Verse of the Day 2/28

Luke 17:15-16  Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing and thanking and praising God with a loud voice;

¹⁶ And he fell prostrate at Jesus' feet, thanking Him [over and over]. And he was a Samaritan.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 In reading the account of Jesus' healing of the ten lepers in this passage, it is easy to focus on the 9 who did not return to thank Him.  Today, let's take some time and consider the one who did return and give thanks.  He was a Samaritan, he wouldn't normally think to approach a Pharisee, a Jew for healing. He didn't come to Jesus because he deserved or was "entitled" to be healed, but in his desperate situation he cries out to Jesus.  Jesus hears his cry and heals him.  He turns back, returns to Jesus, recognized, acknowledges Him with thanksgiving.

 

Greg Laurie writes, "Earlier he had prayed loudly for a healing, and then he was loud with his praise. I love the fact that the original language uses two words from which get our English word "megaphone." The man was loud in thanking Jesus for what He had done for him."

How many times have we cried out to God in a loud voice, perhaps with all that we have in us?  Shouldn't we be just as loud in our praise?  Pick up the megaphone and thank the Lord for what He has done.

 

I'm reminded of the praise song chorus that was sung so often in my teenage years.  May we have the joy, the boldness to "shout it from the mountaintops" today as to what the Lord of love has done in coming to us to bring healing, to bring salvation.

 

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

Blessings,
Mike
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Luke 17:11-16  The Message (MSG)

^11-13 It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

^14-16 Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Verse of the Day 2/27

 Psalm 139:9-10  If I climb to the sky, you're there!
    If I go underground, you're there!
If I flew on morning's wings
    to the far western horizon,
You'd find me in a minute—
    you're already there waiting!  The Message (MSG)
 

Yesterday I boarded a plane heading west.  As the captain prepared for takeoff he announced that we'd be traveling at an altitude of 40,000 feet.  I don't recall having a pilot announce that height before, that's 8 miles high.  As I settled in I read a devotional from Psalm 139, today's verses come from that passage.  Whether we're 8 miles high or in a tunnel beneath the earth, God is there.  If we start the day on the east coast and head west to St. Louis or beyond.  He is there.

 

Verse 7 asks the question "is there anywhere I can go to avoid your Spirit"?  The answer for the Christian is no and we should be glad that it is so.  Whether it is east to west in distance or relationship, emotion, or mood, He is there.  If we have strayed from the path, He is there and He will do whatever it takes to bring us back.

 

He'll do whatever, whatever it takes
His grace reaches lower than your worst mistakes
And His love will run farther
Than you can run away, my friend
He'll do whatever, whatever it takes    - Philips, Craig & Dean "He'll Do Whatever it Takes - chorus

 

These can be frightening thoughts if you are a Jonah trying to run from God, or the most comforting if you are a prodigal returning to God.  The question is which are we?  In either case He's already there waiting for us.  I hope that you take comfort in that.

 

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Psalm 139:7-12  The Message (MSG)

^7-12 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you're there!
    If I go underground, you're there!
If I flew on morning's wings
    to the far western horizon,
You'd find me in a minute—
    you're already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I'm immersed in the light!"
It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you.

Verse of the Day 2/26

 

John 11:41  And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

In my devotionals this morning I read the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in John 11.  In today's verse Jesus thanks the Father that He hears his prayers, before he actually called Lazarus out of the tomb.

 

It made me, it should make us consider our attitude in coming to God with our prayers, no matter how significant or insignificant they may seem at the time.  Even if our prayers are not answered immediately as happened in this case, we should have the confidence that God hears them and will answer them in His time and according to His purpose.

 

I also read from Luke chapter 11 this morning the following familiar verses, they are a reminder of what the attitude of our hearts should be as we pray in confidence that God will hear the very prayers we will utter.  He knows them before they ever leave our lips or actually are clear in our minds.

