Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. – John 1:12-13 (NIV)

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

What an amazing promise. Those who surrender to Jesus as the One who brings us back to the Father gain a new identity as a child of God. As a result, we have supernatural rights, a new heritage. My children don’t have to beg for dinner—it is part of being in the family. They have my name and therefore have access to all that our family owns. This is what John is trying to get across to us-it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us His kingdom.

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For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! – Romans 5:17 (NIV)

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

In this contrast of Adam and Jesus, Paul makes the point that death’s reign has been thrust upon us, but Christ’s gift has to be received. It takes no effort to see decay all around us, but if we want to reign over that decay, it is our responsibility to let God’s abundant grace take hold of our heart. God declares those who trust in Christ as righteous, or in right standing with Him. If we believe that, then how would we live differently today?

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For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. – 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV)

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

What does Peter mean by “the empty way of life?” There are values that have been handed down for generations that profit very little from the perspective of the eternal. We can spend our lives trying to uphold traditions that leave us wanting for more, but there is something greater than those riches: a renewed heart with God. When God redeemed us, it was not due to our net worth or our pedigree. Christ’s sacrifice for sin has more value than all of that.

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You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. – 1 John 4:4 (NIV)

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

There are some Christian circles that place their emphasis upon the powers of darkness, but the apostle John gives us a different way to see things: even though the powers around us may be great, the power of God within us is greater. Notice that this power does not come because we have more talent or skills, but because we are from God. This brings us back to a childlike trust in our Father, who loves us and provides for us in the midst of opposition.

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For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. – Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)

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

Think about this: all the fullness of God came on the earth in Christ, and Christ has given us all the fullness that we can handle. This doesn’t mean that we are as full as God, but God wants to fill us with His presence to the brim. For every believer there is the reality of God’s power and authority to guide us, correct us, and empower us. It is available to you today!

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Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. – Galatians 1:3-5 (NIV)

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

The word “rescue” implies that we are in crisis and need help. What does Christ rescue us from? Our sins and this present evil age. Our struggles are both internal and external; we struggle against our desire to rebel against God, and we are bombarded by a world that wants to pull us into its grasp. Yet God is greater than both, for Christ died to take our internal turmoil upon Himself and empower us through the Holy Spirit to flourish in this world.

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“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. – 2 Samuel 22:17-18 (NIV)

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

This was a song that David sang when he was delivered from King Saul, who was trying to kill David. A feeling of relief is throughout the song as David recounts that he could not deliver himself, but God saved him. Have you ever felt in waters so deep that you knew you couldn’t swim out of them? Take heart, for the same God who delivered David can rescue us. When you know that the opposition is far stronger than you are, let God take hold of you in your despair. He can and He will deliver you.

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Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. – Psalm 103:1 (NIV)

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

Thus starts an exuberant psalm of praise. This is not just on outward routine. The Psalmist tells us that praise engages every part of us; praise demands our intellect, our emotions, and our will. Going through the motions is not enough from the Scripture’s perspective. Either we admit that our hearts are far from Him or we speak to our heart to focus upon God’s glory and majesty, but one way or the other, praise demands honesty from our core.

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Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. – Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

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

Notice how Paul describes our former way of life as a set of clothes that we have taken off. We’ve been clothed with newness when we turn to Christ. The new clothes are already on us, now we need to act in a way that is in line with our new wardrobe. In this sense, clothes really do make the man and woman.

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“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” – Revelation 4:11 (NIV)

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

John’s Revelation brings things back into perspective: God rules and reigns over His creation. John was exiled on a remote island, but his vision showed another reality going on–angels singing, creation worshipping, and God seated on His throne over every power in heaven and earth. If you don’t know the purpose of what you are going through go to the One who does know, for the purpose of all things come from God. Worship brings all things back into their proper focus.

