Verse of the Day - weekend 1/31

Through the Bible - Exodus 26-28, Matthew 21

 

Good morning,

With all the doom and gloom in the marketplace, layoffs and slumping sales, sometimes by the end of the week you feel like you've been knocked down if not given the knockout punch.   Where do we turn?

For this weekend's verse we'll turn to the Psalms.  Psalm 119:37 gives us an idea, ask God to "revive me" in the way, His way.

 

Ps 119:36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies,
And not to covetousness.
37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,
And revive me in Your way.     NKJV
or from the NLT

Ps 119:36 Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.

For too long, especially in times of relative prosperity, our eyes tend to turn and focus on "worthless things", things with no redeeming value.  Greed takes over, with the insatiable desire for more.  This then carries over to other areas of our lives.  We don't want to "deprive" ourselves of anything, feeling that we are entitled to anything we want, including things like drugs, alcohol, and more, "the pride of life".

 

1 John 2: 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.   NLT
True life, true comes from following Jesus, His "way".  Seek Him, return to Him ask Him to "give me life through your word."

In the margin of my Bible I had written "Draw Me Nearer" next to these verses.  The song is also known as "I am Thine O Lord".  Read the lyrics below, or sing them in your heart and mind in worship and praise this weekend.

 

I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice,
and it told thy love to me;
but I long to rise in the arms of faith
and be closer drawn to thee.

Refrain
Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
to thy precious, bleeding side.   - Fannie Crosby

In Christ,

Mike

 

Ps 119:33-41
33 Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
35 Make me walk along the path of your commands,
for that is where my happiness is found.
36 Give me an eagerness for your laws
rather than a love for money!
37 Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.
38 Reassure me of your promise,
made to those who fear you.
39 Help me abandon my shameful ways;
for your regulations are good.
40 I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness.

NLT

Verse of the Day 1/30

Through the Bible - Exodus 23-25, Matthew 20:17-34

 

Good morning

 

If you asked people on the street to name the 10 commandment many, if not most, would probably be able to rattle off don't lie, don't steal, don't murder and a few more would ad don't commit adultery.  But I would hazard a guess and say that few would quote "Thou shalt have no other God before me.  For today's verse we'll go to another one that would not often be quoted.

 

Exodus20:7 "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. NLT
or from the NKJV

Ex 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.   NKJV

Sometimes the New Living Translation is looked down upon by some for it's paraphasing as varying from the original intended meaning.  In today's case, it may actually do a better job of conveying the meaning.  Many people would limit the meaning  of "taking the name of the Lord in vain" (NKJV) as the all too often heard cursing.  We should make it more of a point to consider what "misusing" the name of the Lord might mean. Could it include texting "OMG" which stands for "oh my God"?  How about when it is used as sort of an exclamation point?

 

Matthew Henry comments, , "The sinner may perhaps hold himself guiltless, and think there is no harm in it, and that God will never call him to an account for it. To obviate this suggestion, the threatening is thus expressed, God will not hold him guiltless, as he hopes he will; but more is implied, namely, that God will himself be the avenger of those that take his name in vain, and they will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."   God takes the use of His Name seriously, we should too.  We should be careful of how we use the Lord's name.  It should be used much more in praise, adoration, and prayer and not in any derogatory manner.  The way we use His Name reveals a lot of what is in our heats.  May this be the attitude that is in our hearts today.

 

The Lord's Prayer should give us some indication of the way we use and revere the name of the our Lord should be of first importance. Matt. 6:9 "Our Father in heaven,  Hallowed be Your name."    NKJV

 

I'll close with an example of a praise and a prayer that would honor God.

 

Ps 118:28-29
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.  NLT

This is a prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, it is a powerful model for us:

"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy."

 

Consider this today, honor His Name.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Ex 20:1-18

Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community

20 Then God gave the people all these instructions:

2 "I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
3 "You must not have any other god but me.
4 "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
7 "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 "Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 "You must not murder.
14 "You must not commit adultery.
15 "You must not steal.
16 "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 "You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor."     NLT

Verse of the Day 1/29

Through the Bible - Exodus 20-22, Matthew 20:1-16

 

Good morning,

My "title" at work is Technical Service Manager.  I receive a lot of calls regarding questions about our fabrics and their applications.  I also field calls regarding warranty claims and try my best to bring them to an equitable resolution.

 

As I read Exodus 18 the other day, I realized that at times I feel a lot like Moses did.  His father in law, Jethro, gave him some good and valuable advise that can apply to most, if not all of us, today in some capacity.  It applies to church leaders, business, and even family matters.

Ex 18:19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.   NKJV

or from the NLT

Ex 18:19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives.

 

A few verses earlier, Jethro had seen how Moses was dealing with all of their troubles, complaints, by himself.  The people were well known for their complaining.  Have you ever felt that way?  I think that we could all take a lesson in learning to delegate, as Jethro instructs in the following verses.

Ex 18:22-23  They should always be available to solve the people's common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."

Part of my job is to help train customer service, our salesmen, and those of our distributors about our products and their properties and applications so that when they field calls they may be able to answer them and help the customer, to bring possible complaints to an early resolution without even coming to me.

 

The same holds true in our Christian lives.  We are to know the Bible, to study it, and to pass it on to others, especially to the next generation.  It's an important function of the call from Jesus "to make disciples of all nations".

 

We should turn more often to the Bible to answer lifes questions and when we do, be ready to share it with others who ask the same questions that we once did.

 

Read the passage below.  Can you apply some of it to your life?

Ex 18:23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."

Couldn't we all use a little more peace, especially when "under pressure"?

