Verse of the Day 6/22

Romans 15:5-6 (AMP) Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,  6 That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

 

I know several people who are going through struggles, pain, and sufferings of different kinds.  Illnesses, job loss and other things can bring discouragement.  Yesterday the verse from Hebrews spoke of the God of peace and that He is here for us "now".  Today's verse starts off the same way.  It was a prayer from Paul to his listeners some of  whom undoubtedly were facing the same types of things as well as persecution for their faith.

 

People going through the valley need endurance.   We believe in, trust in and serve the God who grants His followers the "power of patient endurance".  He is also the God who supplies encouragement. through His Word, His Spirit the Comforter who comes alongside us, and His Son who brings light and life.

 

If God has brought you through the valley I'm sure you can look back and see that He is the God who gives patient endurance and encouragement.   If this is the case we need to be there for others, as God's instruments to bring encouragement to those in need.  This encouragement involves pointing people to Christ, the light of the world who alone can overcome the darkness.

 

Christmas is half a year away but these thoughts brought to mind a stanza of the Christmas carol "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".  It speaks of light, life, healing and a second birth to the praise and glory of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, our Messiah.

 

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Read the passage from THE MESSAGE below.  May it inspire you to "wade right in" and help those in need of help in their time of trouble.

In Christ,
Mike

 

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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 15:3-7  The Message (MSG)

 3-6That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. Even if it was written in Scripture long ago, you can be sure it's written for us. God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

 

 7-13So reach out and welcome one another to God's glory. Jesus did it; now you do it!