 

Luke 11:9 "So I say to you, keep asking,[a] and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking,and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

If we have this faith, this confidence, this boldness it will be evident to those around us.  A testimony to and for the glory of God.  As we pray today, may we say "Father, I thank you that you have heard me."

 

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

John 11:40-42  English Standard Version (ESV)
40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."

Verse of the Day 2/25

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  English Standard Version (ESV)

From the time I was about 5 years old, I have memories of spending time with my grandfather Sivert in his workshop in his garage.  I loved the smell of the wood shavings from his power tools and hand planes.  I still have some of the things that he made and treasure them.  I also treasure some of the things that he helped instill in me.  One was that I could do just about anything that I set my mind to.  He taught me not to be afraid to learn how to use tools because you could do great things with them.  That has helped me over the years to learn how to use power tools around the home, and later to learn how to sew, use heat sealing equipment, digital printers and other equipment which have helped me in my career.

 

In today's verse Paul uses a word for "strengthens" that means "to be strong" or "to have strength".  MacArthur points out that the Greek word literally means "to put power in", stating "he infuses them with his strength to sustain them until they receive some provision."

 

In the Christian life, our walk, Christ infuses strength into us to face that challenges of life.  He gives us the tools that we need, faith, hope, love, patience to sustain us or until we will receive the provision to see us through.  As the Amplified Bible points out (below), we are not to be self sufficient on our own, instead we are self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.  Big difference.  We can be bold in trying new things, in facing new challenges, not in ourselves but with confidence in Christ that he will teach us to properly use the tools which he has given us.

 

What challenges do you face today?  May you be strengthened by His love and may it see you through.

 

1 Corinthians 13:7 Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things. New Life Version (NLV)

.

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

Philippians 4:12-14  Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
14 But it was right and commendable and noble of you to contribute for my needs and to share my difficulties with me.

Verse of the Day 2/24

Verse of the Day 2/24

 

1 John 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.  English Standard Version (ESV)

These verses and this passage is perhaps most well known for the simple last statement, God is love.  However, some have twisted this statement avoiding some of those components of what love is.  While God is love, God is also just, God is holy, and God is sovereign.  John MacArthur writes "Love is inherent in all He is and does.  Even His wrath and judgment are perfectly harmonized with His love."

 

A loving parent would be expected to use good judgment in dealing with their children.  It will involve correction and may involve punishment as a means of that correction.

 

Another important component in this discussion, is to realize, as the Amplified Bible states, that love "springs" from God.  MacArthur outlines 5 reasons why Christians love:

• God is the essence of love
• to follow the supreme example of God's sacrificial love in sending his Son for us (John 3:16)
• love is the heart of Christian witness - demonstrated in His people
• love is the Christian's assurance see below
• love is the Christian's confidence in judgment - His perfect love casts out fear

Read or sing the following lines from Blessed Assurance, may they remind you of His great love, may we be filled with it.

 

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
 O what a foretaste of glory divine!
 Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
 born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. 

 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.

 

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.

 

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 4:6-8  Amplified Bible (AMP)
6 We are [children] of God. Whoever is learning to know God [progressively to perceive, recognize, and understand God by observation and experience, and to get an ever-clearer knowledge of Him] listens to us; and he who is not of God does not listen or pay attention to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him].
8 He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.

 

Verse of the Day 2/21

 Psalm 24:3-4   Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
⁴ The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who has not set his mind  on what is false,
and who has not sworn deceitfully.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 Yesterday we considered Jesus quoting Isaiah about the people who give lip service to God, "honoring me with their lips while their hearts were far from Him".  The previous day we looked at Isaiah 1 where the worshipers were lifting "hands filled with blood" in worship when God desired clean hands.  Today's verse from Psalm 24 brings these together.  The question is actually raised in a liturgy.  It is a question directed towards the worshipers or those desiring to worship.  The response is an acknowledgment of what God truly desires, having cleansed hands and hearts.