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Ex 18:13-19:1

Jethro's Wise Advice

13 The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people's disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening.

14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, "What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?"

15 Moses replied, "Because the people come to me to get a ruling from God. 16 When a dispute arises, they come to me, and I am the one who settles the case between the quarreling parties. I inform the people of God's decrees and give them his instructions."

17 "This is not good!" Moses' father-in-law exclaimed. 18 "You're going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. 19 Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing their disputes to him. 20 Teach them God's decrees, and give them his instructions. Show them how to conduct their lives. 21 But select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as leaders over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 22 They should always be available to solve the people's common disputes, but have them bring the major cases to you. Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. 23 If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."

24 Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions. 25 He chose capable men from all over Israel and appointed them as leaders over the people. He put them in charge of groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. 26 These men were always available to solve the people's common disputes. They brought the major cases to Moses, but they took care of the smaller matters themselves.

27 Soon after this, Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law, who returned to his own land.

 

Verse of the Day 1/28

Through the Bible - Exodus 17-19, Matthew 19:16-30

 

Good morning,

 

In today's verse we go to an account that is found in a couple of places in the gospels.  Many have considered these verses and gone through all kinds of mental gymnastics to explain that it is possible for rich people to enter the kingdom because there was a "special gate" in Jerusalem which was lower in height than others, where a camel would have to be unloaded and crawl on it's knees if it were to enter.  John Piper said in a message about this passage, that he did research on this and never found any verification of this rumored gate.

 

What could the meaning be?

Matt 19:23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."   NKJV

 

The disciples were astonished as we would be today if told the same thing living in Burlington, they then asked, "who then can be saved?"

Matt 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."   NKJV

 

John Piper writes, "What is Jesus referring to when he says, "This is impossible"? The rich young man had just been unwilling to leave his possessions, and care for the poor and treasure God and follow Jesus. Jesus had said, See how hard it is for a rich man to be converted into a follower of mine. It's as hard as a camel going through a needle's eye. But then the disciples broaden the issue to everybody: "Who then can be saved?" And Jesus in essence says, "The point I am making about the rich is true for everybody. This is not a problem with money. It's a problem with the human heart." So he makes the broad general statement: "With people this is impossible." That is, conversion for everyone is humanly impossible. Who then can be saved? Answer: No one -unless God intervenes to do what is humanly impossible. "

 

You may not think of this passage as one about missions or our mission, but consider the following.  We considered what it meant the other day to come to Christ trusting as a child and what it meant to follow Him where He leads.

 

A friend and coworker of mine grew up in Ecuador and came to know the Lord as an adult, later moving to the States.  One of his sons recently graduated from Moody Bible Institute and (I believe) plans to go on for his doctorate in the hopes of teaching theology.

 

His older son is now involved in missionwork which has brought him back to Ecuador after living in the United States.  Following is part of his testimony:

"Since June 14^th, 2007 we have been working with the "It's About Kids" foundation. They have a family of fifteen orphans, a school, and a Jungle ministry. Their family is well taken care of and the school is developing quickly to an outstanding Academy. The Jungle ministry was in need of a missionary family that would take over and develop the ministry there. At first we were conscious of what it would mean to move to a remote area where the culture and environment are foreign even to an Ecuadorian like me. But God worked on us to will His good purpose and now we are eager to move. - " Roberto A. Davalos

 

God uses those who come to Him and follow Him as children for the mission of reaching rich and poor to do what is humanly impossible, but possible through the power of Christ.

 

Jer 32:26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 27 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?  NKJV

I'm reminded of the Steve Green song, "The Mission", the chorus goes like this:

 

To love the Lord our God

Is the heartbeat of our mission

The spring from which our service overflows

Across the street

Or around the world

The mission's still the same

Proclaim and live the Truth

In Jesus' name

 

What are you doing to proclaim and live the Truth in Jesus' name?  You don't have to go around the world to do so, but you just might.

 

You can see more about Roberto's ministry at www.itsaboutjunglekids.org.

 

In Christ,

Mike

Matt 19:16-23

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
(Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23)

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him,"Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"

17 So He said to him,  "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

18 He said to Him, "Which ones?"

Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'  19 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" 

20 The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

NKJV

With God All Things Are Possible
(Mark 10:23-31; Luke 18:24-30)

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?"

28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.  30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.   NKJV

Through the Bible - Exodus 13-16  , Matthew 19:1-15

 

Good morning,

I don't watch a lot of TV game shows but I must admit that I have watched "Deal or No Deal" a few times.  It's a game where people have a chance to win a million dollars by choosing the right case.  They start out with 26 cases to choose from each with a different dollar amount in it, from $0.01 to $1 million.  At any point the contestant can stop and take the offer that the "bank" makes to buy them out, sometimes for several hundred thousand dollars.  Some try to risk it all, trying to beat the bank and go for the million ending up with next to nothing.

 

Reading through Exodus in the Bible reading plan above recently brought me through the 10 plagues which Pharoah faced.  As we read chapter 11, the Egyptians had faced 9 plagues, 9 miraculous plagues that devastated Egypt and struck at every aspect of the pagan religious system and beliefs.  A couple of times Pharoah had been tempted to accept God's request (through Moses) to let His people go and worship Him and avoid the consequences of another plague.  Pharoah slammed the door on the opportunity, basically saying "no deal".  He was in charge, or so he thought, and he was not going to cave in.  He was going to see it through to the end no matter what.

 

Today's verse comes from Deuteronomy 30 where Moses presented the Israelites with a similar offer.

