I love this passage. The focus is the love of someone other than ourselves. Paul is talking about a man, presumably from Philippi. The man was ill, but had gotten better. Paul shares how bad he felt for the man. This is the type of care we should have for people. This is the type of care Jesus had for us. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Philippians 2:29-30

29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 2:19-30

I complain! I am not proud of that fact. Reading this passage convicts me. In Christ, we must be careful how we behave. It is okay to not like certain situations. However, our response to these situations must be God-honoring. Grumbling (or complaining) and arguing should not be on the list of how we deal with these circumstances.

Clearly I am still a work in progress. As I admit my shortcomings and allow the Holy Spirit to convict my heart when I fall short, if I repent in that moment, I will continue on the path of being “healed” from my willingness to complain about things when prayer, understanding, and reasoning, among other correct responses, will do the trick.

“Lord, I pray that you will continue to convict my heart when I complain about things rather than provide productive input.” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Philippians 2:14

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 2:12-18

“Therefore.” The first word in Philippians 2:9 is “therefore.” This passage is what the “therefore” is there for. Paul explains that Jesus lived the perfect life. As a result of living this perfect life (therefore), God exalted Him.

If you are an heir alongside Jesus, as you live a life pleasing to God, He will exalt you as well. Not to the place of Jesus, but definitely to a place of honor. However, you must not make being exalted your goal. That mindset dishonors God.

Make Christ your focus. Live a life that brings attention to Christ in a positive way. “Let your light shine that others may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16b). Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Philippians 2:5-8

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 2:1-11

Have you thought about what it means to live for Christ? Meditate on this passage. As you ponder it, remember that Paul is writing this letter while imprisoned. He knows about struggling for the sake of the gospel. This is why he can confidently say, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He knows that heaven is “better by far.” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Philippians 1:29-30

29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 1:12-30

Twelve years ago I began texting a verse to my wife daily. Prior to that I had been writing her a verse at night that she could read in the morning. However, she went to South Korea for a few weeks in 2012 and I did not want to stop, therefore I began texting them and have continued daily from that time.

Ultimately, I added you to the text group at varying times along the way. Recently, I began posting this daily verse here on the Agape Leaders website so more people may have a way to get in God’s word every day. Please share this link with a friend.

This morning, I read this passage and it encapsulated my exact feelings for all of you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Philippians 1:9-11

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Today’s Reading:

Philippians 1:1-11

Far too often, Christians experience life’s struggles and they give up on God. They wonder how a loving God could allow them to be in such pain. When I see that, I am positive of one thing, they do not read their Bible.

Multiple times in the Bible we are warned that we WILL have struggles. Yet, when those struggles come, people act like they should have been spared this difficulty. They have a “Why Me” attitude. If this is you, stop that!

Read your Bible daily so you may better understand the love of God and how to walk in a right relationship with Him. He has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. But if you never dig into the Bible to get to know God for yourself, the devil is going to make light work of you. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 6:10-13

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 6:10-24

Talking about raising kids, my mom used to say, “There’s no book you can read to raise your children. You have to do the best you can.” Years later, with all do respect to my mom, I said in a sermon, “People say there’s no book for helping you raise your children.” I held up the Bible and continued, “Yes, there is.”

My mom heard that sermon and told me that those words cut her to the heart in a good way.

The Bible is your “guide book for life.” God’s word will help you in EVERY situation. The key is, you must read it daily with a desire to understand and do what it says. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 6:1-9

In my most recent pre-marital counseling sessions, I have begun asking the man to give his definition of love and the woman to give her definition of respect. The point is to help the other know what love or respect looks like from their spouses point of view.

In Ephesians, Paul tells husbands to love their wives and he tells wives to respect their husbands. If you do not know your spouses definition of love or respect, you may think they do not love/respect you.

Be careful when you look at others, not just a spouse, and begin “judging” how they behave. They may have a different way of expressing themselves. The key is, do they honor God in their behavior. When the answer is yes, you may be the one who must adjust. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 5:33

33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 5:21-33

In this section of Ephesians, Paul gives us specific instructions on how to live a life for Christ. Let’s heed his words. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 5:15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 5:1-20

Chapter four verse seventeen of Ephesians starts by telling us how not to live. We must heed these words. How can we do that? By taking in the words starting at verse twenty-five. It is a clear message of how to live a Christian life well. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 4:25-32

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 4:17-32

Are you a mature Christian or an infant? Are you in search of the next best “Christian Teaching” or are you daily reading your Bible and communing with the Holy Spirit? These questions may seem “silly,” but the reality is, many Christians in the United States confuse their Christian walk with US culture. They believe because they go to church from time to time and pray over their meals they are a mature Christian. That is not true.

