Verse of the Day - weekend 1/30

Through the Bible - Exodus 23-26, Matthew20:17-21:32

 

Good morning,

I read two different devotionals this morning that brought together two passages that I wouldn't have thought of in conjunction with one another.  The first is from Luke 23 and Jesus' conversation  with the thief on the cross.  It is where we'll go for today's verse.

 

Luke 23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

43 And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." NLT

 

The second passage was 1 Corinthians 13:7 from the Amplified Bible.

1 Corinthians 13:7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Two criminals were side by side with Jesus.  One saw the disparity the other didn't.  One saw how "love bears up under anything and everything that comes", one saw grace and love personified in Jesus the other didn't.  One chose to believe and called out for Jesus to remember Him.  Jesus didn't deny Him.

The hopes of all of those who come to Jesus in faith are "fadeless", whether they come early in life or at the very end, as long as it is surrendering yourself to God's grace. 

Pictures fade, colors fade, sometime the most vibrant fading the fastest.  But God's love, mercy and compassion for us never fade, they will carry us to an eternity in paradise.

Consider what these verses and the quote below mean to you this weekend as you prepare to worship.

"The gospel, in brief, is the good news about the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. Consider for a moment that the eternal Son of God relinquished the glories of heaven to become a man, a human being like you and me. He lived a perfect and sinless life (unlike you and me), fulfilling every requirement of God's holy law in a way we could never hope to accomplish. And then in a glorious display of God's love for sinners like us, he willingly received the full fury of God's righteous wrath against sin by dying for our sins on a cruel Roman cross.

Because God's absolute and perfect holiness demands an equivalent holiness from all who come before him, in ourselves we are hopelessly lost and condemned. But Jesus, who had no sin of his won to pay for, took our place, paid our penalty, and suffered our punishment. Because his death as our substitute was perfectly sufficient to pay for our sin, God vindicated him by raising him from the dead. So now all who place their trust in Jesus' work on their behalf and turn from their sin will be forgiven, counted righteous in him, and saved from judgment for all eternity . . . all by God's marvelous grace. This is the gospel. This is the good news. Better news simply does not exist!"

- Gary & Betsy Ricucci. Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace,

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Luke 23:35-44

 

35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. "He saved others," they said, "let him save himself if he is really God's Messiah, the Chosen One." 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 A sign was fastened to the cross above him with these words: "This is the King of the Jews."

 

39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, "So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you're at it!"

 

40 But the other criminal protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom."

 

43 And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."   NLT

Verse of the Day 1/29

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

 

Good morning,

The past couple of weeks seem to have been filled with prayer requests for friends and relatives of friends battling cancer and other serious illnesses, a serious injury from a car accident, and recurrent thoughts on the tragedies in Haiti.

 

They brought me back to a time, 10 years ago, as our oldest son Jeff was in the early, very early stages of recovering from his car accident.  At the time we were thankful that he was alive, but he couldn't talk, drink thru a straw (except for thick liquids), and had to eat ground up food.  During that time I was using a "My Utmost for His Higest" journal.  There were many unanswered questions regarding Jeff's prognossis, and hope  at times wavered.

I picked up that journal last night and read the following entry.

 

"Lord, take Jeff, use him for Your glory.  I pray that you would heal him, show him mercy and compassion, for Your glory.  Take me Lord, take control, guide me, use me, strengthen my faith, and help me to diligently seek after you every day."

 

I don't remember making that prayer, but I'lm thankful that it was writtten down.  Ten years later I can see how it was answered in so many ways, not as I had envisioned them, but as God did.  But He knew my words, my heart before I even said or wrote that prayer.

For today's verse we'll go to Lamentations, written by Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, someone who knew what it was like to cry out to God for himself, those close to him and his nation.   It was a verse that I had written down in my journal at that time.

 

Lam 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night,
as the watches of the night begin;
pour out your heart like water
in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to him
for the lives of your children,   NIV

Consider what it means to pour out your heart like water.  The picture that I get is more like pouring from a bucket than from a teapot or pitcher with which you have a lot of control and only pour out as much as needed.  With a bucket or a watering can in your garden you pour it out until it is all gone, you are not holding back, not saving some for later.  You are leaving it all in the garden.  Laying it all on the line.

 

When was the last time you prayed like that for yourself, your children, loved ones or friends?

 

If you do so, or need to do so today, I would encourage you to write it down in a journal.  You may be surprised to see how God answers it, even or perhaps especially in ten years time.

 

The Lord certainly answered many prayers for Jeff, in many ways and in ways that we may not have expected, but He did heal him, show him mercy and compassion, and He is using Jeff for His glory.  The joy of the Lord is his strength, and he is a blessing to those who come to know him.

 

I thought that I'd post a portion of Psalm 139 which I read in a devotional this morning.  Read it below.

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

Ps 139:1-11

 

139 1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

 

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.  NLT

Verse of the Day 1/28

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

 

Good morning,

Once we near the end of high school or college we begin, in earnest (most of us at least) to search for, to seek our place in this world.  There is a broad landscape before us and we must choose which way we should go.