Deut 30:19 "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life.   NLT

Or from the NKJV

Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days   NKJV

I like the NLT, "oh that you would choose life".  As mentioned recently, it is a heartfelt cry from God to His people, to choose life, that they would not have to suffer the consequences of  telling God "no deal", I'll face life on my own, or as Frank Sinatra so aptly put it,  I'll do it my way.

 

Think of  the words to that song.  "For what is a man, what has he got, if not himself, then he is not".  It would be better said " what is a man, what has he got, if it's not God, then he has not".

 

I'm sure a lot of people enjoy that song, put themselves into it, thinking, yeah, I'll take my chances and have it my way.  Where will it lead them?  Not to everlasting life, not to contentment, not to peace here or for eternity.  Couldn't you hear Pharoah singing a similar tune?

 

The question comes to each of us, choosing life, a life of loving God and others or choosing to live for ourselves, rejecting God's offer to our own destruction.

 

On Deuteronomy 30:19, John MacArthur writes, "choose life- Moses forces the decision, exhorting Israel on the plains of Moab before God (heaven) and man (earth) to choose by believing in and loving God, the life available through the New Covenant.  Sadly, Israel failed to respond to this call to the right choice.  Choosing life or death was also emphasized by Jesus.  The one who believed in Him had the promise of eternal life, while the person who refused to believe faced eternal death."

 

If you haven't already done so, choose life today.

In Christ,

Mike

 

Deut 30:11-31:1

 

The Choice of Life or Death

 

11 "This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. 12 It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?' 13 It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?' 14 No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

 

15 "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

 

17 "But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods, 18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

 

19 "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

 

Holy Bible, New Living Translation

Verse of the Day 1/26

Through the Bible - Exodus 11-12, Matthew 18:21-35

 

Good morning,

Jean and I had the privilege of having our kids, their spouses, and our granddaughter Layna home for Christmas.  Layna is less than a year old but she was already walking.  It was great having them all here.  We especially enjoyed having Layna around and one of my favorite pictures is of her standing with her arms outstretched.  It's a picture of a toddler "wanting up", to be picked up in their parents, or grandparents arms. 

 

Little children like the security of it.  They trust the parents to carry them with them or to take them to where they would like to go.  (In Layna's case it was often to the kitchen table where the goodies were.)  Toddlers don't do anything to earn the right to be picked up, they come knowing that the parents love them and will gladly pick them up if they come to them.  

 

For today's verse we'll go to Matthew 28, from yesterday's reading.

Matt 18:3 Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.  NLT
or from the NKJV

Matt 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   NKJV

MacArthur writes, "this is how Jesus characterized conversion.  Like the Beatitudes, it pictures faith as the simple, helpless, trusting dependence of those who have no resources of their own.  Like little children, they have no achievements and no accomplishments to offer or commend themselves with." 

 

All this was precipitated by the question which began the passage Matthew 18:1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

Alan Barnes notes that " By the kingdom of heaven they meant the kingdom which they supposed he was about to set up-his kingdom as the Messiah. They asked the question because they supposed, in accordance with the common expectation of the Jews, that he was about to set up a temporal kingdom of great splendor, and they wished to know who should have the principal offices, and posts of honor and profit. This was among them a frequent subject of inquiry and controversy. Mark (Mark 9:34) informs us that they had had a dispute on this subject in the way."

 

Notice it is those that exhibit this childlike faith who will be greatest.  It is not those who do great things, or those who want to do great things in this world,  in this kingdom, but those who come to Him as a child, and are willing to go where He leads that will be esteemed by Him.  

Barnes continues,  "It means that their opinions and feelings about the kingdom of the Messiah must be changed. They had supposed that he was to be a temporal prince. They expected he would reign as other kings did. They supposed he would have his great officers of state, as other monarchs had, and they were ambitiously inquiring who should hold the highest offices. Jesus told them that they were wrong in their views and expectations. No such things would take place. From these notions they must be turned, changed or converted, or they could have no part in his kingdom. These ideas did not fit at all the nature of his kingdom."

It's not about the size of the your church, positions that you may "hold" in ministry,  the number of books sold or the number of readers of your devotionals.  It's about following as He leads you where He leads you, whether walking or being carried.

.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Matt 18:1-12

 

The Greatest in the Kingdom

 

18 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

 

2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, "I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

5 "And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

 

7 "What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. 8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It's better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

 

10 "Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.    NLT

Verse of the Day - weekend 1/24

Through the Bible - Exodus 7-10, Matthew 18:1-20

 

Good morning,

This week we, as a country witnessed the historic inauguration of a new president, President Barak Obama.  Many if not most people, have great hopes of what his administration will accomplish.

 

Years from now it will be interesting to see what God is doing today that are "behind the scenes".

 

From "Through the Bible with Today in the Word" I read, "Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll points out that in 1809 the world's attention was riveted on the French emporer Napoleon.  That year Austria fell to Napoleon, as the "little corporal" swept across Europe, amassing a huge empire.  But in terms of lasting influence on the world, Swindoll notes, the most important eventts of 1809 did not happen on the battlefields but in baby cribs.  Among the future leaders and influential figures born that year were William Gladstone, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Charles Darwin, Edgar Allan Poe, and Abraham Lincoln.

 

If you've been following the read through the Bible plan above, you've recently read about the circumstances surrounding the birth of Moses.  For today's verse we'll return to Hebrews 11, the "Hall of Faith" which summarizes Moses parents actions.

