Verse of the Day 6/30

Through the Bible - Job 21-23, Acts 10:9-48   Good morning, Yesterday, a friend of mine said that he was facing the toughest day of his work life and asked for prayer.  My heart went out to him as did my prayers and the prayers of others.   While flying enroute to San Antonio yesterday I prayed for him and was led to Psalm 27.  The NKJV version has a caption before it stating "An Exuberant Declaration of Faith". The psalmist starts out by saying"The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life;  Of whom shall I be afraid? (v.1)   He goes on to descirbe situations that he had faced, enemies, even armies "ecamped" around him" but he retained his confidence in God.   Today's verse comes from a little further on in the Psalm: Ps 27:7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek."   NKJV When I read these verses I thought of my friend.  He was the picture of the psalmist.  He faced a tough situation and knew where to go for help.  To seek the Lord," to seek His face", His personal presence.  In asking others to pray for Him we were doing the same. This seeking His face in prayer should be a primary characteristic of a believer.   While it's comforting to know that others are praying for us, we should also be encouraged that the Holy Spirit is also praying for us (Romans 8:26) and Jesus prays for us as shown in John 17.   Richard B. Gaffin writes, "No matter how overwhelmed you may feel by your problems, if your trust is in Jesus Christ, you can be sure that he is praying for you now and through that prayer he will provide for you the resources to bring you relief or enable you to carry on. The most important thing that you and I need to learn about prayer is this: first of all and ultimately, prayer is not something we do but what Jesus does for us."   What difficulties and challenges do you face today?  Pray, and enlist others to pray with and for you.   In Christ, Mike   Ps 27:7-28:1 7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, "Seek My face,"My heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." 9 Do not hide Your face from me;Do not turn Your servant away in anger;You have been my help;Do not leave me nor forsake me,O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me,Then the Lord will take care of me. 11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;For false witnesses have risen against me,And such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believedThat I would see the goodness of the LordIn the land of the living. 14 Wait on the Lord;Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart;Wait, I say, on the Lord! R NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/29

Through the Bible - Job 18-20, Acts 9:32-10:8

 

Good morning,

Our Pastor's current series' titlte is "Choose".  Each day along the path we make many choices.

 

Think of the things you choose to pick up to start the day before heading of to work school.  You pick up and put on your watch, pick up your wallet, car keys, and cell phones..  But do you carry one other important thing with you?  Do you have an idea what it is?

 

This weekend's message revolved around the story of David and Goliath.  It's where we'll go for today's verse.

1 Sam 17:40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.   NIV

David was preparing to battle the giant Goliath.  He had tried on Saul's armor but it was not for him.  He chose to go with the tools that he was familiar with.

 

On Saturday I just finished reading a book by Eugene Peterson, "Five Smooth Stones", near the end of the book he writes, " and so I kneel at the brook of scripture, selecting there what God has long been preparing for the work at hand and find smooth stones.  The rough edges have been knocked off.  The soft parts have eroded away.  They are bare and hard.  Nothing superfluous.  Nothing decorative.  Clean and spare.  Scripture has that quality for me - of essentiality, of the necessary, I feel that I am, again, travelling light, delivered from the immense clutter."

 

Is God's Word essential for you to face the battles of the day or are you more comfortable picking up and wearing secular armor which can drag you down?

 

God's word may not seem significant to you.  But I"m sure for those watching the young sixteen year old David that morning could not have guessed how significant that the picking up of those stones would be later on that day.

 

As you head off for work, school or other responsibilities what will you pick up and bring with you?  Why not pick up God's Word.?  It can be in the form of a devotional or writing a verse on an index card or back of a business card that can help you to think about that verse at times during your day.  If you make picking up God's Word a consistent part of your day, you'll never know when it just might be the thing that you'll use to slay a giant fear or problem.

 

Do any other scripture verses or passages come to mind. perhaps Ephesians 6:10-18?  How about others?

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
1 Sam 17:34-51

 

34 But David persisted. "I have been taking care of my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!"

 

Saul finally consented. "All right, go ahead," he said. "And may the Lord be with you!"

 

38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.

 

"I can't go in these," he protested to Saul. "I'm not used to them." So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.

 

41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 "Am I a dog," he roared at David, "that you come at me with a stick?" And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 "Come over here, and I'll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!" Goliath yelled.

 

45 David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord's battle, and he will give you to us!"

 

48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd's bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.

 

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Verse of the Day 6/27

Through the Bible - Job 13-17, Acts 9:1-31

 

Good morning,

After reading yesterday's devotional about "entering" through the narrow gate to follow the narrow way" a friend wrote and said that it was fitting because his oldest daugher is going to be baptized this weekend.

 

That thought brought back memories of our kids when they were baptized.  The baptism services at EEFC gave each person the opportunity to share their testimony about Christ.  I always enjoyed hearing them even if they were short as many of the childrens testimonies were.

 

There are few moments in life that touch the parents' heart than to see their kids step forward in faith and follow through with baptism.

