Galatians 5:16 - So I say, live by the Spirit

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

How many times have we made New Year resolutions only to find ourselves discouraged by the 2nd week (maybe even the 2nd day!). Every New Year we intend to stop this or lose that - so much so that we resign ourselves each year to making a list with the assumption that we won't keep it. But the apostle Paul gives us an important hint in what it takes to truly change: we don't make a decision to keep away from the desires of our sinful nature, we make a decision to live by the Spirit! We need to focus our gaze on where we want to go instead of looking at what we want to avoid. Let's start this New Year by taking our gaze off of our weaknesses and refocus it on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. When we do, we find that He can change us more than our resolutions!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Isaiah 9:2 - The people walking in darkness have seen a great light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

This passage has been associated with the Christmas season due to the usage of it in Handel's Messiah. The implications of this Scripture are immense. This passage says that 1) we all are walking in darkness and 2) we all need to see a great light. It's not very flattering to think that we walk in darkness, but a view of history would validate this claim pretty quickly. But now Christ is the light that gives light to every man. There is a light that has dawned upon us. We didn't figure it out nor could we figure it out. We need help. Another way to put it is Jesus is not a celestial Sugar Daddy trying to help us out; He's our Savior to set us free from our sins!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Matthew 2:10-11 - When they saw the star, they were overjoyed

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

As we said yesterday, the magi were not Jews. They were astrologers who appear "out of nowhere" and were aware of the birth of a new king. Think about it: God led these men to Jesus using skills that were foreign to the Jewish mindset of the time. As the Jewish high priest was oblivious to God in his midst, three pagans were worshipping the Christ. From his birth to his death on the cross, Jesus came to bring the earth to himself. He is doing the same today. How would we respond to the wise men? Are we willing to serve and accept those who are looking for the Christ from different backgrounds?

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Matthew 2:1-2 - We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

The Magi add a fascinating twist to the Christmas story. They were ancient astrologers who were regarded as the wise men of their time. They were not Jewish and this is the only time that they are mentioned in the Scripture. Their appearance and departure is mysterious and full of imagination. Notice the two groups who knew of the Christ: poor shepherds and respected wise men. Jews and Gentiles. God wanted to make it clear that the gospel was meant for rich and poor alike. It was meant for the smart and the uneducated. In other words, the gospel has been sent to the entire world.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Isaiah 9:6-7 - For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah has more messianic prophecies than any other book in the Hebrew Bible. Augustine called Isaiah the "5th gospel". This famous passage was declared during the rise of the Assyrian dynasty. Israel would be reestablished, but not in the way that was expected: a child would be born. The Jewish leaders of the 1st Century were looking for a Messiah that would ride in on a white horse and set the Jews free from the Romans. Instead, a baby was brought into the world. In weakness and vulnerability, the child was born and nurtured to fulfill His God-given destiny - to establish and uphold God's true kingdom. The kingdom of God that began with the baby king has not stopped increasing ever since.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 2:15-16 - Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

After the angel announced the coming of the Christ and a host of angels sang, there was the normal night sky. The shepherds could have just gone back to their business of watching sheep, but they were did something more profound: "Let's go to Bethlehem...". Many Christians have had a spiritual experience, but have they then gone to see what the Lord is doing in their generation? We have made the revealing of the Christ the end point, instead of the beginning of a journey. Now that you know that Christ is alive, what is God doing in your generation? Are you willing to hurry off to find it?

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 2:10-11 - I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

We can think of the people in biblical times as more prone toward angelic visits or children in mangers. But they were just as unnerved by the announcement of the birth of Christ as we would be. "Do not be afraid" is one of the most consistent commands in the Bible. It seems that the heavenly realm is so different from ours that we have to be told not to run away! When the gospel is proclaimed the heavens open up in our world and people have to be assured to not be afraid. For those who are able to conquer their fear and not run away, the good news of a Savior will create great joy in our hearts, for it is the reality of God's kingdom on the earth. Joy to the world, let earth receive her king!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 2:8-14 - And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

This famous passage of Scripture is the most beloved in our day recounting the birth of the Christ. The contrast is striking. Shepherds were regarded as one of the lowest castes of the culture in their day. They lived outside the cities and were not allowed to participate in many events. Yet to whom do the angels proclaim their good news? Who hears the greatest choir in the universe? The shepherds. The picture of the outcasts with the magnificent gives us a glimpse into the heart of God. He takes the parts of our lives that we regard as unclean and proclaims good news. He opens our hearts to tell us what He is about to do in our generation. May we be in a position to hear the angels and join in the purposes of God for our time.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Micah 5:2 - But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah...