 

Heb 11:23 It was by faith that Moses' parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's command.  NLT

or from the NIV

Heb 11:23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.   NIV

It can be disheartening to see some of the first actions and intentions of President Barak Obama have been, including the Freedom of Choice Act, and promoting the federal funding of abortions overseas, but God is in control.  It will  be interesting, perhaps amazing to see, what God will do with children who were saved from abortion here or infanticide in other countries this year and how they will affect future generations.

 

Moses parents disobeyed the decree of the most powerful leader in the world and put their son up for adoption as it were, saving the child from certain death.  Through this little child a nation would be delivered.  Herod tried to do away with Jesus in the same way and a whole world was offered salvation through Him.

 

Be praying for President Obama, be praying for our nation, be willing to do what you can for the cause of Christ.  You can see through Moses what God can do through one person.

 

In the coming years we may look back and realize:

1 Sam 2:30-for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.    NKJV
At the same time we should realize that God is in control and will use whatever decrees for His ultimate plans.

Prov 21 1 The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases. NLT

In Christ,

Mike

Ex 2:1-11

The Birth of Moses

2 About this time, a man and woman from the tribe of Levi got married. 2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was a special baby and kept him hidden for three months. 3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River. 4 The baby's sister then stood at a distance, watching to see what would happen to him.

5 Soon Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe in the river, and her attendants walked along the riverbank. When the princess saw the basket among the reeds, she sent her maid to get it for her. 6 When the princess opened it, she saw the baby. The little boy was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This must be one of the Hebrew children," she said.

7 Then the baby's sister approached the princess. "Should I go and find one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?" she asked.

8 "Yes, do!" the princess replied. So the girl went and called the baby's mother.

9 "Take this baby and nurse him for me," the princess told the baby's mother. "I will pay you for your help." So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.

10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh's daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, "I lifted him out of the water."

NLT

Verse of the Day 1/23

Through the Bible - Exodus 5-6, Matthew 17

 

Good morning,

Today's devotional is dedicated to a friend Matt who asked about hope.

 

Having just come through the Christmas season several of the Christmas carols that we sing speak of the hope that Jesus Christ would bring.  The first that comes to my mind is in "O Little Town of Bethlehem" where we sing"the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight". 

 

Chuck Colson was quoted at the beginning of Stephen Curtis Chapman's song "Heaven in the Real World" saying, "Where is the hope? I meet millions of people who feel demoralized by the decay around us. The hope that each of us has is not in who governs us, or what laws we pass, or what great things we do as a nation. Our hope is in the power of God working through the hearts of people. And that's where our hope is in this country. And that's where our hope is in life."

 

Faith and hope are intertwined, and the most important part of both of them is what or whom is that faith and trust placed. 

 

John Piper made the two following statements about faith. "Faith is living in a hope that it is so real that it gives absolute assurance.  Faith is the present essence of a future reality."

 

Hebrews chapter 11, the "Hall of Faith" one of the most precious chapters in the Bible to me personally,  begins with:

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.   NKJV
Think of that for a moment, faith is the substance.  It is not something dreamy or whispy, when it is placed in Jesus, in God, it is rock solid.

 

Looking back through the Bible and having just finished reading through Genesis the other day we have seen several Bible characters who held onto faith in hope as outlined in Hebrews 11.  One that stands out in my mind is Joseph.  Think of all that he went through. 

 

"And what was Joseph's reward? He was lied about by Potiphar's wife, and the cupbearer of Pharaoh, whose dream Joseph interpreted, thanklessly forgot about him in prison for two years after the dreams. So the point of all this is not just that there is sin and suffering and that God is at work in it to save his people. More specifically, the point is that the righteous one, even though mistreated for so long, is finally vindicated by God. Even though others have rejected this righteous stone, God makes him the cornerstone (Matthew 21:42). His vindication becomes the very means of the salvation of his persecutors. "

 

In today's verse Joseph looks back over his life and it all comes together.

Gen 50:19 Joseph said to them,"Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.    NKJV

There must have been times in his life when he must have asked God "why"?  But as he saw God at work in his life he probably asked more often "what", OK Lord, what are you up to now.

 

Joseph lived by faith, it was the substance of the things he hoped for.

 "Things hoped for," in general, are things good, promised, future, expected on unfailing grounds. The things, therefore, here intended as "hoped for," are all the things that are divinely promised unto them that believe, — all things of present grace and future glory. For even the things of present grace are the objects of hope" - John Owen.

 

Joseph persevered in hope and in faith.  He saw his dreams realized.  He lived to see his father and the restoration of his family.  God truly did amazing things through him and for him, because he continued to believe in hope, in God.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Gen 50:15-22

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him." 16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, "Before your father died he commanded, saying, 17 'Thus you shall say to Joseph: "I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you."' Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father." And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants."

19 Joseph said to them,"Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/22

Through the Bible - Exodus 2-4, Matthew 16:5-28

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered The Rolling Stones song "Satisfaction" which stated "I can't get no satisfaction, I tried and I tried, and I tried.....

 

When I was young, Chicago was one of my favorite rock bands.  Yesterday's topic and the thought of searching and treasure reminded me of the Chicago "Searchin So Long", here are a few of the stanzas

As my life goes on I believe Somehow something's changed Something deep inside Ooh a part of me There's a strange new light in my eyes Things I've never known Changin' my life Changin' me I've been searchin' So long To find an answer Now I know my life has meaning Ow oh I don't think the song was writen about finding God, finding Jesus Christ, but when we do find it we realize "now my life has meaning".   Today's verse comes from Matthew 16 which is today's "Through the Bible" New Testament reading.  We won't deal with all of the intricacies and meaning of Jesus' entire response to Peter here, but consider Peter's statement and the first part of Jesus' response.  Jesus asks the ultimate question, Peter shows that he has received the answer.   Matt 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered and said,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.   NKJV

Bob Dylan another song writer from the sixties wrote, "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind."

