Verse of the Day - weekend 1/29

Through the Bible - Isaiah 22-25, Mark 5:21- 6:29

 

Good morning,

It's hard to believe that we're almost a month into the year.  A month ago we were in that period of time between Christmas and New Years, it was an in-between time for many reasons.  Christmas had passed and New Years awaited.  Schools and many businesses were closed down.  Many people took vacation days.  For those that worked, the offices were quieter than normal.

 

There are many in between times in our lives.  Time between jobs and or ministries.   Times between schools, between relationships, between engagement periods and weddings.  We will experience times between illness and health, times of healing.  These are all times that can be filled with tension, anxiety,fears and uncertainties.  They can also be times of hope, joy, and love.  Often it depends on us and what we do during those times, Who we turn to.

 

Jesus Christ came and we as Christians await the time of His return.  Our lives are lived in the meantime in the in between time.

 

1 John 4:17-18 (New International Version, ©2011)  This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Whenever I read these verses I think of the Matt Redman song "Never Let Go", especially the lines:

 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back I know you are near

This comes from faith, believing with your heart and soul, having a "Blessed Assurance" (another Fanny Crosby hymn).  It involves "watching and waiting, looking above" during the in-between times.

 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood    Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.   Praise Him this weekend in these in-between times.

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

1 John 4:12-19 (New King James Version)

Seeing God Through Love

   
¹² No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. ¹³ By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Consummation of Love   
¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us.