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

We find a pattern with the Scriptures: Abraham was called out of his established place in his father's household to become a nomad. Once he was outside known territory, God could use him. Moses was required to live in the desert for 40 years before he could lead the Jewish people out of Egypt. It seems that God loves to take mighty things and make them smaller in order to confound the world and it's wisdom. Bethlehem was a border town with the Gentiles. It was considered unclean and totally out of touch with the rest of the Jewish realm. Yet it was Bethlehem that God chose to birth the Savior of mankind, Jesus Christ. Do you feel that God is whittling you down? Rejoice, he's getting ready to use you in a great way! Do you see yourself on the margins and insignificant? Congratulations! You're positioned to do great things for God. He has a record of taking weak and foolish things to confound the strong and wise.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 1:46-50 - My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, or he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation."

This proclamation occurs during the meeting of a pregnant Mary with her pregnant relative, Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a miracle pregnancy because she is beyond childbearing age. Mary is a miracle pregnancy because she is a virgin. The angel of the Lord set up this meeting, and the event has dramatic impact. They find great strength in each other and their circumstance. Elizabeth's miracle encourages Mary. When we face overwhelming circumstances, the power of encouragement can't be underestimated. The verse that we see here indicates a woman who is engulfed with relief! Her faith in God is reaffirmed. As hard as it will be, she is on the right track. Many times all we need is someone to say to us, "Stay with it, you're doing what God wants you to do." This gives us the strength to carry on in difficult circumstances.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 1:30-31 - you are to give him the name Jesus

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

Mary was an amazing woman. Think of the situation: a 13 - 15 year old virgin is told that she has favor with God. Favor? She will be pregnant and have to convince her fiancée that she was not unfaithful. She will have to endure the gossip that will follow her for the rest of her life concerning the birth of her son and the timing of her wedding to Joseph. In the culture of her day, unwed mothers were quietly "put away" (see Matthew 1:18-19). Yet God DOES give Mary favor: He reveals to her the unique role that she plays in God's purposes. And she embraces that role, even though it will come a great personal cost. We want God to fit into our story, yet Christmas is a reminder that our story is never really understood until it's seen in the light of God's story. Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Isaiah 7:14 - call him Immanuel

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

This promise is written over 700 years before it is fulfilled in a manger in Bethlehem. Can you imagine what Isaiah as thinking as he wrote this? Unfortunately, Isaiah never saw the fulfillment of this passage. We get discouraged because we feel that we have a promise from God and after a few weeks nothing has happened. But Christmas is the record of God's faithfulness. Therefore, Advent is the season of waiting for the promises of God. It is in the waiting that our hearing becomes attuned to the voice in the Scripture. Our hunger for God and our yearning for His promises produce in us a passion for our Father's power in the world that we live in. Let this season fuel your soul to hunger and thirst for righteousness, for you shall be filled!

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 1:76-77 - For you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

Zechariah was speaking to his newly born son who would become John the Baptist. Notice what he prophetically speaks to John and ultimately to us: We come to the knowledge of salvation when we understand our sin and the need for forgiveness. We can talk of Jesus being our Savior, but do we realize that means we are not able to change ourselves and need to be rescued? The good news becomes good when we truly realize the state of our souls before God. The birth of John the Baptist reminds us that we are more flawed than we want to admit, but more loved than we could dream. This exposes our fallen nature while embracing the love of God. This empowers us with salvation.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Luke 1:67-69 - Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David"

Zechariah was not a special guy. We know that he was not a high priest in Jerusalem, so he probably came from a small rural synagogue in Israel. Yet God chose to reveal the coming Savior of mankind to this country rabbi. Zechariah's prophecy (the first words he spoke after an angel made him deaf and dumb) was a sign that God uses ordinary people to glorify His name. Christmas reminds us that God is looking for the Zechariah's of our day to fill them with His Holy Spirit and use them in amazing ways.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Matthew 1:23 - The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel -which means, "God with us."

The story of Jesus confronts us with events that defy and even offend rational thinking. Matthew pulls no punches: this Jesus is miraculous from start to finish. The birth of God as a man is one of the great mysteries of Christianity. Which is of great comfort, because if everything about this God could be explained one should question its supernatural origin. The preposterous nature of this miracle (and the ones that follow Jesus) demands a verdict. As C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity: " Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Matthew 7:11 - If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children...

