Verse of the Day 1/16

Verse of the Day 1/16

John 10:27-28

English Standard Version

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Part of my devotions this morning were in John 10 where Jesus talks about His being the good Shepherd. One of the things that drew my attention was from verse 30 where Jesus states "I and the Father aree one".  You've probably heard the expression, perhaps even said it to someone when describing your friendship with another person as "we're like that", holding two fingers up twisted together.  It is saying we're tight.  Jesus statement takes it more that a step further He says "I and the Father are one".  He and the Father cannot be separated.  They are One in the same, Jesus was God in the flesh, God "with skin on" so to speak. The same authority, all the authoriity and power.  The same power that created the umiverse and all that is in it holds us securely, nothing, no one can take us out of His hand, His care.

Take that to today's verses.  Do you hear His voice?  Are you a Christ follower?  If so, we have His assurance that we have eternal life and no one can ever take that away from us.

If you question who Jesus is, He says alot about Himself in the book of John where we find His "I Am" statements. Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "Jesus had left no doubt about His identity. He already had told people "plainly" that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life (see John 3:15). That He was the Son of God (see John 5:19). That He would judge all people (see John 5:22). That the Scriptures point to Him (see John 5:39). That He came down from Heaven (see John 6:38). That He is the bread of life (see John 6:48). That He is the light of the world (see John 8:12). That He always did what pleased God (see John 8:29). That He was sent by God (see John 8:42). That He existed before Abraham (see John 8:58). That He is the Good Shepherd (see John 10:11). That He would be resurrected after He died (see John 10:17–18)."

This Jesus is telling us "no one will snatch you out of my hand".  Picture that as we close with the following hymn.

1. I come to the garden alone,
   While the dew is still on the roses,
   And the voice I hear falling on my ear
   The Son of God discloses.
   • Refrain:
     And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
     And He tells me I am His own;
     And the joy we share as we tarry there,
     None other has ever known.
2. I'd stay in the garden with Him,
   Though the night around me be falling,
   But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
   His voice to me is calling.

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 10:22-30

English Standard Version

I and the Father Are One

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one."

Verse of the Day 1/14

Verse of the Day 1/14

Romans 8:5-6

English Standard Version

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

What is your mindset for today? Or perhaps we should consider what is our mind set on today?  The questions are similar but not the same.  Having our minds set on something inidicates some sort of goal, achieving something or perhaps not succumbing to something.  Perhaps with the help, strength and grace of God overcoming something instead of being overcome by it. Many times we may ask why somethjing happened, but perhaps we need to be asking what?  What will you have me do with this Lord?

Pastor John Piper writes:

Many of us have become far too passive in our pursuit of change and wholeness and peace. I have the feeling that in our therapeutic age we have fallen into the passive mindset of simply "talking through our problems" or "dealing with our issues" or "discovering the roots of our brokenness in our family of origin."

But I see a much more aggressive, non-passive approach to change in the New Testament. Namely, set your mind. "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2).

When our minds are set on the goals and desires of this world it leads to anxiety, stress and frustration and we won't be able to expeirience peace.  Setting our minds on the things above will change our perspective, give us hope, give us lief and peace.  Which will we choose?  Choose to be set free.

Come just as you are hear the Spirit call
Come just as you are
Come and see (come and see)
Come receive (come receive)
Come and live (come and live) forever

Chorus
Life everlasting
And strength for today
Taste the Living Water
And never thirst again

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 8:1-8

English Standard Version

Life in the Spirit

8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.[a] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you[b] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,[c] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Verse of the Day 1/12

Verse of the Day 1/12

Deuteronomy 4:1-2

English Standard Version

4 "And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.

Lord willing, I will be spending a lot of time in my personal devotions over the next couple of months in the book of Deuteronomy.  A key component of that study will be the word "shema" which revolves around "hearing" and "listening".  As we read God's Word He is speaking to us through it.  Are we listening?  Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes, "In Judaism faith is a form of listening - to the song creation sings to it's Creator, and to the message history delivers to those who try to understand it.  That is what Moses says time and time again iin Deuteronomy. Stop looking;listen. Stop speaking; listen. Create a silence in the soul. Still the clamour of instinct, desire, fear, anger. Strive to listen to the still, small voice beneath the noise.Then you will know that the universe is the work of the One beyond the furthest star yet closer than you are to yourself l- and then you will love your God with all your heart, soul and might."

In our modern culture people want to see things, see a spectacle.  We desire to hear, hear from God the Creator of the universe.  How great is that, how great is He.  But we must choose to listen.

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

[Pre-Chorus]
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win!
You'll never win"

[Chorus]
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

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

Deuteronomy 4:1-9

English Standard Version

Moses Commands Obedience

4 "And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules[a] that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for the Lord your God destroyed from among you all the men who followed the Baal of Peor. 4 But you who held fast to the Lord your God are all alive today. 5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?

