Verse of the Day 8/31

Verse of the Day 8/31

Deuteronomy 4:9   "Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you don't forget the things your eyes have seen and so that they don't slip from your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I've read today's verse many times before but as I read it today from the Hollman Christian Standard Bible, one phrase stood out for me, it is "so they don't slip from your mind".  How many things in life have we just let slip away, some of them very precious to us and we didn't realize that they had slipped away until it was too late?  We then wonder "how could I have prevented this?"  The answer comes from the verse.  We are to guard and diligently watch ourselves.  Pay attention, as Ephesians 4:15 says "walk circumspectly", with your eyes open, aware of what is going on around you.

In this fast paced society it is hard to do.  How many times have we told someone I'm sorry, I missed that one, or it just slipped through the cracks.  I know I have, unintentionally with things at work or at home.  Our minds are on overload or simply overwhelmed, and we need to maintain focus.  Spending time in the morning, noon over evening, whichever time you choose is important.  Teaching those same practices is important to pass on down, have them rub off on your kids.  They won't happen automatically.  They too are facing the same distractions and more.  If you doubt it have them go a day without cell phones, texting and social media.

These words were written in a slower time, so we think.  But man's heart, his attention span, his tendencies to wander and forget have not changed.  It just may be that it is easier to be distracted, but to blame society on our "slips" is a cop out.

The Message gives us good advice for today and until eternity in verse 9: "Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don't forget anything of what you've seen. Don't let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren."

Pay attention, keep watch, remember what you've learned, and don't wander, don't slip.

Blessings,

 Mike

Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Deuteronomy 4:3-9The Message (MSG)

^3-4 You saw with your own eyes what God did at Baal Peor, how God destroyed from among you every man who joined in the Baal Peor orgies. But you, the ones who held tight to God, your God, are alive and well, every one of you, today.

^5-6 Pay attention: I'm teaching you the rules and regulations that Godcommanded me, so that you may live by them in the land you are entering to take up ownership. Keep them. Practice them. You'll become wise and understanding. When people hear and see what's going on, they'll say, "What a great nation! So wise, so understanding! We've never seen anything like it."

^7-8 Yes. What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the wayGod, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us? And what other great nation has rules and regulations as good and fair as this Revelation that I'm setting before you today?

⁹ Just make sure you stay alert. Keep close watch over yourselves. Don't forget anything of what you've seen. Don't let your heart wander off. Stay vigilant as long as you live. Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren.

Verse of the Day 8/29

1 Corinthians 13:13  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.  English Standard Version (ESV)

As I considered and wrote about yesterday's verses about rejoicing always and praying continuously, today's verse from 1 Corinthians 13 came to mind.  If we are to be able to rejoice, to pray in all forms, love, the love of Christ must be in our hearts.  If it is there, the hope and faith should be there as well.

The chapter begins by saying that we may boast of many things but without love those words become a clanging gong or crashing cymbals.  Politicians can make great speeches about hope for the future and boast of all kinds of grandiose plans, but if there hearts are not in it, if they have other motives these changes will never take place.  The motives of and the attitude of the heart of a true God follower can be seen in the verses below from The Message.

Yesterday, my wife shared a post of Facebook which said " Marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other".  To which I responded with a quote from a Tim Allen movie "never surrender, never give up".  That is the attitude of faith, hope and love.

Today's verse should be another one that we memorize and bring to mind often.  These traits help us to look beyond current circumstances and focus on the what lies ahead, what God has planned and has in store for us, thoughts of hope and a future as we considered recently from Jeremiah 29.  The objects of faith, hope, and love will not be fully realized here but we can have a glimpse and set our sights and our hopes to a future in Christ.

Love......
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.    1 Corinthians 13:6-7 The Message

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 Corinthians 13:4-13The Message (MSG)

^3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

^8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

¹¹ When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

¹² We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

¹³ But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Verse of the Day 8/28

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17  Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing,  English Standard Version (ESV)

The Apostle Peter encouraged and challenged his readers, and us to "grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord".  One of the ways that we can grow is through memorizing scriptures.  I am thankful that as a child I went (sometimes unwillingly) to AWANA Clubs.  It was there that I memorized many Bible verses and through the years they have stuck with me and they have been a part of me.  I also enjoyed having my own kids grow up attending AWANA Clubs and memorizing Scripture.  My daughter Laurie actually earned the Timothy Award for memorizing all of the verses in the handbook for each grade in all four years of the middle school program.  I know that sometimes we didn't even understand the verses that we were memorizing but through the years we come to know them better.

If you've never taken the step to memorize Scripture, why not start?  You can start with verses that are short and easy to remember.  However, even these "simple verses" are not easily fully understood and may take a lifetime of getting to know.

Let's start with verse 16 rejoice always.  Wow! Two words, easy to remember but words that we need to be reminded of every day.  My grandchildren call me "Gramps" the there are times when some, especially my wife modify that name a little bit, and if fits, I can easily be called "grumps" when I let things get to me.  I know that in reading this she'll remind me of this verse.  Rejoicing always is not just positive thinking, but it is having confidence in God, that He is in control and that He will see you through that can enable you to rejoice even through times that would otherwise leave you grumpy or worse.