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

In this passage Jesus is teaching his disciples to ask. Their concept of God may have been a Creator who is so grand that He is unapproachable. If this was the case, Jesus was turning that image upside down. Jesus was teaching that God the Father is not only good, but also desirous to give good gifts to his children. Not his slaves - His kids! This can be a major shift of thinking for people. To see God as distant and deaf gives us greater autonomy; but to see God as a Father wanting to bless his children challenges that autonomy. We now are responsible for asking, seeking and knocking. God wants us to come to Him.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Isaiah 40:3-5 - prepare the way for the LORD

A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."

This famous passage of Scripture is connected with the coming of John the Baptist 730 years later. Notice the imagery: A king is coming who will level the surroundings so that he has a highway to travel on.

This passage beautifully describes the way that God comes into our lives. He takes the high places of our pride and brings them down. He takes the low places of our self-pity and brings them up. Neither is the road our king will travel on. When the glory of the Lord is revealed He transforms our fallen nature so dramatically that those around us see the fruit of that miracle. This is the promise of the coming King.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Matthew 6:34 - Do not worry about tomorrow

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

If there were any time marked by worry, it's now. Between the economy and the war overseas, many Americans are coping with a low level sense of dread. Once again, God's word gives us tremendous insight. Earlier in this passage Jesus assures his disciples that God knows their every need. If He feeds the birds of the air, will he not feed us? Then Jesus brings us the shocking truth: our anxiety is connected to doubt and unbelief! To worry about tomorrow is a sign that we don't trust our heavenly Father to take care of us. We are called to deal with the things of today and trust that the God who knows our name has our tomorrows in His hands. So anxiety or worry is a symptom of an unbelieving heart. How do we get rid of worry? Our answer comes with repentance, then realigning our heart with God's promise to meet our needs. The promises in Matthew 6 alone have enough bread from heaven to sustain us in the midst of this troubled time.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Acts 2:46 - Every day they continued to meet together...

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

The identity of the early Church was found both in the temple (corporate worship) and in homes (small groups). This practice helped cultivate glad and sincere hearts. It nourished the praise of God and favor with people who were not praising God - yet.

In our current age of technological advances and streamlined lifestyles glad and sincere hearts seem to be idealistic. But the Scripture shows us that as good as technology and ease are, they can't produce the satisfaction that Spirit birthed community can. Both the corporate and intimate expressions of faith are needed to bring us to spiritual health.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Genesis 1:28 - Fill the earth and subdue it

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

This is the first Great Commission that is given to mankind. Notice that God tells Adam and Eve to actively engage the world that He has created. This was repeated thousands of years later when Jesus said to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:18-12) Like Adam and Eve, we are called to engage the world with the good news of God's mercy in Jesus.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron...

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

It takes iron to sharpen iron. Sharpening a knife requires iron at least as hard as the knife. Once sharpened, a knife is bright, sharp, and ready for much more productive service.

Source: http://www.letgodbetrue.com/proverbs/27_17.htm

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James is contrasting God's nature with our nature in previous verses. Whereas we are fickle, God never changes. He gives good (earthly) and perfect (heavenly) gifts to us. Sometimes we see God giving only heavenly gifts - salvation, guidance, peace. But he also gives earthly gifts - prosperity, success, favor. James balances the earthly and the heavenly when He refers to God as the Father of the heavenly lights, which were seen as trustworthy navigation tools. We may want to exploit the earthly gifts, or only emphasize the heavenly gifts, but our heavenly guide will use all of these gifts to transform us. The God who does not change uses good and perfect gifts to mold us into the children that will change the earth.

Today's Commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Psalm 119:28 - My soul is weary with sorrow

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

How do we handle depression? Much of our advertising and media bombard us with images of happy people. This can become the unspoken "ideal life". So when we encounter emotions that may contradict this imagery we find ourselves unprepared. But the Scripture sees sorrow as a part of the human condition. Many of the Psalms deal with feelings of overwhelming depression. And as the Bible addresses these feelings we find that it gives us the guide to navigate through sorrow - the promises of Scripture itself. God's word assures us in our sorrow and gives us lighthouses of hope to help us navigate through the dark moments of our soul.

Today's Commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

James 1:27 - Look after orphans and widows in their distress

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Orphans and widows were the poor and powerless in 1st Century Israel. Land and opportunities were based upon lineage, so to not have a husband or father was to have no future. James is challenging the Christians of his day to not merit their spirituality upon how well they could recite doctrine, but how well they lived it. Thankfully, the early Church understood this. When the ancient world threw out the orphans and widows, Christianity offered them a unique haven. This was noticed by Greeks and Romans alike and caused Christianity to spread around the world. One must ask, would our actions today match up to theirs?

Today's Commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Romans 8:15 - You received the Spirit of sonship

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."