 

As we see here, the answer isn't found blowing in the wind, Simon Peter found it, or as mentioned yesterday, it found him.  The answer is found in the person of Jesus Christ.  Verse 17 shows how it is revealed to us.  All of the searching in the world, in our own wisdom and strength will find it.  It is not stumbled upon and found by accident.  It is revealed by God.

 

1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.    NKJV

A current Christian song writer, Michael W. Smith, knows something about this, he wrote "Open the Eyes of My Heart".

 

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Singin "Holy, Holy, Holy is a far cry from "I tried, I tried, and I tried.

 

Have you been searching, have you found the answer?

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Matt 16:13-19

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
(Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20)

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

14 So they said,"Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered and said,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/21

Through the Bible - Genesis 50 - Exodus 1, Matthew 15:29-16:4,

 

Good morning,

We've recently looked at "worship from the heart" and some of the things it means to love with all your heart.  I read this in Psalm 107 the other day and thought that it showed the heart of a worshipper speaking from personal experience.

 

Ps 107:8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.   NKJV

The first word of verse 8 is significant, the simple word oh.  It conveys the deep feeling of the heart, it conveys longing, a deep desire.  And what is that desire?  That people would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness.  The psalmist is hoping that his readers would experience what he has come to know and has experienced in all circumstances.  He knows what is like to hunger and thirst for righteousness.  He knows what is like to be filled.  It is a cry that you've heard from the prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles, especially Paul in the New Testament, desiring that the people of the nation would turn their hearts to God, bringing renewal, hope for the hopeless, help for the helpless, often during times of change and uncertainty.

 

Mick Jagger made millions singing about "I can't get no satisfaction",

I can't get no satisfaction
I can't get no satisfaction
'cause i try and i try and i try and i try
I can't get no, i can't get no.........satisfaction!
 it's because he was looking for it in all of the wrong places.

 

Today's verse comes from Matthew 13 where Jesus tells of a couple of people who found satisfaction.  To get it they would give all and gain the kingdom.

 

Matt 13:44 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. 46 When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!  NLT

Look closely at the verses.  They indicate that people don't always find the "treasure of God" in the same way.  The first individual found it by accident, or should we say it found him.  The second found it by a diligent search.  No matter how a person comes to know Christ as Saviour, it's values and joys are beyond estimation, He has become their treasure, it is through living in faith in Christ that will bring satisfaction.

Chris Tomlin writes in the song "You are My Treasure"

 

I'm created for You alone
Bought with a price I'm not my own
I'm seated in the heavenlies
And there's no place I'd rather be
Than with You forever Lord

You are my treasure

Faithful Lord, fill my cup
With your grace and love, Your grace and love
The pleasures that this world's sure of
Will never be enough, can never be enough

You are my treasure

 

Is Jesus your treasure?

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Matt 13:36-47

The Parable of the Tares Explained

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."

37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man.  38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one.  39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,  42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls,  46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

NKJV

 

Verse of the Day 1/20

Through the Bible - Genesis 47, Matthew14:22-36

 

Good morning,

Today will be a momentous day in American history with the inauguration of President Obama.  One of his first orders of business will be to give his inaugural speech.  Already known as an excellent if not great orator, expectations will be high.

 

Moody Bible Institutes devotional "Today in the Word" has been going through the book of Exodus.  Today it is on chapter 20 where Moses delivers kind of an inuaugural address, one from God in the form of the ten commandments.

 

Ex 20:2 "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.   NKJV

Today's verse will come from Psalm 108 which I read in my devotional reading in the Psalms.  It is fitting for today.

 

Ps 108:12 Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless.
13 Through God we will do valiantly,
For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.    NKJV
or from the NLT

Ps 108:12 Oh, please help us against our enemies,
for all human help is useless.
13 With God's help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our foes.

 In our High School Sunday School class the other day the question was asked "how many of you think you know the 10 commandments".  None of the kids volunteered.  As one of the two adults in the class, we wouldn't boldly state that we could rattle them off.  Most people would start off by quoting don't lie, don't steal, don't murder etc.  I would imagine that few would start off with "you shall have no other gods before me", but it the foundation upon what the others are built.  Our relationship, our dependence upon God.

 

If you were to step back and evaluate our country on this day, how do you think we would "stack up"?  Consider how we are trying to remove the 10 commandments from public places, remove prayer from schools and public events, remove In God We Trust from our coins and promote things like abortion that the Lord hates.  I am afraid, literally, that that we have many gods before Him.

 

As we look forward to the inaugural address I hope that we as a nation will not put our dependence on a person, even though, as president,  he be the most powerful person in the world.  May we, instead of turning from Him, may we "hasten to Him".

 

If you look back through Biblical times, the changing of national leaders is important in turning the country to or from God.  Think of David, Josiah, possibly Hezekiah as positive examples.  Think of the anxiety of Isaiah chapter 6, the year King Uzziah died, and the uncertainty that is recorded.

 

We will need to pay attention to what President Obama has to say and honor him as our leader.  But first and foremost we are to pay attention to God's Word and honor Him.  He has put the leaders of the nations in place (see Romans 13), for His purposes.

 

As today's verses point out, with God, "He can do mighty things, He will trample down our foes" because in the big picture, God is sovereign, and (hope or trust) in man, in the end is useless .

 

Let us pray that Barak Obama would be a president who will turn to, "hasten to" the Lord.