 

As I considered the verse for today I thought of the "Great Commision" to baptize and make disciples, it involves the church and family to make the committment in "seeing them through", helping them and guiding them along the way.  A living and active faith will be a growing faith.

 

This morning I was reading in Proverbs chapter 3 where we'll go today for a familiar verse.  Ones that would apply for baptism or just about any day in life, life in the way.

Prov 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.  NLT

or from the NKJV

Prov 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.    NKJV

It is good advice for a teenager, for anyone who is "young" in their faith, and even for those that are well established.  As we get older it is easier to lean on our own understanding, doing so would lead us astray, take us away from the path that we are to follow.  As in the verse from the other day stated, we are to "keep" asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking, all of the days of our life.

 

Many songs came to mind this morning, one of them was Great is Thy Faithfulness another was "Cry of My Heart".  Read the words, sing them in and from your heart as an act of praise and worship this weekend.

 

Cry of My Heart  - Terry Butler

 

It is the cry of my heart to follow You
It is the cry of my heart to be close to You
It is the cry of my heart to follow
All of the days of my life

Teach me Your holy ways, oh Lord
So I can walk in Your truth
Teach me Your holy ways, oh Lord
And make me wholly devoted to You

Open my eyes so I can see
The wonderful things that You do
Open my heart up more and more
And make me wholly devoted to You

 

If you have the time read the passage in Proverbs 3, or perhaps the whole chapter.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Prov 3:1-13

 

Trusting in the LORD

 

3 1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you.
Store my commands in your heart.
2 If you do this, you will live many years,
and your life will be satisfying.
3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!
Tie them around your neck as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.
4 Then you will find favor with both God and people,
and you will earn a good reputation.

 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

 

7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.
Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 Then you will have healing for your body
and strength for your bones.

 

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the best part of everything you produce.
10 Then he will fill your barns with grain,
and your vats will overflow with good wine.

 

11 My child, don't reject the Lord's discipline,
and don't be upset when he corrects you.
12 For the Lord corrects those he loves,
just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

 

New Living Translation

Verse of the Day 6/26

Through the Bible - Job 10-12, Acts 8:26-40

 

Good morning,

In my morning devotions this morning I read the following verses in Matthew 7:

 

Matt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.   NKJV

It starts by a decision to enter.  You can stay on the outside or enter in.  But to do so you have to drop the excess baggage that you are carrying.  Most likely you will have to drop many things that you may have felt were important on the other side of the door or gate.  We enter into business contracts, mortgage contracts, and we enter into relationships, into marriages.   All of these require committments and breaking these off can bring pain and hurt.

 

As I read other passages I was amazed at how often that principle, that concept is repeated in scripture.

 

I also read the passage in Mark about Jesus healing Jairus' daughter.  Sometimes events, even tragedies in our lives will cause us to change course, to drop the "baggage" and seek Christ.  To enter into that relationship with him.  That is what Jairus did.  He was a ruler, a leader in the synagogue, where  Jesus was looked upon as a blasphemer, a sabbath violator, a liberal, use whatever terms you can think of.  By turning to Jesus, to follow Him, to believe in and trust in Him would cause him to face the same treatment which they were giving to Jesus.

 

The news came to Jairus that his daughter had died.  This was the moment.  Would Jairus enter, would he open the gate, the door?  Would he believe the unbelieveable?

 

Jesus said that his daughter was not dead but sleeping.  Who would Jairus believe?

 

Mark 5:40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  42 Immediately the girl arose and walked,   NKJV

 

Jairus decided to follow Jesus.  The ridicule didn't matter.  Life, the life of his daughter was at stake.  I'm reminded of Romans 4:18  "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed". NIV  Jesus is
As you read other passages, read of other people in the Bible in the next few days, read them in the light of Matthew 7:13-14.

 

Think of Esther, Mordecai, Nehemiah whom we recently considered.  How about the apostle Paul whose story begins in Acts chapter 8.  How about your life, have you entered the "narrow gate" the "narrow door".

 

Matt 7:13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.  NLT

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  He is also the hope.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

Mark 5:36-6:1

 

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."

 

40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.   NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/25

Through the Bible - Job 7-9, Acts 8:4-25

We saw the other day how Esther approached the king to bring a request to him for her people.  Her opportunity to come to him was possible because she was in a relationshiip with him. 

 

Today's verse comes from Matthew chapter 7 and is about asking God for our "needs".

 

The NLT does a good job of capturing the depth of these verses.

Matt 7:7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.   NLT

The NLT points out that we are to "keep" asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking.

 

Many of us, myself included, often tend to think that we have God in a bottle, taken along with us to ask him for things when we have the need (when we're thirsty) or can't solve a problem ourselves.  We should do this, but that is not the only time we should come to Him.  Asking, seeking, and knocking are three different things.  We tend to focus on the asking, but what about seeking Him, and His will for our lives?  Do we spend much time in seeking Him in His Word?  We knock when we want to enter in.  Do we "knock" when seeking opportunities, when we have questions about a possible ministry or do we go off on our own, headstrong into something then come to God, open the bottle as it were, when things aren't going as we planned?