Michael W. Smith wrote the song "My Place in this World", here are a few lines.

Lookin' for a reason
Roamin' through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world
There are several ways to carve out some space for ourselves these days.  We have social networks like Myspace and Facebook, we can create our own blogs, we can join any number of organizations, and we can worship God through many denominations.  There are many roads to choose from but only one right path.  For today's verse we'll go back to another verse that Pastor Bob referrenced in last Sunday's sermon

.

Matt 7:13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.   NLT

or from the Amplified Bible:

^{Matthew 7:13}Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it.

    ¹⁴But the gate is narrow (contracted ^[a]by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it.^(A)

I like the way the Amplified puts it "spacious and broad" is the way to destruction.  There are plenty of places, of ways to lose ourselves in this world.  But the gate, God's gate, God's way is narrow "contracted" or squeezed by the pressures of the world in advertising, TV shows, peer pressure and our own selfish pride.

 

The verse and the the thought of the narrow way have been on my mind all week.  Several things have come to mind.  The narrow way reminded me of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" an excellent allegory of Christian's walk along the narrow path.  The narrow way reminded me of Psalm 23.    It reminded me of the old hymn "On Higher Ground"and it also reminded me of the chorus I remember singing as a kid "I have decided to follow Jesus".

 

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

No turning back, no turning back.

 

The world behind me, the cross before me.....  no turning back no turning back.

 

"The God of the Bible is the righteous God of holy love. The trouble is, however, that we have become paradoxically the glory and garbage of the universe. Our great need is peace with God, and not just with God but also with one another.

The broad notion should humble us at the thought of a righteous God of holy loving purpose who, in love, has never abandoned his wayward creatures but in a plan of rescue has begun to reclaim the created order and will in the end restore creation to himself and to his glory. Love is the motive, glory the goal. The narrow one brings us to Christ and his cross. He is the linchpin of the plan. We are brought to a real Christ, to a real cross, to a real cost." —Graham A. Cole,

^{Psalm 23:3}He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

The narrow way is definitely not the easy way, but it is the only way to the city of God. 

Heb 11:10 Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.  NLT

 

Read the verses from The Message below.  Don't take shortcuts, diligently follow.  Will you, have you "decided to follow Jesus, no turning back"?

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Matt 7:13-14

Being and Doing

 

"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life — to God! — is vigorous and requires total attention.   (from THE MESSAGE:)

Verse of the Day 1/27

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

 

Good morning,

Sometimes we feel in our lives like we don't know what it is that we should do.  We want to follow Christ but the path forward doesn't seem clear.  Pastor Bob shared the cover of a recent Time magazine which showed President Obama sitting in the oval office with the caption "Now What?".

 

In yesterday's verse from Ephesians 2 we saw that we have been created or recreated in Christ Jesus, to do good works which He had planned beforehand that we should do.

 

Going back to the book of Genesis, in chapter 1 you can find 3 main teachings.  God Himself, the true, personal and wise God, stands behind creation.  His work is true and orderly work not a random creation.  The work of His creation is good in general and good for us personally.

 

The same elements that were involved in His creating the world are present in His creation of us as His children.

 

For today's verse we'll go to the Old Testament book of Micah to see what God requires of us as His children, as His followers.  If you are wondering "Now What" in your life, today's verse should set you off on the right path.

Micah 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God?^{(A)  Amplifed Bible}

 

What the prophet says in these verses ring true to both of the previous verses and passages.

 

The Lord desires that we do justlly, do the right thing, something that requires order and not chaos in our lives.  It involves schedules, setting time aside for Him, and having balance in various aspects of our lives.

 

He desires that we should love to show kindness and mercy.  Look at what He provided Adam and Eve, what He has provided for us physically, emotionally and spiritually, even after times when we may have turned from Him.  We should desire to show mercy and kindness to those who need it even though we may feel that they don't deserve it, it should be passed on as a gift.

 

He desires that we walk humbly with Him.  We tend to be proud and want our independence.  What would God want to see in us?   Humility and dependence.

 

 We've considered this before but I'll ask it again - would you use "humble" as a word to describe  an attribute of God?  Look at Jesus' words from Matthew 11:

 

 Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   NIV

James 4:6 But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say,

"God opposes the proud
but favors the humble."

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. NLT

 

Read the passage from Micah 6 from The Message below.  How is God calling us to live today?

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Mic 6:6-9

How can I stand up before God
and show proper respect to the high God?
Should I bring an armload of offerings
topped off with yearling calves?
Would God be impressed with thousands of rams,
with buckets and barrels of olive oil?
Would he be moved if I sacrificed my firstborn child,
my precious baby, to cancel my sin?

 

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously —
take God seriously.

Attention! God calls out to the city!
If you know what's good for you, you'll listen.
So listen, all of you!
This is serious business.   (from THE MESSAGE)

Verse of the Day 1/26

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

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's devotional from Hebrews 13 we were told that we can be freed from our disposition towards ourselves and that this disposition can be transformed, recreated into a disposition towards the Lord and others through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.  In this transformation so we'll find "more to this life".

