Verse of the Day 8/31

Through the Bible - Psalms 146-148, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

 

Good morning,

A friend of mine recently saw a couple of hand written signs as he drove along the highway which stated "no matter what, trust God".  When he returned home later that day and got off the highway he saw the same sign outside of a local restaurant.  The phrase stuck with him as it has stuck with me since Sunday.   What exactly is involved in that kind of trust?

 

Yesterday's verse involved hope.  Regarding the hope in Romans 8:24-25 commentator James Dunn writes, "the phrase ('saved in hope') is not meaningless, precisely because hope for Paul was not something tentative. Hope was rather something assured, based on what had been done in Christ (Rom. 5: 6-10; Rom. 8: 3, 11) and on what they themselves had already experienced through the Spirit (Rom. 5: 5; Rom. 8: 2, 9-10, 15-16, 23). So, to use the past tense ('saved') was not inappropriate, so long as the incompleteness of the process was not lost to sight. It is the combination of assurance and hope which makes the waiting a matter of eager longing."

 

Faith and hope and trust are intertwined and together they can grow inside of us, in our hearts and produce fruit in our lives. For today's verse we'll go to Matthew 17 where the disciples had been unable to cast a demon out of a person.  After much previous success they were confused and couldn't understand why they couldn't drive it out.

 

Matthew 17:20 (Amplified Bible)  He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.

 The seed of the mustard plant is the smallest of the garden seeds, almost invisible and easily overlooked.  But if it is planted in fertile soil, from the smallest beginnings it will grow to be one of the tallest plants in the garden.  So it can be with our faith.

 

John MacArthur writes, "but as He made clear in the parable of the mustard seed, the seed does not represent littleness as such, but rather littleness that grows into greatness.  "When it is full grown," He explained, "it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree." (Matt. 13;32).  Small faith can accomplish great things only if, like a mustard seed, it grows into something greater than it

was.  Only when small faith grows into great faith can it move a mountain."

 

All too often we read these verses and expect God to move mountains without turning to Him in the "small things", which require little faith.

 

MacArthur continues, "mustard seed faith is persistent faith.  It continues to grow and become productive because it never gives up."

 

What is the condition of  your faith today.  May it grow, become more productive and may it never give up.

 

Read the passage from The Message below.  May we follow the advive and take God seriously.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

With a Mere Kernel of Faith

Matthew 17:  ^14-16At the bottom of the mountain, they were met by a crowd of waiting people. As they approached, a man came out of the crowd and fell to his knees begging, "Master, have mercy on my son. He goes out of his mind and suffers terribly, falling into seizures. Frequently he is pitched into the fire, other times into the river. I brought him to your disciples, but they could do nothing for him."

 ^17-18Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here." He ordered the afflicting demon out—and it was out, gone. From that moment on the boy was well.

 ¹⁹When the disciples had Jesus off to themselves, they asked, "Why couldn't we throw it out?"

 ²⁰"Because you're not yet taking God seriously," said Jesus. "The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, 'Move!' and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn't be able to tackle."   The Message

Verse of the Day 8/29

Through the Bible - Psalms 143-145 , 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 

Good morning,

Our high school age Sunday Bible study group got back together this Sunday after being "off" for the summer.  We didn't come into this morning with an agenda but the discussions moved to "trust in God no matter what" and to hope and faith..  For today's verse we'll go to one of the verses that came up in our discussion.

Romans 8:24-25 (Amplified Bible) For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees?

²⁵But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.

James Smith who was a predecessor of Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street Chapel in London until 1848 wrote:

 

To be saved by hope--is to be kept, preserved, upheld, or sustained, in the midst of foes, dangers, and trials.

Hope quickens us in duties--and preserves us from becoming cold and dead.
It comforts us in tribulations--and keeps us from being disheartened and gloomy.
It enables us to overcome temptation--and so to hold on our way, looking unto Jesus.
It gives us peace in death--in the sure prospect of victory over the grave.

Thus hope saves us:
by preventing despair--into which we can never fall while hope lives within us;
by preserving us from desperation--to the verge of which we are sometimes brought;
by guarding us against rebellion--the seeds of which are still thickly sown in our corrupt hearts; and
by protecting us against apostasy--into which we can never fall so long as we hope in God.

From many evils, at many times, in many ways--we are saved by hope!

Hope is in God--as its highest object and best end.
Hope is through Christ--who is the way to the Father, the truth, and the life.
Hope is on the ground of the Word, which warrants, excites, and regulates it.
Hope is for all that God has promised, whether temporal or spiritual, in this world or the next.
Hope should be encouraged--as it brings . . .
  glory to God,
  comfort to our souls,
  credit to our religion, and
  honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Spirit, fill us with a lively hope, and teach us to expect . . .
  all that God has promised,
  all that Christ has procured, and
  all that You have revealed in Your most holy Word.