 

What God desires is a relationship, us getting to know Him better day by day.

 

John MacArthur writes, "God's wisdom is one of our greatest needs.  We can't be discerning and discriminating without divine counsel from our heavenly Father; and the primary means for achieving that is prayer. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him." James 1:5)"

Along with God's perfect and infallible Word, we need His Spirit to interpret and illumine, to encourage and to strengthen.  He does not want us to have all the answers; He wants us to be students who search the scriptures.  The Bible is a limitless store of divine truth.  But apart from God Himself we can't begin to fathom it's depths or mine it's riches.  God gives enough truth for us to be responsible, but enough mystery for us to be dependent.  He gives us His Word not only to direct our lives byt to draw our lives to Him."

 

Can you see the parent/child relationship in that.  As our children grow, we teach them day by day.  They learn to come to us when they need something.  Whether it is comfort when they have an "ouie" or a new basketball or whatever else they "need".

 

These verses are limited to believers.  Believers have a relationship with God; they follow Christ and desire to be obedient to the Father as Jesus was.  The believer is to come with pure motives  (James 4:3).  Finally, the believer will be submissive to the Father's will, we will accept an answer even if it is no, or not now.

 

Instead of focusing on the asking alone, think about, act upon the keep seeking and keep knocking as described in the verse above.  It will improve your relationship.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Matt 7:7-12

 

Effective Prayer

 

7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

 

9 "You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

New Living Translation

Verse of the Day 6/24

Through the Bible - Job 3-5, Acts 7:35-8:3

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's devotional, Esther showed great courage in coming to the king with her request, her life was in his hands.

 

Charles Spurgeon once wrote that "asking is the rule of the kingdom".  You can see how this played out with Esther, later with Daniel, Paul in the New Testament who "expected nothing except by asking".

 

Moody Bible Institutes "Today in the Word" devotional for this month has been going through some of the minor prophets.  Today's verse comes from the first chapter of Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament after which there was 400 years of silence until the arival of John the Baptist.

 

We've gone through Ezra and Nehemiah where the temple and walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and Esther which preceded those books.  Malachi was written after Nehemiah had returned to his position of cupbearer for the king, and then nation went into a time of backsliding after his departure.

 

In reading Malachi, pay close attention to the questions that are asked.  Many are asked of God in an impersonal, defensive way.  It appeared that the people asked these questions without ever looking into His Word for the answers.  It is not very different today, there would be some today who would ask "how have you loved us"(v.2)?

 

Mal 1:6 The Lord of Heaven's Armies says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!

 

"But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name?'

 

7 "You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.

 

"Then you ask, 'How have we defiled the sacrifices?'

 

"You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect.   NLT

If God were to ask those same questions to the United States, to the "church" in America, what would the response be?  I'm sure you'd hear a lot of the same defensive answers given here in the book of Malachi with some new twists.  If that hardness of heart remains will God be silent with us or will we hear when He calls?

 

The priests were supposed to be leaders, showing the people an example of living lives devoted to God.  Instead, they were leading them in showing contempt for God by offering blind, lame and sick animals.  They offered what was of little value, the leftovers.

 

May it be a reminder for us to "give of our best to the Master".

 

Give Of Your Best To The Master

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth.
Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave.
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

 

Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart.
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave.
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

What difference would it make in our hearts, in our families, churches, and nation if we all "gave of our best" by giving Him first place in our heart and our service.  Malachi gives us an indication a couple of chapters later.

 

Mal 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!   NLT

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

Mal 1:1-10

 

1 This is the message that the Lord gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi.

 

The LORD's Love for Israel

 

2 "I have always loved you," says the Lord.

 

But you retort, "Really? How have you loved us?"

 

And the Lord replies, "This is how I showed my love for you: I loved your ancestor Jacob, 3 but I rejected his brother, Esau, and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau's inheritance into a desert for jackals."

 

4 Esau's descendants in Edom may say, "We have been shattered, but we will rebuild the ruins."

 

But the Lord of Heaven's Armies replies, "They may try to rebuild, but I will demolish them again. Their country will be known as 'The Land of Wickedness,' and their people will be called 'The People with Whom the Lord Is Forever Angry.' 5 When you see the destruction for yourselves, you will say, 'Truly, the Lord's greatness reaches far beyond Israel's borders!'"

 

Unworthy Sacrifices

 

6 The Lord of Heaven's Armies says to the priests: "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!

 

"But you ask, 'How have we ever shown contempt for your name?'

 

7 "You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar.

 

"Then you ask, 'How have we defiled the sacrifices?'

 

"You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. 8 When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn't that wrong? And isn't it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!" says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.

