Verse of the Day 4/30

Verse of the Day 4/30

Psalm 148:1Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
⁹ Mountains and all hills,fruit trees and all cedars!  English Standard Version (ESV)

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to Zion National Park in Utah.  It was a beautiful, sun shiny spring day.  I was struck by the beauty   and majesty of God's creation and I could not help but praise Him for it, praise Him for His creative work and praise Him for His redemptive  work in saving a man like me.    I read today's psalm this week in the course of my daily reading and as I did I was brought back to those places and with the help of photos  was better able to recall the beauty and majesty.  Around just about every turn there was another opportunity to praise Him in with a song in  my heart for His great faithfulness.    

Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout
The universe displayed

Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art
How great thou art
Then sings my soul
My Savior, God, to Thee
How great Thou art
How great Thou art

As I stepped out of the hotel in the evening I was amazed by the stars in the heavens, also referrenced in this psalm.  They also took me to  Psalm 8 where we read:  

Psalm 8:3-4English Standard Version (ESV)

³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

  The next time you have the opportunity to see the beauty of His creation.  Make sure that you are praising the Creator and not the creation,   and sing a song of praise to Him.                    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 148The Message (MSG)

148 ^1-5 Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven,     praise him from the mountaintops; Praise him, all you his angels,     praise him, all you his warriors, Praise him, sun and moon,     praise him, you morning stars; Praise him, high heaven,     praise him, heavenly rain clouds; Praise, oh let them praise the name of God—     he spoke the word, and there they were!

⁶ He set them in place     from all time to eternity; He gave his orders,     and that's it!

^7-12 Praise God from earth,     you sea dragons, you fathomless ocean deeps; Fire and hail, snow and ice,     hurricanes obeying his orders; Mountains and all hills,     apple orchards and cedar forests; Wild beasts and herds of cattle,     snakes, and birds in flight; Earth's kings and all races,     leaders and important people, Robust men and women in their prime,     and yes, graybeards and little children.

^13-14 Let them praise the name of God—     it's the only Name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky;     he's built a monument—his very own people!

Praise from all who love God!     Israel's children, intimate friends of God. Hallelujah!

Verse of the Day 4/28

Verse of the Day 4/28

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things^[a] have come.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Sometimes I hate to admit it, but I am a Chicago Bears fan, they've had more ups than downs in the past few years and this off season they decided to part ways with their quarterback which left a void at that position.  They signed a free agent quarterback to a multi year, multi million dollar contract and most thought that they were set for the coming year.  Last night, the NFL draft began and the Bears had the third pick.  At the last minute, they "traded up" to the second position and chose a quarterback who they hope will be their future, their "franchise" quarterback.  The Bears gave up a lot for that pick in hopes of filling that void and only time will tell if they made a wise decision or if it will be a "bust".

I would say that everyone has felt a void in their lives that they are looking to fill.  Everyone who hears the gospel message has a chance to "trade up" in live, exchanging their old life for something new.  Many decide to do so, while others turn away, rejecting the offer that would bring a transformation, a life of meaning and a hope for eternity.

In his devotional this morning, Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "God Almighty says, "I will give you eternal life.  I will give you forgiveness of sin.  I will fill the void in your  life."   You say, what's the catch?  (Jesus says) "Give me your life."

Have you made that trade up?  Have you traded in your old life for something new, a transformed life?  If so, rejoice and be glad in it.  If not, perhaps today is the day to fill that void in your life and trade up. You won't have to wait and see  on the results of that trade, it is a lock.

"The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins." (V. 17 -18 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    

2 Corinthians 5:17-20The Message (MSG)

^16-20 Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.

Verse of the Day 4/27

Verse of the Day 4/27

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.^[a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  English Standard Version (ESV)

I read today's verses after reading another passage in John 20 where Thomas had not been present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after the resurrection.  Thomas' famous quote was that unless I see the nail scars on his hands and place my fingers in his hands and side, I will never believe".  Jesus then appeared again and Thomas believed, and he made the greatest confession possible, "my Lord and my God".

In John 11, Lazarus had died.  Mary and Martha both believed that Jesus could have done something to prevent it had he been there.  But now, it was too late.  Martha makes her confession of faith in Jesus before he raised Lazarus.  She had an incomplete knowledge of Jesus, His power and the scope of His love.  She affirmed her faith in who he was but within the normal constraints of life and death  on earth.  He would soon give her a better understanding that would be beyond her wildest imagination.

As with Peter by the Sea of  Galilee, Jesus met Thomas and Martha where they were, there doubts and lack of full comprehension of who Jesus was and still is did not stand in the way of His mercy and  love for  them.  Edward Schillebeeckx writes, "The relationship of Jesus to His disciples (and to Mary and Martha) and also  to us today, in other words, the significance of Jesus for us, is included in the question "who do you say that I am"?  But this question, which is also topical for us today, nevertheless at the same time concerns the historical Jesus of Nazareth and not a cipher."

