Verse of the Day 11/30

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 45-46, 1 John 2

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered the "thrill of hope" and that the fruit of hope is love.

Today' we'll go to John chapter 5 where Jesus tells us what it means to believe.

John 5:24-25 (Amplified Bible)  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.

²⁵Believe Me when I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the time is coming and is here now when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear it shall live.

Read these words again, "believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him", does that describe your faith?

 

John MacArthur writes that "saving faith consists of three elements, commonly referred to by the latin terms notitia, assensus, and fiducia.  Noticia (knowledge) is the intellectual component of faith.  It involves an understanding of the basic biblical facts regarding salvation.  Assensus, (assent) goes one step beyond notitia and confidently affirms those facts to be true.  Fiducia (trust) act on them by personally appropriating Jesus Christ as the only hope for salvation."  MacArthur goes on to say that "in saving faith the entire person - the intellect (knowledge), the emotions (assent), and the will (trust) - embraces Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord."

 

May we all believe and trust in, cling to and rely on Him, as our greatest gift, as our Lord and Saviour day by day and in this season.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

John 5:24-30 (New Living Translation)

 ²⁴ "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

 ²⁵ "And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it's here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. ²⁶ The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, ²⁹ and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. ³⁰ I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.

Verse of the Day 11/29

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 43-44, 1 John 1

 

Good morning,

As we head into the Christmas season one of the most common themes in the hymns that you will hear will be hope.  In "O Holy Night" we sing "the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices".

If you've experienced dark days and hours a sudden turn around gives you a thread of hope, it can thrill you.

 

Often you will find in the Bible that the fruit of hope is shown in love.

Colossians 1:4-5 (Amplified Bible) For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God's consecrated ones),

⁵Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,

John Piper writes that the hope spoken about here in the Bible "teaches and shows that a strong confidence in the promises of God and a passionate preference for the joy of heaven over the joy of the world frees a person from self- centeredness, from paralyzing regret and self pity, from fear and greed and bitterness and despair and laziness and impatience and envy.  And in the place of all these sins, hope bears the fruit of love."

 

Faith leads to hope and this hope leads to love.  Piper points out that this love " is a public fruit; it is a fruit of hope; it is a fruit of the gospel; and it is a fruit of the Spirit.  And we have these tied together in a way that gives some practical guidance for our lives: give heed to the promises of God's Word; prayerfully rely on the Holy Spirit; set your affections on the hope laid up for you in heaven; and in the power of that hope, walk in love."

 

This season may we be freed from self centeredness, paralyzing regret, self pity, fear and greed and instead endeavor to spread the "thrill of hope".  May it bring joy to your little corner of the world.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Colossians 1:3-8 (New Living Translation)

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

 ³ We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God's people, ⁵ which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

 ⁶ This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.

Verse of the Day - weekend 11/27

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 39-42, 2 Peter 2-3

 

Good morning,

Over the past few years we've heard a lot about change.  We've seen change and what many people realize is that they had a different "change" in mind.

What we need most is heart change, as individuals and as a nation.  For Christians this means revival.   I read the following in Ray Ortlund's blog the other day.

 

Horatius Bonar, writing the preface to John Gillies' Accounts of Revival regarding the leaders of the Great Awakening, proposed that men useful to the Holy Spirit for revival are marked in these nine ways:

1.  They are in earnest: "They lived and labored and preached like men on whose lips the immortality of thousands hung."

2.  They are bent on success: "As warriors, they set their hearts on victory and fought with the believing anticipation of triumph, under the guidance of such a Captain as their head."

3.  They are men of faith: "They knew that in due season they should reap, if they fainted not."

4.  They are men of labor: "Their lives are the annals of incessant, unwearied toil of body and soul; time, strength, substance, health, all they were and possessed they freely offered to the Lord, keeping back nothing, grudging nothing."

5.  They are men of patience: "Day after day they pursued what, to the eye of the world, appeared a thankless and fruitless round of toil."

6.  They are men of boldness: "Timidity shuts many a door of usefulness and loses many a precious opportunity; it wins no friends, while it strengthens every enemy.  Nothing is lost by boldness, nor gained by fear."

7.  They are men of prayer: "They were much alone with God, replenishing their own souls out of the living fountain, that out of them might flow to their people rivers of living water."