9 "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—

Verse of the Day 1/11

Verse of the Day 1/11

Colossians 4:12

English Standard Version

\12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Most likely, we've all experienced times when people have told us that they are praying for us.  It is also likely that we have said the same to others and done so. We belong to Bible study groups, commitees and board, and other groups of friends that will lift each other up in prayer. We are all thankful for them.  In today's verse we read of one of them, he was one of the group that Paul was writing to and he was singled out because he became known to Pau as one "always struggling" on their behalf in prayer.

It is easy to read this and zoom right past it.  But what does the verse indicate.  We see the frequency of his prayers, always. The fervency of his prayers, struggling, searching for the right words and wrestling with God in prayer.  We see his focus, it is for others, that they would stand, that they would endure, mature and fully assured in Christ.

Robert Carver writes, "What characterizes a prayer wrestler?  Such a person (1) knows that he is in a serious war; (2) knows that this war is constant, (3) knows that the most important things to pray for are spiritual needs, (4) knows that the task will never be easy, (5) knows that he himself is in great need of prayer, (6) knows that he has divine help in his praying, and (7) knows that God can do much more than he could ever ask or imagine."

We all need to have this type of prayer wrestler in our corner.  Let us thank the Lord for prayer wrestlers who are praying for us. The bigger challenge is whether we are willing to be such a prayer wrestler.

Numbers 6:24-26

English Standard Version

24 The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance[a] upon you and give you peace.

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

Colossians 4:7-17

English Standard Version

Final Greetings

7 Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow servant[a] in the Lord. 8 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts, 9 and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything that has taken place here.

10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him), 11 and Jesus who is called Justus. These are the only men of the circumcision among my fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. 14 Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers[b] at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. 16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17 And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord."

Verse of the Day 1/10

Verse of the Day 1/10

Matthew 6:26-27

English Standard Version

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

I am a bird watcher and I have several feeders out in the yard to attract birds (and pesky squirels).  When I looked out this morning there had to be at least 25 or 30 birds on the feeders or the ground surrounding the feeders.  I don't think that the birds are anxious at night wondering if there will be food in my feeders.  If I don't put it out they will find it elsewhere, God will see to that.

The passage below mentions being anxious 3 times.  When we see something repeated that often in such a short span we should pay attention.  Being anxious diverts our attention from where it should be.

Jesus states "do not be anxious" in verse 34, why? Because Jesus knows what we need and the Father will provide for us.  John Piper writes, "This is a promise of sorts — the simple promise of reality that you can discover from experience: Being anxious will simply not do you any good. That's a promise. This is not the main argument, but sometimes we just have to get tough with ourselves and say, "Soul, this fretting is absolutely useless. It promises nothing. You are not only messing up your own day, but a lot of other people's as well. Renounce it. Leave it with God. And get on with your work. Anxiety accomplishes nothing worthwhile. That's a promise. Believe it. Act on it."

Think about that last statement.  "Anxiety accomplishes nothing worthwhile.  That's a promise. Believe it. Act on it."

Probably one of the first choruses that I learned and sang in Sunday school was why worry. I need to bring it to mind and sing it more often and act, rest upon His promise.

Why worry, when you can pray,

Trust Jesus, He'll be your stay,

Don't be a doubting Thomas, Rest fully on His promise,

Why worry, worry, worry, worry, when you can pray.

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 6:25-34

English Standard Version

Do Not Be Anxious

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Verse of the Day 1/7

Verse of the Day 1/7

Psalm 51:10-12

New International Version

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

I had another verse in mind for this morning but as I read today's verses in my devotions this morning I changed course.  Some of you may have begun a read through the Bible program to start the year. lf it included the Old Testament you started in Genesis where we read "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth".  It is the same word here.  Creation in Genesis was something that only God could do.  With the human heart, it is only God that can truly create that clean, pure heart.

I've always loved the way Eugene Peterson paraphrased verse 10 in The Message, "God, make a fresh start in me,shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life."  Out of chaos God created the earth.  Out of the chaos in our modern lives God creates a clean pure heart.  Praise God for that.

I love these verses because they show God's handiwork in creation and in our lives. They also show our part in it, our hearts desire for restoration, healing, joy and a willing spirit. May you have this in abundance the year as we move on from the first days of the year, may the Lord restore and sustain you for the rest of the year.

Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.

You are the Potter,
I am the Clay;
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray.

Change my heart, O God,
Make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God,
May I be like You.

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

Psalm 51:10-19

New International Version

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
15 Open my lips, Lord,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[a] a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart
    you, God, will not despise.

18 May it please you to prosper Zion,
    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
    in burnt offerings offered whole;
    then bulls will be offered on your altar.