 

Instead of setting our minds on things that man has come up with, perhaps 12 step programs or other self help programs, we need to set aside the things that distract us, the sin that has tripped us up and set our hearts on Jesus.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,   New King James Version (NKJV)

 

The end of the passage is significant.  It speaks of seeking the face of the God of Jacob.  Jacob was the one who wrestled with God and came away from the encounter as a changed man with a new name.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Psalm 24:3-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

³ Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
    And who shall stand in his holy place?
⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
    who does not lift up his soul to what is false
    and does not swear deceitfully.
⁵ He will receive blessing from the Lord
    and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
    who seek the face of the God of Jacob.^[a] Selah

Verse of the Day 2/20

Matthew 15:8-9 These people draw near Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts hold off and are far away from Me.   ⁹ Uselessly do they worship Me, for they teach as doctrines the commands of men.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

Yesterday in Isaiah 1 the prophet spoke of those who were lifting "bloody hands" in praise to God in what was empty worship.  In today's passage Jesus quotes Isaiah and is speaking of the same kind of thing.  The Amplified Bible speaks of honoring with the lips while the heart holds off, the heart is not committed to what the mouth is saying.  In his study Bible notes, John MacArthur references it as empty ritualism

 

The prophet Ezekiel saw the same kind of thing:  Ezekiel 33:31  And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear the words you say, but they will not do them; for with their mouths they show much love, but their hearts go after and are set on their [idolatrous greed for] gain.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

People enjoy sitting down and hearing a good debate, it can be good entertainment and good fodder for conversation.  As Christians we should not be concerned about entertainment and having something simply to spur on good conversation.  The purpose of our worship should be to draw near to God, to praise and worship Him from hearts that have turned towards Him and desire to follow and please Him.  We come to hear, draw upon and be motivated, by God's Word and not empty ritual or the wisdom of today.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Matthew 15:7-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

⁸ "'These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁹ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.'

Verse of the Day 2/19

Isaiah 1:18   "Come now, let's settle this,"
    says the Lord.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
    I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
    I will make them as white as wool.

Some translations start this verse with "let's discuss this", or let us reason together or argue this out.  It is literally to make a legal, binding decision.  It is talking about our faith, what we believe in and how we worship.  In the passage the people were lifting up their hands in worship, but Isaiah said that they were hands that were filled with blood.  Their worship was empty because their lives did not match up with their worship.

 

In his Tabletalk devotional this morning, R.C. Sproul writes that this verse "is a great promise indeed, assuring us that no matter how much sin has stained our souls, God can cleanse us completely and make us stand before Him as holy people.  But for this to happen, we must repent.  We must agree with the Lord's evaluation of sin in our lives - that it deserves wrath - and then we must renounce it, asking for God's pardon and strength that we might resist temptation.  We do this not just once but every day of our lives."
 

God desires clean hands and pure hearts.  We come to Him as sinners, without a plea, no defense.  He offers to cleanse us at which point we can lift holy hands in worship.  Last Sunday our church sang "Just as I am".  Meditate on these words for a few minutes, may it be the attitude of our hearts this and every day.

 

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Isaiah 1:17-19

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷     learn to do good;
seek justice,
    correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
    plead the widow's cause.

¹⁸ "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;

Verse of the Day 2/18

Verse of the Day 2/18

 

Acts 15:9-10 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why are you testing God by putting a yoke on the disciples' necks that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

In Acts 15 Peter stands up and addresses the Jerusalem council in regards to legalistic regulations, in particular the requirements of circumcision as a requirement as proof of salvation.  Peter indicates that there is no distinction between believers in this and other matters with fellow Christians.  What they had in common was that they had turned, had their hearts cleansed by faith, by the working of regeneration.

 

Some may look at Christianity as being too restrictive, too many rules and regulations when in actuality it can be freeing.  It can be an abundant life.  A lot of it will depend on your worldview, the lens through which you look at the world.  These thoughts brought me to a chorus that I remember singing in our little church as a teenager, they still ring true today.

