Verse of the Day 12/31

 

Psalm 90:17  And let the beauty and delightfulness and favor of the Lord our God be upon us; confirm and establish the work of our hands—yes, the work of our hands, confirm and establish it.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Psalm 90 is a fitting psalm to end the year with or to start the new year.  It is one that draws our attention to what has just passed and to consider what lies ahead.  It calls us to examine our lives and give us the opportunity to consider course changes.

 

Earlier in the passage the psalmist calls out to God "teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom". (v.12) At this point in time it is easy to stop and look back at the old year.  Things have happened that cannot be changed.  But we can learn from them.  There are other things that can and we can learn from them by making the changes.   "Numbering our days" will help us make the most of them, to make each day count.

 

As midnight will approach tonight may we look back at this year and consider the question "did I live it well"?  Would Jesus be able to say to us "well done, good and faithful servant"?  The answer to those questions should make it easier to make the required course changes, but not in our own power, with our own direction.  May our prayer be for God to "confirm and establish the work of our hands".  By God's mercy and grace, our lives can have greater value, significance and meaning in the year to come if He makes those changes.  Oh! Teach us to live well!

 

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

Psalm 90:12-17

The Message (MSG)

^12-17 Oh! Teach us to live well!
    Teach us to live wisely and well!
Come back, God—how long do we have to wait?—
    and treat your servants with kindness for a change.
Surprise us with love at daybreak;
    then we'll skip and dance all the day long.
Make up for the bad times with some good times;
    we've seen enough evil to last a lifetime.
Let your servants see what you're best at—
    the ways you rule and bless your children.
And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us,
    confirming the work that we do.
    Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!

Verse of the Day 12/30

 

1 Samuel 3:4  When the Lord called, Samuel! And he answered, Here I am.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

In verse 1 of this passage the author writes "the Word of the Lord was rare in those days;there was not frequent vision".  Continuing on "the lamp of God had not yet gone out.  As we approach the end of the year, many people will be taking a look back over the past year and what has gone on in their lives.  It may be a year where they have fallen away from God and His word.  They may not have felt God's presence, His purpose or His "vision".  Perhaps it is a passage like this, at this time of year, that can draw them, perhaps some of us, back to Him.

 

If that is the case and it is felt in your heart, what will your response be?  Samuel responded, "here I am, you called me", God had gotten his attention and Samuel's response to God was "speak, for your servant hears".

 

It may be an event in our lives, a birth, death, illness or any number of things through which our attention is brought back to the Lord and we call out to Him in prayer.  Or, He just may speak to our conscience and draw us back to Him for reasons we can't identify.  But what will our hearts response be?  Will you regain your hunger, your appetite for God's Word?  If that is the case for the coming year it will mean that some of the other things, self indulgence that has captured our time and attention must go. 

 

Author and pastor John Piper writes, "Do you have a hunger for God? If we don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because we have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great. If we are full of what the world offers, then perhaps a fast might express, or even increase, our soul's appetite for God. Between the dangers of self-denial and self-indulgence is the path of pleasant pain called fasting."

 

Heading into the New Year it is time to stop nibbling at the table of the world and time to feed on, be fed, upheld and sustained by the Word of God.  What a difference it will make in the coming year.

 

Matthew 4:4 But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

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

1 Samuel 3:3-5

The Message (MSG)

"Speak, God. I'm Ready to Listen"

3 ^1-3 The boy Samuel was serving God under Eli's direction. This was at a time when the revelation of God was rarely heard or seen. One night Eli was sound asleep (his eyesight was very bad—he could hardly see). It was well before dawn; the sanctuary lamp was still burning. Samuel was still in bed in the Temple of God, where the Chest of God rested.

^4-5 Then God called out, "Samuel, Samuel!"

Samuel answered, "Yes? I'm here."

Verse of the Day 12/27

 

Revelation 21:3-4  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Now God's presence is with people, and he will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and will be their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone."  New Century Version (NCV)

 

We lost a dear friend yesterday as our friend Sandy went to be with her Lord.  Recent posts; the verses and hymns from the past couple of days reminded me of her and the battle.  Through her battle with cancer she remained strong in her faith and was a testimony to those around her.  Today's verse is also with her in mind, knowing that she is "now" in Jesus' presence with no more cancer, no more pain, no more suffering, or sadness for her.

 

Over the past couple of years, in conversations when our families got together we would say at different times "Come Lord Jesus, Come".  Well yesterday He came for her.