8.  They are men of strong doctrine: "Their preaching seems to have been of the most masculine and fearless kind, falling on the audience with tremendous power.  It was not vehement, it was not fierce, it was not noisy; it was far too solemn to be such; it was massive, weighty, cutting, piercing, sharper than a two-edged sword."

9.  They are men of deep spirituality: "No frivolity, no flippancy . . . . The world could not point to them as being but slightly dissimilar from itself."

You might say that these are 9 traits or tools to be equipped with if we want to bring about this kind of change. They aren't human tools, they are God tools.

For this weekend's verse we'll go to 2 Corinthians 10 from The Message.

 

2 Corinthians 10:5–6:  "We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity" (MSG).

Which of these traits,  these tools do you find in yourself?  May we strive to be better equipped to smash the "warped philosophies" of the day.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

2 Corinthians 10 (New King James Version)

2 Corinthians 10

The Spiritual War

 ¹ Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. ² But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Verse of the Day 11/26

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 37-38, 2 Peter 1

 

Good morning,

Today has become known as "Black Friday" probably the biggest shopping day of the Christmas season and an early indicator to what the "rest of the season" will be for retailers.

I hope that you enjoyed some peace and rest yesterday visiting with friends and relatives.  A stomach full of turkey and dressing can help you rest or at least feel sleepy.  Jesus came to bring peace on earth, it is ironic that the first day of the season to celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace is anything but peaceful as people will be lining up at 4 or 6 am to get the best "deals" of the season.

 

For today's verse we'll go to a familiar passage where Jesus calls us to come to Him for rest.  Read it from the Amplified Bible below, then do as the psalms often call us to do and stop, think calmly of that (selah).

Matthew 11:28-29 (Amplified Bible) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] 

 ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

Jesus offers to ease, relieve and refresh our souls.  We'd be better off facing Black Friday spending some time in coming to Jesus than heading off to the stores at 4 am.

 

I remember in other years reading of and seeing news reports of people being trampled to death trying to get into a store to get the best deal on an HD TV or other high ticket item.  Learn from Jesus.  As we've considered before, we don't hear of Him running anywhere, He walked, stopping along the way to bring "ease, refreshment, recreation and blessed quietness to souls that sought Him, sought His favor, His blessing.

 

Although it is not a Christmas hymn, read the words to "Blessed Quietness" may they help to prepare you for worship this weekend and this Christmas.

 

Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.

 

Refrain:
Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
Blest assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, *Jesus speaks to me, [*He speaks peace to me,]
And the billows cease to roll.

 

Everything is turned to gladness,
All around this glorious Guest;
Banished unbelief and sadness,
All is perfect peace and rest.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Matthew 11:25-30 (The Message)

 ^25-26Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

 ²⁷Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.

 ^28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Verse of the Day 11/25

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 35-36, 1 Peter 5

 

Happy Thanksgiving,

Recently in church we sang a modernized version of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing".  It is a fitting hymn for Thanksgiving.  The second verse states:

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I've come;

Ebenezer means stone of help or remembrance, remembering how the Lord has proved to be faithful.

 

A stanza that always catches may attention is the third.  We, as individuals, as churches, and as a nation are 'prone to wander', prone to leave the path of the straight and narrow.  It also speaks of the heart desire for restoration and that once that has been accomplished that it be sealed, settled once and for all.

 

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

As you read through the Bible, especially the Old Testament you find characters, real people, like us who were prone to wander, had wandered while God remained faithful and would do what it takes to bring His people back to Him.  The same could be said for Israel and Judah as nations, who had slipped into idolatry but would be brought back by the faithful God.

 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving today, let us be thankful that we serve a faithful God.  For today's verse we'll go to Psalm 100.

Ps 100:4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his  courts with praise!
Give thanks to him;  bless his name!

 

5  For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his  faithfulness to all generations.   ESV

The ESV uses the word steadfast to describe God's love for us.  It is a picture of a steady, devoted, and loyal love.

Have you been wandering?  Perhaps His steadfast, loyal, faithful love is calling you back.

 

Deut 7:Know therefore that the Lord your God is God,  the faithful God  who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
ESV

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Ps 100:1-101:1

 

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever

 

A Psalm for  giving thanks.

 

100  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2  Serve the Lord with gladness!
 Come into his presence with singing!

 

3 Know that  the Lord, he is God!
It is he who  made us, and  we are his;
we are his  people, and  the sheep of his pasture.

 

4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his  courts with praise!
Give thanks to him;  bless his name!

