Verse of the Day 10/28

Through the Bible - Jeremiah 24-26, Titus 1   Good morning,  While driving to the conference/retreat that Jean and I attended last weekend we enjoyed the full color of the North Carolina mountains.  Whether it was under drizzly,cloudy skies or bright sunshine they showed the glory and majesty of God's creation.   From what I understand, deer and other animals are color blind.  As we were driving I was thankful that I could see the full color.  The deer, living in the woods every day, are right there yet cannot see or appreciate what we do.   It made me think of those who don't "see" or understand the gospel of Jesus Christ even though it is all around them or even when it is clearly presented to them.   We sing the praise song "Open the Eyes of My Heart" expressing the desire to see God in all His glory (or at least in as much as we comprehend).   Ps 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.   NKJV Sometimes we read through the Bible but don't slow down to dig.  I've heard it said that simply reading through the Bible is "like raking leaves.  You rake  the ground and all you get are the leaves but if you dig, you may find treasure."   The conference we attended brought that home.  We reviewed passages that we had read many times but found new meaning, sometimes the correct meaning of the passages.  It was because someone had dug, someone whose eyes had been opened, who was able to pass that on to us.   Today's verse comes from 2 Timothy 3.  It should encourage us to dig, so that we may be taught and able to teach from God's Word.   2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.  NLT   "I pray earnestly that God will raise up today a new generation of Christian apologists or Christian communicators, who will combine an absolute loyalty to the biblical gospel and an unwavering confidence in the power of the Spirit with a deep and sensitive understanding of the contemporary alternatives to the gospel; who will relate the one to the other with freshness, authority, and relevance; and who will use their minds to reach other minds for Christ"  - John Stott   May the Lord open our eyes that God may use us as instruments to teach and equip others to live for Christ.   In Christ, Mike 2 Tim 3:16-4:6 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Preach the Word 4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. NKJV