 

Octavius Winslow wrote some encouraging words for those of us left behind in these situations when he wrote:

 

Emerging from the entanglement, the dreariness, the solitude, the loneliness, and the temptations of the wilderness -- you shall enter upon your everlasting rest, your unfading inheritance, where there is.....

no sorrow,

no sin,

no suffering,

no crying,

no evening shadows,

no midnight darkness!

But all is one perfect, cloudless, eternal day -- for Jesus is the joy, the light and the glory thereof!

 

Our hearts still go out to the family for their loss, but as I look out on a beautiful cloudless morning I can't help but think that her perfect, cloudless, eternal day is just beginning.

 

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

Revelation 21:3-5

The Message (MSG)

^3-5 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone." The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate."

Verse of the Day 12/26

Verse of the Day 12/26

 

Luke 2:13-14   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."  New International Version (NIV)

 

For today's verses I thought I'd turn once more to the Christmas story from Luke chapter two which may be considered the crowning statement "Glory to God in the highest heaven". and on earth "peace".  This peace is for those on whom his favor rests.  That doesn't mean that every thing will be rosy, that we won't face storms, challenges and trials in our lives.  But through it all, through Him we may have peace, here and now and forever.

 

I'll return to one more Christmas hymn that comes to my mind "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day".  We may tend to focus on the first stanza but I'll post the first and then the last two.  As I mentioned yesterday, many may be facing a difficult time this Christmas season, but that doesn't mean that there cannot be peace and even joy in it.  God still declares peace, He continues to instill joy to those who are His, on whom His favor rests.

 

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."

We may have our heads bowed in despair, and their may be those that may mock our faith in the face of trials.  But may today's verse of eternal peace and joy that awaits us peal in our hearts "more loud and deep" that God will prevail and see us through.  He will bring peace on earth and good will to men. 

 

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

Luke 2:11-15

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! ¹² And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."

¹³ Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in highest heaven,
    and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

¹⁵ When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

Verse of the Day 12/25

 

Luke 2:10-11  But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: ¹¹ Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Merry Christmas everybody!  I love the words of the angel here, "good news of great joy for all people".  Why?  A Savior was born for YOU!  And what has that meant for believers throughout the ages?  Deliverance from trials, forgiveness for sins, hope for the future here and greater hope for a future beyond.

 

For many each Christmas season, it may be a difficult time due to grief, illness or other situation that can easily rob us of the joy in the season, in celebrating Jesus.  They can take us captive, create gloom and remove joy. Hymn writers through the years have realized this, but it didn't keep them from celebrating while looking forward to His return for ultimate deliverance.  While we wait for this, those who trust in Him can take solace in the fact that we know that He is born for YOU, that He is with You, and He is in You.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

May Jesus remove the "dark shadows", the fears that some may feel this Christmas and bring joy, peace, hope and love.  May we strive to be instruments in seeing that it is accomplished, knowing that "a Savior was born for you".

 

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

Luke 2:8-12

The Message (MSG)

An Event for Everyone

^8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

Verse of the Day 12/24

1 John 4:9-10   God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the^[ propitiation for our sins.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today is Christmas Eve and we are preparing to celebrate the giving of the greatest gift of all time in the birth of Jesus Christ.  It is the greatest outpouring of love and it is the basis of John 3:16, it is the basis of the Bible and of creation.

These verses also show, make manifest, and remind us that receiving that gift and believing in Him leads to true living, leads to our second birth.  We need to consider the removal of the guilt of sin and the removal of the barrier to a right relationship with God. 

 

The love is also the kind of love that leads us to love each other.  This is part of the reason why we exchange gifts, it is to be an expression of love towards one another.  Not earned, not owed but given in love.

 

Read the passage from The Message below.  It is not a fairy tale, a "once upon a time" love, but it is a love that has existed before creation and will endure through eternity.  This is the kind of love, the kind of life that we are to be celebrating and sharing.  Born to raise us from the earth, born to give them us second birth".

 

Hark! the herald angels sing,         "Glory to the new born King,         peace on earth, and mercy mild,   	God and sinners reconciled!"   	Joyful, all ye nations rise,   	join the triumph of the skies;   	with th' angelic host proclaim,   	"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"   	Hark! the herald angels sing,   	"Glory to the new born King!"   