One of the greatest treasures of being in the Holy Land was to  walk where the historical Jesus walked, see where He lived, and know that He still lives today. His Word is true, it hasn't changed.  Schillebeeckx continues, "To  follow Jesus is at the same  time also to follow in the footsteps of His belief and trust in God which ultimately lie at the basis of this life."

We too may have our questions and lack a full comprehension of Jesus, but at the core may our response of faith to the question asked of Martha "do  you believe this?" be the same as hers, ""Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world."  V. 27 The Message

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

John 11:21-27The Message (MSG)

^21-22 Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died. Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you."

²³ Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up."

²⁴ Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at the end of time."

^25-26 "You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?"

²⁷ "Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son of God who comes into the world."

 

Verse of the Day 4/25

Verse of  the Day 4/25

 

Isaiah 62:6-  On your walls, O Jerusalem,
    I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
    they shall never be silent.
You who put the Lord in remembrance,
    take no rest,
⁷ and give him no rest
    until he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes it a praise in the earth.  7English Standard Version (ESV)

 

I've mentioned before in these posts, that since the time we were in Jerusalem, the call to  pray for the "peace  of  Jerusalem" has been in my mind.  The  sights and  scenes of the city, the divergent cultures are a constant source of unrest.  The nation was re-established in 1948 and as foretold in the scriptures God still has a plan for the people of that city and country.

 

As I read today's verses my memory was brought  back to some pictures that were taken near the garden tomb in Jerusalem.  The walls of the city have been broken down and rebuilt since Jesus day and new walls have been built as the city expanded.  But God is still in control of the city and while we wait for Jesus' second coming  we should be praying for the peace of this city. 

 

 

Verses 8 and 9 in the passage reveal that foreign domination over Israel will someday come to  an  end.  It is an oath of God.  The same  God who had the power over death in the  garden has the power to restore live to the city to the praise and honor  of God the Father through Christ His Son.

 

Romans 1:2-5Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

² which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures— ³ concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David^[a] according to the flesh ⁴ and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.^[b] 5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about^[c] the obedience of faith^[d] among all the nations,^[e] on behalf of His name,

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Isaiah 62:6-12The Message (MSG)

^6-7 I've posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem.
    Day and night they keep at it, praying, calling out,
    reminding God to remember.
They are to give him no peace until he does what he said,
    until he makes Jerusalem famous as the City of Praise.

^8-9 God has taken a solemn oath,
    an oath he means to keep:
"Never again will I open your grain-filled barns
    to your enemies to loot and eat.
Never again will foreigners drink the wine
    that you worked so hard to produce.
No. The farmers who grow the food will eat the food
    and praise God for it.
And those who make the wine will drink the wine
    in my holy courtyards."

^10-12 Walk out of the gates. Get going!
    Get the road ready for the people.
Build the highway. Get at it!
    Clear the debris,
    hoist high a flag, a signal to all peoples!
Yes! God has broadcast to all the world:
    "Tell daughter Zion, 'Look! Your Savior comes,
Ready to do what he said he'd do,
    prepared to complete what he promised.'"
Zion will be called new names: Holy People, God-Redeemed,
    Sought-Out, City-Not-Forsaken.

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Verse of the Day 4/22

 

Verse of the Day 4/22

 

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.    English Standard Version (ESV)

 

For today's verse we'll go to  one  of  my favorite  chapters  in the Bible.  Perhaps  my favorite verse in the chapter comes a little later in verse 31 which tells us "those who wait for the Lord  will renew  their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;  they shall walk and not faint. Those  words  reminded me of  David's trip through the  valley where things seemed bleak at times but David  still trusted, still  waited upon the Lord.

 

Today's verse reminded me of  Qumran in Israel, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.  The word  of God sat there for centuries, almost 2000 years sitting in caves, year by year through many seasons, in the heat of the desert in clay pots.  But these very words from Isaiah  were found on those  scrolls and came to life  again.  We had those  words already in many translations of  the Bible, but the find brought proof, concreted evidence to  the  skeptics  that God's Word had  remained accurate through the  ages.

 

David  Jeremiah writes,  "the cycle  of seasons reminds us of the cycle of life – seasons of  want  and seasons of plenty.  During  those seasons there is one  thing that remains  constant,  the straight line  that guides us through the peaks and valleys of life: the Word of God. Isaiah thought of the constancy of the Word  of God  as he wrote about the grass withering and the flowers fading.  Something that never withers and never fades or fails is what we need  every day throughout the year."

 

 

Sometimes that implanted word can sit dormant  in our lives  like  the scrolls that were found  in the cave.  We may look withered and  faded, but  God can renew us, His Word can revive us.  God's word guided David  through the peaks and  dark valleys of His live.  His word will  do that same  thing for us  too.  His Word will  stand forever.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Isaiah 40:8The Message (MSG)

^6-8 A voice says, "Shout!"
    I said, "What shall I shout?"

"These people are nothing but grass,
    their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
    if God so much as puffs on them.
    Aren't these people just so much grass?
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
    but our God's Word stands firm and forever."

 

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