 

The NKJV speaks of this hope as something we eagerly wait for with perseverance.  It is an expectant hope.  The Message paraphrase speaks of a "pregnant creation".  What will be birthed from our hope?  If you have another minute read the the verses below.  What is God arousing in you through hope?

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

Romans 8:24-25 (The Message)

 ^22-25All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

Verse of the Day - weekend 8/28

Through the Bible - Psalms 138-142, 1 Corinthians 11

 

For this weekend's verse we'll turn to the book of Proverbs to three verses which tell us the things that God hates.  Hate is a strong word especially in this context.  We should be aware of these in our lives.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (Amplified Bible)These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:  

¹⁷A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.

The political climate is heating up around the country.  Angry words are being tossed everywhere.  The "spin doctors" are at in if full force, twisting their stories to make absurd things sound appealing.  Fales statements are being made, even under oath, promises made in campaigns that the politician may have no intention of holding to or following through on.  Oh that the politicians would hear and be convicted of these words.

 

But what about us as Christians?  Are we as Christians to join in the fray?

 

We should use God's Word daily to examine our lives, our thoughts and actions.  These verses would be a good starting point.  Put aside pride and the prideful look.  Don't overestimate ourselves and underestimate others.  Seek to to good and not evil to everyone, even those that may be on the opposing side of a matter.  Speak the truth in love and don't sow discord.

 

As often happens with me, a song came to mind.  "Teaching the Truth in Love" by Accapella.

 

Are we teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
Are we holding pure motives,
Showing that we care
Are we teaching the truth in love

A man came to my Jesus
Telling all that he had done
To fulfill the good commandments
He knew every single one
But Jesus said there's something
That indeed he did lack
The savior told the truth
He didn't hold the message back

He was teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
While holding pure motives
And showing that He cared
He was teaching the truth in love

A woman caught in evil and without an alibi
The truth, so very obvious, made no attempt to lie
With all the foes against her how she felt so all alone
Until Jesus asked the people who would throw the first stone

He was teaching the truth in love
Telling it like it is
While holding pure motives
And showing that He cared
He was teaching the truth in love, in love, in love, in love

Sometimes it's hard to know exactly how we are to share
With our Master's words of confidence, directly, do we dare?
Should we water down the message, should we tell them only parts?
Will they see Him in our message, will they see Him in our hearts?

May those around us see Him in our message and in our hearts.

 

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

Proverbs 6:16-22
¹⁶These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:

    ¹⁷A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

    ¹⁸A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

    ¹⁹A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.

    ²⁰My son, keep your father's [God-given] commandment and forsake not the law of [God] your mother [taught you].

    ²¹Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck.

    ²²When you go, they [the words of your parents' God] shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you.

Verse of the Day 8/27

Through the Bible - Psalms 134-137, 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1

 

Good morning,

 

Yesterday we considered the vanity of "chasing the wind", being caught up in the rat race and the accumulation of "stuff".  A few words from Steve Green's song stayed in my mind, "and hearts deceived can only know a chasing of the wind".  How is it that we get caught up in vain pursuits how is it that we are deceived?

 

The enemy knows our individual weaknesses and preys upon us with temptations that can lead us astray and garner our thoughts and attention, even our hearts, if we're not careful.

But thankfully, we do not have to succumb to this.  God's Word tells us that He will always provide a way out, an escape out of trap being set for us.

 

Today's verses come from yesterday's New Testament reading.  Paul first cautions us against being too self confident then gives us confidence in Christ who can deliver us from the snares with a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (Amplified Bible) Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].

¹³For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

I like what the Amplified Bible says at the end, that this "way out" means more than just an escape, it is deliverance to a landing place.  What good would it be to be rescued from an island where you've been marooned, be picked up by a plane, but have no place to land?

 

We can have "strong confidence" that He provides that landing place, it is a place of refuge and can be found when we seek Him in His Word.

 

Proverbs 14:26 (New King James Version)  In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
      And His children will have a place of refuge.

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 Corinthians 10:6-12

 ⁶ These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did, ⁷ or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, "The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry." ⁸ And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.

 ⁹ Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. ¹⁰ And don't grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. ¹¹ These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

 ¹² If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. ¹³ The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Verse of the Day 8/26

Through the Bible - Psalms 131-133, 1 Corinthians 10:1-22

 

Good morning,

Yesterday I quoted the hymn "At Calvary" which starts out by saying "years I spent in vanity and pride".  The pursuit of "vanities" has been rampant in societies going back to Old Testament times.  Perhaps no one has written more thorough and thought provoking words on the subject than King Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes.

