Sunday, December 25, 2016

Verse of the Day 12/25

Verse of the Day 12/25

Hebrews 4:16  Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. English Standard Version (ESV)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Today's verse from Hebrews 4 is another that we might not often think of in relation to Christmas, but once again, reading it with Christmas in mind expands our understanding of the significance of His coming.  Christ came that the shepherds and wise men would draw near and see this Christ Child.  It is because He came near over 2000 years ago that we can now  draw near to Him in confidence that He hears our hearts cry and intercedes for us to the Father.  If He had not come we would not  be able to draw near.

John Piper writes, "So, come. Come boldly (Hebrews 4:16). Come expectantly. Come expecting a smile. Come trembling with joy, not dread.   Jesus is saying, "I have made a way to God. Now I am not going to get in the way." Come. "

Come to Him, draw near to Christ today as you celebrate His birth.  Draw near to His "living and active" Word, day by day, each day of the year and He will make His presence and His will known to you.  Draw near and hold onto Him through the joys and strains of life.  Draw near to Him, don't let the opportunities "slip through your fingers" (The Message).

Draw near to your family, don't let this opportunity to celebrate Jesus "slip through your fingers".

Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart
Prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love;
--   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

Hebrews 4:12-16The Message (MSG)

12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon's scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God's Word. We can't get away from it—no matter what.

The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain

14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

  

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