Verse of the Day 8/17

Through the Bible - Psalms 111-112  , 1 Corinthians 2

 

Good morning,

The New Testament reading plan (above) has now moved into 1 Corinthians where we will go for today's verse.

 

In Paul's letters he most often begins by telling us something of his relation to God and who we are in relationship to God.  Most of the advertisements that we see on TV are aimed at building our relationships to the products being advertised.  Beer commercials to guys having fun in relation to their "buddies", diet programs about the relationship between you and your bodies, and inurance companies about you in relation to your life and health in relation to your families.

 

Virtually every one of the verses in today's passage point to how we can have a better idea of our relationship to God in Christ.  It involves a look back to the past, then to our current condition, and then to our future and what we can be sure of as Christians.

 

Today's verses give us encouragement that it does not depend on us, if we are "in Christ", God will be faithful to see us through.

 

1 Cor 1: 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

or from the NKJV

1 Cor 1:8(our Lord Jesus Christ,)  who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 

John Piper, in a sermon on this passage tells us, "When you look back, you know yourself as called by God.  When you look forward, know yourself kept by God.  What happened to make you a Christian is the call of God.  What will happen to keep you a Christian is the faithfulness of God.  Know who you are!!  Called by God!  Kept by God!"
Don't say to yourself this morning; there is no hope for me for I'm not among that number.  The freedom of God in the calling of sinners is intended to give hope, not take hope.  It means that none is too bad.  None is too hard.  None is too far gone.  God is free.  God is rich unto all who call upon Him.  Look how expansive verse 2 is: he writes "to all those in every place who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ".  Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13)  If you can call, you are called."

What do those words mean to you today?  If you are not certain, you can call on Him.  If you know a friend that is uncertain, let them know that they can call.
 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
 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

1 Cor 1:1-10

 

Greetings from Paul

 

1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes.

 

2 I am writing to God's church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.

 

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

 

Paul Gives Thanks to God

 

4 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. 5 Through him, God has enriched your church in every way—with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. 6 This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. 7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. 9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   NLT

 

NKJV