Verse of the Day 5/31

Verse of the Day 5/31

1 Timothy 6:10-11(NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  ¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

 

In my devotions this morning I read Ecclesiastes 2 in which Solomon boasts in all his earthly accomplishments only to find emptiness, vanity, and realize that he had been chasing after the wind.

 

I'm sure that many people today who chase after wealth, fame, and pleasure at some point come to the same conclusion and realization.  Today's verses call and challenge us to run, to flee from the vain pursuits and the love of money but to focus instead on a godly life, doing the right things, having faith and love in our lives which will show in gentleness and charity towards others and endurance in life's challenges.

 

The reading in Ecclesiastes and 1 Timothy brought to mind the second stanza of the hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".

 

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

What is it that you can boast of today?  What charms, what do you delight in?  Is a course correction needed?

 

Blessings,
Mike
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1 Timothy 6:6-11 (NIV)

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Final Charge to Timothy

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness

Verse of the Day 4/30

 Ephesians 4:1 (NLT) Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

 Reading today's verse in the NLT caught my attention.  Most translations use the word "urge" instead of beg.  It may not seam significant, but the word beg, to me, brings more of a sense of pleading to it, a seriousness about it.  Paul is reminding his readers and us, that if we are a child of God it is because we have been called, and if we've been called it is to a higher purpose than chasing the vanities of this world.

 

The "therefore" at the beginning of the verse points to the previous chapters which speak of the power of Christ in us.  It is one of those "if/then" scenarios.  If this is the case in your life then your life should reflect it.  It is a personal calling.  We need not worry about someone elses walk, it goes back to Jesus' question, "who do you say I am"?  How you answer that question will determine your walk.

 

Pastor Greg Laurie in his devotional for today writes, "It is not for us to look at another person's success and say, "Why not me?" Nor is it for us to look at our own suffering and say, "Why me?" Instead, it is for us to simply say, "Lord, how can I best glorify You with my life?"   The challenge is no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, the purpose in how we walk in or through them is to glorify God.

 

How may we do so today?  In verse 2 Paul gives us a good starting point "Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love."

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)  Unity in the Body

4 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. ² Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. ³ Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ⁴ For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all.

Verse of the Day 5/28

Lamentations 3:24 (AMP) The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.

 

The book of Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, "the weeping prophet" and as the name implies it is a lament.  Great care, thought and detail went into this fairly short book.  Each of the first four chapters are an acrostic where the verses are written in order of the Hebrew alphabet.  In chapter 3, each letter starts off 3 verses.  Today's verse comes from the center of the book and bring us to the height of Jeremiah's writing.  In the midst of his lament he looks to the Lord's great faithfulness, His deliverance of the past as hope, certain hope for the future.

 

In this day and age we hear a lot of talk about "sustainability".  These verses point out the Christian's greatest renewable, endless resource, God's mercy, faithfulness, and lovingkindness in all stages and situations in life.  They allow the prophet to "wait expectantly" for Him in the middle of a time of lament.  It involves looking back to those who have gone before us in this country and in our faith, who gave themselves, gave their lives for the hope of future generations.

 

Yesterday I listened to "Freedom's Never Free" by Philipps, Craig and Dean.  I thought I 'd share the words with you on this Memorial Day to remember those who have gone before, and the One who gave His life that we might have eternal life.

 

Standing on a hillside
Where the river meets the sea
White crosses without number
Line the fields of peace

And each one a silent witness
Staring back at me
Every cross a story
Of another place in time
Where young men thought it worthy
To give their life for mine
And for the sake of honor
Left their dreams behind

And for the price they paid
I'm forever in their debt
Their memory will not die
'Cause I will not forget

I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the ones who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
I will remember
That freedom's never free

It was on another hillside
Outside the city gates
The battle lines were drawn
As soldiers took their place

The Father watched in silence
As a cross was raised
With freedom drawing closer
He took His final breath
He drank our cup of guilt
And took the sting from death

Heaven's Finest Soldier
clothed in human flesh
And for the price He paid
I'm forever in His debt
The cross will never die
'Cause I will not forget

I will stand and hold my head up high
I will dedicate my life
To the glory of the One who had to die
I will live, live what I believe
If for no one else but me
To remember that
Freedom's Never Free

 

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Lamentations 3:22-24

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²² It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.