 

New Life

 

New Life in Christ abundant and free!
What glories shine, what joys are mine,
What wondrous blessings I see!
My past with its sin, the searching and strife,
Forever gone -- There's a bright new dawn!
For in Christ I have found new life.

Once you've found new life, don't let yourself be drawn back to a world of slavery to the things of the world, or try to put a yoke around others, instead shine.

 

Shine

Make 'em wonder what you've got

Make 'em wish that they were not

On the outside, looking bored

 

Shine

Let it shine before all men

Let'em see good works and then

Let 'em glorify the Lord  - Newsboys

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

Acts 15:8-10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
8 And God, Who is acquainted with and understands the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit as He also did to us;
9 And He made no difference between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith (by a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God).
10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we [ourselves] were able to endure?

Verse of the Day 2/17

Verse of the Day 2/17

 

1 John 4:4-5   But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 5 Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world's viewpoint, and the world listens to them.  New Living Translation (NLT)

In today's passage John is speaking about those who were distorting the gospel, adding rules and regulations to it while others distort the gospel.  The same thing goes on today within and between denominations.  Yesterday's verse challenged us to study, to rightly divide, to cut straight in our understanding of the gospel.  This studying is not for the sake of study, not for the sake of knowing more, which itself can be a distraction, but that we believe more.  Believe more with our hearts, believe more of what God has for us, and to be able to communicate that with others in love and by His grace through faith. 

 

Our aim is not to reach others, to bring others to Christ from a worldly point of view, but to be an example of what we believe, by believing, by living out what the gospel says.  John Piper captures this when he writes, "We are worldly when we, like the world around us, give ourselves to an entertainment mentality, when we amuse ourselves to death. We are still worldly, however, when we rightly reject the eye candy and froth of pop culture and then conclude that our problems are intellectual, and our solutions more learning. It was the enlightenment, not the Light of the World, that gave us education as its high and holy sacrament. What Jesus calls us to is to repent and believe the gospel. It is more important to us and our sheep that we would learn to believe more, than that we would find more to believe."  

 

The first statement in verse 4 should be at the forefront of our minds as we go to worship Him today and as we live for Him through the week, knowing that "greater is He that is in you than he who is in the world".

 

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 4:3-6
The Message (MSG)
2-3 Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ—the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person—comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!

 

4-6 My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world's language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.

Verse of the Day 2/16

2 Timothy 2:15  Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Yesterday's verse challenged us to teach the full counsel of God, which would require that we know, study and learn how to apply His Word.  As I was writing and finishing that devotional today's verse came to mind.  I especially like the Amplified Bible here where it says "study and be eager".  How many of us would use these words to characterize our desire to know and follow Him better, more completely?

 

The word for accurately or rightly dividing literally means to "cut straight".  If you've ever done any woodworking, from building a deck, framing a house or making a cabinet or table you know how important it is to have straight boards.  Many will have to be trimmed or planed in order to line up with another.  If we build a deck or lay a floor with warped wood, everyone will see it.  So it is with our understanding of God's Word.  If it is warped or doesn't line up with "the full counsel of God" it is warped and will show.

 

This morning, Pastor Greg Laurie's weekend devotional was on the subject of such study.  I'll close with a few words from him.

 

"If you want to learn about God and His ways, then learn to study this wonderful book God has given to us, the Bible. It is the user's manual to life. It tells us what is right and wrong and what is good and evil. It tells us how to live, how to do business, how to have a successful marriage, and much, much more.

 

But most importantly, the Bible tells us how to know and walk with God. In fact, everything you need to know about God is found in the pages of the Bible. That is why Abraham Lincoln said of the Bible, "All of the good from the Savior is communicated through this Book. All things that are desirable to man are contained in it."

 

If you agree with Abraham Lincoln that "all things desirable to man are contained" in the Bible, will you spend more time in studying it, cutting straight boards to build your faith?