 

A modern term for this pursuit could be "the rat race", its a race that no one wins, no one finds true satisfaction in the pursuit of things.  Its like chasing the wind.

 

Yesterday's "Daily Bread" devotional was in Ecclesiastes 2, stating, "King Solomon did another kind of chasing that couldn't bring him satisfaction (Eccl. 2:1). In the first 11 verses of Ecclesiastes 2 alone, he mentions that he chased after pleasure, laughter, wine, wisdom, houses, gardens, money, possessions, and music. But his evaluation was that "all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun" (2:11). Those pursuits were empty—"vanity of vanities" (1:2).

 

At the end of the passage the king writes,  "But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere."  Eccl. 2:11

For his conclusion on the matter and his advice to us we'll go to the end of that book, Ecclesiastes 12:13.

 

Eccl 12:13 That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.  NLT
What have you been chasing lately?  What or where has it gotten you?

 

Steve Green writes in his song "A Chasing of the Wind"

 

Every heart is filled with longing
To be free from all life's pain
Yet the search through earthly pleasures
Always ends in vain
Only God who made the heavens
Can satisfy our souls
Apart from Him and all His meaning
All things fail as they begin
And hearts deceived
Can only know
A chasing of the wind

 

Consider what "fearing God" means.  Consider the things that Paul tells us will last in 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter.

 

1 Cor 13:13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  NLT  Apply these thing in increasing measure and you'll see that was is accomplished will last.   It won't be a trivial or vain pursuit.

 

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
Eccl 2:1-12

 

The Futility of Pleasure

 

2 I said to myself, "Come on, let's try pleasure. Let's look for the 'good things' in life." But I found that this, too, was meaningless. 2 So I said, "Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?" 3 After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world.

 

4 I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. 7 I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. 8 I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!

 

9 So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. 10 Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. 11 But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

 

Eccl 12:13 That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.  NLT

Verse of the Day 8/25

Through the Bible - Psalms128-130, I Corinthians 9

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered Barnhouse's statement that "love that stoops is grace."  The old hymn "At Calvary" came to mind.  Read the stanzas below, think of the 'mighty gulf" that God spanned to stoop down to us, at Calvary.

1. Years I spent in vanity and pride,
   Caring not my Lord was crucified,
   Knowing not it was for me He died
   On Calvary.       
   Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
   Pardon there was multiplied to me;
   There my burdened soul found liberty
   At Calvary.
2. Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan!
   Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
   Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span
   At Calvary!

For today's verse we'll go to Ephesians chapter 2 where we see that while we were caught up in our vanity and pride, Christ reaches down, only He can make us alive in Christ.

 

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
NKJV

Yesterday we considered a simple definition of grace - "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man" in Titus 3:4  The life that we have in Christ as described in today's verses is available to us only through faith. 

You've probably read and I've shared some definitions of faith, but in its simplest terms it is "believing God's word and acting upon it."

 

Barnhouse writes, "Faith, to be worth anything, must have proper foundations under it.  That is why true faith can be in none other than the living God.  The counterfeits, which the enemy of souls loves to pass, claim the allegiance of some, but they are a debased currency and faith in them is valueless."

 

Our faith has its foundation in the cross and a risen Saviour.

 

Thank you Lord for spanning that gulf to show us  Your mercy, your forgiveness, Your grace, Your deliverance, and Your love.

 

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
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 8/24

Through the Bible - Psalms 128-130, 1 Corinthians 8

 

Good morning,

As I mentioned yesterday, we were on vacation last week and enjoyed spending time with our kids and grandkids.  My granddaughter is two and a half and is as cute as can be and as strong willed as her mother.  She often refuses help and will say "I do myself!".  As parents and grandparents we realize that a young child may want to do something themselves but must step in, reach down and help or take over in a situation.  A little child may enjoy playing in the ocean, but not realize when a large wave is about to crash into her.  The parent or grandparent sees and will lift the child out of the water.

 

For today's verse we go to Titus chapter 3 to a verse which doesn't use the word grace but describes what it is.

Titus 3:4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,   NIV
The Message paraphrase states that when we ourselves were stubborn in our sin "God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in."  Like the child, we can't save ourselves, it is God's doing, He steps in at the right time, picking us up out of the waves.

D.G. Barnhouse writes, "Love that goes upward is worship, love that goes outward is affection, love that stoops is grace.  We were not lovely or loveable.  God commandeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ did for us. (Rom. 5:8)."

