Luke 5:12-13 - Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean

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.

To be covered with leprosy was a grotesque site. This man had undoubtedly become accustomed to rejection. He projects this rejection upon Jesus when he says, "if you are willing..." Notice how Jesus responds directly to his pain, "I am willing", then he reaches past his rejection and touches him.

What have we projected upon our Lord? Maybe our own rejection? Stinginess? Anger? Jesus is still stretching out His hand to touch our uncleanness. Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father, and that true understanding will cleanse us of the misconceptions that we have thrust upon Him.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Isaiah 1:17 - Defend the cause of the fatherless

Crisis: Philippines Flooding - Typhoon Ketsana recently swept through the Philippines, causing widespread flooding, massive destruction and at least 140 deaths. More than 450,000 people have had to flee their homes.

A gift of $30 will help one family receive emergency supplies of food and clean water for about two weeks. Make a donation

Isaiah 1:17

learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Concern for orphans and widows in need is a demonstration of godliness (James 1:27). Children and widows are often powerless in a hostile world and need caring individuals to speak and act on their behalf. Because God cares deeply for poor orphans and widows, so should we!

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

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We're very familiar with anxiety, but how familiar are we with peace? Just when we get comfortable with one season of our lives we are thrust into the next, where we find our bearings have to change.

Prayer guides us into the seasons of life that we don't understand because God's peace transcends all understanding. To approach anxiety with thanksgiving and prayer may seem hard, but it reminds us that we were never in control to begin with. We have a Heavenly Father who sees all things and cares for us. Prayer pulls down our anxieties and fills us with supernatural peace.

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Jeremiah 29:4-7 -This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

What a challenging passage. Verse 4 says that God took the Israelites into Babylonian captivity. Then He challenges them to get involved with Babylon. This is in sharp contrast to the separationist views that many evangelicals have today.

The apostle John said it this way: "Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world". Do we really believe that? Can we see that God's purpose is for us to transform our neighborhood by getting involved? We miss many opportunities around us by trying to create alternative cultures. The gospel was meant to thrive in Babylonian environments.

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Galatians 1:13-16 - God, who set me apart from birth, called me by His grace

For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,

As Paul is recounting his past as a Christian bounty hunter he turns everything on its head by verse 15. He talks of the God who set him apart from his birth! How can this be? Paul is looking at his history now from a new lens: the power of the cross. The shame of his past now becomes the qualifier for his future.

The gospel gives us a new perspective on our yesterdays, which creates the roadmap for our tomorrows.

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Jonah 3:10 - When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways...

When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah is a fascinating story of redemption. The most interesting thing to me is that the city of Nineveh repents, but Jonah does not! "But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry." (Jonah 4:1)

Nineveh was known as a place of unspeakable darkness. Yet the king sees his wicked ways and God stays his hand of judgment. This act of mercy causes Jonah to become angry with God. Yet even in his self-righteous temper tantrum, God's mercy tries to reason with Jonah.

This story points to another time much later when Jesus would come to the world and challenge both the sin of wickedness and the sin of self-righteousness. And just like Jonah's day, the wicked were more prone to change than the religious!

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Nehemiah 4:15-16 - When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot...

When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.

Even though God had frustrated the plans of Nehemiah's enemies, there was a level of diligence and readiness that was needed as they proceeded. As we experience God's grace and goodness in our day-to-day lives, we still need to work with a state of alertness. Unlike Nehemiah's day, our enemy is not physical. The Scripture talks of Satan as a prowling lion, therefore we need to keep on the alert with our skills to build in one hand and the word of God in the other.

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

1 Timothy 1:15-16 - Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

What good news! Paul calls himself dysfunctional. This is not flowery speech or false humility but a true assessment.

We are qualified to do amazing things for God because our qualifications are not based upon us, but God's unlimited patience.

Just like Paul, this understanding should cause all of us to give thanks and praise. When we get this truth we'll stop placing barriers in front of ourselves that God never intended and God will get the glory! Hallelujah!

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Galatians 1:6 - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the One who called you

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel

The apostle Paul makes an astonishing statement: any difference from the grace of Christ is no gospel at all.

It is the favor of God through Christ that causes us to live righteous lives. If we try to live righteous lives to get the favor of God we are reversing the order of the gospel and causing much confusion. Martin Luther said, "Christ plus nothing equals everything!"

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Ecclesiastes 1:10 - Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"?

Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

When I hear of a "new revelation" or a bible teacher who says, "This has never been taught before," I want to run away!

God is always doing something new, but if we look closely, we'll find that the new thing is actually something very old that has come to life in our generation. When one reads church history, we find many of the same challenges that we face today. To think that we are original is naïve at best and dangerous at worse.

Today's commentary by: Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Proverbs 15:1 - A harsh word stirs up anger...

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

An ideal of conduct is urged in the comments on how we should say what we say (v. 1). A soft answer is a concilatory answer, often relieving a tense situation by dissolving a person's anger. Such responses require kindness, self-control, patience, love, peace - all the fruit of the Spirit.

Thomas Nelson, I. (1997, c1995). Woman's study Bible . (Pr 15:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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

Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

This Scripture encapsulates the entire story of Joseph. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, taking false charges of rape and enduring years in a dungeon, Joseph had every right to want revenge on his brothers. Instead, he sees that God used his circumstances to stage the greatest hunger relief program of the ancient world.

There are many things that we are suffering in now that, when we look back, we will see the sovereign hand of God guiding us.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

2 Timothy 1:6-7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity...

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The apostle Paul pulls no punches with his young protégé, Timothy. Even though Timothy was a timid man, Paul is reminding him that Christian leadership should not be based upon a personality type, but upon reliance upon the Spirit of God.