 

For today's verse we'll go to Ephesians chapter 2, about God's saving grace.  It's another verse from Pastor Bob's sermon last weekend.

Eph 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  NLT
or from the Amplified Bible:

^{Ephesians 2:10}  For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), ^[a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

 When I read the words "recreated" in Christ, my thoughts went back to David in Psalm 51 when he said "create in me a clean heart". 

Ps 51:10  God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.   (from THE MESSAGE)
 How many of us at some point came to a realization of the need for a clean start a clean heart, a "Genesis week"?  Tired of the rat race, a race that nobody wins, we can have a new purpose.  But, it is not something that we do for ourselves, the work is done by Jesus within us.  It is pointed out earlier in the passage.

 

Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.  NIV

John Piper in a sermon on this passage stated, "One of the greatest books about God ever written, namely, John Calvin's Institutes, begins with this sentence: "Nearly all the wisdom we possess, that is to say, true and sound wisdom, consists of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves." What we may need reminding of in our day is not that the knowledge of God is difficult to comprehend and to embrace—that's more or less obvious—but that the knowledge of ourselves is just as difficult to comprehend and to embrace. Indeed, it may be more difficult, first, because a true knowledge of ourselves assumes a true knowledge of God, and, second, because we tend to think we do know ourselves, when, in fact, the depths or our condition are beyond our comprehension without the help of God. "

 

Piper concludes his sermon with the following statement and prayer.  "There are two ways to respond to this: One is theoretical and impersonal; the other is personal and urgent. One says: How can this be, and how can that be? The other says: God brought me here today. God spoke in these texts to me today. God's mercy and love and grace seem desperately needed and beautiful to me today. O God, today, I submit to your amazing grace that has brought me here and awakened me and softened me and opened me. Thanks be to God for the riches of his mercy and the greatness of his love and the power of his grace."

Has God spoken to you in the text today?  Read the familiar passage below in The Message paraphrase.  What might he be preparing you for?

Blessings,

Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Eph 2:1-10

He Tore Down the Wall

2 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.   (from THE MESSAGE)

Verse of the Day 1/25

Through the Bible - Exodus 9-10, Matthew 18:1-20

 

Good morning,

The title for our pastor's message this weekend was "Loving Monday's", which is probably not how most of us feel about it.  The song leading into the message gave some indication as to why. 

 

"Something More"
Monday, hard to wake up
Fill my coffee cup, I'm out the door
Yeah, the freeway's standing still today
It's gonna make me late, and thats for sure
I'm running out of gas and out of time
Never gonna make it there by nine
[Chorus:]
There's gotta be something more
Gotta be more than this
I need a little less hard time
I need a little more bliss
I'm gonna take my chances
Taking a chance I might
Find what I'm looking for
There's gotta be something more

I'll make it short and sweet, so listen up
I could work my life away, but why?
I got things to do before I die

You best believe that I'm not gonna wait
'Cause there's gotta be something more

 

 Have you ever felt that way that there has to be something more to life than the rat race and the keeping up with the Jones's?

The first scripture that Bob referenced in his sermon was Hebrews 13:5 which will be our verse for today.  Pay close attention to the Amplified Bible translation.

Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said,

"I will never leave you;
I will never forget you."  NCV

or from the Amplified Bible

Hebrews 13:5 Let your ^[a]character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] ^[b]Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor ^[c]give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, ^[d][I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor ^[e]let [you] down (^[f]relax My hold on you)! [^[g]Assuredly not!]^(A)   Amplified Bible

 

The Amplified Bible says "let your character or moral disposition be...".  A person's disposition is the predominant or prevailing tendency of one's spirits. It has to do with our tendencies or inclinations.  The Bible makes it clear what our priorities as Christians are supposed to be and it is not towards greed, avarice, lust and a craving for more of what this world entices us with.

 

It requires living by faith and not by sight.  Notice how the Amplified version tells us three times that God tells us "I will not in any degree leave you helpless or forsake you. What kind of confidence should this give us, to live for Him, knowing that He won't let us down or relax His hold on us.

He won't relax His hold on us.

 

So where to we go to find more to this life?  This verse tells us.  Steven Curtis Chapman gives us an idea of this in his song.

 

More to This Life -

 

But there's more to this life than living and dying,
More than just trying to make it through the day;
More to this life, more than these eyes alone can see,
And there's more than this life alone can be.

So where do we start to find every part
Of what makes this life complete;
If we turn our eyes to Jesus we'll find
Life's true beginning is there at the cross where He died.
He died to bring us . . .

More to this life.

 

John Piper writes in his book "Don't Waste Your Life" that "God created us to live with a single passion; to joyfully display His supreme excellence in all spheres of life.  The Wasted Life is the life without this passion.  God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of (with all our stuff), but to make much of Him in every part of our lives."

 

What is your disposition today?