Now let's go to verse 17, "pray without ceasing" or as The Message puts it, "pray all the time".  It is not speaking of becoming a monk and spending our days in solitude praying (unless God is calling you to be a monk), but rather being in communion with God, being in step with Him seeking His guidance, asking questions, listening and looking for His response and having a conversation with God, or thoughts "towards Him".

AWANA stands for 2 Timothy 2:15 Approved workmen are not ashamed.  The whole verse says "study to show thyself approved unto God a workman who needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  KJV  That was from memory from years ago in the King James Version.  It may not be correct word for word but it is there and will be until I go to be with Jesus.  So should the attitude to want to study, rightly divide to be able to "cut straight" God's Word of Truth.

Maybe you'll choose to memorize in a modern version, if so, here are today's verses from The Message (which includes verse 18). 

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

 

Blessings,

Mike

Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

1 Thessalonians 5:14-22The Message (MSG)

^13-15 Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

^16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

^19-22 Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

Verse of the Day 8/27

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14   The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.^[a] 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.  English Standard Version (ESV)

When you think of the book of Ecclesiastes one of the first things that comes to mind is the word vanity.  Vanity of vanities, that life is full of vanity, emptiness and lack of meaning.  Much of life is just that, seemingly meaningless, and that disappears like a vapor.

As Solomon brings this book of wisdom to a close,  he says this is the end of the matter, to sum things up and put things in perspective "fear God and keep His commandments".  That is what life is truly about and the way to find meaning.

John MacArthur notes that "vanity" is mentioned 37 times in the book (depending on the translation) and writes, "his most frequent usage conveyed the idea of "incomprehensible" or "unknowable." He was expressing the human limits when faced with the mysteries of God's purposes. Solomon's final conclusion to "fear God and keep His commandments" (12:13, 14) represents more than the book's summary; it states the only hope of the good life and the only reasonable response of faith and obedience to the sovereign God. God precisely superintends all activities under the sun, each in its time according to His perfect plan, while He discloses only as much as His perfect wisdom dictates. All people remain accountable. Those who refuse to take God and His Word seriously are doomed to lives of the severest vanity."

We can never know all there is to know about God, but our life will be more fruitful, productive and satisfying if we would seek to know Him and make it a priority over the things that sap our time and energy in other directions and ultimately away from Him. 

Yesterday we considered how God is "toward" us, His focus and attention on us.  Our focus should be toward Him, this is not vanity but knowing Him leads to eternal life.

John 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  English Standard Version (ESV)

His Words prod us to live well (The Message).  May be take in and take heed to His Word.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14The Message (MSG)

The Final Word

^9-10 Besides being wise himself, the Quester also taught others knowledge. He weighed, examined, and arranged many proverbs. The Quester did his best to find the right words and write the plain truth.

¹¹ The words of the wise prod us to live well.
They're like nails hammered home, holding life together.
They are given by God, the one Shepherd.

^12-13 But regarding anything beyond this, dear friend, go easy. There's no end to the publishing of books, and constant study wears you out so you're no good for anything else. The last and final word is this:

Fear God.
Do what he tells you.

¹⁴ And that's it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it's good or evil.

Verse of the Day 8/26

Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  New King James Version (NKJV)

In my devotional this morning, my Old Testament reading has recently been in the book of Jeremiah.  Today's passages is one my favorites in that book and in the whole Old Testament.  As I read it today what caught my attention was the concept of God's thinking "toward" you.  Some translations say "for" and the NKJV uses toward.  The meaning ins basically the same but there are subtle differences. Think about what it means for God's thoughts to be towards you.  They are for what's best for you and as the verse goes on to say "thoughts of peace, of a future and a hope.  Can't we all use that today in the trials and challenges that we face in life?

Through the years I've had the privilege of having friends that restore cars.  They see an old car, sometimes a wreck and they go ahead and purchase that vehicle.  When they see it they have thoughts "towards" them.  They see it not as a piece of junk or a wreck but for what they can do to it.  To restore an engine or a transmission, to make the car in some cases better than original.  I know, and I've been on the receiving end of it .  The restoration also brings great joy to the one who does the restoring, and it is not always done for the benefit of the one doing the restoring but for someone else.  A friend of mine gets great joy and satisfaction out of helping restore other peoples cars.  He gets joy out of the joy that he brings to others who see that transformation take place in a vehicle.  I've seen it first hand (thanks Don!).  God does it for the joy of seeing what it will bring to us and those whom we then can serve and spread joy as we play a role in their restoration.

God sees us and His thoughts are "towards" us and as The Messages states in verse 14, "I'll turn things around for you, ... you can count on it".  Are you in need of restoration?   God has plans for you, be on the lookout for who He will bring into your life to assist in the work.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Jeremiah 29:10-14The Message (MSG)

^10-11 This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

¹² "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.

^13-14 "When you come looking for me, you'll find me.

"Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree.

"I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.

Verse of the Day 8/25

Jeremiah 25:4-5  You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, ⁵ saying, 'Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the Lord has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever.   English Standard Version (ESV)

As we look at our society in the United States today, it is not hard to see that we have turned away from God in many respects.  Laws have been passed and others upheld that are contrary to the Bible and its teachings.  As the passage in Jeremiah indicates, this is nothing new.  Then, as now, there has been a steady stream of phophets, evangelists and Bible teachers that have tried to get people to turn back, to return to the Lord but it has and is falling on deaf ears.  Man has created many gods, false gods, "no gods" (The Message) to suit there own desires.

Verse 6 in the passage tells us not to to "go after" other gods and to provoke Him to anger.  We don't tend to think that God will be provoked to anger against our nation.  We were founded upon Christian principles and can look back on how God has blessed us with so many things, how He has delivered us from enemies to give us victory.  But what have we done to show our respect or reverence to Him?  We are letting some try to strip every mention of God, every mention of Jesus Christ from public life and speech.

What are we to do?  Individually we must turn,  turn back to Him, seek Him while He may be found.  Follow and lead others to return.  In the New Testament the Apostle Paul had these words for Timothy, they are good words for us today.

2 Timothy 4:2-5The Message (MSG)

4 ^1-2 I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

^3-5 You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant.

In a day where society is being filled up with spiritual junk food, we are called to "challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple" (The Message)  and do it in love.  Let's keep our eyes on what we are doing, keep on our watch and lead.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Jeremiah 25:4-11The Message (MSG)

^4-6 Not only that but God also sent a steady stream of prophets to you who were just as persistent as me, and you never listened. They told you, "Turn back—right now, each one of you!—from your evil way of life and bad behavior, and live in the land God gave you and your ancestors, the land he intended to give you forever. Don't follow the god-fads of the day, taking up and worshiping these no-gods. Don't make me angry with your god-businesses, making and selling gods—a dangerous business!

⁷ "You refused to listen to any of this, and now I am really angry. These god-making businesses of yours are your doom."

^8-11 The verdict of God-of-the-Angel-Armies on all this: "Because you have refused to listen to what I've said, I'm stepping in. I'm sending for the armies out of the north headed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant in this, and I'm setting them on this land and people and even the surrounding countries. I'm devoting the whole works to total destruction—a horror to top all the horrors in history. And I'll banish every sound of joy—singing, laughter, marriage festivities, genial workmen, candlelit suppers. The whole landscape will be one vast wasteland. These countries will be in subjection to the king of Babylon for seventy years.

Verse of the Day 8/21

Psalm 73:23-24 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand.

²⁴ You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

In today's verses we'll continue in the thoughts of living in God's presence.  The Bible is full of examples of people who lived in and were aware of God's presence in their lives.   Moses, David, the prophets and the disciples in the Testament.  One of the things that I really appreciate in reading through the Bible is just how real it is.  God's followers through the ages have not been perfect people, in actions or in their full trust or perhaps understanding of God's will.  Nevertheless, they do ultimately realize that He was with them.

In today's passage the psalmist has been going through some struggles and has some serious questions that He brings to God.  Max Lucado writes, "a misconception people have in dealing with life's troubles is that is wrong to ask why - that a Christian simply accepts and never questions.  Abraham, Moses and David all interceded and struggled to understand God.  But the lives of these men model for us a total reliance on God, even in the midst of questioning....... It is not a sin to doubt.  Disbelief is sin, but questioning- sincerely seeking- is acceptable to God, because in the presence of God you may ask any question you want."

The events, the circumstances in our lives can cause us to "struggle to understand God".  But if we are living in His presence, we can be honest with God and He will guide us with His counsel, the best advise that we can get.  This is the pathway to honor and glory.

I'm reminded of the old Thomas Dorsey hymn, "Precious Lord, Take My Hand", may it be a reminder of His presence and  an encouragement to us today.

Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, let me stand
I'm tired, I'm weak, I'm lone
Through the storm, through the night
Lead me on to the light
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near
When my light is almost gone
Hear my cry, hear my call
Hold my hand lest I fall
Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home

In the midst of lives struggles, call out to Him, ask Him to lead and to guide.  Even in the midst of it, may you be able to say as the psalmist did "But I'm in the very presence of God—
    oh, how refreshing it is!"  The Message.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Psalm 73:21-28The Message (MSG)

^21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter,
    totally consumed by envy,
I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox
    in your very presence.
I'm still in your presence,
    but you've taken my hand.
You wisely and tenderly lead me,
    and then you bless me.

^25-28 You're all I want in heaven!
    You're all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
    God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
    Deserters, they'll never be heard from again.
But I'm in the very presence of God—
    oh, how refreshing it is!
I've made Lord God my home.
    God, I'm telling the world what you do!