Each of us has gifts from God that He wants to use. Whether you are timid or aggressive, our hope doesn't come from our temperament, but from a gifting that is waiting to burst forth into flames as we take the time to fan it.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

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

Ecclesiastes 5:10 - Whoever loves money never has money enough

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.

People who love money are never satisfied; they always want more. Wealth does not buy contentment.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ec 5:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

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

Galatians 6:7 - A man reaps what he sows

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

This agricultural principle, applied metaphorically to the moral and spiritual realm, is universally true (cf. Job 4:8; Prov. 1:31-33; Hos. 8:7; 10:12).

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ga 6:7). Nashville: Word Pub.

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

Revelation 1:8 - I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The Lord Jesus introduces Himself as the Alpha and the Omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet), the Beginning and the End.

He spans time and eternity, and exhausts the vocabulary of excellence. He is the source and goal of creation, and it is He who began and will end the divine program in the world. He is and was and is to come, eternal in His being and the Almighty in power. (1:8)

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Re 1:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Revelation 20:12 - And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

To think of a God who judges seems medieval, yet we recognize that this world is not what it is supposed to be. We get mad when we experience a business transaction that seems unbalanced. We protest when we see those in power taking advantage of the poor and helpless.

We feel passion about what we consider fair or right, and we judge things that don't match up to that "right-ness". But our judgments of the world around us reveal that we are in the image of a Creator who will judge all of His creation someday.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

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

Proverbs 12:16 - A fool shows his annoyance at once...

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

Self-control is a characteristic of wisdom. When we react too quickly and with annoyance, it makes us look foolish.

When we take the time to listen, answer with patience, and overlook insults, we act wisely.

Instead of closing the door with insults, we are to leave the door wide open for reconciliation through wisdom.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

John 14:27 - Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

My peace. The word My is emphatic. This is no conventional wish; this is Jesus' personal, special grant of peace. The peace that Christ gives banishes fear and dread from the heart, for Jesus is in control of all circumstances.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 14:27). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

God knows our hearts. The "heart" of a person includes one's thoughts, feelings, and what makes one "tick".

Our hearts are notoriously sinful. Scripture clearly indicates that this sinful nature is present within us before we are even born! (Psalm 51:5) Since we are sinful from birth there is only one solution; a new birth is required!

Jesus says "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" (John 3:6-7) Without Jesus our hearts are not just sinfully diseased, they are not even beating -- the are spiritually dead.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Ecclesiastes 4:10 - Pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

We are created to live in community and engage in caring relationships with one another. Should any of us falter, or have unexpected needs, a friend can come along to lend a hand. But when a person lives in isolation, too "independent" to need or help anybody else, he or she quickly discovers no one is there when trouble comes.

We need one another. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves (see Matthew 19:19). Love for one another is not some passive feeling, but a practical response to a need expressed through "compassion in action." What might this look like in your life today?

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Colossians 1:10 - Bearing fruit in every good work

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

According to Paul, truth is revealed by our lives, not just our thoughts. But the information age causes a problem: we think that because we've learned about something that we are living it. We want to gather data about prayer, but we fail to pray! But Paul reminds us that it's the actual actions of our lives that proclaim the truth that we know. We know enough, now it's time to apply. What do you need to apply today? Don't try to get more information, do what you know now!

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

John 15:18-19 - You do not belong to the world

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

One of the hallmarks of the Christian faith over the ages is that many Christians have been vilified for their convictions.

When the Christians were thrown to the lions of Rome the spectators cried out, "Kill the atheists." To proclaim allegiance to Christ was to be in rebellion to the deity of Caesar. This Christ allegiance compels us to engage our culture, but in doing so we expose the separation that the world around us has from God. That exposure is rarely met with open arms. But his is the path that Jesus took and He calls us to follow him. He chose us to break the holds of worldly conformity and to bring us into significance. We are chosen out of the world into our true citizenship; the Kingdom of heaven.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

Matthew 12:36-37 - Men will have to give account on the day of judgment

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

We are a people of words. We think in words. When we expand our vocabulary we expand our understanding. So it shouldn't seem odd that part of God's judgment will be the very words that we have used. Hitler used words to move a nation toward war; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used words to inspire a nation toward reconciliation. What we say is very important. Words are so important that the apostle John called Jesus the Word of God that became flesh. Therefore we need to value and weigh the words that we speak.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

Malachi 3:17-18 - "They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty

"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."

And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Malachi spoke as a prophet to God's people during a time when their national identity was being restored. The Jewish exiles had returned from Babylon to Israel, Ezra saw temple worship restored, and Nehemiah had rebuilt Jerusalem. Malachi is telling the people of God that the knowledge of God was again being restored. Even when the people of God seemed to be vanquished, God showed himself faithful again. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of our God will last forever.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, GraceNYC.org

Deuteronomy 31:6 - the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

In this verse, Moses reminds the people that God had promised to protect them, bless them, and fight for them (Josh. 1:5; 1 Kin. 8:57).

Jesus made the same promise to His church in Matthew 28:20 when he says "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." What a promise to remember!

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

John 15:4 - Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

This is both sobering and liberating! To experience a growing, vibrant spiritual life with Jesus is not just an intellectual exercise. Nor is it and exhausting series of good deeds. It is in remaining in the vine that our fulfillment comes. From the vine comes knowledge and good works, but now it's from a position of having experienced God's love and acceptance. We must resist the urge to do things to get God's acceptance. He is offering us a resting place with Him with amazing results.

Discussion at: http://facebook.com/DailyBibleVerse

Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC