Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Almighty God, help me notice more small things that I can do to bless others and serve them as I would serve the Lord himself. In the name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

"So don't be afraid of those people. Everything that is hidden will be shown. Everything that is secret will be made known. I tell you these things in the dark (secretly). But I want you to tell these things in the light. I speak these things quietly and only to you. But you should tell these things freely to all people. Don't be afraid of people. They can only kill the body. They cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is the One (God) that can destroy the body and the soul. He can send the body and the soul to hell. When birds are sold, two small birds cost only a penny. But not even one of those little birds can die without your Father knowing it. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many birds. "When a person stands before other people and says he believes in me, then I will say that person belongs to me. I will say this before my Father in heaven. But when a person stands before people and says he does not believe in me, then I will say that person does not belong to me. I will say this before my Father in heaven. "Don't think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword. I have come to make this happen: 'The people in a person's own family will be his enemies. A son will be against his father. A daughter will be against her mother. A daughter-in-law will be against her mother-in-law.' "Any person that loves his father or mother more than he loves me is not good enough to follow me. Any person who loves his son or daughter more than he loves me is not good enough to follow me. If a person will not accept the cross (suffering) that will be given to him when he follows me, then that person is not good enough for me. Any person that loves his life {more than he loves me} will lose true life. Any person that gives up his life for me will find true life. The person that accepts you also accepts me. And the person that accepts me also acceptsthe One (God) that sent me. Any person that meets a prophet and accepts him will get the same reward a prophet gets. And any person that accepts a good man because that man is good will get the same reward a good man gets. If any person helps one of these little ones because they are my followers, then that person will truly get his reward. That person will get his reward even if he only gave my follower a cup of cold water."

Related Scripture Readings

Brothers and sisters, God called (chose) you. Think about that! And not many of you were wise in the way the world judges wisdom. Not many of you had great influence. Not many of you came from important families. But God chose the foolish things of the world to give shame to the wise people. God chose the weak things of the world to give shame to the strong people. And God chose what the world thinks is not important. He chose what the world hates and thinks is nothing. God chose these to destroy what the world thinks is important. God did this so that no man can boast before him.

People that have the lowest place in life now will have the highest place in God's kingdom. And people that have the highest place now will have the lowest place in God's kingdom."