what we can do, accomplish, achieve, earn,…

The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. —Proverbs 10:7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… Sometimes, the wisdom of God is short, succinct, and sweet for those who seek to do his will. I want my children and grandchildren to remember me with sweet thoughts because their…

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! … For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. —Romans 11:33-36 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… The apostle Paul wrote these words after concluding his presentation of salvation by grace through faith…

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. —Psalm 37:6-7 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… If you listen to these words carefully, heaven says, “Have a holy chill-out moment.” I’m not making light of this invitation. Heaven says,…

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” —Romans 8:15 Thoughts on Today’s Verse… These simple words, “by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father,’” are revolutionary! Just as Jesus prayed to God, addressing him as…