 

When a child is being stubborn or throwing a tantrum, they don't exactly  seem loveable at the moment.  The loving parent or grandparent sees beyond this, stoops to the child and holds them.

When we are stubborn in our self will, throwing our own tantrums of greed or lust, God steps in with kindness and love and offers grace.

 

May we experience that when we are tempted to say "I do myself".  Remember this statement, "love that stoops is grace."

 

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
Titus 3:1-8

 

3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

 

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.   NIV

Verse of the Day 8/23

Through the Bible - Psalms 120-124, ! Corinthians 7

 

Good morning,

After a week of vacation it is good to be back home.  Time to get back into the swing of things.

 

Summer is a time when many small groups, Bible studies, Sunday school classes and other programs take a break.  During these times it is easy to feel that you're being "unproductive" in your service for the Lord.  It is also a time when our daily schedules, our time with the Lord can be disrupted or "corrupted", where, if we're not careful, other things can creep in and cause problems.

 

For today's verse we'll turn to 2 Peter 1 where Peter tells his readers that God has given them "everything they need for life and godliness".  He goes on to spell out some things that should be present in our lives whether it is summer or winter, whether studies or small groups are in session or not.

 

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.   NIV

For today's verse we'll go to the following verse where Peter describes what will result from "maintaining" and "persevering" in these down times.

2 Peter 1:8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   NIV

The NKJV uses the word "barren" for ineffective.  In his commentary on this verse, John MacArthur writes, "To be barren is to be inactive, indolent and useless (Titus 1:12, James 2:20-22).  With these virtues increasing in ones life (v.5-7), a Christian will not be useless or ineffective, nor unfruitful."   In other words, even if a ministry is suspended for a time, we will be fruitful if we are applying goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, not matter what "season' it is.

 

Has your summer schedule disrupted your time with the Lord.  Get back into it.

 

In any case, put these principles into practice and you won't feel or be unproductive.

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 Peter 1:5-12

 

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

 

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

 

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   NKJV

Verse of the Day 8/13

Through the Bible- Psalms 102-104, Romans 15:1-21

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered what it means to us that God hears the groans in our hearts, the Spirit speaking on our behalf to intercede for us.  This knowledge should bring us to the realization of God's love expressed by Paul in words that reveal his strong confidence and trust in Christ in all the circumstances in life that he outlines in the passage.

Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version) ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For today's verse we'll go to Romans 15 which is today's New Testament reading, outlined above.  Three times in these two verses we see the word hope.  My son Jeff has said, "hope is my favorite thing to have", may you have it today.
 

Romans 15:12-13 (New International Version)And again, Isaiah says,
   "The Root of Jesse will spring up,
      one who will arise to rule over the nations;
   the Gentiles will hope in him."

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Commentator James Dunn writes, "The language of the final prayer (v.13) is rich and immoderate, reminding the audiences of their dependence on God through his Holy Spirit for all faith and hope, and relishing the experience of joy and peace."

 

Merriam's defines relishing as the-  enjoyment of or delight in something that satisfies one's tastes, inclinations, or desires

 

I, for one, relish the joy and peace that I have found in Christ.  It is my prayer for you that you would experience and relish His joy and peace as well.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Romans 15:7-13 (New International Version)

 ⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs ⁹so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
   "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;            
      I will sing hymns to your name." ¹⁰Again, it says,
   "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." ¹¹And again,
   "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
      and sing praises to him, all you peoples." ¹²And again, Isaiah says,
   "The Root of Jesse will spring up,
      one who will arise to rule over the nations;
   the Gentiles will hope in him."

 ¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Verse of the Day 8/12

Through the Bible -- Psalms 99-101, Romans 14

 

Good morning,

A verse that I had memorized as a child and one that was quoted to me several times during my "dark night of the soul" was Romans 8:28.

Rom 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.   NKJV
It was quoted to bring comfort or perhaps to say that there was a reason for what had taken place.  I've admitted before that it didn't bring comfort or peace for me in that time and that I wouldn't recommend that it be quoted "flippantly" to others who are in the midst of suffering.

That being said, it is a verse to be treasured, it is a biblical truth, but one that perhaps requires time, trust, and faith to comprehend.

