Verse of the Day 1/31

Verse of the Day 1/31

1 Corinthians 13:12-13   For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.   New King James Version (NKJV)

Yesterday from Matthew 6 we considered how the lamp of the body is our eyes, but what we see if often determined by our mind set.  If we are focused on money we will miss many other things that God has for us and opportunities to give, to share and to love.  Today's verses are the final two verses in "the love chapter" of 1 Corinthians 13.  In these verses we may realize that even at our best we still only see dimly, we don't have perfect vision, a perfect view of who God is or of the opportunities that He puts before us.  At the same time, we look forward we look beyond with faith, we look to the future with hope, and we see best when we see with love.

John Eldred expounds on faith, hope and love as he writes, "By saying they last forever, God names these three as immortal powers. A life without faith has no meaning; a life without love isn't worth living; a life without hope is a dark cavern from which you cannot escape. These things aren't simply "virtues." Faith, hope, and love are mighty forces meant to carry your life forward, upward; they are your wings and the strength to use them."

In this life we will experience trials and frustrations which will often cloud our vision.  But may we hold on in faith, hope and in love as we look forward to the day when we will see God face to face, have answers to questions that we can't be begin to grasp now with our clouded view.    But while we wait, above all else "let love be the beautiful prize for which you run."

 For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries^[n] as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face.^[o] My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. ¹³ Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.^[ So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.  1 Corinthians 13:12-13 The Passion Translation

Read the passage below, may we have a love that is gentle and consistently kind.

--   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 13:4-13 The Passion Translation (TPT)

⁴ Love is large and incredibly patient.^[a] Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous^[b] when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one's achievements nor inflate its own importance. ⁵ Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated^[c] or quick to take offense.^[d] 6 Love joyfully celebrates honesty^[e] and finds no delight in what is wrong.^[f] 7 Love is a safe place of shelter,^[g] for it never stops believing the best for others.^[h] Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.

Perfect Love

⁸ Love never stops loving.^[i] It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away.^[j] It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten.^[k] 9 Our present knowledge and our prophecies are but partial,^[l] 10 but when love's perfection arrives, the partial will fade away.^[m]11 When I was a child, I spoke about childish matters, for I saw things like a child and reasoned like a child. But the day came when I matured, and I set aside my childish ways.

¹² For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries^[n] as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face.^[o] My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood. ¹³ Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all.^[p] So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.

Verse of the Day 1/30

Verse of the Day 1/30

Matthew 6:22-23 The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! New King James Version (NKJV)

Today's verses come from Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount" which tells us that we can't serve two masters, and it boils down to an either or; God or money. The verses also give an indication of what is in our hearts will affect what we see.

If we are focused on money; bank accounts, our 401K or possessions those are the things that will draw our attention; our focus. Opportunities to serve and to give may be there all along, but they are not even seen or realized because we have been blinded. But when our hearts and our minds have the proper focus, we will see things differently. We will see the opportunities to give of our time and money, see the opportunities to help and to serve and the joy that comes from them and they will brighten our days now and for eternity.

Verse 22 in The Passion Translation states, "22 "The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in!

What is the condition of our heart? Hopefully, it is unclouded and full of light as the things of earth, the "stuff" grow strangely dim.

O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn you eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

--   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

Treasures in Heaven
19 "Don't keep hoarding for yourselves earthly treasures that can be stolen by thieves. Material wealth eventually rusts, decays, and loses its value.[a] 20 Instead, stockpile heavenly treasures[b] for yourselves that cannot be stolen and will never rust, decay, or lose their value. 21 For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.[c]

22 "The eyes of your spirit allow revelation-light[d] to enter into your being. If your heart is unclouded, the light floods in! 23 But if your eyes are focused on money,[e] the light cannot penetrate and darkness takes its place.[f] How profound will be the darkness within you[g] if the light of truth cannot enter!

24 "How could you worship two gods at the same time? You will have to hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't worship the true God while enslaved to the god of money!"

Verse of the Day 1/29

Verse of the Day 1/29

Matthew 18:21-22  Later Peter approached Jesus and said, "How many times do I have to forgive my fellow believer who keeps offending me? Seven times?"

²² Jesus answered, "Not seven times, Peter, but seventy times seven times!     The Passion Translation (TPT)

Today's verses came up as yesterday's read through the Bible plan.  The heading of the passage and parable from The Passion Translation is "Unlimited Forgiveness".  When Peter asks "how many times must I forgive, seven times?", the notes from TPT says that in Hebrew it literally means "seven times in one day".  We may have a tolerance and willingness to forgive someone on a regular basis, but seven times in one day may be a little bit hard to swallow. 

If you know someone who has dementia or perhaps has a brain injury or something that robs them of short term memory, they may ask you something and 5 minutes later they ask the same question.  This may happen countless times.  It may aggravate you but when you stop and and realize that it is the disease or injury that causes them not to remember you can't hold it against them.  It is not a sin, but there is a correlation.  How many times do we sin against God in someway.  If we are willing to admit it, there may be sins that we commit 7 times or more in a day, and what is our excuse before God?

We need to seek forgiveness and God willingly does forgive us.  How then do we react to others who know what they are doing and still do it?  Do we have that kind of grace? 

If we are the offender to someone, do we seek God's grace and help to overcome the sin?

Read the passage below and read the following words from the Casting Crowns song, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners".  May our hearts be aligned with His and may we put down "the sword never ours to swing".