 

9 "Go ahead, beg God to be merciful to you! But when you bring that kind of offering, why should he show you any favor at all?" asks the Lord of Heaven's Armies.  NLT

Verse of the Day 6/23

Through the Bible - Esther 10, Job 1-2, Acts 7:23-34

 

Good morning,

Over the weekend the Old Testament reading was in the book of Esther and today's reading closes out that book.  If you haven't read it, or it has been a while, take some time and read through it.  It's an amazing story about God's providence, in His working in the details of life when it appears that He is not there.

 

Although the book follows Ezra and Nehemiah in the Bible, the events actually take place 30 years prior to those recorded in Nehemiah.  Ezra and Nehemiah record remarkable events and the importance of prayer, community, and putting faith into action.  They are magnified and magnify the significance of what took place in the book of Esther.

 

Today's verse is probably the most quoted from the book.

Est 4:13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"   NKJV

or from the NLT

Est 4:14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?"

 

It is unusual that in this book about God's providence, that in the original version, God's name doesn't appear in it, yet you can see the hand of God in the timing, the twists and turns that bring glory to God and reveal His faithfulness in the dire situation that Mordecai and Esther find themselves. 

 

All the Jews were to be killed but God used a faithful servant and a young woman to accomplish His purposes.  They did so by showing courage, faith, trust and found hope in their God.

With God in charge we too can take courage, even if we don't understand what is going on around us.  Mordecai and Esther faced death.  They  took risks, setting aside the fears that were within them to take a stand and do what was right, what was needed, and what was necessary.

 

In what position has God placed you?  Will you have the courage to act?  Will you have the courage of Mordecai to see the situation and ask of someone else?

At some point in your life you probably will come to a situation in life where God will place that question in your mind, "who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  Will you be prepared to respond?   How will you respond?  

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Est 4:10-5:1

 

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai: 11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days." 12 So they told Mordecai Esther's words.

 

13 And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

 

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: 16 "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!"

 

17 So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.    NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/222

Through the Bible - Ezra 7-9, Acts 6:8-7:22   

 

Good morning,

 

King David's statement and challenge to his son Solomon in these weekend's devotional " Take courage and be a man"; got me thinking of what would define a Christian man or woman.  What gives them value, their worth?  It could be something that is in them or something that is not present in them.

 

The first example that I'll give you are some of the lines from the 4 Him song, "The Measure of a Man".

 

The Measure of a Man - 4 Him

 

I say the measure of a man

Is not how tall you stand

How wealthy or intelligent you are

"Cause I've found out the measure of a man

God knows and understands

For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart

And what's in the heart defines

The measure of a man.

 

Well, you can doubt your worth

And search for who you are

And where you stand

But God made you in His image

When He formed you in His hands

And He looks at you with mercy

And He sees you through His love

You're His child and that will always be enough

For there's more to what you're worth

Than you could ever comprehend.

 

You can spend your life persuing physical perfection

There is so much more

More than ever meets the ey

For God looks through the surface

And He defines your worth by what is on the inside.

 

Today's verse comes from 2 Corinthians 5 and gives us an idea of what is inside a Christian.  They have been transformed, created anew.

 

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.NIV
The old "self" has been replaced.  Someone else should be on the throne in our lives, Christ living in us.

 

As far as what is absent, I read this statement from Karl Barth in his commentary on Romans.

"A man may be of value to another man, not because he wishes to be important, not because he possesses some inner wealth of soul, nor because of something he is, but because of what he is - not.  His importance may consist in his poverty, in his hopes and fears, in his waiting and hurrying, in the direction of his whole being towards what lies beyond his horizon and beyond his power."  Basically, the value of a man lies in something that is outside of, beyond him.  For a Christian it is the power of Christ living in and through us and not of ourselves. 

 

Can you think of other verses or passages that come to mind?

 

Read the passage in 2 Corinthians.  Another verse that I considered for today's verse was also from that same passage.

2 Cor 5:12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.   NKJV

Yes, it's what's in the heart that defines the measure of a man.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

2 Cor 5:12-6:1

 

Be Reconciled to God

 

12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

 

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

 

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

NKJV

Verse of the Day - weekend 6/20

Through the Bible - Esther 1-6, Acts 5:17-6:7

 

Good morning,

Happy Father's Day tomorrow for the "dad's" out there.

We've looked at some of the final words and charges of David before as recorded in different passages and books in the Bible.  For this weekend's verse we'll go to 1 Kings 2.

 

David is on his deathbed , and here charges the new king, the son of his beloved wife Bathsheba, with what would bring him joy and honor.  That his son would show himself a man.

1 Kings 2:2 "I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.   NLT

David, the "man after God's own heart" reveals this heart for God in his desire for his son.  It would not be an uncommon charge, even today, for a man to desire that his son "be a man".  Just what the father would have in mind for his son and how he would go about proving his manhood would in most instances be very different from what David had in mind.

 

David shows that he considers "being a man" to "follow all his (God's) way's" and that this would lead him to be successful in all that he would do.  It is basically saying, follow God and leave the success up to Him, He'll see to it.  David knew of the challenges and difficulties of being a king.  He knew that in order to be successful, that his son would need to "walk with the Lord".