 

5  For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his  faithfulness to all generations.   ESV

Verse of the Day 11/24

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 32-34, 1 Peter 4

 

Good morning,

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm sure that most of us have already been thinking about the things that we can be thankful for.  These are days of reflection, looking back to see how God's hand, His grace has brought us to this place.  He delivered us out of darkness and into light.

 

For today's verse we'll go to Luke chapter 17 where Jesus heals 10 people form leprosy, the most devastating disease of the day.  Are you surprised that only one came back to thank Him?

 

Luke 17:17-18 (Amplified Bible)  Then Jesus asked, Were not [all] ten cleansed? Where are the nine?

    ¹⁸Was there no one found to return and to recognize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien?

Most of us have not been healed miraculously from a disease and don't look at our salvation experience as a miracle, a supernatural experience like that of Saul (Paul).  Ours may have been more subtle, a simple faith, a quiet trust as that of a child.  Nonetheless, our salvation is a miracle, the work of God creating in us a living, clean heart from a heart of stone. 

 

For this we should be truly thankful, every day.

 

Greg Laurie writes, "They weren't healed yet, but still they went—and God healed them completely. However, only one of the ten decided to go back and give thanks, and he was a Samaritan. The Jews looked down on the Samaritans, yet it was a Samaritan who came back to give thanks.

How like us it is to forget to give thanks. We are so quick to ask for God's help. But we also need to remember to give Him praise when He comes through for us."

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks unto the Holy One,
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say "I am strong",
Let the poor say "I am rich",
Because of what the Lord, has done for us
Give Thanks!

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (New King James Version)  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Luke 17:11-19 (New King James Version)

Ten Lepers Cleansed

   
¹¹ Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. ¹² Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. ¹³ And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
¹⁴ So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, ¹⁶ and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
¹⁷ So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? ¹⁸ Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" ¹⁹ And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."

Verse of the Day 11/23

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 30-31, 1 Peter 3   

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered the dangers of blowing past the warning signs as described in Proverbs 27:12.

Across the page from that verse in my Amplified Bible, the following verse was underlined:

 

Proverbs 28:26 (Amplified Bible)  He who leans on, trusts in, and is confident of his own mind and heart is a [self-confident] fool, but he who walks in skillful and godly Wisdom shall be delivered.

 

Those who drive right on past the warning signs in life are those, by and large, who lean on, trust in, and are confident of their own mind and heart, oblivious to the heart of God and His signs, His words.

 

For today's verse we'll go to 1 Peter 3 which is today's New Testament reading outlined above.  It shows the benefits of trusting in God will do, what it will lead to.  It goes back to the concept with Abram in Genesis 12, we are to realize that we are blessed to be a blessing.

 

1 Peter 3:8-9 (New Living Translation)   Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. ⁹ Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.

If you continue on in the passage below we can see some of the traits of a person living in community with other believers and God.  They - keep their tongues from evil, avoid deceitful speech, turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it, knowing that they eyes of God are on them, and that He is attentive to them.

 

We live our lives 'coram deo' , before the face of God.  In R.C. Sproul's "Tabletalk" devotional for today I read the following, "As Christians, we are to live life "under heaven" - aware of the Lord who sees us and who will render judgment on what we have done.  This means we should be serious about learning His will and fulfilling it in all that we do.  One the one hand, the Lord's grace means we should not fear that He is out to get us when we fail.  On the other hand, we must not take His grace for granted but live lives of service to our great king."  It is such a person that "walks in skillful and godly wisdom."

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Called to Blessing

   
⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹ not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For


      " He who would love life
      And see good days,
       Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
      And his lips from speaking deceit.
       ¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good;
       Let him seek peace and pursue it.
       ¹² For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
       And His ears are open to their prayers;
      But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

Verse of the Day 11/22

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 28-29, 1 Peter 2

 

Good morning,

Our Pastor Bob's current series is titled "Destinations" with the underlying theme being direction determines destination.  Bob dealt at length this weekend with Proverbs 27:12 from several translations and several perspectives.

 

Prov 27:12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions.
The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.  NLT

 

One of our son Jeff's favorite statements from former President Bush was " not gonna do it, wouldn't be prudent". It comes from experience, perhaps disregarding the warning signs in the past, and deciding not to take that road, making precautions not to make that turn again. This starts with being willing to admit that you took the wrong turn.  In the Christian's life, walk, that means confessing that we blew it before, confessing it to God, and seeking His grace so that you don't go that way again.

