But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7 NIV Listen (MP3)

Verse of the day

Morning

Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down.

Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.—We ourselves . . . groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.—Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down! Touch the mountains so that they smoke!

“This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”—Christ . . . will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.—It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!—Our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.—But our citizenship is in heaven.

Isa. 64:1; Song 8:14; Rom. 8:23; Ps. 144:5; Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; Isa. 25:9; Rev. 22:20; Titus 2:13; Phil. 3:20 (Read full verses…)

Evening

You have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”—The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.—The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.—He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Ps. 61:5; Isa. 54:17; Ps. 34:7-10; Ps. 16:6; Mal. 4:2; Rom. 8:32 (Read full verses…)

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Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:7-10 NIV Listen (MP3)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. Hebrews 12:7-10 NIV Listen (MP3)