Verse of the Day 4/8

Through the Bible - Leviticus 11-12, Hebrews 10:1-18

 

Good morning,

I read the following quote this morning from J. C. Ryle,  "True Christians shall never perish. Kings of the earth and mighty men shall depart and be no more seen; thrones and dominions and principalities, rich men and honorable men shall be swept into the tomb—but the humblest Christian cottager shall never see death everlasting, and when the heavens shall pass away as a scroll, and earth shall be burned up, that man shall be found to have a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." - from "The Privileges of the True Christian"

 The statement is made based upon hope, specifically hope in the promises of God.  It is a hope that comes from ages past and looks to a bright and glorious future in spite of the dark valleys that we may have to go through on this earth.

For today's verse we'll go to Titus 2.

Titus 2:12-13 (New International Version, ©2011) ¹² It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

The "it" in verse 12 is God's grace as stated in verse 11.  It is God's grace that causes us to look to the Saviour as our hope, our anchor in troubled times.  The verses and related thoughts bring many songs to mind, "Standing on the Promises of God", "Bridge over Troubled Waters",  "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus", "Jesus, There's Something about that Name",   and "It is Well With My Soul".

 

If you are in troubled waters today, may God's Word and perhaps one of these songs encourage you.  If you are not, perhaps you can encourage some one who is in the valley.

 

I'll close with the last couple of stanzas of "It is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio Spafford who knew something of being in the valley.  It is a song that brought strength and peace to Jean and I in our darkest hours, looking for that "blessed hope".  As our son Jeff would say "hope is my favorite thing to have."

 

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Titus 2:11-15 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

 ¹⁵ These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.