 

Read the psalm below, insert nations such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and the United States into these verses.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Ps 108:1-109:1
(Ps 57:7-11; 60:5-12)
A Song. A Psalm of David.
108 O God, my heart is steadfast;I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. 2 Awake, lute and harp!I will awaken the dawn. 3 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples,And I will sing praises to You among the nations. 4 For Your mercy is great above the heavens,And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,And Your glory above all the earth; 6 That Your beloved may be delivered,Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
7 God has spoken in His holiness:"I will rejoice;I will divide ShechemAnd measure out the Valley of Succoth. 8 Gilead is Mine; Manasseh is Mine;Ephraim also is the helmet for My head;Judah is My lawgiver. 9 Moab is My washpot;Over Edom I will cast My shoe;Over Philistia I will triumph."
10 Who will bring me into the strong city?Who will lead me to Edom? 11 Is it not You, O God, who cast us off?And You, O God, who did not go out with our armies? 12 Give us help from trouble,For the help of man is useless. 13 Through God we will do valiantly,For it is He who shall tread down our enemies. 
NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/19

Through the Bible - Genesis 47, Matthew 14:22- 36

 

Good morning,

Several of last weeks devotionals centered around prayer.  A friend who is going to school in Madison Wi. heard a sermon at his church the previous weekend and suggested that I listen to it, which I did.  It was a large church that had a several thousand dollar defecit at the end of the year.  The pastor said that a person or a church can pray for a check that would take care of their needs.  What he asked the people to pray for was a change of hearts.  God could provide "a check", but how much more could be done if hundreds of hearts were changed? The people responded by opening up their hearts and pocketbooks.

 

Today's verse comes from Matthew 15, verses quoted by Jesus that were from the book of Isaiah.

Matt 15:8 "These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"   NKJV
or from the NLT

Matt 15:8-  'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 Their worship is a farce,
for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'"

We can go through the motions in a relationship, and we can go through the motions in worship, do all of the right things, sing the songs, and offer eloquent prayers.  But if our hearts are not in it, it is, as the NLT says "a farce".  Sobering words.

 

John Piper writes, " When God says, "In vain do they worship me," or, "with their lips they honor me," he implies that worship can be thought of as a series of acts or words that are performed in obedience to biblical commands or liturgical tradition. Worship throughout biblical history always involved action. The main word for worship in biblical Hebrew means "to bow down." Worship was performed in bowing, lifting the hands, kneeling, singing, praying, reciting Scripture, etc. All this can be called worship. But all this can also be done when the heart is far from God. "

 

I love my wife Jean with all of my heart.  This involves more than just doing things for her.  There is a closeness, our hearts are knit together.  It means that when she is happy, I feel the joy.  When her heart hurts or aches, mine does too.  If I have hurt her, it grieves me, and I seek forgiveness, having confidence that based on past experience she will forgive me. It means, in our hearts we want to know, to love each other more.  I've only touched the tip of the iceberg, loving with all your heart goes much deeper.

 

Do we carry that over in our love towards God?  Is it evident in our daily lives, in our worship?  Is it evident in the things we should hate, like abortion mentioned over the weekend?

 

If there are things that grieve God's heat they should grieve ours as well.  We should not turn a deaf ear or stand idly by when others are in the process of debasing Him.

 

This past weekend we sang a song in church, "Hear Our Prayers".  The lyrics reveal a heart for God.

Hear our cries, Lord - hear our prayers.
Take our burdens, calm our fears.
God, will you make us a people that love you?
Please take our offerings that we set before you.
God, hear our prayers that we're lifting up to you.
God, see our tears that we're struggling to see through.
God hear our prayers to you.
In our weakness you remain.
When we're broken you sustain.
God, hear our prayers – we lift them to you.
God, hear our prayers – Lord, make our hearts true.
God, hear our prayers as we lift them to heaven.
The hopes of the empty, the cries of the broken...
We're reaching our hands out - oh Lord, will you hold them?

Piper continues," Genuine worship is never a mere act of will-power. All those activities of worship require the exertion of our will. But they do not become genuine worship by virtue of that. When God says, "Their heart is far from me," he does not mean they don't have the will power to go through the motions. Sure they do. But their heart is still far away from God. The reason is that the drawing near of the heart to God means the coming alive of our feelings for God. Worship is an affair of the heart. It is an affair of feeling and of emotion."   Doesn't it also describe love?

 

May we desire that He would "make our hearts true", to cause our feelings for God come alive.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Matt 15:1-21

 

Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity

 

15 Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. 2 "Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition?" they demanded. "They ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat."

 

3 Jesus replied, "And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? 4 For instance, God says, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.' 5 But you say it is all right for people to say to their parents, 'Sorry, I can't help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you.' 6 In this way, you say they don't need to honor their parents. And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,

 

8 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
9 Their worship is a farce,
for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.'"

 

10 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "Listen," he said, "and try to understand. 11 It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth."

 

12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, "Do you realize you offended the Pharisees by what you just said?"

 

13 Jesus replied, "Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, 14 so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch."

 

15 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Explain to us the parable that says people aren't defiled by what they eat."

 

16 "Don't you understand yet?" Jesus asked. 17 "Anything you eat passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer. 18 But the words you speak come from the heart—that's what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you."

 

 

Verse of the Day - weekend 1/17

Through the Bible -Genesis 41-46

 

Good morning,

I received an e-mail from my pastor from our church in Illinois regarding this Sunday and thought I'd share part of it with you:

This Sunday is "National Right to Life Sunday."  This is an annual time of prayer and remembrance from Churches across the nation on behalf of unborn babies.  This year the National Right to Life organization is also sponsoring a petition drive to try to stop passage of the "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA).