²³ They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.

²⁴ The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.

Verse of the Day 5/26

Psalm 38:21-22 (ESV)

²¹ Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not far from me!
²² Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation!

 

Yesterday we considered David's advice in Psalm 37 not to "fret" but to trust in the Lord.  Today's verses come from the following psalm.  They reveal the condition of the heart, it is from a humble heart that realizes that he can't make it on his own.  A heart that realizes that he needs the Lord to be with Him and can't imagine the thought of living, being without Him.  The prayer to God is don't leave me, don't abandon me.

 

The great 19th century pastor, Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, "Forsake me not, O Lord,' now; and forsake me not at any moment of my life. Forsake me not in my joys, lest they absorb my heart. Forsake me not in my sorrows, lest I murmur against thee. Forsake me not in the day of my repentance, lest I lose the hope of pardon, and fall into despair; and forsake me not in the day of my strongest faith, lest faith degenerate into presumption. Forsake me not, for without thee I am weak, but with thee I am strong. Forsake me not, for my path is dangerous, and full of snares, and I cannot do without thy guidance."

The verses and Spurgeon's words bring two Steven Curtis Chapman songs to mind, one is "Declaration" where instead of declaring his independence, Chapman declares his dependence on God to meet his needs.  The other is "Still Listening", it is a song about coming to Jesus in childlike faith, knowing that He is, still listening.

 

The years can take us far away

From the simple childlike faith

But I am longing to return

To the place where I first learned

That God is great, and God is good

So I will speak the words

 

God our Father, once again

I bow my head to pray

You are my Father and my friend

And you hear every word I say

A prayer for forgiveness, a desperate cry for help

Or praise flowing from a thankful heart

Like each time before, I come knowing You're still listening

 

Do you long for His return?  Go to Him in childlike faith, call to Him as David did, in his weakness knowing that our strength for the day, each day is with Him.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Psalm 38:15-22 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁵ For I am waiting for you, O Lord.
    You must answer for me, O Lord my God.
¹⁶ I prayed, "Don't let my enemies gloat over me
    or rejoice at my downfall."

¹⁷ I am on the verge of collapse,
    facing constant pain.
¹⁸ But I confess my sins;
    I am deeply sorry for what I have done.
¹⁹ I have many aggressive enemies;
    they hate me without reason.
²⁰ They repay me evil for good
    and oppose me for pursuing good.
²¹ Do not abandon me, O Lord.
    Do not stand at a distance, my God.
²² Come quickly to help me,
    O Lord my savior.

Verse of the Day 5/25

Psalm 37:7(AMP)  Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

 

Yesterday's verse challenged us not to be afraid, even in the midst of difficult, challenging circumstances, but instead to trust in God.  Today's verse from David in Psalm 37 goes along the same lines encouraging us not to "fret" but to wait for Him, lean upon Him in faith.  A byproduct of fretting is murmuring and complaining, many times rooted in fear, lack of hope, and lack of trust.

 

I recently read the following quote form Pastor James Smith

 

Do not complain--for it will displease the Lord.

Do not murmur--for it will grieve Him.

Do not fear--for it will dishonor Him.

Instead, be still--for your safety is provided for.

Be still--for your needs shall be supplied.

Be still--for all things shall work together for your good.

Be still--for God bids you, and all will end well.

 

Be silent, be calm, be still--the Lord rules as King forever!

Take me into Your nearness, dear Lord, and help me to be still. Calm my foolish fears and my fearful imaginations. In all of life, help me, O Lord, to be still. - James Smith

 

We don't know what today will hold in store, but may we approach it with that prayer.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

 

Psalm 37:1-7  (ESV)

He Will Not Forsake His Saints

Of David.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good;
     dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
     fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

Verse of the Day 5/24

 Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid. 

David was familiar with being tracked down, hunted whether by the Philistines or his own King Saul.  While he feared he still trusted the Lord God, mightier than anything, any king or kingdom here on earth.  His trust and his testimony in that time should be an encouragement to us as we go through our valleys, our trials in life.

 

Sometimes it may feel like we are being "hunted down" with the pressures of illness, unemployment, relationships and other things.  I have some friends that are going through some deep waters, tough trials right now.  While they may still fear the unknown, they still trust in God, and that trust like David's is an encouragement for others.  For David, that source of strength was in His God and He found that strength in His Word.  We have so much more of His Word available to us today in the Old and New Testaments.  May we, like David find solace there.