 

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

2 Timothy 2:14-16
New King James Version (NKJV)
Approved and Disapproved Workers

 

14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

Verse of the Day 2/15

Acts 20:26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am not responsible for the spiritual death of any of you. ²⁷ I didn't avoid telling you the whole plan of God.   GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

Bob referenced and spoke about this verse in his sermon last week and it has been on my mind ever since.  We all, as Christians, have a responsibility, as best as we know how to share the gospel, the full counsel of God to those who need to hear it.  This was reinforced in my New Testament read through the Bible text this morning in Matthew 28 where we have "the Great Commission" which tells us to go and "make disciples... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

 

We may not be pastors, but we may be Sunday School teachers, Bible study leaders, youth group workers or have our own blog where we can spread the Word as we are led by God.  Will we follow through on His promptings?  It will be a challenge as we come across "touchy" subjects which seem to be taboo in this politically correct environment.  Will we avoid, shy away from these subjects?  I must admit that I have in some of the settings mentioned above.

 

John MacArthur comments that this "full counsel" refers to "the entire plan and purpose for man's salvation in all its fullness: divine truths of creation, election, redemption, justification, adoption, conversion, sanctification, holy living, and glorification."  If we are to spread the good news which includes these things, reading that list we should be sure that we will be "well versed",  have a better understanding ourselves of how we can speak of and defend them, with grace and love, as opportunities present themselves.  No, that is not right, these opportunities don't present themselves, God does.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Acts 20:25-27

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

²⁵ "And now I know that none of you will ever see my face again—everyone I went about preaching the kingdom to. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent^] of everyone's blood, ²⁷ for I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole plan of God.

Verse of the Day 2/14

2 Corinthians 4:16-17   Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.   New International Version (NIV)

Turning 55 is a humbling experience.  The thought of it makes you realize that you are not getting any younger.  Most likely, those nagging aches and pains aren't going to get better, very likely they'll get worse and we'll have other new ones heaped on top of it.

 

There are plenty of commercials and products out there designed to keep us young, from anti aging creams for our skin, "Lifestyle lifts", and all kinds of vitamins and supplements designed to fight off the appearance of age.  They are designed to show others that outwardly we are not wasting away, when in reality it is unavoidable, we are aging and there is no denying it.  Yes, we can lose some weight and get in better shape, but we won't truly be any younger.

 

Thankfully, as today's verses indicate, we can do something, or should I say, God can do something about our inner-selves and our disposition.  It can be renewed day by day..  We can have a renewed outlook inwardly even while we don't like what we see going on on the outside.  Why, because we are looking forward, looking onward and upward to something far greater than this world.  These thoughts, when realized can outweigh any negative thoughts that we might have today.

 

So the next time you want to feel younger, you don't have to try that new anti aging cream, turn to Christ and be renewed on the inside.

 

Psalm 51:10-12The Message (MSG)

God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
 

Blessings,
Mike
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2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The Message (MSG)

^16-18 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

Verse of the Day 2/13

John 6:68  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God."  New International Version (NIV)

 

Yesterday was Abraham Lincoln's birthday.  He is remembered and celebrated as a great man, a great President and his legacy left behind in so many of his writings and speeches was of a man of faith.  In a devotional, John Piper writes, "In 1862 when Lincoln was 53 years old, his 11 year old son died.  Lincoln's wife tried to deal with her grief by searching out New Age mediums.  Lincoln turned to Phinehas Gurley, a pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington.".   Several walks and talks with the pastor led to what Gurley described as a "conversion to Christ".  Lincoln confided that he was "driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go." 

 

He later went on to say that "We cannot but believe, that he who made the world still governs it."

