Verse of the Day 1/31

Verse of the Day 1/31/18

 

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

  I had mentioned recently that renowned pastor and author R.C. Sproul had passed away.  I had received an email from his organization, Ligonier Ministries that his final sermon was available online.  While Jean and I were headed down to Florida for her treatments we listened to the message.  I was on Hebrews 2:1-4 and was part of a series that he had planned but was unable to complete.  I was familiar with the passage and thought how fitting it was for his final message to be on not drifting away.  He had spent his life expounding on the gospel, driving it home so that people would not drift away.

 

Years ago Dobie Gray had a hit song "Drift Away" where the key line was "I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away".  It was a catchy phrase, a catchy song, but the implications such drifting would be to find yourself a long way from where you want to be with a long way back to where you beling.

 

We all know that it doesn't take much to drift, if you've been on a "lazy river" at a theme or water park, you get the idea.  The current simply carries you away.  So it is with our relationship with God.  If we don't spend time daily in his Word and in prayer we will drift.  The time that we do so will determine how far off we'll find ourselves when we come back around to it.  Sproul also referred to the flipside of drifting, also found in the book of Hebrews, that is of  being anchored.

 

Hebrews 6:19  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, English Standard Version (ESV)

 

The other thing that he focused on in the message was the statement "how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation".  There is a heaven and hell, this is clearly taught in the Bible and by Jesus himself.   The way to heaven is clearly shown in scripture to be faith and trust in Jesus Christ, following, being devoted to him and his word.  Neglect should never be able to be used as a word to characterize the relationship that we have with God and His Word.  Instead may we remain anchored with our attitude and guiding principle be that of the psalmist in Psalm 119:

 

Psalm 119:15-16  I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.  New International Version (NIV)

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Hebrews 2 English Standard Version (ESV)

Warning Against Neglecting Salvation

2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, ⁴ while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

 

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Verse of the Day 1/30

Verse of the Day 1/30

 

Proverbs 4:20-23  My son, be attentive to my words;
    incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Let them not escape from your sight;
    keep them within your heart.
²² For they are life to those who find them,
    and healing to all their flesh. English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Seldom do I post more than two verses as "the verse of the day" but as I read these verses, amid what is going on in our lives, I could not separate them.  The first verse and the "be attentive to my words" and "inclining" leaning into His Word are key keeping them in our hearts and being "life and healing" for us through all the days, all the ups and downs, all of the trials and all of the joys.

 

Reading the verses, this short passage, came up in my "read through" the Bible plan as presented by Grace to You.  In reading them in my eBiBle, which is the John MacArthur study Bible, I had posted the following note some time ago.  I don't recall the source but it was posted, not realizing that I would need to read it at this time.

 

"Do you want to be happy tomorrow? Then sow seeds of happiness today. (Count blessings. Memorize Bible verses. Pray. Sing hymns. Spend time with encouraging people.) Do you want to guarantee tomorrow's misery? Then wallow in a mental mud pit of self-pity or guilt or anxiety today. (Assume the worst. Beat yourself up. Rehearse your regrets. Complain to complainers.) Thoughts have consequences…..Healing from anxiety requires healthy thinking. Your challenge is not your challenge. Your challenge is the way you think about your challenge. Your problem is not your problem; it is the way you look at it."

 

I think that we can all agree that thoughts have consequences, they shape our minds, form our outlook, our perspective.  We are at our best when we start our day, when we continually go to the wisdom of God's word.  You may face challenges, but remember "your challenge is not your challenge" but the way you think about it.  The question is not why, but more of what.  What are you trying to show me Lord?  Open my eyes, help me see things in your Word, lead me down the ancient paths.   Thinking of that call "lead me" brings me to Psalm 23 .

 

Psalm 23:1-3 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^[a]
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^[b]
    for his name's sake.