 

We've been considering what "walking in the light" means.  For today's verse we'll go to 1 John 1 to a passage which the New Living Testament gives the heading "Living in the Light".

 

1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.  NLT

Paul David Tripp in his book ' Lost in the Middle: Midlife and the Grace of God' writes - "Confession is powerful and effective. It turns guilt into forgiveness. It turns regret into hope. It turns slavery into freedom. It turns you from mourning over your harvest to planting new seeds of faith, repentance, and hope. You see, you are not trapped! Things are not hopeless! The Lord, the great Creator and Savior, is the God who never changes, but at the same time he is the God who promises and produces deep personal change. The changes he makes in us are so foundational that the Bible's best words describing them are 'new creation.' God's plan is to change us so fundamentally that it is as if we are longer us; something brand new has been created!"

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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 John 1:5 -10 NLT

Living in the Light ⁵ This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. ⁶ So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. ⁷ But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

 ⁸ If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. ⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

Verse of the Day weekend 11/20

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 25-27, James 5 - 1 Peter 1

 

Good morning,

We've looked at several verses recently dealing with our walk and thoughts of walking in the light.   In yesterday's verse Jesus made the clear statement that He is the Light of the world.

For today's verse we'll go to Luke chapter 1 to Zacharias' prophecy.

Luke 1:78-79 (Amplified Bible)  Because of and through the heart of tender mercy and loving-kindness of our God, a Light from on high will dawn upon us and visit [us]

⁷⁹To shine upon and give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to direct and guide our feet in a straight line into the way of peace.

God sent John to prepare the way for Jesus, the Light of the world.  There had been 400 years of silence and darkness since the days of the prophet Malachi, those days of silence were coming to an end with John the Baptist.  Johns message would be of forgiveness and repentance for salvation.  This would be the message of Jesus and his apostles and should be our message today as we go out into the world.  This forgiveness and repentance brings peace.

 

Commentator Henry Wansbrough writes, "He is to guide our feet into the 'way of peace'.  By doing so he begins the mission which will continue into the mission of the disciples.  In Luke, Jesus characteristically brings peace by His miracles.  The angels sin "Peace on earth" at Jesus' birth.  The crowds proclaim peace in heaven at Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem.  Missioners are told by Jesus to bring peace where they go, to to Cornelius Peter describes Jesus' message as the good news of peace.  Peace reconciliation and forgiveness are the watchword of Luke's Christian message."

 

In preparation or as part of worship this weekend, consider the words to Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.  Although the word 'peace' is not specifically mentioned, as you read or sing the word to this familiar hymn, may you feel it in your heart, in your soul.

 

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

 

Luke 1

Zacharias' Prophecy

   ⁶⁷ Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
       ⁶⁸ " Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
      For He has visited and redeemed His people,
       ⁶⁹ And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
      In the house of His servant David,
       ⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,
      Who have been since the world began,
       ⁷¹ That we should be saved from our enemies
      And from the hand of all who hate us,
       ⁷² To perform the mercy promised to our fathers
      And to remember His holy covenant,
       ⁷³ The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:
       ⁷⁴ To grant us that we,
      Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
      Might serve Him without fear,
       ⁷⁵ In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
       ⁷⁶ " And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
      For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
       ⁷⁷ To give knowledge of salvation to His people
      By the remission of their sins,
       ⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God,
      With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
       ⁷⁹ To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
      To guide our feet into the way of peace."

⁸⁰ So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Verse of the Day 11/19

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 22-24, James 4

 

Good morning,

 

For today's verse we'll go to John 8 where Jesus makes the statement -  "I AM the light of the world".

 

John MacArthur points out that the backdrop for this is the celebration of the Feast of the Tabernacles.  Light was relevant to the situation.  The event celebrated the Israelites deliverance out of the desert and into the promised land.  Ceremonies included the daily pouring out of water by day and a lamp lighting ceremony at night.  In the courtyard where Jesus was speaking, they would light four large candelabras which directed the light upwards, lighting the sky like a searchlight.  This symbolized the pillar of fire by which God had guided Israel those forty years in the desert.

 

It was here that Jesus said:

John 8:12 (New King James Version) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

The Jews were no longer to follow the cloud (by day) or the pillar of fire by night, they were to follow Jesus, the light of the world.

John MacArthur writes, "Jesus Christ alone brings the light of salvation to a sin cursed world.  To the darkness of falsehood He is the light of truth; to the darkness of ignorance He is the light of wisdom; to the darkness of sin He is the light of holiness; to the darkness of sorrow He is the light of joy; to the darkness of death He is the light of life."