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Heb 13:1-9

Jesus Doesn't Change

13 Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it's needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you. Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.

Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I'm fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn't change — yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself.    (from THE MESSAGE)

Verse of the Day weekend 1/23

Through the Bible - Exodus 4-6, Matthew 17

 

Good morning,

Our high school Bible study group is dealing with the topic of creation.  I've been doing a lot of reading in preparation for it and have been enjoying it very much.

Scientists can only go back so far until they hit the wall.  Albert Einstein said, "I now see the necessity of a beginning".

 

Read this statement by astronomer Robert Jastrow, "This is an exceedingly strange development, unexpected by all but the theologians.  They have always accepted the word of the Bible.  In the beginning God created heaven and earth... it is unexpected because science has had extraordinary success in tracing the chain of cause and effect backward in time.  For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream.  He has scaled the mountains of ignorance, he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries."

 

The read through the Bible plan above has moved into the book of Exodus and in yesterday's reading, God revealed to Moses who He is and what Moses was to tell people who asked him who this God is.  We'll go there for this weekend's verse.

Ex 3:14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel,'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'    NKJV

In John 8 we read:

John 8:58 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"   NIV  Carl Sagan is famous for his saying "the Cosmos, all there ever was, is and will be".  He didn't peer over that last rock.  Many will not consider what the Bible says.  There was Someone who created all that is.   The Bible tells us from beginning to end who He is.  I couldn't explain it any better than is stated in the Aaron Jeoffrey song "He Is".

 

He Is

 

In Genesis, He's the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He's our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He's Moses' voice
In Joshua, He is salvation's choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He's sovereign

Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, He's the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He's Mordecai's courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song

In Proverbs, wisdom's cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover's dream

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Isaiah, He's Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He's the call from sin
In Daniel, the stranger in the fire

In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He's the Spirits power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He's the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He's the great missionary

In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, He is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He's pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our fountain

In Malachi, He is the son of righteousness rising with healing in His wings

He is, He is, HE IS!

In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He's the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin

Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servants heart
In Colossians, He's the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He's our mediator and our faithful Pastor

In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, he is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords

He is, He is, HE IS!

The prince of peace
The Son of man
The Lamb of God
The great I AM

He's the alpha and omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!

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
Ex 3:11-17

 

11 But Moses said to God,"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?"

 

12 So He said,"I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."

 

13 Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?"

 

14 And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel,'I AM has sent me to you.'" 15 Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.' 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, 'The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying,"I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;
NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/22

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

 

Good morning,

Yesterday I referred to the song "Awake My Soul", I'd like to continue with the thought of the next line "prepare an entrance for your glory".

I read a devotional this morning that ended with the following prayer, "Lord, prepare me to fully receive and understand your Word".

 

For today's verse we'll go to Luke chapter 24 where Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure.  But He won't leave them empty handed or empty hearted.

Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."  45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.    NKJV

Going back a couple of days, if we have found that "pearl of great price", if we are willing to give all to follow Him, we must know what Jesus would have us do, and we learn this from what God has told us through the scriptures, the full counsel of God.

 

Apart from Him there is no understanding the scriptures, we need God's Spirit to "open our understanding".

May it be the cry of our heart today.

 

It is the Cry of My Heart

 

It is the cry of my heart to follow You
It is the cry of my heart to be close to You
It is the cry of my heart to follow
All of the days of my life (2)

 

Teach me Your holy ways, O Lord
So I can walk in Your truth
Teach me Your holy ways, O Lord
And make me wholly devoted to You.

 

Open my eyes so I can see
The wonderful things that you do
Open my heart up more and more
And make me wholly devoted to You.

Ps 73:28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.  NLT

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Luke 24:44-50

The Scriptures Opened

44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."  45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,  47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  48 And you are witnesses of these things.  49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."   NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/21

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

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered the "pearl of great price".  We are tempted to think of it as an external thing.  But finding that pearl is a working in the heart.  The pearl is formed in our hearts.

In nature, pearls are the result of a biological process -- the oyster's way of protecting itself from foreign substances.  Layers are formed aournd sources of irritation.  As we go through life, through the trials God puts layer upon layer of grace in our hearts as we follow Him

 

The parables on the pearl and the treause from Matthew 13 came to mind when I heard another song on my Blackberry on the way to the west coast.

 

Awake My Soul - Phillips,Craig & Dean

Awake my soul prepare an entrance for Your glory
And let my heart become a throne for You to dwell
And when I need Your Holy Spirit more than life itself
Then Christ is formed in Me

When I lose myself I reflect Your image
When I break, break my will, then I am whole
When I give, give my all, I find life everlasting.
Then Christ is formed in me.

 

I am not attesting to the theological corectness of the song but the picture that I get is that as we follow Christ and learn from Him we treasure Him more and more.  As this happens, the Pearl, Jesus Christ is being formed in our hearts.  It's about losing ourselves that Christ may be formed in us.  It is not something that we do, as the song may seem to indicate, it's something He does in us.