 

All the way my Savior leads me 
What have I to ask beside? 
Can I doubt His faithful mercies? 
Who through life has been my guide 
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort 
Ere by faith in Him to dwell 
For I know whate'er fall me 
Jesus doeth all things well

 

All of the way my Savior leads me 
And He cheers each winding path I tread 
Gives me strength for every trial 
And He feeds me with the living bread 
And though my weary steps may falter 
And my soul a-thirst may be 
Gushing from a rock before me 
Though a spirit joy I see

 

And all the way my Savior leads me 
Oh, the fullness of His love 
Perfect rest in me is promised 
In my Father's house above 
When my spirit clothed immortal 
Wings it's flight through the realms of the day 
This my song through endless ages 
Jesus led me all the way

 

 

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Proverbs 4:20-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁰ My child, pay attention to what I say.
    Listen carefully to my words.
²¹ Don't lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
²² for they bring life to those who find them,
    and healing to their whole body.

²³ Guard your heart above all else,
    for it determines the course of your life.

 

 

 

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Verse of the Day 1/25

Verse of the Day 1/25

 

Psalm 63:1-2 O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.
² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Yesterday we considered how God draws us to Him and how we are to draw near to God.  The day starts with choices and the first one should be to spend time with Him.  I like to do so with  a cup of coffee in hand as I sit in my recliner.  Today's psalm is one from David, and the attitude of seeking Him early is common throughout the Psalms.  He speaks of quenching His thirst with the Living water that comes from this close relationship with God.   In Psalm 42 the psalmist states, "as the deer pants for water, so I long for you O God".  Unlike a camel, the deer needs water every day and will return to the known source.  So it should be with us.

 

We also read in Psalm 119:36 that the psalmist there prays to God to "incline my heart to your testimonies", His Word.  It is a picture of leaning in to hear an important word or instruction. I must want to know God and read His Word to know Him.  Such a prayer is important to focus our attention as we read, as we walk through the word, seeking that He will guide our steps and help us to make the choices that we considered yesterday.

 

David Jeremiah writes that "you can avoid the life threatening condition of spiritual dehydration by drinking deeply from God's fountain of life.  Absorb the Word of God, bathe yourselves regularly in prayer, and drink of God's goodness.  He satisfies the thirsty soul."

 

Don't risk spiritual hydration.  Seek Him early and often, seek Him in prayer, offer praise and thanksgiving, and drink from the fountain for life.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Psalm 63:1-4New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 63

A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah.

¹ O God, you are my God;
    I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
    my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
    where there is no water.
² I have seen you in your sanctuary
    and gazed upon your power and glory.
³ Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
    how I praise you!
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
    lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

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Verse of the Day 1/24

Verse of the Day 1/24

Psalm 65:4 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,

    to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple!    English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday's post  quoted Titus 1:1-2 where Paul stated that he was a servant, and apostle of Jesus for the sake of God's elect.  If we are a Christian, a Christ follower it means that God has chosen us and in turn we have chosen Him.  We choose to follow Him and choose to draw near to Him.

Today's verses from Psalm 65 are a reminder that God chose us and that we are blessed to have been brought near and should remind us to draw near to God regularly.  I like those early mornings, starting the day with God and His Word, guided by His Spirit.  It is the first choice of the day and hopefully, it will lead to other choices that will honor God.

I read a devotional by Max Lucado yesterday which was an excerpt from his new book "Let the Journey Begin".  I don't often post such long quotes, but this one is fitting.  It is about making choices, ones that will impact our lives and the lives of others when they are choosing to draw near to Him.

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice.

Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical… the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose peace. I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I choose patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite Him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose kindness. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose goodness. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I choose faithfulness. Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose self-control. I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful-ness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Psalm 65:8 below, states "You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy."  If you draw near to Him in the morning you will go out with joy.  If you make the choices during your day, you will come back in the evening with a shout for joy over what God has done that day and we will be able to place our heads on our pillows and rest.

--   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 65:4-8English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
    to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
    the holiness of your temple!

⁵ By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,
    O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas;
⁶ the one who by his strength established the mountains,
    being girded with might;
⁷ who stills the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    the tumult of the peoples,
⁸ so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.
You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.