This verse is often "lifted" out of the context of the passage.  For today's verse we'll go to the preceding verses in chapter 8.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.   NKJV

 Bible commentator James Dunn gives some perspective on these verses. "In this situation the Spirit comes to our aid-not as an intercessor on high, remote from us (cf. Rom. 8:34); not with intimations of God's will, so that we can actually pray in meaningful words; not in inspired speech whose beauty or quality clearly demonstrates that it is not of ourselves; but in 'wordless groans'! The climax of Paul's exposition of the work of the Spirit in the believer is not the power of the Spirit nullifying the weakness of the flesh (Rom. 8: 2-4), not the assurance of the Spirit crying 'Abba Father' (Rom. 8:15-16), not even the groaning in sympathy with the creation (Rom. 8:23), but the wordless groans of human inability to know what to say before God."

The faith which hopes through and in the deepest suffering and frustration is a faith in God as being faithful and reliable in his gracious concern for human flourishing. The believers who can remain confident that the inadequacy of their wordless groans is a mark of their acceptability to God can also be confident that nothing that happens to them is outside the will of God and that everything works together for their good in fashioning them to be more the people of his calling (Rom. 8:28)."

 

I've known many people, including pastors, who've gone through times when they couldn't find the words to express the words and emotions of their hearts to God in the most difficult times of loss and grief.  But God hears the groans of the breaking hearts of His children and works in their hearts, in their innermost being, "fashioning them" to be the people of His calling, in and through these trials.

 

I had not thought of these verses as the "climax" of Paul's exposition here. But now, looking back in my life, through my dark night, I can see where James Dunn is coming from.

 

If you are in such a time right now.  Know that even if you cannot express the words, that God hears your heart.  He will also heal your heart.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Rom 8:22-28

22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees?

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.   NKJV

Verse of the Day 8/11

Through the Bible - Psalms 96-98, Romans s13

 

Good morning,

I had another verse planned for today but in reading Psalm 130 this morning I decided to go there for this morning's verse.

 

Through the ages enemy attacks often took place under the cover of night.  I recently read of Gideon's defeat of the Midianites in Judges 7 where 300 men defeated a huge army because of the fear associated with the night and not being able to see the opponent clearly.  You can easily picture the air raids of the second world war. Gideon and his 300 men trusted in God and overcame a huge army not in their own wisdom and might but in God's.

 

For the soldiers standing, keeping watch when expecting such an attack, the first light of morning brought relief and hope.

 

Psalm 130:5-6 (Amplified Bible)I wait for the Lord, I expectantly wait, and in His word do I hope. 

 ⁶I am looking and waiting for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, I say, more than watchmen for the morning.

or from the NKJV:

Psalm 130:5-6 (New King James Version)I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
         And in His word I do hope.
 ⁶ My soul waits for the Lord
         More than those who watch for the morning—
         Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

I included the Amplified translation because it conveys the condition or the attitude of the heart, waiting expectantly.

 

Often, our spiritual battles often come in the night as well, and like the soldier we wait for relief and we wait for it in hope.  I can relate to the dark night of my soul, praying and hoping that my son would live.  Those long dark hours seemed to last forever, but thankfully, the morning comes and with it comes hope for a new day.

 

The groanings of the heart are heard by our Father for those who wait in expectation with a hope that is based in God's Word and His promises.

Are you going through such a dark night, are you "in the depths" of depression (see Psalm 130:1 below)?

 

I would encourage you to "wait on the Lord".

Another of my favorite passages come to mind.  The Amplified translation for Isaiah 40 explains this waiting as "expecting, looking  for, and hoping" in Him.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (Amplified Bible)

²⁸Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

    ²⁹He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

    ³⁰Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

    ³¹But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Psalm 130

A Song of Ascents.

 ¹ Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD;
 ² Lord, hear my voice!
         Let Your ears be attentive
         To the voice of my supplications.
         
 ³ If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
         O Lord, who could stand?
 ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You,
         That You may be feared.
         
 ⁵ I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
         And in His word I do hope.
 ⁶ My soul waits for the Lord
         More than those who watch for the morning—
         Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
         
 ⁷ O Israel, hope in the LORD;
         For with the LORD there is mercy,
         And with Him is abundant redemption.
 ⁸ And He shall redeem Israel
         From all his iniquities.

Verse of the Day 8/10

Through the Bible - Psalm 94-95, Romans 12

 

Good morning,

Yesterday, the men's small group that I'm in was studying John 17:13-19 where Jesus prays for His disciples.  He was preparing them to be sent out into the world, to evangelize.  In doing so they were to be in the world but not of the world.  They were to remain who they were in Christ.

John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.   NIV
Today's "Today in the Word" devotional from Moody Bible Institute was in 1 Corinthians 4 where Paul gives us an idea of how this is to be accomplished; the mind set necessary to be effective witnesses.