Every day brings new blessings, challenges, and fears. It's easy to be a slave to fear instead of resting in the peace of our Heavenly Father.

You see, believers are sons of God through adoption. He chose us to be His. And because we belong to Him, we should act as though we are heirs to the King of Kings, casting out fear and worry

Choose today to throw off the chains of fear in your life. Know fully that you are the sons and daughters of the Almighty Father.

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Genesis 2:2-3 - And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done!

As part of the creation account, we see that work is not a part of the curse, but a part of the very activity of God. So when we work we are like God. But that work should be marked with times of rest and refreshing. To rest during times of work or work during times of rest creates an atmosphere of fatigue to our bodies and souls. It takes us out of His blessing.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Matthew 20:25-28 - Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

In a stunning reversal of the concept of leadership, Jesus challenges His followers with servanthood over dominance. At the end of this age it will not be displays of power that are valued, but displays of sacrifice for others.

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Proverbs 25:20 - Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day...

Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Sometimes quick answers are the worse thing to offer when people are going through a hard time. In well meaning attempts to lift someone's spirits, we move too fast. It would seem ridiculous to visit someone who has just experienced major surgery and try to pull them out of the hospital bed to get them to exercise. In the same way, sometimes people need the space to grieve for a while. To try to bypass a heavy heart can add more pain to the process. Sometimes the best thing that we can do is to weep when they weep, or just sit with them in silence. The comfort comes not in our cheerful songs, but our presence.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Psalm 119:37 - Preserve my life according to your Word

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

This Scripture has more importance in our day than ever. How we guide our eyes in a visual age makes all the difference to the wellbeing of our souls. Worthless things surround us. The sensuality of this culture is so obvious that it doesn't need much explanation. But there are many worthless things that are not so obvious. How many hours have we wasted on the internet? Look at our habits when we have a television remote in our hand. What did it take to get to the 42nd level in that video game? Many times the key to cultivating the best in us does not occur during the work week, but how we handle our leisure time. To make God's words a priority during our down time will preserve our lives from worthless distractions.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor Grace NYC

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

1 Timothy 6:18-19 - Be rich in good deeds...

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

When God the Father sent his only Son to earth on a rescue mission, he gave to us generously-the best that he had! We too are to live generous lives, being "rich in good deeds". By sharing what God has given us for his glory, we can store away treasures in heaven. Life that is truly life is a life lived giving and displaying God's infinite generosity to the world. This is what we were created to do!

Today's commentary by:
Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor, Soma Communities

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

1 Timothy 6:9-10 - Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Money is not evil, God knows that at times we need it to pay for food, shelter other true necessities. But this passage points out that the love of money, what we believe about it in our hearts, is the real issue. A heart that trusts in money and wealth for our security is what leads us down the road of destruction. Do I trust in myself to keep my job? Am I trusting in my company to pay my bills? What a frightening thought that I risk wandering from my faith in God when I put my faith in riches...or in my own ability to provide them!

Today's commentary by:
Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor, Soma Communities

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

1 Timothy 6:6-8 - For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Do we believe that we have a good God who knows exactly what we truly need? (need not want) Or are we discontent, continually feeling the need to provide a little more for ourselves? The Apostle Paul is reminding us here that even if we go to church and pray regularly, give to the poor and do all the things that "super Christians" appear to do, we are missing everything if we are not content with what God has given us! Contentment is born out of faith in our hearts.We can trust in God's goodness and provision over our own today.

Today's commentary by:
Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor, Soma Communities

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Habakkuk 2:20 - Let all the earth be silent before Him

But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk is a unique dialogue between the prophet and God. 50-80 years after Isaiah, Habakkuk was to help the nation of Israel make sense of the Babylonian invasion through this drama that is played out for the readers. In the prior verses, God ridicules the idols that cannot speak to those who make them. In contrast, it is the earth that is to be silent before the living God because He is the one who speaks! Like Israel in that day, we want fast answers to our crisis, but if we want to hear the God who speaks, we must learn the discipline of silence. It is the supreme act of faith and surrender to simply wait upon the Lord. He is there and He wants to speak to His children, but it will be on His terms and not ours.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

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Luke 12:15 - Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

In these verses, Jesus is addressing two brothers fighting over their inheritance. He gives them a strong warning about thinking that their possessions can give their life worth and ultimate value. Greed grips are hearts when we place material things (or anything) in the place of God and his ultimate approval and blessings in our life. Christmas should serve as the ultimate reminder that we have been given the very best God has to offer in the form of his Son!

Today's commentary by:
Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor, Soma Communities

What do you think? Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse