Living as a Living Sacrifice (Romans 12)

Resting in the Truth That I Am Chosen and Loved (Ephesians 1)

Evening Scripture Ephesians 1 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/ephesians/1.html] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Evening Reflection  With another day coming to an end, Ephesians 1 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/ephesians/1.html] encourages us to consider anew the reality of who we are in Christ. We need this recalibration to what God says about us because there is much in our daily lives that attempts to tell us who we are: that we are defined by what we do, the accounts we follow, or the hobbies we pursue.   Yet the Apostle Paul holds up a tapestry of verses as if to say: “This is who you are, and it changes how you live.” The picture he gives us is that of loving adoption. Just as a family that decided to open their home to welcome a child as their own, the Father has brought us into His family as beloved children. He lovingly chose us, each one of us, to be His own. And He did so out of love by sending His Son to die for us. This was not a whim decision by God, but a preplanned choice made before time. We were predestined to be His sons and daughters. As we consider the past day, what has influenced our understanding of our identity? Does the ongoing dialogue about who we are make us feel like a beloved child or a forgotten orphan?   The passage from Ephesians tells us the truth–that we are chosen by the Lord and deeply loved by Him. Tonight, as we close our eyes, we can meditate on this reality, resting in the identity of who God says we are. For the Voice that really matters is the One that shows us who we are in Christ.   Evening Prayer  Lord, At the end of this day, help me to listen to Your Word. There are far too many things in life telling me who I should be and what I am worth. May I listen to what you say about me? That I was predestined in love to be Your child, redeemed by the precious blood of Your Son. Thank You, O Lord, for blessing me with spiritual riches I do not deserve. Let me rest in this truth tonight, allowing it to grow deep within me as I sleep. I want to awaken to live the new day based on the reality of who I am in Christ. Truly, this knowledge changes everything! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Learning the Way of Wisdom One Choice at a Time (Proverbs 10)

Evening Scripture Proverbs, Chapter 10  The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father,      but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,      but righteousness delivers from death. The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,      but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty,      but diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,      but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. Blessings crown the head of the righteous,      but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. The name of the righteous is used in blessings,      but the name of the wicked will rot. The wise in heart accept commands,      but a chattering fool comes to ruin. Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,      but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,      and a chattering fool comes to ruin. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,      but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflict,      but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,      but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense. The wise store up knowledge,      but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,      but poverty is the ruin of the poor. The wages of the righteous is life,      but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death. Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,      but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips      and spreads slander is a fool. Sin is not ended by multiplying words,      but the prudent hold their tongues. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,      but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many,      but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,      without painful toil for it. A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,      but a person of understanding delights in wisdom. What the wicked dread will overtake them;      what the righteous desire will be granted. When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,      but the righteous stand firm forever. As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,      so are sluggards to those who send them. The fear of the Lord adds length to life,      but the years of the wicked are cut short. The prospect of the righteous is joy,      but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing. The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,      but it is the ruin of those who do evil. The righteous will never be uprooted,      but the wicked will not remain in the land. From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,      but a perverse tongue will be silenced. The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,      but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. Evening Reflection It seems that as the day comes to a close, we rack our brains for all the things we got wrong, then stew over how to fix them. However, the Lord has given us something much better than tossing and turning or mulling over all we wish we could redo. He blesses us with conviction, repentance, and forgiveness. Three things that bring us closer to the heart of God and point our gaze back to the wisdom He’s given us. It’s also safe to say that because of our mistakes, we see the need for God’s wisdom. We see how important all our choices are, big and small. And that our choices matter to God. As we walk with Him and set our life standards by His ways, we live in His peace. For a moment, look at all the wisdom Proverbs 10 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/proverbs/10.html] gives us. It covers almost every topic you can imagine! It addresses our thoughts, words, and deeds. It discusses matters of the flesh and matters in the Spirit. It shows our desperate need for God and His unfathomable love and kindness, which He pours out on His people. We see the call to walk rightly when others are going wayward. We see the promise that the wicked will not enjoy the land of the Lord. He gives us the perfect map, the clearest blueprint; we only have to be willing to use it. Not just for a time, not just for a quick tuneup, but for every moment of our lives. Now, we will not live this out perfectly, but we should desire to do so. Tonight, set your gaze on the goodness of God and the promises of God. Repent over what He’s convicted your heart about, ask for forgiveness, and get back to living fully for Him. It grieves the Father’s heart to see His children living apart from what He wants for them. Turn to wisdom, one step at a time, one choice at a time. Evening Prayer Father, Thank you for the gift of wisdom. I pray to be a believer who lives by your Word, not by my own ways. Please help me as I seek wisdom in all areas of my life. Humble me, convict me, and move my heart to repentance over the ways I’ve not walked rightly with you. I pray that tonight you would bless me with deep rest and a covering of your peace. Keep me close and keep me hungry for your will and ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Letting Jesus Meet Me in My Need (Luke 5)

Evening Scripture Luke, Chapter 5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” Read the rest of the chapter on BibleStudyTools.com. [https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html] Evening Reflection  Sometimes a desperate need comes upon our lives. These times of overwhelming lack make us feel stuck; we don’t have the resources or ability to overcome such need. In these moments, we often feel far from God. The idea of a good God gets challenged while we encounter such hardship and pain. This proves tragic because God has said and proven time and again how his heart is with the poor and needy. God, by his nature, sees emptiness and tries to fill it with goodness. Looking upon our broken world and the lives within it, God didn’t stay distant. Despite our sin, he entered the story through Jesus, also called Immanuel, God with us. He became a man to reach us where we were.  Here in Luke 5 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/luke/5.html] we see how Jesus’s closeness transformed lives, performed miracles. With the man dropped through the roof, Christ forgave his sin and healed his body, meeting both spiritual and physical. Pointedly, he dealt with the spiritual first, the physical coming after. We also have to let him meet us, invite us into the story. First, we must realize he’s already near us, and then we must cry out to him, pleading with him to do what he wants to do—love us and join us in our lack to fill it with his light and life, redeeming and transforming us and our story with his own.  Evening Prayer  Heavenly Father, I come to you in my need, not hiding my lack or pretending abilities I don’t have. You see my emptiness, and you draw near with love and power. You’re not distant; you’re Immanuel, God with me. Forgive my sin, restore my heart, and speak life into every broken place. I willingly and desperately invite you into my story, into my weakness, fear, doubts, and all. Fill and revive what I can’t. Heal what I can’t. You alone can bring change, and you are more than enough to transform my life and situation. Teach me to trust your goodness and love today. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot (Zechariah 4)

Trusting God’s Spirit to Do What I Cannot Evening Scripture Zechariah 4 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/zechariah/4.html] Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” He answered, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I replied. So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” Then I asked the angel, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” Again I asked him, “What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?” He replied, “Do you not know what these are?” “No, my lord,” I said. So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” Evening Reflection Life presents us with so many impossible tasks. On our own, we lack the power to do good; our sin nature makes it impossible for us to please God. By God’s amazing grace, the impossible is made possible. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and through the death of Jesus, we can overcome our sin nature and, through the confession of faith, become a child of God. Death no longer has the last word, and our lives can be filled with beauty, grace, and meaning.  God’s Spirit also shows us how to live. It reveals to us parts of the mystery of who God is. Zachariah encounters an angel who gives him a prophetic vision. He doesn’t understand what he is seeing. The angel responds to Zachariah's confusion by saying that the things being revealed to him will not come to pass by man’s might but through the power of God’s Spirit. For things that feel confusing, impossible, or countercultural by human standards, we have to trust God’s Spirit to do what we cannot.  God is an everlasting God. He sees our beginning and our end. He alone holds all Creation together. It is God alone who has the power to change, guide, and save us. He anoints us to do His work. We must trust God’s Spirit to empower us.   Evening Prayer Father, I thank you that it is not by my might but by your Spirit that I can overcome my sin and have access to salvation. Through your Spirit, reveal to me how to live. Anoint me to do your good work. Show me how to navigate life’s challenges. Remind me that the best is yet to come. Grant me your wisdom so I can understand the signs of the times and point others to you. Help me to be a person who lives with peace and confidence, knowing you can do abundantly above and beyond all I could think, ask, or imagine. Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Restored by Mercy I Didn't Earn (Psalm 85)

Restored by Mercy I Didn’t Earn                                                                                                                                      Evening Scripture Psalm 85 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html] You, Lord, showed favor to your land;      you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people      and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath      and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior,      and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever?      Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again,      that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord,      and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says;      he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—      but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,      that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together;      righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,      and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good,      and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him      and prepares the way for his steps. Evening Reflection Psalm 85 [https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/85.html] reminds us of God’s forgiveness and favor. Where he could have destroyed us with a breath of his “hot anger” because of our sin, he gave us life; he revived us. But as we wait for the Lord to return, and life continues to be difficult, it can seem as though God is still angry. “Will you be angry forever?” We feel spent, tired of fighting our sin and the sins of others, even to the point of death. We have no right to experience the mercy of his life-saving breath - and yet the Holy Spirit revives us. The Psalmist describes God as righteous, steadfast, and loving. It pleases him to offer peace instead of chaos to the aching hearts of sinners. We might find it difficult to replicate in our day-to-day response to people who hurt us, but we are called to follow the Lord’s example. His righteousness is the path we pursue. Since we are worthy of God’s wrath but have received salvation instead, we can bring Christ’s peace to those who have hurt us. Transformed, revived hearts actively work towards forgiveness in the humility of knowing that we received the Lord’s mercy when we should have been wiped out by his wrath. There are people drowning in shame over the wrongs they have committed: God’s peace offers a way out. We can bring them the restorative love of the Savior. Whether his love is accepted or not, God IS glorified when we follow his direction and copy his mercy. Rest in that truth. Evening Prayer Lord, With your reviving mercy comes responsibility to move towards others in love and to forgive as we have been forgiven. You restored us - this means we were dead! Let us never forget that being far from you is no trifling inconvenience but death. And you, glorious and loving God, have given us life instead. You are wondrous, and your mercy is so grand a thing that we cannot fathom it, but help us to reflect it as ambassadors to a world that is dying. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen. Want More? If tonight’s episode blessed you, be sure to follow the show [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-nightly-scripture/id1896272962] so your next nightly scripture is ready when you are. Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica [https://www.biblica.com/]. All rights reserved worldwide. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].