 

During a period which was the darkest night of the soul for me, today's verse come to mind as I was driving, literally at a bend in the road near our home.  My heart was torn, tempted to walk away from God, but another part of me wanted to cling to Him.  Jesus hand on me was stronger than the feeling in me to turn away.  He pulled me in and drew me close and has set my course ever since.  I believed in those 10 words from Genesis 1:1 and cannot but believe that he who made the world still governs it.

 

There is a God who can bring about good out of bad, who brings us, sees us through tragedies to that we may see through them, past them.  We realize that bad things can and will happen and that these tragedies can come into our lives as Christians.  But we also acknowledge that He is in control because He, as the creator is sovereign.  Through faith we come to learn, accept and believe that "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

 

If you are facing or are in the midst of a trial, perhaps the dark night of your soul today, don't turn, don't walk away, hold on, cling to Him.   He has the "words of eternal life", He will see you through it.

 

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

John 6:67-69
Amplified Bible (AMP)
67 Jesus said to the Twelve, Will you also go away? [And do you too desire to leave Me?]
68 Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words (the message) of eternal life.
69 And we have learned to believe and trust, and [more] we have come to know [surely] that You are the Holy One of God, the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of the living God.

Verse of the Day 2/12

Genesis 3:1   Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?"  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

In our youth group, starting last Sunday and for the next two weeks we will be devoting time to the subject of authority.  Who we believe is in authority will largely determine our world view, the way we look at things, and the way that we think.  For the Christian, it all starts with Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God, created the heavens and the earth".  10 words that are our foundation, the first 4 "in the beginning God".  As the builder and creator He has dominion and authority over His creation.

 

In Genesis 3 Satan comes along in the form of a serpent.  His intent is to deceive those who have been made in God's image to doubt the authority of the One who created them, loves them and provides for them.  How did he do it, with another four simple words, "did God really say"?  Think of the problems in today's society and within the church, how many of them revolve around the subject "did God really say"?

 

Did God really say you shall not kill?  What is our answer in terms of abortion.  Did God really say "I hate divorce" when half of the marriages, even Christian marriages end in divorce?  Subject after subject the church as a whole and Christians individually are being challenges by Satan and his henchmen, "did God really say"?  It was his base mode of operation then and it still is today.

 

How are we to combat this?  First of all, to know what He says, to know who He is and to believe and trust in His Word.  Secondly to know who Satan is as the deceiver, disguising himself as the angel of light when in actuality all he wants is to kill and destroy.

 

When a question comes to mind or one like this is posed to you, seek to know what God's Word says, if you don't know the answer look for it, ask Him.

 

Matthew 7:7 "Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

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

Genesis 3:1-5
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Temptation and the Fall

 

3 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?"

 

2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.'"

 

4 "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Verse of the Day 2/11

Verse of the Day 2/11

 

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Last night in our youth group the topic of discussion revolved around authority.  Our lives will reflect who has authority in and over our lives.  If it is our Savior, Jesus Christ, it will manifest itself, it will show, be demonstrated in our lives.

 

John MacArthur in his study Bible notes, "No matter what the gift, ministry, or effect, all spiritual gifts come from the Holy Spirit.  They make Him known, understood, and evident in the church and in the world, by spiritually profiting all who receive their ministry."  The presence of the Spirit in our lives should be evident and motivate us to make Him known, "make Him famous" to others.  He doesn't need us to make Himself famous, but our efforts go towards giving Him the glory.

 

How do we go about and how can we measure this in our lives?  Look back to Galatians 5 for the following verses.  May they encourage and challenge you today to live by the Spirit, for the common good.

 

Galatians 5:22 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.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

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

1 Corinthians 12:6-8  English Standard Version (ESV)
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

Verse of the Day 2/10

Luke 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

When reminded that God does not give us any burdens we cannot handle, Mother Teresa replied , "I know, but sometimes I just wish He didn't think so highly of me."  I read that quote in a devotional yesterday and immediately thought of Mary as being the "highly favored one" which led me to today's verse.  When you go back through the Bible, you might consider most, if not all of the saints of the past to have been favored by God.  But think of Abraham, Joseph,David, Jonah, Paul and the other apostles.  Their  lives were far from easy, they were full of challenges and trials, but if you had the opportunity to pose the same reminder as posed to Mother Teresa, they probably would have responded in much the same way.  With all of the things that have taken place in your life or that of your family and close friends, how would you respond it the same thing was posed to you?