All of us come to a fork in the road at some point in our lives where we must decide whether we will follow the light of light of life or the path that leads to spiritual darkness.  May the following words from "Marvelous Light" describe our choice.

 

Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I'm free. now I'm free!

 

John 8:32 (New King James Version) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

John 8:12-20 (New Living Translation)

Jesus, the Light of the World

 ¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

 ¹³ The Pharisees replied, "You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid."

 ¹⁴ Jesus told them, "These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don't know this about me. ¹⁵ You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. ¹⁶ And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. ¹⁷ Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. ¹⁸ I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other."

 ¹⁹ "Where is your father?" they asked.

   Jesus answered, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father." ²⁰ Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come.

Verse of the Day 11/18

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 21, James 3       

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we were encouraged, in Psalm 37, not to fret, because the Lord's hand would be supporting us and lifting us up.

 

For today's verse we'll go to Isaiah 48 which encourages us that it is the Lord who leads us in the way we should go.  If we walk with Him, hand in hand, as it were, we will find peace.

Isaiah 48:17-18 (Amplified Bible) Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way that you should go.

¹⁸Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

Do you have a peace that flows, that comes upon you day by day as surely as the waves along the shore?

 

We've vacationed a couple of times on the beaches of North Carolina.  We rented a condo overlooking the beach.  I enjoyed getting up in the morning, going out on the balcony watching the sun rise and having devotions while listening to the steady sound of the surf on the beach.  It was peaceful and the time spent with God was uplifting.

 

If we hope and long for such a peace in our everyday lives it comes as we follow His lead, 'hearken' to Him no matter  the surroundings.

 

Read the words to the old hymn, "Like a River Glorious".  May you experience His peace today, trusting Him wholly and finding Him wholly true..

 

Like a river glorious, is God's perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

 

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

 

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

 

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Isaiah 48:16-19 (New King James Version)

¹⁶ " Come near to Me, hear this:
      I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
      From the time that it was, I was there.
      And now the Lord GOD and His Spirit
      Have sent Me."
       ¹⁷ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
      The Holy One of Israel:

      " I am the LORD your God,
      Who teaches you to profit,
      Who leads you by the way you should go.
       ¹⁸ Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!
      Then your peace would have been like a river,
      And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
       ¹⁹ Your descendants also would have been like the sand,
      And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand;
      His name would not have been cut off
      Nor destroyed from before Me."

Verse of the Day 11/17

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 18-20, James 2

 

Good morning,

In today's economy there are plenty of reasons for people to fret, to worry about so many things, some of them are very important matters while others are trivial in the scheme of things.  But fretting takes our eyes off of God's path and leads us down all kinds of trails that can leave us more confused than before we started to fret.

 

For today's verse we'll go to a chapter in Psalms where David encourages us not to fret.  He is someone that had been in plenty of situations worthy of fretting.   But what he learned is something that should help us when we feel we are being chased by something or someone, whether real or imaginary.

Psalm 37:23-24 (Amplified Bible) The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. 

 ²⁴Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.

Today I'd like to focus on the words in verse 24, 'cast down'.  Author Philip Keller in his book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" tells of the cast down sheep.  It is a sheep that is on its back and cannot get up under its own strength.  The sheep will bleat for a time for help, but will usually simply lie there with legs flailing where they will die if they are not rescued.

 

Sometimes, especially in our most severe trials, we may feel like that sheep.  Other times we'll feel that way even if the situation is not as dire as it appears in our minds at the time.  In either case, we have a shepherd that will come along and lift us up should we fall.  

 

Knowing this should encourage us as we walk along God's path for us in the light of His Word, even if it is rocky and strewn with roots and leaves from nearby trees that could trip us up.

 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

 

We are Thine, Thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Psalm 37

A Psalm of David.

 ¹ Do not fret because of evildoers,
         Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
 ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
         And wither as the green herb.
         
 ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good;
         Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
 ⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD,
         And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
         
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
         Trust also in Him,
         And He shall bring it to pass.
 ⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
         And your justice as the noonday.
         
 ⁷ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
         Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
         Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
 ⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
         Do not fret—it only causes harm. 
                  
 ²³ The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
         And He delights in his way.
 ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
         For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

Verse of the Day - 11/16

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 15-17, James 1

 

Good morning,

This morning we'll continue with another one of Paul's admonitions which preceded his call, his challenge to us to be imitators of God and to walk in love.  It is probably one of the most difficult challenges for most, if not all of us, when you think about the scope of what the verse is talking about, it is about how we use our tongue, our speech.