 

How many of you would have that same charge, that same advice for your children this fathers day?  How many of you are living out the Godly example to be able to make that request to your children?

 

A similar request today might be that they "put on the full armor of God" , as found in Ephesians 6:

 

Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

 

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  NLT

For the fathers and son's out there, these words should be taken to heart today and every day, "take courage and be a man", a man after God's own heart.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

David's Final Instructions to Solomon

 

1 Kings 2:1  As the time of King David's death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon:

 

2 "I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. 4 If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, 'If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.'

 

 

 

Verse of the Day 6/19

Through the Bible - Nehemiah 12-13, Acts 5:1-16

 

Good morning,

We've probably had an experience in our lives where we have heard someone say in a story, movie or song that something was "lost in the translation", that in translating it from the original language to English something was lacking.   We've probably experienced that even in Bible studies and commentaries where we have a word from the Greek or Hebrew expounded upon to give additional meaning to the verse or passage.

 

The book of Lamentations and Psalm 119 are two portions of scripture where acrostic composition is used.  Each verse starts with a particular letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  In Psalm  19 there are 8 verses for each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, yielding 176 verses, the longest chapter in the Bible.

 

The same form is used in the book of Lamentations, as the word implies, it is a lament for the nation and for the individual.  The first four chapters are an acrostic. Chapter one deals with the troubles of the city.  Chapter 2 expands the lament to the wrath of God, the third chapter brings it to a personal level, that of an individual, chapter 4 returns to the third person, from the outside looking in and chapter 5 is a prayer. 

 

In chapter 3, sixty six verses, three for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet  are devoted to the individual.  In the midst of, in the middle of chapter 3, this chapter on personal sufffering comes one of the most comforting verses we find in the Bible.  It's where we go for today's verse.

Lam 3:22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.    NIV

One of the things that we miss in this passage, in this book in English is the acrostic.  The time, detail, and attention devoted to the subject, in this instance - personal suffering.  Literally, Jeremiah gives us the A to Z on the emotions suffering, I believe from personal experience.

 

It's interesting to note that the two portions of the Bible that employ this literary tool deal with God's Word and suffering.

 

Eugene Peterson, who wrote The Message paraphrase of the Bible writes, "The first order of pastoral ministry is to enter into the pain and to share the suffering.  Later on the task develops into clearing away the emotional  rubble (remember yesterday in Nehemiah?) and exposing the historical foundations: all suffering is triggered by something.  There is a datable event behind an act of suffering - a remembered word of scorn that wounded, a describable injustice causing injury, a death with a date on it pinpointing the hour of loss, a divorce decree giving legal definition to a rejection.  Suffering explodes in a life and pain is scattered like shrapnel.  At the moment the loss seams total, but gradually it is possible to recognize and touch many, many things, persons, areas that remain sound and stable - to discover weakness, to admit guilt, to accept responsibility, to be grateful for survival."

 

We may look back to those times and remember periods of time when it felt as if God was absent.  At some point, often in the midst of the trial, as in the midst of this passage, we learn some of the most profound things about our God and our faith in God, and His faithfulness.

If you know it, why don't you sing the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in your mind our out loud, may the words remind you of the "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" that we have in Christ, even in "the midst" of our current struggles.

In Christ,

Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Lam 3:19-28

 

19 I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
20 I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

 

22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him."

 

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27 It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.   NIV

Verse of the Day 6/18

Through the Bible - Nehemiah 9-11, Acts 4:23-37   Good morning, Over the last few days we've considered what it means to "follow", to "live in the way", to be convicted of our sin - convinced of who we really are.   If you've been reading along in the book of Nehemiah, a lot had to be done before the walls could be built back up.  The rubble had to be removed.  Unity among believers was necessary to have the common goal in mind.  It involved diligence powered by faith to accomplish the feat in spite of opposition, the nay sayers.   For today's verse we'll go to the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, a prophet in a tumultuous time with words of wisdom for people now and then that we are to "wait" for the Lord's deliverance and "be patient" for God will work out His plans.  But it doesn't call us to be passive about it.   Hab 2:4-"Look at that man, bloated by self-importance — full of himself but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.   The Message or from the NKJV Hab 2:4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.   NKJV I believe it was John Piper that said of the last line of this verse that it could also be translated "by faith, the just shall live".  It captures the thought of following God, of "being found in the way".  You can also see what that means if you read the New Testament reading yesterday about Peter and John.   Acts 4:13 The leaders saw that Peter and John were not afraid to speak, and they understood that these men had no special training or education. So they were amazed. Then they realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus.   NCV John Newton, who wrote the song "Amazing Grace" showed us his desire to follow Christ in this prayer: 'O Lord, accept, support, protect, teach, comfort and bless me. Be . . .   my Arm,   my Eye,   my Joy and   my Salvation. Mortify the power of sin--and increase the image of Your holiness in my heart. Anoint me with fresh oil, make me humble, faithful, diligent and obedient. Let me in all things attend . . .   to Your Word as my rule,   to Your glory as my end, and   depend upon Your power and promise for my safety and success." May that be our desire today.   In Christ, Mike   Hab 2:1-5 2 I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.  2 Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. 4 "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright — but the righteous will live by his faith—  NIV