1 Corinthians 4:12-13 (Amplified Bible) And we still toil unto weariness [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When men revile us [wound us with an accursed sting], we bless them. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure it.  ¹³When we are slandered and defamed, we [try to] answer softly and bring comfort. We have been made and are now the rubbish and filth of the world [the offscouring of all things, the scum of the earth].

When we look out into the world around us today, we see increasingly that Christians are being reviled, slandered, defamed, and yes persecuted for what they believe and holding on to it.  Paul's teaching, his advice is not to lash out in return but to endure, bless, answer softly, and bring comfort to the oppressors.  Not an easy task.

 

For today's verse we'll go a little further into the chapter where Paul encourages his readers to "imitate him" in his actions and to have the same mind set, to set our minds on Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:16-17 (Amplified Bible) So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me.

¹⁷For this very cause I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches.

He calls his readers to recall his methods, course of conduct, and way of life "such as I teach".  John MacArthur points out that he was referring to "doctrine, not advice", Christ had given the "Great Commission" not the great suggestion.  He taught as He was taught by imitating Christ.  Timothy would reinforce these truths as would Jesus' true followers through the ages; people like Billy Graham and on to people like you and me.

 

What would it look like if there was more blessing and less reviling in the political arena, in our communities, in our churches and in our homes?

 

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

1 Cor 4:14-5:1

 

Paul's Paternal Care

 

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.  15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

 

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?    NKJV

Verse of the Day 8/9

Through the Bible - Psalm 91-93, Romans 11:13-36

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's devotional I mentioned that it is Billy Graham's hearts desire to have the strength to preach one more message at an evangelistic crusade.

 

The other day I read about Charles Spurgeon's final sermon and received an e-mail devotional from Gregg Laurie about evangelism.  With those thoughts in mind I thought that we'd go to 2 Timothy where Paul charges the young pastor to fulfill his ministry as an evangelist.

 

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

Regarding his evangelistic events, Greg Laurie writes, "So why do it? Because I am a man under orders. I have a Commander-in-Chief called Jesus. He has commanded me to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

As I have often said, it is not the Great Suggestion; it is the Great Commission. And I am not the only one who is called to do this. You are called to do this as well.

It isn't really an option for me to say, "I won't share my faith. I won't preach the gospel. I won't tell others about Jesus." For me not to do this, for me not to make an effort to reach others with the gospel can be sin, because there are sins of commission and sins of omission.
An important part of this charge is that we be watchful "in all things" and in all situations, being prepared, fitted in our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18).

 

Laurie continues, "The seed you sow today could turn into a tremendous harvest later. Remember, the Word of God will not return void, but it will prosper in the place where He sends it (see Isaiah 55:11). You may think your attempt to share the gospel went nowhere, but you never know.

So keep sharing your faith. And be patient.

Think you can't be effective at evangelism? You just might be surprised."

For his complete devotional you may go to - http://www.harvest.org/devotional/archive/devotion/2010-08-07.html

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 4:1-6

 

Preach the Word

 

4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.   NKJV

Verse of the Day - weekend 8/8

Through the Bible - Psalms 85-90, Romans 10:5-11:12

 

Good morning,

I ended Friday's devotional with" I am yearning and aspiring to .........".  How did you end that statement?  Would it be different if it ended with "for God"?

I received an e-mail recently from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Foundation in which Billy Graham stated that the desire on his heart was to preach one more evangelistic sermon.  He was and is asking for prayer support to that end.

He has arguably been one of the greatest evangelists of history.  His hearts desire, his aspiration, was echoed by Paul in Philippians 3.  Like Paul, Billy Graham is still straining towards what lies ahead and the upward call of Christ.

Philippians 3:13-14 (Amplified Bible) I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

Do you have a work, a ministry that you are involved in that you'd want to be involved in until your dying day?  For Paul, Billy Graham, missionaries that I've heard about, and pastors that I know,  (even after "retiring" continue to serve as an interim pastor or other ministry), their life, their aspiration, is to press on to whatever the Holy Spirit has laid on their heart to do.

 

The overarching thing in their lives was the upward call of Christ, bringing others into His Kingdom.  They didn't lose their love and affection for others, instead they became channels for God's love to them.

For some reason, the Beattles song "In My Life" came to mind, primarily the following stanza.  I edited the you to "You".

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I'll love You more

Read the passage below.  How does it speak to and inspire 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
 ^{Colassians 3:7} But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake.

    ⁸Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

    ⁹And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

    ¹⁰[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

    ¹¹That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

    ¹²Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.

    ¹³I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

    ¹⁴I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

    ¹⁵So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

    ¹⁶Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that.