Ephesians 4:29 (Amplified Bible) Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

Think of the scope of "let no foul or polluting language, evil word, unwholesome, and worthless talk ever come out of your mouth.  In our, at least I know in my own strength, I am not up the challenge and all too often fail miserably.

 

We must constantly be "renewed in the spirit of our mind" as we read yesterday for God's grace to permeate our speech.  It takes diligence, prayer, and devotion on our part coupled with God's grace.  He has the power to change hearts, minds and tongues.

 

Probably the person that comes closest to controlling his tongue in this matter is my son Jeff.  Most of you know that he suffered a TBI several years ago and for a couple of years did not speak.  It has gradually come back and as it did, it revealed something else about Jeff.  He lost some of the natural inhibitions as far as what should be said in situations or he'll answer rhetorical questions (especially those asked by Pastor Bob).  His inner self, his spirit comes out in his speech.

 

You'll be hard pressed to hear foul or polluting language come out of his mouth, instead you are more likely to hear words of love, peace, joy, happiness and appreciation (thankfulness).  Many who have suffered similar brain injuries can't help swearing.  We are blessed that Jeff's speech has been restored and that it is a blessing, revealing God's favor, to us who hear it.

 

May my speech show more of His grace today and every day.

 

In closing, take a look at these words from James, they are the verses that end today's New Testament reading (above) in James 1.

 

James 1:26-27 (New Living Translation)  If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷ Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 4:25-32 (New King James Version)

Do Not Grieve the Spiri

²⁵ Therefore, putting away lying, " Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. ²⁶ "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, ²⁷ nor give place to the devil. ²⁸ Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. ²⁹ Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

Verse of the Day 11/15

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 12-14, Hebrews 13

 

Good morning,

Last week we looked at several verses from Ephesians 5 which helped us examine our "walk".  The chapter starts out with "therefore", this morning we'll go back to chapter four to see what lead up to the statement, "therefore be imitators of God."

Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amplified Bible)  ³And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],

²⁴And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

If we are to walk with God and be imitators of Jesus Christ these verses speak of some things that will be prerequisites for doing so.  Our minds and our hearts must be constantly renewed in the "spirit of our minds".  Notice the small s.  Its talking about our inner spirit, what guides and directs us.  The thoughts and intentions of our hearts.  

 

I actually started typing the thoughts and "attentions" of our hearts.  It fits as well what is it the captures and draws our attention?

 

In many of the psalms we find the word "selah", which means to" pause and think calmly of that".  This is one of those places where we could easily insert the word, or at least the thought to stop for a moment and think about having a constantly renewed spirit, to have a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.

 

Marcus Maxwell writes, "this is a renewal that pervades the Christian's inner being, and is rooted in the deepest core of their true inner self, described as the spirit of your minds.  (This is the only place i n Ephesians where 'spirit' obviously refers to the human rather than the Holy Spirit.)  Perhaps the intensity of the phrase suggests that such a deep-seated transformation must be the work of God as well as the believer.  Human decision and divine grace meet in the renewal of a Christian's new self." 

 

Can you say in your mind, "I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back"?

 

If you are familiar with the passage, try reading it from a different translation, how does it speak to you today?

Blessings,
Mike

 

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Ephesians 4:22-25 (New Living Translation)

²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

 ²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

Verse of the Day 11/12

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 4-6, Hebrews 11

 

Good morning,

We've spent a lot of time this week considering our Christian walk and walking in the light of His Word.  It is not a new concept.

 

Deut 10:12 And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?   NIV

If we call ourselves "Christians" it means that we have been set apart, through His saving grace, through His blood, and are now beginning to walk, however imperfectly.  Walking in His light we show that we love God and our neighbors.

For today's verse we'll go to another Old Testament passage in Micah.  If we are walking in His light and in His Word, He has shown us what to do.

 

Micah 6:8 (Amplified Bible) He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?

Marcus Maxwell writes, "the works that Christians do (Ephesians 2:10) are the response of those who know they are saved by grace and in glad thanksgiving offer themselves to God's service.......  These works will include the worship of God and the proclamation of the gospel, but they are not restricted to these.  They will include acts of love and compassion, showing mercy and standing up for justice.  They will be the works of a people who are called to show in their own lives (literally, 'that we may walk in them') the quality of life of the kingdom of God."