Verse of the Day 6/17

Through the Bible - Nehemiah 6-8, Acts 3:11-4:22   Good morning, In yesterday's devotional I referenced the wrong edtion of the Bible for the beginning of Romans 8:5 -8Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them — living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored. (from THE MESSAGE.) We considered some of the things that the Holy Spirit does.  John 16:8 tells us that "when He has come, He will convict the world of sin,"NKJV Another way to translate the phrase, "to convict" is "to convince." The Holy Spirit is not coming to merely convince us of certain sins, but also to get to the root of our problems: sin itself.  Before we can turn from our sin to follow Christ we have to become aware of and become "convinced" of our sin.  Peter's great evangelistic sermon touched the peoples heart, they were convinced and they asked in Acts 2:37 "what should we do?"   Peter's answer was to "turn from your sins and turn to God" and they would "receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.   Today's verse comes from Acts 3 which has a similar message.  Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,   NKJV or from the NLT Acts 3:19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.  NLT When we turn from our own ways, which lead to frustration and dissatisfaction and turn to Christ, He will bring refreshment to our lives and to our souls.  It's not that everything will by rosy, but even during times of trial He can bring comfort.  The turning may be painful, like going through the withdrawals of an addiction, but it is worth it.   Once we've turned, it should be natural for us to seek Him more, it is what following is all about.  He will bring refreshment.   Hos 6:3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." NLT   Why do we live without Jesus, why would we wait another day?  Why not follow Him today and be found in the way.   In Christ, Mike Acts 3:11-4:1 Preaching in Solomon's Portico 11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17 "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,   21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.  23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'   24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'   26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."   NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/16

Through the Bible - Nehemiah 4-5, Acts 2:42-3:10   Good morning, In last Friday's devotional we considered Jesus call to Peter in John 21 to "follow me". Joe Stowell wrote in a recent "Daily Bread" devotional that the word "follow" that is used in Mark 8:34 "literally means to be found in the way with Him."   Following Jesus is "the way" to live the Christian life. In John chapter 14 Jesus told His disciples that after He would leave that the Father would send the Helper, the Holy Spirit to teach and bring to remembrance the things He taught.   We are reminded of this in Acts chapter one where we go for today's verse. Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."   NLT Literally, as it is translated in the margin, "Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon you." This was said to them to console them. Though they could not know the times which God reserved in his own appointment, yet they should receive the promised Guide and Comforter. The word "power" here refers to the help or aid which the Holy Spirit would grant; of preaching the gospel with great effect; of enduring great trials, etc.  Barnes Notes commentary) Have you considered what the Spirit's functions are, what He accomplishes in our lives? He unifies the body of Christ, the church (Eph. 4:1-16); He gives new life (John 3:5-8); He convicts of sin and enables us to repent and come to faith in Christ (John 16:8); He testifies of Jesus as the Messiah (John 14:26); He guides us into truth (John 16;13); He bears fruit in our life (Gal. 5:22-25); He gives us gifts for ministry (1 Corinthians 12-14); He prays, intercedes for us (Rom. 8:26); He is present in all Christians (Rom. 8:9-11).  Seeing this list you can understand why Jesus refers to Him as the "paraclete" one who comes alongside us as the Counsellor or Encourager (John 15:26).    Do you feel His presence in you?  A lot depends on your mind set, what do you allow to control your thoughts?   Rom 8:5  Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life.( NLT)  But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about the things the Spirit wants them to do. NCV Follow the Spirit's promptings that you may be "found in the way with Him".   In Christ, Mike   Acts 1:4-9 The Holy Spirit Promised 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me;  5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.  8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."   NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/15

Through the Bible - Nehemiah 1-3, Acts 2:14-41   Good morning, The read through the Bible plan comes to an interesting point as we head into this week. I Acts 2 we get an eye witness account of the formation of the " Acts Chapter 2 church.  In Nehemiah we have the rebuiling of the city around the temple.  If you have the time.  follow along over the next several days and looks for similarities in how God works in both situations, especially in His people, His servants.   For today's verse we'll go to Nehemiah chapter one where we get a glimpse into the heart and soul of Nehemiah.  We see that he is a man of prayer with a heart for God's people.   Neh 1:6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.   NLT Remember this weekend's devotion from Psalm 119 regarding God's Word, His statutes, commands, and decrees?  How important it is that we should know them and apply them. Nehemiah, like many others through the Old and New Testaments come to a point where they realized that they have been slack in applying them, realizing for themselves and for the people that they serve that a change, repentance is needed.   Isa 6:5  Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;    NKJV   A few verses later Isaiah here's God's call and responds with "Here am I , send me." It wasn't about pointing a finger at "people nowadays", the prophet Isaiah and Nehemiah here started with themselves and their families.   Nehemiah asked God for success in his life, success that would bring about the building of the city of Jerusalem.  Keep reading through Nehemiah and see just how he goes about getting this done.  Prayer, people helping people, to build the city, to bring glory to God.   Notice how important prayer is by the things that Nehemiah prays about what he seeks to bring this about.  He has a clear goal in mind, he desires that the people will visualize the need (the kingdom of God is like....), he wants to motivate them, he delegates, he faces opposition, he prays that obstacles be removed, he prays when facing discouragement, for strength to stay the course, and he prays to finish strong.  ( I believe this was Pastor Bob's outline taken from notes in my Bible).   Couldn't we use this model in our lives, in our churches leaders, in our nation?   But it starts with you and me as God calls out to us to follow Him.   In Christ, Mike Neh 1:1-2:1 Nehemiah Prays for His People 1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. It came to pass in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the citadel, 2 that Hanani one of my brethren came with men from Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped, who had survived the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, "The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire." 4 So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said: "I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, 6 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father's house and I have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. 8 Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying,'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations;   9 but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.'   10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power, and by Your strong hand. 11 O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." For I was the king's cupbearer. NKJV

