Verse of the Day - weekend 12/5

Through the Bible - Daniel 5-10, 2 John - 3 John

 

Good morning,

A common question this time of year is "what do you want for Christmas"?

In the church in America there is a difference between the God we want and the God who is, the God whom we need.

For this weekend's verse we'll go to the book of Jeremiah for another of the prophecies of the coming Messiah and gives us some insight into the God who is and the God we need.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 (Amplified Bible) Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land. 

 ⁶In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name by which He shall be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.

As you prepare for or look back on worship this weekend consider this name for our Messiah, our Savior, "the Lord Our Righteousness".

To be righteous means to be in "right standing" before God.  It is not something we can accomplish on our own, never have, never will.  As we find in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Hebrews, all the sacrifices in the world are not enough to put us, to keep us in right standing before God.   Hebrews 10:3 (New King James Version) " But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.  ⁴ For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."  It took the sacrifice of Jesus who gave Himself for us for there to put us in right standing before God through faith in Him.

 

As a part of worship this weekend, think of or sing the following Christmas hymn, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus".  He is the God, the Savior, the gift that we need.

 

1.	Come, thou long expected Jesus,  	born to set thy people free;  	from our fears and sins release us,  	let us find our rest in thee.   	Israel's strength and consolation,  	hope of all the earth thou art;  	dear desire of every nation,  	joy of every longing heart.  2.	Born thy people to deliver,  	born a child and yet a King,  	born to reign in us forever,  	now thy gracious kingdom bring.  	By thine own eternal spirit  	rule in all our hearts alone;  	by thine all sufficient merit,  	raise us to thy glorious throne. 

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

Jeremiah 23 (New King James Version)

Jeremiah 23

The Branch of Righteousness

 ¹ "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the LORD. ² Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the LORD. ³ "But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. ⁴ I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the LORD.
       ⁵ " Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD,

      " That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;
      A King shall reign and prosper,
      And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
       ⁶ In His days Judah will be saved,
      And Israel will dwell safely;
      Now this is His name by which He will be called:

      THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.