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!   	Hail the Sun of Righteousness!   	Light and life to all he brings,   	risen with healing in his wings.   	Mild he lays his glory by,   	born that we no more may die,   	born to raise us from the earth,   	born to give us second birth.   	Hark! the herald angels sing,   	"Glory to the new born King!" 

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

1 John 4:9-10

The Message (MSG)

God Is Love

^7-10 My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

Verse of the Day 12/23

 

Ruth 1:16-17  But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you."   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse from the book of Ruth may not often be thought of in the context of Christmas.  But the attitude of Ruth's heart was similar to that of Mary when she had said "let it be done unto me" regarding God's plans for her.  It is worth remembering the attitude of Ruth's heart in the context of Christmas because it was through her  devotion to Naomi that led to her marriage to Boaz, and their lineage,  that David and ultimately Jesus was born.

 

Ruth 4:21-22  Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, ²² Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

As we head towards Christmas and beyond the New Year ahead, may we truly "prepare Him room" which involves submission and surrender to Him.  May we be willing to follow through on His promptings in our hearts.  Who knows what we will be able to share with future generations of our family as we and as they gather together to share how they arrived at "this place" through what Jesus has done for them in their lives.

 

Ruth's attitude was "not even death itself is going to come between us!" (v. 17 The Message).  May that be the attitude of our hearts in regards to our love of Christ which will also carry over to our loved ones who have Jesus Christ, our Savior,  living in them.

 

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

Ruth 1:15-17

The Message (MSG)

¹⁵ Naomi said, "Look, your sister-in-law is going back home to live with her own people and gods; go with her."

^16-17 But Ruth said, "Don't force me to leave you; don't make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I'll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I'll die, and that's where I'll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!"

Verse of the Day 12/21

 

Mark 5:19   He told him, "Go back home to your own people, and report to them how much the Lord has done for you and how He has had mercy on you."  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today's verse may not come from one of the Christmas accounts in the gospels, but the message is one that we can carry with us as we "go home" for Christmas to meet with family, friends and any of our loved ones.  In this passage in Mark, the man who had been demon posed had been restored, he wanted to continue on with Jesus, but he was told to go back, to tell "his people" what Jesus had done for him.

 

Most of us are familiar with the nativity scenes as depicted in front of churches and in our living rooms.  The scene takes some liberty with what is written, bringing together people that were not necessarily there at the same time.  The wise men arrived some time later and the shepherds may have drifted in one or two at a time to see the Christ child.  But for me, it doesn't take away from the manger scene.  The point is that they all came to see baby Jesus, to honor him, bring him gifts and to offer praise to God for the miracle of his birth, whether it was hours, days or possibly even a couple of years apart.

 

For many of us, our families may be spread out, they may head home but not all arrive at the same time or leave at the same time.  But years from now we may look back and only think of how we were together, how we shared what was going on, what God was doing in our lives.  We may look back on it with memories that are not totally accurate, but the point is the love that is experienced and shared.

 

It must have been fascinating for Mary and Joseph to have people stopping in to see them, telling what God had done in their lives to bring them to the lowly manger where Christ was born.  It all added to the mystery and to the wonder of it all.  May it be with us this Christmas, may we share the story of what God has done in our lives while realizing that it was Jesus, His birth that brought us together from near or far, whether in person or in spirit, or perhaps facetime.

 

Be thinking of what you will "report" to your family about how much the Lord has done for you, perhaps while sitting around the manger, the nativity scene in your home.  May Jesus be the "talk of the town"  (v.20 The Message) in your home this season.

 

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

Mark 5:18-20

The Message (MSG)

^18-20 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn't let him. Jesus said, "Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you." The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.

Verse of the Day 12/20

 

Luke 1:37  For with God nothing will be impossible."  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Mary's statement "let it be done to me" in yesterday's verse was said in response to what the angel had just told her about what God was about to do in her life.  We often think of this but we should never leave out of the story that it is also in response to the final portion of the angel's statement before he departed, today's verse, "for nothing will be impossible with God".  We considered yesterday that Mary's statement could be thought of as a prayer of submission but it was also an indication of her faith, her accepting the final portion of the angel's statement.