Verse of the Day 8/6

Through the Bible - Psalms 80-84, Romans 9:1-10:4

 

Good morning,

What do you aspire to?  No matter how old we are, I think I can safely say that we all, aspire, want to progress to something more.  As a child it may have been to be a baseball player (that was me), a celebrity, a business tycoon, or an evangelist or a pastor.

 

aspire - To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly: To strive toward an end.

 

The aspiration of a Christian should/will be different than others, we are focused towards a different end.

 

For today's verse we'll go to Hebrews 11 to the middle of the chapter where we find the "Hall of Faith".  Verse 13 describes the vision and state of mind of God's true followers.

Hebrews 11:13 (Amplified Bible) These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God's] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.

Does that describe you "controlled and sustained" by your faith?

When you are facing or have faced strong and difficult trials in your life, they may lead you to long for that homeland. . 

Hebrews 11:16 (Amplified Bible)  But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them.

I was reminded of an old hymn, perhaps you'll recall it too.  I've posted the last two stanza's to "There's Within My Heart a Melody."

 

Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,
Trials fall across the way,
Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
See His footprints all the way.

 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,

Sweetest name I know,

Fills my every longing,

Keeps me singing as I go.

 

Soon He's coming back to welcome me,
Far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high.

 

Today's Old Testament reading is in Psalm 84.  Verse 5 there shares the sentiment.

Psalm 84:5 (New King James Version)  Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
         Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

How would you complete this sentence.  "The truth is, I am yearning and aspiring to .........

Blessings
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Hebrews 11:13-16 (Amplified Bible)

¹³These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God's] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.

    ¹⁴Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).

    ¹⁵If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it.

    ¹⁶But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for He has prepared a city for them.

Verse of the Day 8/5

Through the Bible - Psalms 77-79, Romans 8

 

Good morning,

Our Pastor Fil's message last weekend was titled "What is God's Will".  One of the passages that he referenced was 1 Thessalonians 5:10-18 where we will go for today's verse.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Amplified Bible) Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
 

The verse encourages and challenges to "thank God in everything".  But to see what everything means and encompasses, and for more details on what that "will of God" is, we need to back up and go through the verses. 

 

Backing up to verse 10, we are told to:

 

Share His life,

Encourage -admonish and exhort one another 

Edify - strengthen and build up one another

Get to know your leaders

Be at peace with ourselves and each other

Admonish - warn and seriously advise one another

Support the weak souls - the fragile

Be very patient with one another

Aim to show kindness to all

Seek to do good

Be happy

Be prayerful

And yes be thankful.

 

As Christians we may spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the will of God is for our lives.  We attend classes and seminars to "find" our spiritual gifts.  These can be well and good.  But if we'd spend more of our time applying what God has revealed "His will" to be in this passage, (above) we'd probably have to spend less time searching for our gifts, they'd be revealed in our lives as we are doing these things.

 

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

 

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

1 Thessalonians 5:10-19 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁰Who died for us so that whether we are still alive or are dead [at Christ's appearing], we might live together with Him and share His life.

    ¹¹Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

    ¹²Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]--your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.

    ¹³And hold them in very high and most affectionate esteem in [intelligent and sympathetic] appreciation of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

    ¹⁴And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].

    ¹⁵See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody.

    ¹⁶Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always);

    ¹⁷Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly];

    ¹⁸Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

    ¹⁹Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit;

Verse of the Day 8/4

Through the Bible - Psalms 75-76, Romans 7

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered how God demonstrates His love for us in calling us "to the table" in communion where we are to examine our hearts.

It was the need of the individual and of the early church and for us today for our hearts as individuals and as a church to be set apart for God, which is necessary for true worship.

The same principle was also brought up in the Old Testament.  It seemed that the Old Testament prophets were constantly calling the people coming to the temple to bring sacrifices of the heart.

In Isaiah 1 the prophet makes this point and tells us what God desires. ^11"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me [unless they are the offering of the heart]? says the Lord."

The prophet goes on to describe the condition of the heart and the kind of worship that "tires God".

For today's verse we'll drop down to verse 18 for the conclusion of the matter.

Isa 1:18 "Come now, let us argue this out," says the LORD. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.    NLT

Most translations say "let us reason together".  I have heard pastors and commentators say that "argue this out" is probably a closer translation.  It is actually a call to make a binding legal decision.  God calls the worshipers to examine their ways and make a decision as to who they will follow and how they will follow.  Will they continue their own style of worship and sacrifice or will they follow God's plan as outlined in verses 16-17?

 

Isa 1:16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways.

17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.   NLT

The will of God is that we come to Him, be cleansed, and follow Him as individuals and as a church and lose those guilty stains.