We have been called to a higher place in Christ. A mature Christian is grounded in their faith. Reading their Bible and praying every day is as important to them as the need for oxygen. If you are not a mature Christian, stop playing around. Seek God with all your heart. As Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” He needs you to mature so He can give you the tough assignments. What are you waiting for? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 4:14-16

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 4:1-16

This is my prayer over your life. For whom will you pray this prayer, today? Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 3:16-19

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Today’s Reading:

Ephesians 3

This is your reminder that you were once separated from God because of your sin, but now, through Jesus’ sacrifice in the cross, you can be reconciled to God by accepting what Jesus did on the cross as payment for your sin.

You cannot assume you’re saved, you must specifically claim this gift through your faith, not your brain. As a result of your faithful acceptance of what Jesus did, there will be a shift in your life. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Galatians 2:11-13

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Today’s Reading:​

Galatians 2:11-22

The first three verses of chapter two of Ephesians lays out a life headed in the wrong direction. The New King James Version of the Bible places two of the most hopeful words at the beginning of verse four: “But God.”

Many people have been living a life of destruction, “But God.” Many people have been entangled in a life of corruption, “But God.” Many people have been trapped in a life of lust, “But God.”

What are you dealing with today? Does it have you believing that there is no hope? Do not, for one second, believe that your problem is too far gone. God is capable of guiding you through any situation. The writer of Lamentation says His mercies are new every day and His faithfulness is great.

Find your hope in the first seven words of Ephesians 2:4: “But God, who is rich in mercy.” Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 2:4a

4 But God, who is rich in mercy

Today’s Reading:​

Ephesians 2:1-10

This prayer Paul prays for the people of Ephesus, I pray over you. I encourage you to pray this prayer over your sphere of influence.

There’s a movie franchise out called “God’s Not Dead.” People who do not believe in God need to know the truth. We must help them understand that they can have a life with God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. But that will not happen if we do not actively pray for them and share Christ with them. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Ephesians 1:18-21

18 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, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 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.

Today’s Reading:​

Ephesians 1

Our actions have consequences. When you make decisions, do you reflect on the question, “WWJD?” It sounds cliche, but this is vital to your walk with Christ. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Galatians 6:7-8

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Today’s Reading:​

Galatians 6

What a clear message of how to live for Christ. One thing I continuously echo is that we, Americans, must not call upon our Constitutional freedoms as a way to live for Christ. Freedom in Christ and our Constitutional freedoms sometimes clash.

We have the freedom of speech, but in Christ we must not let any unwholesome talk come from our mouths (Eph 4:29). Bottomline, we are to love others. By doing that, we fulfill the law of the Lord. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Galatians 5:13-14

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Today’s Reading:​

Galatians 5:13-26

There is wisdom in this short passage. Paul was writing to the believers in Galatia because they were turning away from the message of salvation he had preached to them and they had well received.

Speaking on the freedom we have in Christ is important because we must remind ourselves of this before we allow ourselves to be pulled away from Christ and all that brings. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Today’s Reading:

Galatians 5:1-12

The Bible is connected. After you read this passage, go read Genesis 21:8 through the end of that section. If you want to learn more, follow the lineage of Ishmael to see what became of him. You might be surprised.

This passage is also a reminder of the promises and faithfulness of God. If God tells you He’s going to do something, believe Him. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Galatians 4:28-31

28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Today’s Reading:​

Galatians 4:21-31

In Paul’s day, Christians would hear the Word, change their lives for Christ, then allow themselves to be drawn away from Christ by the latest “interesting” teaching. Unfortunately, this still occurs today.

With social media placing the “world” at our fingertips, it is easy to find people who will say what we want to hear. The “algorithm” makes sure we are surrounded by the “truth” of what we believe. LISTENER BEWARE!

God’s word is truth. In it you will learn that belief in Christ includes persecution. No one prefers it, but it is a part of life with Christ. Have you turned your back on Christ because you don’t like what He is saying? Return to Him. His word is the Truth you need. Here’s today’s Bible verse. Enjoy.

Galatians 4:8-9

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

Today’s Reading:​

Galatians 4:1-20