Verse of the Day 6/30

Verse of the Day 6/30

Mark 6:46-47

English Standard Version

46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.

I've read this passage many, many times before, but as I read it this morning what caught my attention in the verse was Jesus' "taking leave of them".  Some translations say that he sent them away and others that he said good-bye to them, both can be correct.  But it came across to me as happening after the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples are coming off of a spiritual high.  Jesus is telling them, " you guys go on ahead, I've got something that I need to do but I'll catch up with you later, on the other side".

Today's verse indicates what it is that Jesus wanted to do.  He wanted to go off and pray, one on one with the Father.  He wasn't abandoning the disciples, he had his eye on them while he prayed.  Even though he wasn't physically there (visibly), he was aware of their situation and there needs.  He prayed and he would soon get up and meet them at the point of their need.

I read the following in today's "Grace Gems" devotional. "There is something very suggestive in the narrative. This 'boat in the storm', is a picture of 'Christ's friends in this world, in the storms of life'. Sometimes we think we are forgotten--but from His place in glory, Christ's eye is always on us! He sees us struggling, battling with the waves, beaten, and distressed. He has full sympathy with us in all our struggles. It ought to be a great strength and comfort to us in trial, to know this. Jesus intercedes for us in our distresses!"

It is the same with us.  We may not see Jesus there beside us, but he is with us, he is praying, interceding for us, knows our situation and will meet us at the point of our need.  Let us be mindful of that as we head out today.

Blessings, 

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

Mark 6:45-52
English Standard Version
Jesus Walks on the Water
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night[a] he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Verse of the Day 6/29

Verse of the Day 6/29

Luke 5:1-3

New Living Translation

The First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon,[b] its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

Early in Jesus ministry word had gotten around of his miraculous healings and powerful teachings.  In today's passage "great crowds pressed in" to hear what he had to say because he cared for them.  He cares for us too.

With the lessening of COVID19 restrictions people are returning to their churches to hear from God's Word and what He has to say to them through the preaching of His Word.  In addition to that ministries of the church are also getting back to full swing and reaching people with healing and compassion.  

Most churches are not near full capacity at this point, but we can still long and pray for the day when "crowds will press in" to hear the Word of God preached, have His word speak to them.  The ministries of the church and the work of the Holy Spirit in God's people will bring this about.

I'm reminded of the Third Day song "Cry Out to Jesus".  May those who need grace, forgiveness and healing turn to Him today, He'll meet you wherever you are.

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus

Blessings, 

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

Luke 5:1-10
English Standard Version
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."[a]

Verse of the Day 6/28

Verse of the Day 6/28

John 13:7

Holman Christian Standard Bible

7 Jesus answered him, "What I'm doing you don't understand now, but afterward you will know."

I've had the privilege to work in the textile industry for over 35 years and have seen first hand how fabrics are woven including intricate jacquard weaves.  On the loom you may see the backside of the fabric being taken up on a beam and it looks like a jumbled mess.  But when viewed from the face side of the fabric you see a beautiful pattern which in reality is an intricate design.

Sometimes, the events of our lives seem to be like a jumbled mess and we don't understand why things happen.  But God is in control and at some point in our lives we will experience and accept the knowledge that God had something beautiful in mind for many to see.

J.C. Ryle writes, "If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to Heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace along the way, and glory at the end--all this our Savior has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no affliction. He loves us too well to promise that!"

The disciples didn't understand how washing someone's feet would be beautiful, but the example set by doing so has stood the test of time and it a beautiful example for us t follow.

Blessings, 

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

John 13:1-10

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.[a]

2 Now by the time of supper, the Devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot's son, to betray Him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?"

7 Jesus answered him, "What I'm doing you don't understand now, but afterward you will know."

8 "You will never wash my feet—ever!" Peter said.

Jesus replied, "If I don't wash you, you have no part with Me."

9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head."

10 "One who has bathed," Jesus told him, "doesn't need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you."

Verse of the Day 6/23

Verse of the Day 6/23

Romans 4:20

New Century Version

20 He never doubted that God would keep his promise, and he never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God.