 

I am asking myself as I'm asking you, do you see acts of love and compassion in your life, are you showing mercy and standing up for justice?

 

Trust And Obey

 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

 

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy with Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

If you have a few minutes today, spend some time in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith.  There you'll read about Enoch and others who walked with God.  May we be encouraged and challenged to do likewise.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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 6:6-9

 

6 With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.   NIV

Verse of the Day 11/11

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 2-3, Hebrews 10

 

Good morning,

Yesterday I quoted the words to the song "In the Light" which spoke of the internal battle and the ultimate desire to "be in the light" to follow Christ.  God is calling us to wake up.

 

Ephesians 5:14 (Amplified Bible) Therefore He says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light.

 

Bible commentator Marcus Maxwell writes, "God ceases, in the light of the Spirit's revelation, to be a distant possibility, and becomes a shining reality in the lives of His people.  They are enabled to know Him for themselves and so be aware of all that He has done for them in Jesus Christ..... He is the glorious Father, who in Jesus Christ is revealed as the redeemer, and who through the Spirit opens our eyes to His grace."

 

For today's verse we'll continue on in the passage.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (Amplified Bible)  Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), 

 ¹⁶Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

In verse 15 the NKJV versions starts out by saying "walk circumspectly", with eyes wide open to what is going on around you, seeing things from different (all?) perspectives.  It is something that cannot be done in a rush.  As we considered the other day, Jesus walked everywhere, "purposefully, worthily" and accurately following and being obedient to the will of the Father.

 

Think back through the encounters with Jesus in the gospels.  It is easy to see how He made the most of His time on earth, how He bought up each opportunity,

 

In the power of the Spirit, may we strive to live to look carefully how we "walk", to walk "circumspectly" looking for and taking advantage of opportunities that come our way.  May God be more than a distant possibility but a shining reality to us today opening our eyes to His grace.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Ephesians 5:14-20 (New King James Version)

¹⁴ Therefore He says:


      " Awake, you who sleep,
      Arise from the dead,
      And Christ will give you light."

Walk in Wisdom

   
¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Verse of the Day 11/10

Through the Bible - Lamentations 5- Ezekiel 1, Hebrews 9

 

Good morning,

We ended yesterdays devotional with the words from Trust and Obey "when we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our  way".

We'll continue the theme of walking with the Lord in today's verse, also from Ephesians 5.

Ephesians 5:8-9 (Amplified Bible) For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light]. 

 ⁹For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.

What does it mean to walk in the "light of the Lord" as children of light?

 

Think of  plants, how they naturally turn towards the sun for its light.  The light is transformed into energy which produces growth fruit.  That growth occurs inside the plant through photosynthesis which God designed and put in the plants for transformation.  Its another picture of God's grace. Not only does He provide the Son, He provides the Holy Spirit to  take God's Word to work in and through us that we may grow in Him.

 

What kind of plant would turn away from the sun?  What kind of person would turn away from the Son?

 

I'll close with the lyrics from "In the Light" by the Newsboys, one of my son Jeff's favorites.

I keep trying to find a life
On my own apart from you
I am the king of excuses
I've got one for every selfish thing I do
What's going on inside of me?
I despise my own behavior
this only serves to confirm my suspicion
That I'm still a man in need of a savior

I wanna be in the light
As You are in the light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation
Because all I want is to be in the light

The disease of self runs through my blood
It's a cancer fatal to my soul
Every attempt on my behalf has failed
To bring this sickness under control

I wanna be in the light
As You are in the light
I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens
Oh Lord be my light and be my salvation

If you feel this battle going on inside of you, leave the darkness, and turn or return to the light.  Don't walk in darkness any more. rather, walk in the Spirit in which consists "every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life. Eph. 5;9 NLT

 

In Christ,

Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Ephesians 5:8-11  New Living Translation

    ⁸For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [lead the lives of those native-born to the Light].

    ⁹For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Light or the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.

    ¹⁰And try to learn [in your experience] what is pleasing to the Lord [let your lives be constant proofs of what is most acceptable to Him].

    ¹¹Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.

Verse of the Day 11/9

Through the Bible - Lamentations 3-4, Hebrews 8

 

Good morning,

Whether we realize it or not, we all choose a path to follow in life, and that path will set a course of action which will have an impact on us and those around us.

Joshua, one of Israel's great leaders realized this and he called for his people to make a clear decision.