Verse of the Day - weekend 6/13

Through the Bible - Ezra 6-10, Acts 1-2:13

 

Good morning,

I've gone to Psalm 119 many times for the "verse of the day" and noted that this longest chapter of the Bible focuses, almost exclusively on the Word of God.

We'll return to that chapter for this weekend's verse.

 

Ps 119:162 I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163 I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.    NKJV

Think about those words written a couple thousand years ago about the Word of God.  Can you say that you "rejoice at His Word", do you "love" the law, His Word?

If you love someone you'll want to spend time with them, learn more about them and enjoy their company and companionship.  After all, it's a relationship.  While we don't have a personal relationship in that sense with the Word, it is our channel for a personal relationship with Christ.

 

Read through this short section of the psalm.  Consider, think about the different synonyms referenced here to the Word of God.  They are, "the law - the whole body of Moses writings; commands - clear definite directives issued by God; decrees - "things inscribed" and established in law; judgements - binding judicial decisons that extablish a precedent;  precepts - a poetic synomym for edicts; statute - a serious expression of God's standards for human behavior; Word - a revelation God gave Israel; saying - a poetic form for "Word"; way - a metaphor for the believer's way of life; path - a metaphor for lifestyle.   - Dennis Fisher, Adapted from The Bible Reader's Companion.

 

Reading these synonyms should give us a better perspective on the importance and benefits of spending time in God's Word on a daily basis.  As you do, may you find yourself "rejoicing" in His Word, loving His law. 

 

Jer 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them.
They are my joy and my heart's delight,
for I bear your name,
O Lord God of Heaven's Armies.   NLT

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Ps 119:161-169

 

161 <START HEBREW>v<END HEBREW> SHIN

 

Princes persecute me without a cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your word.
162 I rejoice at Your word
As one who finds great treasure.
163 I hate and abhor lying,
But I love Your law.
164 Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
165 Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
166 Lord, I hope for Your salvation,
And I do Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.    NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/12

Through the Bible - Ezra 3-5, John 21

 

Good morning,

Today's New Testament reading in John 21 brings us to the conclusion of that great book of the Bible.  As mentioned previously, the purpose of John's writing this book was summarized in chapter 20.

 

John 20:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.   NKJV

As you look at the lives of the disciples you also see growth.  For today's verse we'll go to John 21 where Jesus speaks to Peter and to anyone who truly wants to follow.

 

John 21:17-19  Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.  18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."  19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."    NKJV

Through the gospels we can see the growth of Peter's faith.  Jesus had previously asked Peter to follow him

Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."    NIV
Matt 16:24 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  NIV

As faith grows, love grows, devotion grows, as you learn just what it means to follow.  Peter left his nets to follow him but that faith was not the same as here in John 21 and following in the book of Acts.   Peter had said in John 6:68 "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. " as others decided to follow no longer.   But Peter also denied Christ three times.  Jesus knew that this was coming and prepared Peter for it.

Luke 22:31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you  as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."   NIV

But now, I believe, Peter has learned what it truly means and what it truly takes to "follow Me", to follow Christ.

 

How do I know this?  Just continue in the read through the Bible plan and see how Peter, John, and others take a stand for Christ facing the same accusers who had put Jesus to death.

 

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

 

'The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.'

 

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

 

13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.

Have you been following Christ?  Can you see changes in the way you follow?  Do you desire to follow Him more closely?  If so, learn to abide and grow.

 

.John 15:4 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you."

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.   NIV

In Christ,
Mike

 

John 21:15-20

 

Jesus Restores Peter

 

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"

 

He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

 

He said to him, "Feed My lambs."

 

16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?"

 

He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."

 

He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

 

17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?"

 

And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."

 

Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.  18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish."  19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."    NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/11

Through the Bible - Ezra 1-2, John 20

 

Good morning,

I've received messages from a few of you recently that said that you had not been receiving some of the e-mails.  If you get this one, note that they can also be accessed by going to http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com .