 

For today's verse we'll go to Philippians 3 where Paul shows us that his heart is much like that of the merchant.

 

Phil 3:8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.   NLT.

 

It's God's way of making us right with Him. 

 

What is being formed in your heart today?

 

Blessings,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Phil 3:7-12

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ  9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.    NKJV

 

Verse of the Day 1/20

Through the Bible - Genesis 48-49  , Matthew 15:1-28

 

Good morning,

The other day in reading through Ecclesiastes the following statement that has been on my mind for a few days as I considered the last couple devotionals:

Eccl 3:11  He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.  NKJV

Yesterday we considered how the man stumbled upon his treasure, the treausure that was worth everything he had to give.  For today's verse we'll go to the flipside of the two short parables.

Matt 13:45 "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

This verse shows the picture of a person who has "eternity in his heart", but instead of stumbling upon it, he has been searching for it, perhaps for his whole life.  The reaction is the same as the person who stumbled upon it.  Once a person finds it nothing else will do, he has to have it. 

 

While typing this, flying over west Texas, I had my headphone on listening to Chris Tomilin when the following song came on.  It is fitting.

 

With Me - Chris Tomlin

 

I open my mouth and You speak for me
You move the mountains and roll back the sea

I will not afraid
I will never be ashamed
For You are with me
You are with me

I've seen enough to know
That You're my only hope
I don't want to go
If You're not with me

We open our hands and You reach for us
You are the motion of the universe 

Tomlin says that he's seen enough to know, he's found the pearl. 

 

The merchant found the pearl and it changed everything.  His world was turned upside down, heaven came down and glory filled his soul.  Have you seen enough to know that this Treasure is our only hope for this life and forever after.  Not to give all for this pearl would be utter foolishness, doomed to having a restless heart.

 

How many people search for meaning, search for true faith in their lives like the merchant searched for the pearl?

 

May your heart be like that of the merchant that had found the pearl in the parable.  in Charles Spurgeon's sermon on this parable, "A Great Bargain" -"Ah, and when a man has got a noble object before him, and says, "Before I die, I will accomplish something that shall be right and true and beneficial to my fellow men," he will face hardships that would baffle his fellows. I pray God that he may have the perseverance to carry that out, and that he may say, "Is there anything right to be learned: I will learn it, let it cost me what it may of care and toil, of headaches and heartaches, of buying experience and burning the midnight oil. If there is anything to be done that is good and true, I will do it at any hazard, for I am seeking goodly pearls."

 

Augustine - "for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Him"
 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Matt 13:44-47

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 1/19

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

 

Good morning,

Our previous home in Huntley was located next to a farm field. The person that farmed it did not own the property, he leased it.

 

I used to walk through the field at different times of the year, primarily as the corn or beans were first coming up or right after harvest.  I was amazed at the number of rocks that remained in the field (some of them fairly large) even after a century of farming. 

 

Reading in Matthew 13 over the weekend, it was hard to imagine how people farmed in some of the areas in Israel that had a lot more rocks, possibly even predominantly stones, making farming difficult.

For today's verse we'll go to this chapter and a short parable.

 

Matt 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.   NIV

Helmut Thielicke writes " The laborer in the field was probably dismayed at first when his plow struck an obstacle.  His first outburst may have been, "Oh these confounded stones!".  How often we fume and fret over the lumps of fate which the plow of our life strikes, the senseless blocks that fate flings in our way.  Whereas in reality it is the pearl, the treasure waiting to be found".

 

Sometimes we go through our lives, avoiding the rocks, or working around them, never knowing the treasure that may lie beneath them.

 

People in these ancient times often buried family treasures in fields when they expected to be overtaken by intruding armies.  Hoping that someday they'd be able to come back and unearth their treasures.  It's quite possible that this farmer, this laborer found such a treasure, perhaps something much more vast than a simple treasure chest.  It could have been the cache of a king, that would take years or the rest of his life to unearth.  He couldn't dig it up all at once, if he wanted to search for what was there he'd have to purchase the field.

 

Sometimes we find God, find our Lord Jesus Christ in (or underneath) the trials of life that we may consider as stones to be avoided.  We find treasure in God's love, in His Word, a treasure that will take a lifetime and beyond to unearth.  A person would be foolish to pass up the treasure and not spare any expense in obtaining that field for His own.

 

The price of that that field is giving our lives to Christ.  (Jesus has paid the price for our salvation, but if we want His life, if we want to follow Him we will surrender ours to Him.)  Whether you are like the rich young ruler or a laborer, it involves giving all you have, giving your life to the Master.

 

People may have thought that the laborer was crazy to purchase such a rocky field, but He knew what was beneath the surface.  People may think you're crazy for following Christ, giving up "worldly things", but we know what is under the surface, a great treasure of hope, of peace, of mercy, and love.  What else might you add?

 

Can you look back in your life and see times when you found obstacles, what you thought were "confounded stones" lead you to a deeper understanding of Jesus Christ and His love through His Word?  Would you trade those experiences that brought you closer to Him?