There are times in our lives when we face trials where we may not understand why things have been allowed to happen, but in these times we are called to hold on to what we believe and whom we believe in.  In doing so, we will grow stronger in our faith.

In today's passage Paul looks back to the example of Abraham.  When you look back over his life, you can see times of doubt and questionable actions on his part, but underneath it all, he kept his faith and became an example for generations to follow.

John Piper writes, "He grew strong in his faith, thus giving glory to God. Faith in God's promises glorifies him as supremely wise and strong and good and trustworthy. So, unless we learn how to live by faith in the promises of God's future grace, we may perform remarkable religious rigors, but not for God's glory.  He is glorified when the power to be holy comes through humble faith in future grace."

May we too keep believing, being strong in our faith and giving glory to God.

The NCV version above states that Abraham "never stopped believing".  Those words reminded me of the Gaither Vocal Band song "Keep Believing", we'll close with a portion of that.

When troubles rise and catch you unaware
The day to day of living seems unfair
And you try again at your dreams and plans
That have ended in defeat
And the fancy thrills that once fulfilled
Now leave you incomplete

And you wonder where you're life's gone wrong
And why you can't find peace
Well your hope's not gone
It's just been too long
Since you've had to believe

Keep believing in what you know is true
Keep believing
You know the Lord will see you through
When troubles rise in your life and you don't know what to do
You'll be fine if you just keep believing

You can take God at his word
He is faithful, kind and true
Not a prayer will go unanswered
In His time He'll see you through

Blessings, 

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

Romans 4:16-25
New King James Version
16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; 18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." 19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Verse of the Day 6/22

Verse of the Day 6/22

Matthew 23:25-26

New King James Version

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Have you ever picked up a coffee mug, thinking it was clean only to find that on the inside there was mold growing from coffee that had been sitting in it for a few days?  It's gross, and you wouldn't think of pouring fresh coffee or another drink without first cleaning out the inside of the cup.  In this passage Jesus uses a similar example against the scribes and Pharisees who knew the law, backwards and forwards but it had no effect on their hearts.  From the outside, they followed the regulations and were "clean" as far as anyone could see, but the venom in their hearts was revealed when they railed against Jesus, the one whom the scriptures pointed to.

Once again, before we become like the Pharisees themselves and rail against them, what about our own lives, our own hearts?  We may do our best to appear clean and wholesome on the outside, doing the things that a good Christian does, but what ill feelings are we harboring in our hearts?

Jesus' words and the work of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us inside and out so that our hearts match what shows on the outside.

King David recognized the relationship and what truly pleases God.  May that describe who we are today.

Psalm 24:3-4

New King James Version

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.

Blessings, 

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 23:23-26
New King James Version
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Verse of the Day 6/21

Verse of the Day 6/21

Acts 4:20-21

New International Version

20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

Have you ever heard good news about something that you couldn't help but share it with someone?  It could be the announcement the birth of a new grandchild or perhaps that you've been accepted at a prestigious school; the main thought being that you could not keep it to yourself.  I've heard a pastor speak of this as having a case of the "can't help its"; and for the Christian we should be ready to share the good news about Jesus.

We should be anxious to share the gospel because it truly is good new for everyone.  It is good news and needs to be shared.  Whether it be a friend, family member or a complete stranger, the Gospel is good news that needs to be shared no matter what political correctness implications are.  I don't think that we are under the risk of jail, as the apostle was.

May this old song be the attitude of our hearts today.

1

Stop; and let me tell you

 

What the Lord has done for me.

 

Stop; and let me tell you

 

What the Lord has done for me.

 

He forgave my sin

 

And He saved my soul,

 

He cleansed my heart

 

And He made me whole.

 

Stop; and let me tell you

 

What the Lord has done for me.

2

Go and tell the story

 

Of the Christ of Calvary,

 

Go and tell the story

 

Of the Christ of Calvary:

 

He'll forgive their sins,

 

He will save their souls,

 

He'll cleanse their hearts,

 

He will make them whole.

 

Go and tell the story

 

Of the Christ of Calvary.

Blessings, 

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

Acts 4:14-23
New King James Version
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, "What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.