FOCA is the proposed federal law that will essentially nullify all existing federal and state limitations on abortion.  President Obama has pledged to sign the bill as soon as it is passed. Among other things, this bill will do away with the national ban on partial-birth abortion that the Supreme Court upheld in Gonzales v. Carhart.  To read further about FOCA, the Court's decisions and this bill, go to www.nrlc.org

This morning my devotional reading brought me to Psalm 106.  Psalms 105 and 106 give us a sort of summary of the ups and downs of Israel and Judah's walk with God.  I was struck by the following verses in regards to abortion:

 

Ps 106:36 They worshiped their idols,
which led to their downfall.
37 They even sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons.
38 They shed innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters.
By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan,
they polluted the land with murder.  NLT

 

Read the verses again to grasp the magnitude of them.

 

We need to feel the horror of the words above: sacrifice, demons, innocent blood, and polluted.  Abortion involves all these things.  We need to see and understand the facts about abortion, what it does, how it is done, and who is being impacted by the 40 million plus abortions that have been performed in our country.

 

In a sermon on this passage and topic, John Piper noted that there are at least four parallels with this passage and abortion. 

 

One is sacrifice.  Sacrifice means you give up something ordinarilly considered valuable to gain something better.  But what could be better than a baby?  Certainly not the opportunity to make a better income.

 

Second, the words used to describe the sacrifice are "sons and daughters".  It is not choice, it is not even "fetus", they were sons and daughters, they are family.  What is being sacrificed is family, always family.

 

Third, the verses refer to "innocent blood".  The babies have done nothing wrong.  Piper notes that it's the ordinary legal statement that is used in court. "Did I do anything to deserve the punishment other people are about to execute on me?".  They don't deserve this mistreatment.

 

Fourth, it is to demons.  Satan is a murderer, liar, and great deceiver.  All of these things are done for his tribute, knowingly or unknowingly.

 

Piper notes that "A few years ago, a group of Catholics and Protestants produced a document called "That They Might Have Life." In it, they said this about abortion:

The blindness of so many to this moral atrocity has many sources but is finally to be traced to the seductive ways of evil advanced by Satan. Jesus says, "He was as murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:44).^"

Our nation in some respects has come to new heights of racial equality by it's choice of a black man as president.  It is about to come to a new low in regards to it's policies to the unborn in the FOCA (above).

 

The psalm ends with a cry of the nation, which could as well be a cry from the unborn.

Ps 106:47 Save us, O Lord our God!
Gather us back from among the nations,
so we can thank your holy name
and rejoice and praise you.

 

48 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who lives from everlasting to everlasting!
Let all the people say, "Amen!"

 

Praise the Lord!

 

Consider these verses from Ephesians in light of the abortion issue:

Eph 5:11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible.    NLT

Pray for our nation.  Take a stand for what you believe in, offer help to the helpless.

John Piper's message can be read or listened to at: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByTopic/47/2582_Abortion_The_Innocent_Blood_of_Our_Sons_and_Daughters/

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
More tools available at: http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Ps 106:34-48

 

34 Israel failed to destroy the nations in the land,as the Lord had commanded them.35 Instead, they mingled among the pagansand adopted their evil customs.36 They worshiped their idols,which led to their downfall.37 They even sacrificed their sonsand their daughters to the demons.38 They shed innocent blood,the blood of their sons and daughters.By sacrificing them to the idols of Canaan,they polluted the land with murder.39 They defiled themselves by their evil deeds,and their love of idols was adultery in the Lord's sight.
40 That is why the Lord's anger burned against his people,and he abhorred his own special possession.41 He handed them over to pagan nations,and they were ruled by those who hated them.42 Their enemies crushed themand brought them under their cruel power.43 Again and again he rescued them,but they chose to rebel against him,and they were finally destroyed by their sin.44 Even so, he pitied them in their distressand listened to their cries.45 He remembered his covenant with themand relented because of his unfailing love.46 He even caused their captorsto treat them with kindness.
47 Save us, O Lord our God!Gather us back from among the nations,so we can thank your holy nameand rejoice and praise you.
48 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,who lives from everlasting to everlasting!Let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the Lord!

 

Verse of the Day 1/16

Through the Bible - Genesis 38-40, Matthew 14:1-33

 

Good morning,

The other day a new aquaintance asked me where I "came up with" the verses that I chose for the verse of the day devotionals.  Most often they've come from reading/studying that I've been doing, devotionals that I have read, and quite often from songs that I have heard on the radio, CD's, or that just popped into my head for whatever reason.

 

Yesterday (as I write this) I heard a song on the radio "Mighty to Save" and thought that it would be good to use as part of a devotional.  That night I clicked on a link on my homepage to a devotional from Alistair Begg's Truth for Life, the title for the day was "Mighty to Save".  I opened up Biblesoft on my computer where I go to get the Bible verses themselves.  It opens to Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening" devotionals.  It was evening, so the evening devotional was posted.  Here is part of it.

 

"Sinking times are praying times with the Lord's servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hurries to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven's great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail."

 

The verse that Spurgeon referenced was Matthew 14:30 which is in today's reading plan.  Sometimes the verses come from all of the above.

Matt 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"   NKJV

 

In these difficult financial times we can have a sinking, drowning feeling.  Sometimes it seams that it takes all that we have to keep treading water, to keep our head up.  We should realize that we need help, that we can't do it ourselves.  We need to reach out to Jesus (the song reach out to Jesus comes to mind), and call out to Him.  As we read yesterday, He will not snuff out the wick, He can rekindle it, He can lift us out of the waters that surround us.