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours   (Jesus, Friend of Sinners - Casting Crowns)

--   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    

Matthew 18:21-35 New King James Version (NKJV)

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

²¹ Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

²² Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. ²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' ²⁷ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down ^[a]at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you ^[b]all.' ³⁰ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. ³¹ So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. ³² Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. ³³ Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' ³⁴ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

³⁵ "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother ^[c]his trespasses."

Verse of the Day 1/26

Verse of the Day 1/26

Psalm 46:10-11 Surrender your anxiety!
Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.
I am the God above all the nations,
and I will be exalted throughout the whole earth.
11 Here he stands!
The Commander!
The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side!
The God of Jacob fights for us!
Pause in his presence. The Passion Translation (TPT)

There are many things in our lives, in this fast paced, sometimes out of control world around us that can bring us anxiety, make us anxious about the day and our future. The beginning of the solution from God's Word is to "be still" (New King James Version and other translations), take a breath and call to mind who our God is, He is the Commander, the Lord of the Angel Armies and know that He is at, He is on our side.

I've mentioned before that I am reading through The Passion Translation this year. As we read through the Bible it is good to stop when we come to a verse that draws our attention, read it out loud, let the words penetrate, "pause in His presence" and seek His guidance and will.

Today's verses above begin with "surrender your anxiety!". Say that out loud. Don't hold onto it, don't let it take over; but surrender it to God. As Steven. Curtis Chapman says below in his song "Be Still"; "let the noise and clamor cease.

I've mentioned before in these posts that R.C. Sproul has said that God is literally say "be quiet" or even "shut up"! Instead we are to stop and listen to His voice; cease our striving and listen, "pause in His prescience" and then go out and face the world, face our problems knowing that He is God, He's got this.

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is holy
Be still oh restless soul of mine
Bow before the prince of peace
Let the noise and clamor cease

Be still and know that he is god
Be still and know that he is faithful
Consider all that he has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that he will never change
Be still

Now, read the psalm from perhaps a more familiar translation. Whether it is "be still" or "surrender your anxiety", the meaning is the same. Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7 "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." New King James Version (NKJV)

--   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 46 New King James Version (NKJV)

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
A[a] very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the [b]midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the [c]tabernacle of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be [d]moved;
God shall help her, just [e]at the break of dawn.
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Verse of the Day 1/25

Verse of the Day 1/25

Proverbs 4:20-21 My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.
²¹ Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;    New King James Version (NKJV)

God's Word has never been more accessible to us.  We have it in the Bibles that we carry or or on a shelf at home, but today we can have it on our computers, we have it on our phones and tablets, we have audio versions available and it is available to us at any time in any translation on the internet.  Yet with all that, I wonder if it is accessed as much today as it has been at any time in the past.

Proverbs is the book of wisdom and in it wisdom calls out to us, God calls out to us and speaks to us through His Word.  Wisdom calls to pay attention to the God's Word, lean into what God is saying and to keep those words in front of us and in our hearts, at the core of our being.

I read the verses this morning in The Passion Translation (below) which says in verse 21 "fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit", or as the NKJV (above) says in the midst of your heart.  Reading in such a way means that we are not just reading as a task to "check off" on the daily checklist, but reading and carrying it with you through the day, returning to those words and thoughts that caught your attention in the morning or perhaps last night.

The desire is for transformation, transformation of our hearts.  As I read "until they penetrate deep into your heart" I was reminded of the hymn "O To Be Like Thee" and the line in the chorus, "stamp thine own image deep on my heart."  May that be our longing and prayer as we read God's Word, His wisdom, and carry it with us day by day, in our hearts and minds.

O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer; This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
	O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee! Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art; Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;   Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

--   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    

Proverbs 4:20-21 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Healing Words

²⁰ Listen carefully, my dear child, to everything that I teach you,
    and pay attention to all that I have to say.
²¹ Fill your thoughts with my words
    until they penetrate deep into your spirit.

Verse of the Day 1/24

Verse of the Day 1/24

Psalm 118:8-9  It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.     English Standard Version (ESV)

You have probably heard or read about "the exact center of the Bible".  It may vary a bit by translation but I have read that Psalm 118:8 is the exact center of the Bible.  Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter which falls right before it and Psalm 119, the longest chapter follows right after it.  There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and 594 chapters after it.  It is interesting to note the message that is at the center of the Bible.  It is about trusting, taking refuge in God rather than man.  That pretty much gets to the center, to the heart of the Bible.  God in Three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are at the heart of the Bible and the Gospel message.

In the New King James Version (below), in verse 5 the psalmist states, "I called on the Lord in distress , the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place".  I've always loved the picture of that statement.  I have the picture in my mind of standing on a mountaintop with a commanding view of the countryside all around.  Our best view and outlook towards life is found in trusting God, trusting His Word and living according to it.

Far too many people put their trust in man.  For some it is trust in themselves.  Others trust in their fellow man and others may think that their hopes reside in a king or political leader that will solve their problems.

These thoughts bring my mind back to the Gospel of John and chapter 16 where we read:

John 16:33   These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you ^[a]will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  New King James Version (NKJV)

Whatever problems or trouble we face, we won't find the true answers to life's problems in man or men.  In the world we will have trouble, but we trust, we take refuge in the Lord, the Overcomer, who gives us life now and for eternity.

--   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 118:5-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁵ I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
⁶ The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
⁷ The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
⁸ It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
⁹ It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.