 

With this economy, I'm sure most of you have seen commercials about investing in gold, one of them boldly says "it has never been worth zero".

 

In the Old Testament reading outlined above, we recently completed 2 Chronicles and have moved into the book of Ezra.

2 Chronicles started with King Solomon taking the throne and building the temple for the Lord.  He prayed for wisdom and this was God's answer.

2 Chron 1:11 God said to Solomon, "Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people— 12 I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested.   NLT

 

God also blessed him and the kingdom with more gold and riches than we can imagine.

 

By the end of 2 Chronicles we see a different picture.  The kings of Judah had turned their hearts and the hearts of the people away from God.  At the close of the book the wealth, the gold articles from the temple were taken away from them.  When the gold is taken away, it is worth zero to those that it is taken from.  The nation had not been observing their faith, were not observing the sabbath, they had rejected God.

2 Chron 36:21 So the message of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled. The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.  NLT

 

But God was faithful, he brought the gold and His people back as Jeremiah the prophet said He would.

2 Chron 36:22 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:

23 "This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
"The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are the Lord's people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!"   NLT

Today's verse comes from Micah 6 where we have timeless instructions on how we should live, how we should follow God. 

Mic 6:7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

 

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?   NKJV

I would encourage you to follow along in the Old Testament reading plan.  It will be moving through Ezra and Nehemiah where the temple is rebuilt as God rebuilds broken walls, hearts, and lives.  The temple would be rebuilt but what Ezra would weep over was that at the start, the peoples hearts were unchanged.  These books show how God can be found.  As pointed out in Micah 6:9, the Lord wanted a spiritual transformation of the heart which would lead to a commitment which would bring about right behavior, true worship.

 

As God was pleading for Israel then, I believe He is pleading with us today, to "hear what the Lord says". 

 

Don't worry about whether or not to invest in gold, invest in God, listen to His advice.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Mic 6:1-9

 

God Pleads with Israel

 

6 Hear now what the Lord says:

 

"Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, O you mountains, the Lord's complaint,
And you strong foundations of the earth;
For the Lord has a complaint against His people,
And He will contend with Israel.

 

3 "O My people, what have I done to you?
And how have I wearied you?
Testify against Me.
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I redeemed you from the house of bondage;
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O My people, remember now
What Balak king of Moab counseled,
And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
From Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
That you may know the righteousness of the Lord."

 

6 With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

 

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

 

NKJV

Verse of the Day 6/10

Through the Bible - 2 Chronicles 34-36, John 19:17-42

 

Good morning,

Next to our home in Huntley Illinois stood a farm field.  One year the farmer would grow beans and the next year it would be corn.  I remember driving by the corn fields in Illinois this time of year and seeing the corn growing, you could see the change day by day.  In the midwest, you would be familiar with the saying "knee high by the fourth of July" in reference to the corn crop.  You would expect and anticipate the growth.  Shouldn't it be the same with us as Christians?

 

Today's verse comes from Mark chapter 4:

Mark 4:28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.     NKJV

Corn and other crops don't remain the same.  They seem to grow in stages, each one has a purpose and can be beautiful in it's own right.  God provides what the plant needs for the growth.

 

John Newton wrote,:

"The Lord compares the usual method of growth in grace--to the growth of grain, which is perfected by a slow and almost imperceptible progress.

The seed is hidden for a time in the soil; and, when it appears, it passes through a succession of changes--the blade, the stalk, and lastly the ripe grain.

And it is brought forward amidst a variety of weather: the dew, the frost, the wind, the rain, the sun--all concur to advance its maturity, though some of these agents are contrary to each other; and some of them, perhaps, seem to threaten the life of the plant! Yet, when the season of harvest returns--the grain is found ready for the sickle!

Just so is God's work of grace in the soul. Its beginnings are small, its growth for the most part slow, and, to our apprehensions, imperceptible and often precarious.

But there is this difference in the comparison: frosts and blights, drought or floods, may possibly disappoint the gardener's hopes. But the great Gardener of the soul--will not, and cannot be disappointed. What He sows--shall flourish in defiance of all opposition! And, if at times it seems to wither--He can and He will revive it!

For the most part, God's people are exercised with sharp trials and temptations; for it is necessary they should learn not only what He can do for them--but how little they can do without Him! Therefore He teaches them not all at once--but by degrees, as they are able to bear it."

Our growth as a Christian will go through stages.  All these things are designed to bring us to maturity, in Christ.  There will be times or seasons of worry, of doubt (today's New Testament reading deals with Thomas), but through it all "God causes all things to grow."  I'm reminded of the Steve Green song by that title.

 

God causes all things to grow,

Through every season you know,

He will guard the life that He's planted in the soul,

So when we feel the cold winds blow,

We'll hold to what we know,

God causes all things to grow.

 

Phil 1: 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.   NLT

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

Mark 4:26-30

 

The Parable of the Growing Seed

 

26 And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,  27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.  28 For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.  29 But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."

 

NKJV