 

Joshua 24:15 (Amplified Bible)  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

There is no lack of "gods" to follow in this day and age.  Which one(s) we follow in our daily walk will be evident in our life to those around us.  For today's verse we'll go to Ephesians 5 where we are called as Christians to be God followers which will be evidenced by how we walk, in love.

Ephesians 5:2 (Amplified Bible) And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Jesus walked everywhere.  I don't recall ever reading where he had to run to the market or the temple or to catch up with the disciples.  He may have walked across the water as a shortcut (but that's another matter).  As He walked He did so in love, stopping to help, heal and comfort.  He walked in love.

 

The sacrifices mentioned in verse two relate to the Old Testament sacrifices.  The burnt offering depicted Christ's perfection, His being the perfect sacrifice for our sins, the grain offering depicted His total devotion to God in giving His life, and the third was the peace offering, depicting His peacemaking between God and man.  All of these were a "soothing aroma" or sweet fragrance to the Lord.

 

If we walk in love it will take self sacrifice, devotion to God, and commitment to being a peacemaker.  Its a tall order.  Joshua's call should echo in our hearts "choose today who you will serve".  May our answer be the same as his "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  Doing so will mean walking in love "esteeming and delighting in one another".

 

"When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, what a glory He'll shed on our way." - Trust and Obey

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Ephesians 5 (New Living Translation)

Living in the Light

 ¹ Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

 ³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

 ⁶ Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don't participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Verse of the Day 11/8

Through the Bible - Jeremiah 51- Lamentations 2, Hebrews 7:11-28

 

Good morning,

Pastor Bob's message this weekend focused on the principle that "Direction Determines Destination".  There are many choices to make about what path or paths we will take in life.  This week, Lord willing, we'll take a look at the path and the walk along the path of a Christian will look like.

 

I'm an old rock'n roll fan, and some of the lyrics from "Led Zeppelin's" "Stairway to Heaven" came to mind.

 

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

 

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

Where will your current path lead you?  As the songwriter says, if it is in the wrong direction "there's still time to change the road you're on".  However, your path should not be determined by the whispering wind.

 

For today's verse we'll go to the gospel of Matthew where Jesus tells us about the path. the way and the gate that we are to follow.

Matthew 7:13-14 (Amplified Bible) Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

¹⁴But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.

The Amplified Bible says that the gate is narrow because it is contracted by pressure.  What are today's pressures, wealth, financial security, status or pleasures?  Then as now, society promotes a highway that leads to destruction.  The "freedoms" that are pursued often lead to addictions, heartache and heart break.  God's way may seem narrow and compressed but it leads to life, peace and joy to those who follow Christ along it.

 

Read the verses again, this time from The Message.  How does it speak to you about where you are along the road.

 

Matthew 7:13-14 (The Message)  "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.

Ephesians 5:15 (Amplified Bible)  Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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

Matthew 7:13-20 (New King James Version)

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.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

   
¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Verse of the Day - weekend 11/6

Through the Bible -  Jeremiah 46-50, Hebrews 6:13 - 7:10

 

Good morning,

I've shared before some words that helped and encouraged me in the dark hours, to learn to be a "see through-er and not a look-at-er".  In my devotions this morning I read and thought of something that goes hand in hand with "seeing through" it is the thought of "walking through".  Its putting action to the seeing.

For today's verse we'll go to what I hope is a familiar passage in Isaiah 43.

 

Isa 43:2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  NLT

 

The verses take me back to Psalm 23:

 

Ps 23:4 Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.  NLT

 

Whether we're going through deep waters of despair, rivers of difficulty, fires of oppression or the darkest valleys of illness or loss, Jesus is there with us, to see us through, walking with us through it.

 

Never Let Go - Matt Redman

 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when *I'm* caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I *won't* turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
*We'll* live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Many of us are going on the Hike for Hope this morning, taking a "walk in the park" to bring hope to some that may be in the valley.  Wherever you are today, may you help someone see the Light that is coming.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
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
Isa 43:1-8

 

The Savior of Israel

 

43 1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you.
O Israel, the one who formed you says,
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
2 When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom;
I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Others were given in exchange for you.
I traded their lives for yours
because you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you.

 

5 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
I will gather you and your children from east and west.
6 I will say to the north and south,
'Bring my sons and daughters back to Israel
from the distant corners of the earth.
7 Bring all who claim me as their God,
for I have made them for my glory.
It was I who created them.'  NLT