 

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

Matt 13:44-47

 

Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl

 

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

Verse of the Day - 1/18

Through the Bible - Genesis 45-46, Matthew 14:1-21

Good morning,

When our kids were little, when they were scared at night by a thunderstorm or some noise outside they would often crawl or sneak into our bed with us.  There were times when they were getting a little older and we were trying to break them of this that we would wake up in the morning and find one, two or all three of them curled up in the comforter at the foot of the bed.  They would have preferred to be in bed with us, but just being near us calmed their fears, real or imaginary.

 

A while back I quoted Philippians 4:6-7 focusing on "the peace that passes understanding" which is available to those who call on God in prayer in all circumstances.  It is a verse that my son Jeff has quoted back to Jean and I when he has seen that we lacked that peace.

 

Today's verses are the preceding verses that lay the ground work for this "peace that passes all understanding", rejoicing in the Lord, always, knowing that He is near.

 

Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.   NIV

The key to receiving the peace of God is that He is near to us.  Ed Welch writes that this "nearness changes everything.  The emphasis is not on how we pray.  It is on the God who has come close, who hears, and who is with us.  The only thing that can separate us from His love and presence are our sins, and they have been washed away in Jesus blood."

 

A parents presence can calm the fears of a child who has been frightened by something.  Fear, whether in a child or an adult, doesn't want a 4 or 5 step plan or other impersonal advice; it wants a person.  When you were little and in the dark didn't your parents hand relieve your fears, enable you to walk where you wouldn't have walked on your own? 

 

Even now, as an adult if you can be comforted by a another who may not be as brave and strong as you are, how much more can we be comforted by the presence of the creator of the universe, who is holding us in the palm of His hand?

 

Take a minute and read the passage from The Message paraphrase, may it encourage you to celebrate God, revel in Him, knowing that He's at your side.  Are you facing fears today?  Call on Him, He is near.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Phil 4:4-8

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.    (from THE MESSAGE)

Verse of the Day - weekend 1/16

Through the Bible - Genesis 39-44, Matthew 13:24-58

 

Good morning,

This week I've been made aware of several prayer requests and praises from friends that I know through different circles in church, from small group, Bible study, to friends that I know through church.  When you go through times of difficulty, sorrow, as well as times of joy, it's good to have such a family that we can share those times with.

 

1 Corinthians 12 relates the life of the church to the body.  All parts are needed as the body functions together as a unit.  If one part hurts another part may help compensate for the pain or loss of function.  All may not have the same gift or roll in the church, but all play an important part.

 

For today's verse we'll go to 1 Corinthians 12 to see what Paul has to say about life in the church, in the body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:25-27  The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.   (from THE MESSAGE)
or verse 26 from the Amplified Bible:

²⁶And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.

 

Notice how The Message puts it " If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. "  When someone hurts, are you involved in the hurt and the healing?  What are some of the ways that you can do so?

 

Looking back over my life and the trials of our son Jeff's car accident and Jason's brain tumor, we were thankful for the help and support of pur families, that is our family and our church family.  They not only help at the time but bring some good memories out of bad situations.  Many times lasting relationships are cultivated through such times.

 

John Piper writes, "The New Testament knows of no Christians who are not accountable members of local churches in the sense that we have just seen. "Lone-Ranger Christians" are a contradiction because becoming a Christian means being united to Christ, and union with Christ expresses itself in union with a local body of believers. It seems to us that in the New Testament, to be excluded from the local church was to be excluded from Christ. This is why the issue of membership is so important. "

 

I'm reminded of  a song from the "little church" I grew up in.

 

The Family of God

 

I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.

Chorus

From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong!

I hope that you are part of such a family.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

1 Cor 12:13-27
 Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain — his Spirit — where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves — labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free — are no longer useful. We need something larger, more comprehensive.

 

I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn't just a single part blown up into something huge. It's all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, "I'm not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don't belong to this body," would that make it so? If Ear said, "I'm not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don't deserve a place on the head," would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

 

But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way — the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it's a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

 

The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don't, the parts we see and the parts we don't. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.

 

You are Christ's body — that's who you are! You must never forget this.    The Message

Verse of the Day 1/15

Through the Bible - Genesis 37-38, Matthew 13:1-23

 

Good morning,

Many of us have probably gone through classes or studies in our churches in search of "our spiritual gift".  When we "find it" (I won't go into that) we may be tempted to shy away from other opportunities for Christian service, because after all "that's not my gift".

 

For today's verse we'll go to 2 Timothy where Paul has some advice for this young pastor and for us.

2 Tim 4:5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.   NKJV
or from the Amplified Bible:

2 Timothy 4:5 As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.  Amplified Bible

 

Regarding "Do the work of an evangelist" Dennis Fisher writes, "In this particular passage a number of Bible scholars see a distinction between "the gift of an evangelist" and "the work of an evangelist".  It may be that along with Timothy's pastoral gift, he was at times to function in the role of an evangelist without having the gift (Eph. 4:11).  Likewise, sometimes each of us may be called upon to serve on a project that does not necessarily require that we have a spiritual gift in that area."