 

We need not think that our prayers need to be lengthy or eloquent, especially in these circumstances.  They may just be a cry from the heart, Lord save Me!

Mighty to Save

 

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

 

Do you need love, mercy, and compassion in your life today?  Cry out to Him.  Do you see someone who needs it?  Reach out to them, turn them towards Jesus.

 

In Christ,

Mike

Matt 14:22-34

Jesus Walks on the Sea(Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21)
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,  "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."

NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/15

Through the Bible - Genesis 36-37, Matthew 13:1-58

 

Good morning,

 

When I was a kid, and admittedly into adulthood, I enjoyed playing with and setting off fireworks.  Most often it was firecrackers or bottlerockets.  These had fairly simple wicks which could easily be extinguished by squeezing them with your fingers or throwing them into water.  The force in these little firecrackers was quite amazing.  A bottle rocket could go a hundred or more feet into the air.  Firecrackers did a great job of blowing up apples or other things.  But if the wick was put out, nothing would happen.

 

For today's verse we'll go back to yesterday's N.T. reading, Matthew 12:

Matt 12:20-21
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope."  NIV

or from the NLT

 20 He will not crush the weakest reed
      or put out a flickering candle.
      Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
 21 And his name will be the hope
      of all the world."

 

Sometimes sin, or circumstances in our lives like illnesses or accidents can seem to put out the spiritual wick in our lives.  But as with firecrackers, looks can be deceiving, and a breeze or something else can get that wick going again, causing the firecracker to go off unexpectedly. 

 

Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives can have that effect on us.  He can re-light or breath/blow on our spiritual wick to reveal His power working through us.  People can be surprised by the power released.

Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   NKJV

The word for "power" in this and other verses is dunamis, which is the root word from which we get the word "dynamite".  - dunamis (doo'-nam-is); force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):

God's relighting this wick is a miracle in itself.

 

Regarding the "smoldering wick", John Piper writes, "Nor quench a smoldering wick" (v. 20). My guess is that this morning some of you feel like your spiritual lamp has almost gone out. For some the flame is burning very low. For others all that's left is a smoldering wick. The word of the Lord for you this morning is that Jesus does not quench the little spark of spiritual life left in you. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him gentle for now. As long as this life lasts the atmosphere of Jesus is all oxygen. The faintest spark of spiritual life will glow and grow when it comes into contact with Jesus. "God sent not the Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved." Jesus did not come to snuff out your struggling flicker but to fan it carefully into a torch for his glory."

 

If your spiritual wick is smoldering and seamingly about to go out, may Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, rekindle that flame.  To God be the glory.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

Matt 12:15-22

Jesus, God's Chosen Servant
15 But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, 16 but he warned them not to reveal who he was. 17 This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:
18 "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.He is my Beloved, who pleases me.I will put my Spirit upon him,and he will proclaim justice to the nations.19 He will not fight or shoutor raise his voice in public.20 He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.  Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.  21 And his name will be the hope of all the world."
NLT

Verse of the Day 1/14 - complete

Through the Bible - Genesis 34-35, Matthew 12

 

Good morning,

Previously I had meant to hit save and hit send.  Anyway, here is the complete version.

Have you ever bought a new pair of shoes or hiking boots, (or perhaps high heels for you ladies) and wore them right away for too long without breaking them in?  Your feet get sore and it is a burden to even think about putting them on again?   Changes in relationships, jobs, ministries, or moving into new stages of our lives can leave us feeling the same way.  We may jump into things too quickly and feel the pains.   For today's verse we go back to the book of Matthew to one of the most famous/popular verses in that gospel.   Matthew 11: 28 Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." or from the NKJV  28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."   When your weak or weary or discoraged or even "all of the above" these verses offer hope, comfort, and peace to those who will come to Him.   I've read these verse dozens if not a hundred times, but I never thought about it much in relation to prayer as I did after spending so many of these last several days considering different aspects of prayer.   Today I'd like to focus on what the NLT says " my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."   I remember hearing Chuck Swindoll speak on these verses where he described the "easy yoke".  The yoke is a harness to be put on farm animals to help them in pulling carts, plows, or other equipment.  Yokes, especially, mass produced ones, would dig into the animal, hurt them and affect their performace.  The "easy yoke" was one that was custom made, custom fitted to the animal(s) so that it wouldn't chaffe or hurt the animal.  It made doing their job easier, especially when the animal was hooked up to another with experience, and they pulled in the same direction.   Jesus knows our situation.  He custom fits our yoke for us.  (Sometimes it may feel like we are doing the forming like in the new shoes mentioned above), but either way, for those who are His and come to His calling, the burden will be light, we are hitched up with Him, He knows the best path, the best furrow to follow.   Swindoll writes, " Here we find the connection between obedience and rest. Christ's yoke turns out to be light—obeying Him is not a heavy load. Why? Because when we really know Him, we will follow Him gladly. Christ invites us to enter into a loving relationship with Him, thus bypassing the stress that comes from perfectionism and false guilt. Relief from stress is not automatic—it requires coordinating the demands of your body, mind, and spirit. May our God be allowed entrance into your mind and be given the reins of your life so completely that your stress is replaced with peace and faith. "   Do you suffer from stress that stems from "perfectionism or false guilt as Chuck mention in area(s) of our lives?  Why not give up the reins and follow His leading?   In Christ, Mike   Jesus Gives True Rest     25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."