Verse of the Day 5/18

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 23-24, John 7:37-52 

 

Good morning,

Earlier this week I had read Psalm 37 where three times within the first eight verses the psalmist encourages us not to "fret" in various situations.  Some translations use the word worry, but the word fret carries with it a little more emphasis, it implies continued worrying which can keep us away from other things.  People can fret about just about anything from what clothes to wear (who hasn't heard a teenager look into a full closet and say "I have nothing to wear"), to something about our cars, hobbies or work.  Fretting can also take us away from other things such as serving others.

 

This weekend our church snet people out into the community to do various acts of service.  Prior to heading out they were given the following steps to follow in heading out to serve.  They are good words for us to apply every day of our lives.

1) Pray: Lord I'm available.  Use me to touch someone's life today.

2) Have your spiritual radar up, ready for the Holy Spirit's prompting.

3) Engage someone you're helping, whether on a casual or deep level.

4) Leave the results to God.

 

Part of this weekend's New Testament reading was from John 7 ,verse 27 below from the Amplified Version.

 

John 7:27  Stop toiling and doing and producing for the food that perishes and decomposes [in the using], but strive and work and produce rather for the [lasting] food which endures [continually] unto life eternal; the Son of Man will give (furnish) you that, for God the Father has authorized and certified Him and put His seal of endorsement upon Him.  Amplified Bible

 

Many of the things tht we "toil" over are the same things we fret about.  How many of these things will be of lasting importance.  Why not spend more of our time doing things that will last, will help sustain us and others for the future, possibly eternity?  Jesus will furnish what we need through His Word and the Holy Spirit's prompting.

 

Instead of fretting, wouldn't you prefer to have the Father's "seal of endorsement" on what you are doing?  It is possible if you are living in accordance to His will, and His Word does a work in you from "the Inside Out".

Psalm 37 starts off by telling us not to fret or be envious of "evil men" who seem to profit in their ways.

 

Ps 37:1-4
Do  not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

 

For today's verse we'll consider what God tells us is the alternative.

 

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.   NIV

 

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

Ps 37:1-12

 

37 Do  not fret because of evil men
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

 

3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 

5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

 

7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.

 

8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret — it leads only to evil.
9 For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.

 

10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy great peace.

 

NIV