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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! – Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

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

As the Philippians were facing hardships, Paul encourages them to rejoice. Happiness based upon our surroundings is temporal, but contentment that is based upon God’s faithfulness is always available, even in tough times. Don’t let circumstances rob you of the joy that can strengthen your heart in any situation.

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The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. – John 10:10 (NIV)

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

This passage is in the middle of Jesus teaching that He is the good shepherd. Shepherds in that day would build makeshift pens for the sheep to sleep in. If a thief wanted to try to steal sheep, they would have to scale the boundaries that the shepherd built. To keep this from happening, good shepherds would sleep in the doorway of the pen, ever alert to danger. The boundaries that Jesus sets up are not to make our lives dull and meaningless, but to repel the attacks of those who want to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus offers us life, and life to the fullest.

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The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, – Nehemiah 2:4-5 (NIV)

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

Nehemiah has been praying and preparing to ask the king for supplies and military protection to rebuild Jerusalem. Now comes the great moment. Notice that when the king presents the opportunity that Nehemiah has been waiting for, Nehemiah does not rush headlong forward-he says a silent prayer just before his answer. These prayers don’t have to be out loud or long, but the art of the internal prayer to God can keep us on track when opportunity opens itself to us.

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LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God. – Psalm 38:15 (NIV)

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

What amazing trust! When you read the rest of this Psalm, we see a person who is suffering greatly. Yet in the midst of his personal anguish, King David takes a posture of waiting upon God, for David knows that God is merciful to all who call out to Him. How about us? When we feel overwhelmed from our circumstance, do we go toward God or away from Him? The Scripture reminds us that God wants us to seek Him in all situations.

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Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Today’s commentary by Corinne Baur, RRCA Running Coach and author of Running by THE BOOK.

Paul is writing that our bodies belong to God, He bought them with the blood of Christ. Yet so many of us neglect our bodies — the Holy Spirit’s home! Somehow we disconnect our spirits from our bodies. We work on our spiritual life while neglecting the physical, or we strengthen our physical bodies without regard for our spiritual health. But God intends for us to turn everything over to Him. From nutrition to time in the Word, from exercise to prayer, God’s desire is for us to honor Him with every aspect of our lives.

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But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13 (NIV)

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

According to the Bible, those who have faith in Jesus Christ are as close to God as they will ever get. Closeness to the Father is not based upon a feeling, but upon the finished work of the cross. Do you feel far away from God today? If you profess trust in the power of Jesus resurrection, God has given you everything you need. So receive God’s provision in Christ, move past your feelings, and walk near to God today.

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Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

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

The power of faith is that it takes us toward the future with confidence. Since none of us can know what tomorrow holds, faith becomes a powerful friend, for faith holds back the anxieties that can flood our soul. If you find yourself anxious today, take a moment and stop and refresh your perspective. Hope in the unseen can strengthen your heart to face tomorrow.

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Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. – Matthew 21:31b-32 (NIV)

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

One of the things that we have to glean from this passage is that the Kingdom of God will probably not be a socially sanitized place. Heaven will be filled with people that are considered undesirable on this earth. Jesus was making this point to religious leaders; for religious adherence creates blindness to the reality that we are all sinners in the eyes of God, and in need of a Savior.

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When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. – James 1:13-14 (NIV)

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

There used to be a comic saying, “The devil made me do it,” but according to the Scripture, temptation begins with our own hidden agendas. Some of us blame Satan for our moral failures. Others blame God. But we fail to address our own hearts. That’s why Jesus gave us the gift of repentance, for when we recognize the great love that God has for us, we can bring our darkest motives to the light. Jesus came to deliver us from temptation. We just need to admit where that temptation comes from.

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Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. – Romans 13:1 (NIV)

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

This may seem like a difficult passage, but think of the time that Paul was writing it. The Roman Empire ruled with an iron fist, yet that was the environment where the church flourished. It seems that the gospel is not limited by a government or an economy. When we see that God can move in any system, we can submit ourselves to those systems – even the ones that we disagree with.

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