 

I read the following statement on faith in Thomas Brook's "Heaven on Earth" last night.   After reading it I couldn't help but think of it in the context of this passage.  "Faith alters the tenses; it puts the future into the present.  Faith makes absent glory present, absent riches present, absent pleasures present, absent favors present.  Faith brings an invisible God, and sets Him before the soul.  Faith sets the divine before the soul.  It sets peace, it sets pardon of sin, it sets the righteousness of Christ, it sets the joy of heaven, it sets salvation, before the soul; it makes all these things very near and obvious to the soul:  "Faith is the evidence of things not seen". .... Faith makes invisible things visible; absent things, present; things which are far off, to be very near unto the soul - by convincing demonstrations, by arguments and reasons drawn from the Word."

 

One line from "O Little Town of Bethlehem" stand out to me as I think about this.  "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight".   It represents and puts on display the attitude of today's verse that "with God nothing will be impossible.  He alters the tenses and puts the future into the present.  What seams impossible for you today, peace, pardon, joy?  May you find it in Him.

 

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  NKJV

 

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

Luke 1:31-38

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³¹ And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

³² He will be great (eminent) and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His forefather David,

³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob throughout the ages; and of His reign there will be no end.

³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I have no [intimacy with any man as a] husband?

³⁵ Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.

³⁸ Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.

Verse of the Day 12/19

 

Luke 1:38   Then Mary said, Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord; let it be done to me according to what you have said. And the angel left her.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

If you grew up as a child of the 60's and 70's when you read Mary's response to the angel "let it be" the song by the Beatles with that title may have come to mind (maybe, maybe not).  As the lyrics to the song say, Mary, "speaking words of wisdom" said "let it be".  But reading that simple yet profound response is one of the most remarkable statements or aspects of the Christmas story.  The enormity of the situation cannot be lost.  The angel, a messenger from God, speaking to her, telling her of something unbelievable that would happen to and through her and then her response shows a faith, a trust and a character beyond her years.

 

That response is the attitude of a true, devoted servant.  It can also be thought of as a prayer, and as such it is clear, concise, compact while being profound  and perhaps the greatest display of worship in the Christmas story.  It is a prayer offered in such a way that Mary would remain open to the possibilities of what God would do in and through her.

 

It is also a call, a challenge for us, if we are Christ followers, servants of the Most High, to respond to God in the same way.  It may be in regards to an opportunity in every day life, or it may be in the midst of the trial of our life, but it is offering up to God accepting His will in the situation.  Sure, our desire may be for healing, for deliverance, but the attitude is the same no matter what, Lord let it be according to your will and for your honor and glory.

 

John Piper has said "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him".  It is at the heart of Mary's response in this verse, may it be the attitude of our hearts, "ready to serve" (The Message) today and in this Christmas season.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Luke 1:37-45

The Message (MSG)

^36-38 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
    I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

Blessed Among Women

^39-45 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You're so blessed among women,
    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
    the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
    greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
    believed every word would come true!

 

 

Verse of the Day 12/18

 

 

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.    English Standard Version (ESV)

 

In Monday's passage from 2 Peter 3, the apostle stated that "the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of the water and through water and by the Word of God." (2 Peter 3:5).  Jesus was present at the beginning of time.  All that was created was created by the Word of God.  In the incarnation, the creator come down and lived among us.  The Christmas story is the account of those who had seen His glory, full of grace and truth.

 

Sinclair Ferguson writes, "The Son of God came to dwell in human flesh for us in order that He might come to dwell in us by His Spirit". 

 

For the Apostles and those who met Jesus and knew Him personally, saw His grace, His mercy, His power, and all of His attributes it had to be quite a blessing.  They saw His glory firsthand and after the resurrection, continued to talk about it, to spread the word, in the power of His Spirit, for the rest of their lives, Maywe be able to do the same, empowered by His Spirit living in us.  As we continue on in this Advent Season, may we prepare to celebrate His coming, to share His story with every grace endued.

 

The Christmas story is not complete without the resurrection story.  I'll close with a hymn, it may not be thought of as a Christmas carol, but it brings the message of His birth, resurrection and His empowering of the church with His grace to reflect His glory.

 

The Church's one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heaven He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her
And for her life He died.

 

She is from every nation,
Yet one o'er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation,
One Lord, one faith, one birth;
One holy Name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

 

Read the passage from The Message below.  Has He "moved into the neighborhood" of your heart?

 

Blessings,
Mike
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John 1:13-15

The Message (MSG)

^9-13 The Life-Light was the real thing:
    Every person entering Life
    he brings into Light.
He was in the world,
    the world was there through him,
    and yet the world didn't even notice.
He came to his own people,
    but they didn't want him.
But whoever did want him,
    who believed he was who he claimed
    and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
    their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
    not blood-begotten,
    not flesh-begotten,
    not sex-begotten.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.