 

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.
Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;
And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Isa 1:10-18

10 Listen to the LORD, you leaders of Israel! Listen to the law of our God, people of Israel. You act just like the rulers and people of Sodom and Gomorrah.

11 "I am sick of your sacrifices," says the LORD. "Don't bring me any more burnt offerings! I don't want the fat from your rams or other animals. I don't want to see the blood from your offerings of bulls and rams and goats.

12 Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices?

13 The incense you bring me is a stench in my nostrils! Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting — even your most pious meetings — are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them.

14 I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them!

15 From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims.

16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways.

17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows.

18 "Come now, let us argue this out," says the LORD. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool.
NLT

Verse of the Day 8/3

Through the Bible - Psalms 73-74, Romans 6

 

Good morning,

Something that is easily overlooked in reading yesterday's verse is the tense of the verbs used within the verse.  You may recall Romans 5:8 said "God demonstrates His own love for us".  Notice that it does not say that God "demonstrated" as in a one time, past event.  He continues to demonstrate it.  How does He do this?

 

Across the nation this past Sunday, many churches celebrated communion.  For today's verse we'll go to 1 Corinthians 11 where Paul outlines the Lord's Supper for the church there.  The Amplified Bible reveals an important aspect in the tense of the verbs here.

 

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (Amplified Bible) ²³For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread, 

 ²⁴And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.
 

Notice that it reads "while His betrayal was in progress" He took the bread to break it.  It was broken for His disciples and it is broken for us.

He is demonstrating His love for us each time we partake of communion.  Before we take communion we are asked to examine our hearts and make things right with God.  How many times is betrayal in progress in thoughts and actions of the heart and mind?  It is important to stop and take a look at our heart's condition on a regular basis.  How easy it is for us to head down our own path which will lead us away from Christ and His will.

 

Lord willing, in the next couple of days we will consider God's will for our lives, which, in a few words is to "follow Him".

 

How should Romans 5:8 and this passage in 1 Corinthians motivate us?  Chris Tomlin give us some insight in his modernization of the old hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"

 

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

 

See from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

 

O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live
O the wonderful cross, O the wonderful cross
All who gather here by grace draw near and bless
Your name

 

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

1 Corinthians 11: ²³For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread,

    ²⁴And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.

    ²⁵Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.

    ²⁶For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes [again].

    ²⁷So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.

    ²⁸Let a man [thoroughly] examine himself, and [only when he has done] so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

    ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that [it is Christ's] body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself.

    ³⁰That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death.

    ³¹For if we searchingly examined ourselves [detecting our shortcomings and recognizing our own condition], we should not be judged and penalty decreed [by the divine judgment].

    ³²But when we [fall short and] are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined and chastened, so that we may not [finally] be condemned [to eternal punishment along] with the world.

    ³³So then, my brothers, when you gather together to eat [the Lord's Supper], wait for one another.

Verse of the Day 8/2

Through the Bible - Psalms 70-72, Romans 5

 

Good morning,

The other day we considered personal vs. collective salvation.  Donald Barnhouse speaks of a salvation that is personal yet for the nations, for the world when he writes that Romans the story of this great book is "salvation for individual souls from any stage of sin, and ultimate salvation for the nations through the intervention of God in Christ."

 

For today's verse we'll go to Romans 5 for a verse that I recall memorizing in AWANA Clubs when I was probably 9 years old.  Whether we are 5 years old or 90, this verse applies.  We have all sinned but that doesn't mean that we must clean up our lives on our own before we can approach Him.  He calls us to come just as we are, but He wont leave us there.

 

Rom 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.    NIV

 Paul, who had previously been a persecutor of the church wrote these words from personal experience.  While he was on a mission to arrest followers of Jesus, Jesus appeared to him and called him.

 

Donald Barnhouse writes, "Paul could never forget the pit from which he had been digged.  The Lord had taken him out of the miry clay and put his feet upon the rock, and for him all things were new.  He could never forget it.  It is impossible to understand the epistle without remembering this."

 

 Read the passage below.  Notice the words grace, faith, hope and love which are all found in this passage.  They are "hallmarks" to Paul's letters and the gospel of Christ.  Paul couldn't help but realize how much God loved him, we should realize how much he loves us.

 

If He has set your feet on the rock, perhaps He's given you the view that He gave to Jonathan Edwards in one of my favorite quotes from him.

"As grace increases the field opens more and more to a distant view, until the soul is swallowed up with the vastness of the object, and the person is astonished to think how much it becomes him to love his God and this glorious Redeemer that has so loved man."  - Jonathan Edwards

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Romans 5

Peace and Joy

 ¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

 ⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.