 

What's another word we use for work?  Labor.  Paul often speaks of "his labor" and in the following verse he challenges us :

1 Cor 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.    NIV

Giving ourselves fully is not just giving of ourselves in the area of our "spiritual gift".  You may not consider yourself to be an evangelist.  That doesn't mean that you can't be involved in evangelism,  because whether you realize it or not, you are.

 

We are told to be watchful,calm and cool, to know what is going on around us.  We need to have our eyes and hearts open and be ready, be prepared to act.  It's about helping the cause.  It's about passing it on, spreading His love, keeping His message alive.

 

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That's how it is with God's Love,
Once you've experienced it,
Your spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

 

2 Tim 4:5  But you — keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant.
(from THE MESSAGE)

Read the passage below from The Message.  How does it speak to you today?

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
2 Tim 4:1-8

 

4 I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

 

You're going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food — catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They'll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you — keep your eye on what you're doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God's servant.

 

You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting — God's applause! Depend on it, he's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.     (from THE MESSAGe)

Verse of the Day 1/14

Through the Bible - Genesis 35-36, Matthew 12

 

Good morning,
This morning we'll return to Genesis and our thoughts on Abraham.  Abraham trusts God and leaves his homeland for an unknown place of promise.  Abraham trusts God and lives in tents instead of building a city with permanent foundations. Sarah trusts God and conceives when she is barren and past the age of childbearing. Abraham is willing to offer up this son as a sacrifice to God, instead God provides the sacrifice.  Where did such faith come from?

 

He believed in God and His promises, He had a living faith, or you might say he lived by faith. 

 

For today's verse we'll go to one of my favorites from the book of Genesis.

Gen 12:2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.     NKJV

In his sermon on Hebrew 11:7-12, the passage we looked at yesterday, John Piper said that, "Saving faith is not a mere single act of receiving Jesus. Saving faith receives Jesus in order to go on trusting him. Saving faith is a life of faith. That faith is what this chapter (Hebrews 11)is trying to teach us. You can see that most clearly if you look at the verse that leads into the chapter, Hebrews 10:39, "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." Do you see what is at stake: shrinking back to destruction; or pressing on in faith to preserve the soul. In other words, the evidence of authentic saving faith is its pressing on. Faith that saves from destruction is faith that lives day by day."

 

Abraham didn't have an easy life, he didn't have an "easy button" to push.  Like us, he had his ups and downs in his faith, but he persevered, he pressed on.  And in doing so he was a blessing, and nations are still being blessed through those who do likewise.

 

But what I'd like to encourage you to think about today is the statement, the promise God made to Abraham, "I will bless you... and you shall be a blessing."  I believe that that is God's desire, to bless us that we may be a blessing to others.

 

Take some time today to consider how God has blessed, is blessing you.  Take some time also to consider how you may be a blessing to someone close to you or across the world.

 

Make Me a Blessing

 

Out on the highways and byways of life,
Many are the weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Chorus
Make me a blessing, make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine.
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Gen 12:1-6
2 Now the Lord had said to Abram:

"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh.
NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/13

Through the Bible - Genesis 33-34, Matthew 11:20-30

 

Good morning,

Most of you, at least from my generation would remember the theme song form the show "Green Acres" and the choice between the fresh air of the country and Time Square of New York City.  Sometimes we come to crossroads in our lives, for any number of reasons where we'll have to make a choice for ourselves and our families of where we'll go.  I've been reading in Genesis the last few days and have done some thinking about Abraham and Lot and their choices.

 

Abraham was born, raised, and married in Ur which was the New York City of the day, the center of culture, power and wealth.  If you question this you can google the "ziggurat of Ur".  It was excavated in the early 1900's, buried in sand in modern Iraq.  The couse of the Euphrates river had changed leaving it dry and uninhabitable.  The desert sands buried it for centuries.

For today's verse we'll go to Hebrews 11 which tells of Abraham's faith.  To leave the big city to go wherever God would lead him.

 Heb 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. 9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.   NLT

Abraham obeyed God and left Ur, taking up residence in tents.  He followed God faithfully.  Lot went with him, but as time went on he was drawn back to the city.  He first pitched his tent near the city and when we catch up with him later, he's "sitting in the gate" having  landed and settled in Sodom.  You know the rest of the story. 

 

If you haven't just read it, take some time over the next few days and read of Abraham (Abram) and Lot.  Look at their choices and what resulted from them.  Lot ended up having to flee Sodom but still settled on a "little city".  Abraham continuted to go where God lead him.  God would make him the father of many nations and  one of the patriarchs of our faith.

 

The decisions and choices we make here and now will affect future generations positively or negatively.  Abraham's way, the better way, is to follow God, to persevere in the faith.