¹⁵ John pointed him out and called, "This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word."

Verse of the Day 12/16

 

2 Peter 3:8-9 Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

⁹ The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Our men's Bible study group finished our study in the book of 2 Peter this morning.  It is where we go for today's verse.  These are the final words that we have from the Apostle Peter and the final chapter does a good job of looking back while looking forward.  It is what each of us should be doing as Christians, especially this Christmas season.  Looking back to the beginning when the world was created, to the prophecies of the long expected Messiah from the early chapters of Genesis forward. Then, we look forward to His second coming when He will come again in triumph to bring His people home.

 

There were four hundred years of silence from the time of the last of the writings of the Old Testament prophets until the coming of Jesus.  At His arrival many had given up on the event.  They were no longer looking for Him.  Many today have heard predictions of His second coming and look at it the same way in the same disregard.  In the final paragraph Peter encourages his readers to be diligent to be found by Him "at peace and without spot or blemish".  It is a reminder to know what we believe.  It is a call to prepare for His return, even though it has been over 2000 years, to Him it is like a couple of days as it will be for us when we consider eternity.

 

Are we "diligent" about  studying, investigating the Christmas story, the true story?  Our Pastor Bob has been doing so over the past few weeks.  Going beyond the public version of several Biblical accounts mashed into one and getting to the heart of the different accounts.  We each should have the same kind of desire to know the rest of the story, the rest of the Bible in the same detail.  May it be our goal as we go through this Advent Season and into the New Year.  May the coming year be one where we will follow Peter's call in his final words to us: 

 

^" But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.  2 Peter 3:18  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

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.  Charles Wesley

 

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

2 Peter 3:8-9

The Message (MSG)

The Day the Sky Will Collapse

^8-9 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.

Verse of the Day 12/15

 

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever.   Amen  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

In his benediction in the book of Hebrew the author write, "now" may the God of peace, equip you to do His good will.  The Christmas season is to be one of peace, one of joy, one of celebration and it is so because the God of peace that the author called for and prayed for is still with us "now", a couple of thousand years later and is still equipping us to do the good things that we considered on Friday.  To do good, as much as we can, for as long as we can, and to all the people that we can.

 

There is still a lot of mystery and there will always be a sense of wonder as we go through the New Testament accounts of our Savior's birth.  But the reason for the season is not so much of a mystery.  John Piper writes,  "the meaning of Christmas is not only that God replaces shadows with Reality, but also that he takes the reality and makes it real to his people. He writes it on our hearts. He does not lay his Christmas gift of salvation and transformation down for you to pick up in your own strength. He picks it up and puts in your heart and in your mind, and seals to you that you are a child of God."

 

For those who believe, we realize that Jesus has come to us, has put His seal upon us, in our hearts and minds that we are children of God.  We also realize that He is working in our hearts equipping us to do His good will this season and throughout the course of our lives.

 

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

Hebrews 13:18-21

The Message (MSG)

^18-21 Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.

May God, who puts all things together,
    makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
    the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
    up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
    with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
    by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
    Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Verse of the Day 12/13

 

Isaiah 1:17  Learn to do what is good.
Seek justice.
Correct the oppressor.
Defend the rights of the fatherless.
Plead the widow's cause.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

 

I read the following quote by John Wesley this morning which brought me to today's verse.

 " Do all the good you can,
   by all the means you can,
   in all the ways you can,
   in all the places you can, 
   at all the times you can,
   to all the people you can,
   as long as ever you can!"

The verse from Isaiah tells us to learn to do good, indicating that it is not something that would come naturally to us.  The passage indicates that this doing good is actually part of worship.  In a day when "worship" has more to do with music than anything else the passage gets to the heart of what God wants from us in this season or any season in life.  He wants our hearts and if He has them, we will stop the "charades" (v.13 The Message), and the good, as described by John Wesley, will then be the outflow, will be our worship.

 

Read the statement again and make it your aim to do good "in all the ways that you can".

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at http://www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com/

 

Isaiah 1:16-20

The Message (MSG)

^13-17 "Quit your worship charades.
    I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
    meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
    You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
    while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
    I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
    I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
    people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
    Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
    so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
    Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
    Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
    Go to bat for the defenseless.