 

Another verse from Psalm 119 and a the words to a song that go along with it come to mind.

 

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid,
And think I?ve lost my way.
Still, you?re there right beside me.
Nothing will I fear
As long as you are near;
Please be near me to the end.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Psalm 56  (NIV)

For the director of music. To the tune of "A Dove on Distant Oaks." Of David. A miktam.^[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

¹ Be merciful to me, my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
    all day long they press their attack.
² My adversaries pursue me all day long;
    in their pride many are attacking me.

³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?

⁵ All day long they twist my words;
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶ They conspire, they lurk,
    they watch my steps,
    hoping to take my life.
⁷ Because of their wickedness do not^[c] let them escape;
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

⁸ Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll^[d] —
    are they not in your record?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    when I call for help.
    By this I will know that God is for me.

¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
¹¹ in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

¹² I am under vows to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered me from death
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

Verse of the Day 5/23

Leviticus 20:7-8 (NLT) So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. ⁸ Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy.

Today's verses come from the often avoided and neglected book of Leviticus.   Some of the subject matter doesn't seem relevant to today, like all the regulations dealing with leprosy, while others dealing with issues of immoratlity seem too controversial.  These verses, and all of God's Word are relevant today for those whom God has called to be "set apart", consecrated, and dedicated to serving God.  This will show in our actions as we put God's Word and Jesus' life and teachings into practice.

 

Yesterday, I was reading in John chapter 8 where Jesus teaches about the importance of "hearing" and "keeping" God's Word.

 

John 8:47 (ESV) Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God."

 

  It is those who listen to God through His Word and keep it that are His disciples.  They, like Abraham in the Old Testament, live lives of faith looking forward to His coming. 

 

John 8:47 (NLT)Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God."

 

Will you listen and believe (which involves putting into practice) the Voice of Truth?

 

Blessings,
Mike
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John 8:51-56 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." ⁵² The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' ⁵³  Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself out to be?" ⁵⁴ Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'⁵⁵ But you have not known him. I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and I keep his word. ⁵⁶  Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad."

Verse of the Day 5/22

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,²³ Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].

When I see 5/22 two things come to mind.  My daughter Laurie's birthday (she's 28 today) and today's verses from Galatians 5.  I don't think you could wish anything better for someone on their birthday or any time than the love, joy,  and peace mentioned here.  But they can't just be wished upon someone.  These things, as the Amplified Bible indicates are accomplished by the Holy Spirit working in our lives.

 

These verses are also a gauge as to the work of the Spirit in our lives.  When you read those qualities do you see any that are lacking in your life.  The Amplified describes patience as "an even temper, forbearance".  Forbearance has to do with putting up with a lot and in this instance it is with an even temper.  I know that I have lost it and made a fool of my self within the last few days in this area.

 

If you see an area in your life where one of these qualities is missing, pray for the Holy Spirit to help you, strengthen you, and guide you in that area.  Be forwarned that praying for patience can bring about challenges.  The fruit will come about when we trust in Him in our daily lives.

 

^{Galatians 5:25 (ESV) If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.}

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Galatians 5:22-25 (ESV)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Verse of the Day 5/20

Luke 6:45 (NLT) A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

 

After considering verses about living water,  being filled with the Spirit, and being channels through which they flow, today's verse may be a humbling one for us.  Take a look back over the past 24 hours, this past week or beyond and do an inventory of what has come out of your mouth and what your actions have been. Perhaps we should also take a look back at what we've been filling our minds and hearts with over that time.  You will see a correlation.

 

My study Bible had no notes on this verse.  Could it be because it is so straight forward?

 

Take a look also at the world around us.  What do you hear?  Politicians slinging mud at each other, some trying to stir things up, to create discord, envy, or worse among the people they claim to serve or desire to serve.

 

Before we come down to hard on them, take another look at our words and actions.  May we make a commitment to spend more time in His Word, fill up the treasury of our hearts to the point of overflowing so that what comes out may be pleasing to God and accomplish His purposes.

 

Hebrews 10:24  (ESV) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Luke 6:43-45 (ESV) A Tree and Its Fruit

⁴³ "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, ⁴⁴ for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵  The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.