 

Deut 7:9 "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;   NKJV

Abraham, along with the rest of his spiritual descendants, those listed in Hebrews 11 and fellow Christians today wait "for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb.11:10   God may lead us anywhere from the plains to the big city, but the city that we should desire is our eternal city, the city of God.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Heb 11:8-13

Faithful Abraham
(Gen 15:1-6; 21:1-7)

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude — innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.    NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/12

Through the Bible - Genesis 31-32, Matthew 11:1-19

 

Good morning,

I'm sure that most of us have been in situations where we've had a friend tell us "I'll pray for you".  The degree to which you may receive comfort from that may have something to do with how well we know the person or know of  the integrity of the person saying it.  You may also be encouraged to keep praying, (remember the asking, seeking, and knocking that we considered last week).  Knowing what that person has gone through may encourage you to press on, to persevere, in faith.

I had a verse that I had planned for today but when I opened up Biblesoft on my computer Spurgeon's morning devotional popped up on my screen, as it always does.  Today, for whatever reason , I stopped to read it.  His "verse of the day" was from Luke 22 and it will serve as ours as well.

 

Luke 22:32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers."   NLT

Spurgeon wrote, "How encouraging is the thought of the Redeemer's never- ceasing intercession for us. When we pray, He pleads for us; and when we are not praying, He is advocating our cause, and by His supplications shielding us from unseen dangers. Notice the word of comfort addressed to Peter--"Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat; but"--what? "But go and pray for yourself." That would be good advice, but it is not so written. Neither does he say, "But I will keep you watchful, and so you shall be preserved." That were a great blessing. No, it is, "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." We little know what we owe to our Saviour's prayers. When we reach the hill-tops of heaven, and look back upon all the way whereby the Lord our God hath led us, how we shall praise Him who, before the eternal throne, undid the mischief which Satan was doing upon earth. How shall we thank Him because He never held His peace, but day and night pointed to the wounds upon His hands, and carried our names upon His breastplate! Even before Satan had begun to tempt, Jesus had forestalled him and entered a plea in heaven. Mercy outruns malice. Mark, He does not say, "Satan hath desired to have you." He checks Satan even in his very desire, and nips it in the bud. He does not say, "But I have desired to pray for you." No, but "I have prayed for you: I have done it already; I have gone to court and entered a counterplea even before an accusation is made." O Jesus, what a comfort it is that thou hast pleaded our cause against our unseen enemies; countermined their mines, and unmasked their ambushes. Here is a matter for joy, gratitude, hope, and confidence. "
 

Notice the context of Jesus' statement.  Peter was self confident.  Jesus knew that Peter was ready for a fall.  Peter would fall, and Jesus knew that he'd struggle with it.  Jesus was preparing Peter for it.  He knew he'd hit rock bottom.  But as the words predicting Peter's denial would ring true, so would the words, His knowledge of Peter's repentance, his return to faith ring true. 

 

When he returned he would strengthen his brothers and his words still strengthen us.  Just read of faith in the book of Acts 2 and following.  Read Peter's challenge and encouragement to us when facing troubled waters.

 

1 Peter 1:6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.  NLT

Are you struggling?  Are you perhaps over confident?  Either way, what does it mean to you that Jesus is praying for you?

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Luke 22:31-35

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
(Matt 26:31-35; Mark 14:27-31; John 13:36-38)

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

NKJV

Verse of the Day 1/11

Through the Bible - Genesis 29-30, Matthew 10

 

Good morning,

Our pastor, in his sermon this weekend quoted several verses that are key in the life of a churhch including verses from Acts 2 and 4 and Romans 12, all great chapters.   But one vamiliar verse from Hebrews 10 struck me as I read along in the Amplified Bible which I had brought with me.  We"ll go there for today's verse.

^{Hebrews 10:24}And let us consider and give ^[a]attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,

Or from the NKJV

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.    NKJV

The Amplified version speaks of stirring up as to stimulate and incite.  Many of up probably use "inciteful" words from time to time to spur someone to action, but I would hazard a guess that seldom is it done in a loving manner.  The thought here brought me to the prophet Nathan in 1 Kings 12, approached David after his sin and moral failure and told him "you are the man" who was guilty of killing the precious lamb.

 

Occasionally we as Christians will falter and fail in some areas and we will need someone to "incite" us to corrective action.  But the only way that it will work is if it is connected to the principles that preceded it in this translation.  Something like that will be more likely accepted from a friend who is and has been "attentive" and has shown "continuous care" in watching over you and your life.

 

We need this in our lives and in our ministries.  It's an important aspect of small groups, Bible studies, and core groups for various ministries.

 

I am not challenging you to go out and start confronting people on every little thing, but to invest yourself in the lives of others so that when the time comes when a word of correction may be necessary it will be received and will open the friends eyes to what is going on and to realize that corrective action needs to be taken. 

 

The other important point to notice is that our actions should not come from our own ideas, our own pride, but from studying God's Word and letting His Word guide us into how we may stir up, stimulate, and incite "to love and helpful deeds".

 

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
Heb 10:19-26

 

Hold Fast Your Confession

 

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.    NKJV