 

The common denominator in all of these people is that they learned to trust, to believe in God and His faithfulness in and through the trials, again, standing in that broad place with a distant view of the glory of God in all things.  That faith, that trust, and that view are things that don't come from ourselves they are endued by the grace of God.  It is so with us as individuals and as a church.

 

These thoughts brought to mind a couple of lines from the hymn "The Church's One Foundation".

 

And to one hope she presses,
With every grace endued.

 

Mary pondered the things which the Angel told her, she treasured them in her hear and pressed on with every grace endued.  What are you facing today?  May you be able to press on with every grace, that the Amplified Bible (below) refers to as being "free, spontaneous, and absolute favor and loving kindness" that God provides.

 

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 1:29-31Amplified Bible (AMP)
29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.
30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace (free, spontaneous, absolute favor and loving-kindness) with God.
31 And listen! You will become pregnant and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus.

Verse of the Day 2/9

 

Deuteronomy 34:4  Then the Lord said to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have now allowed you to see it with your own eyes, but you will not enter the land."

 

5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said.   New Living Translation (NLT)

 

The other day we considered David standing in a "broad place" with a distant view which gave him a new, a different perspective on his life.  In today's verse, Moses approaches the end of his life and God leads him to the top of a mountain (picture that at 120 years old!) to give him a glimpse of the promised land here on earth.  He saw it from a distance but never made it there.  So it is with many characters in the Bible, they lived there lives "circumspectly", with eyes open to all that was going on around them, ultimately looking forward towards eternity, the ultimate distant view.

 

Sean Michael Lucas writes, "This was seeing without proximity.  Moses could see a long way and he could see it all - everything he had written about in Genesis 12 -50 was right there.  Remember, he hadn't actually seen the land upon which Abraham had trod, the wells that Isaac had dug, the stone upon which Jacob slept at Bethel.  He had written about and now, he saw it - from a distance.  It was not close enough to touch, to feel to breathe.  The Promised Land was just beyond his reach."

 

As Christians, we are all at different places in our own pilgrimage, with different perspectives resulting from our place and things we've experienced in our lives.  But at those "broad places" we occasionally get a glimpse of that distant view which gives us hope and spurs us on in our walk.  Through these our connection to God is affirmed.

 

A quote I read in a devotional from John Piper brought all of this together for me.  "Be sure that you are connected to the way God means to motivate you with the backward look and the distant forward look and the near forward look" - John Piper  Jesus call us, invites us to stand, to look towards that "mansion just over the hilltop" ...."where we'll never grow old.

 

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

Deuteronomy 34:1-5  New Living Translation (NLT)
The Death of Moses

 

34 Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; 2 all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; 3 the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho—the city of palms—as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have now allowed you to see it with your own eyes, but you will not enter the land."

 

5 So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, just as the Lord had said.

Verse of the Day 2/8

 

Matthew 6:33  But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.
34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

In yesterday's verse Jesus told everyone that you cannot have two masters.  The preceding verse in today's passage tell of those who "wish for and crave and diligently seek " (AMP) fine clothes,, fine food, and riches, their minds are focused, even consumed with these things.  If you know someone like this you probably have seen that it doesn't lead to happiness but to discontentment, never being satisfied, always needing more.  Instead we are to aim at and strive for "His kingdom" which is his rule, his way of doing things being concerned about doing the right thing and being in right standing with him.

 

Jesus tells us if we seek Him in this way, he'll take care of providing the other things for our enjoyment, without the stress and anxiety of worrying about how we'll get them.  It's not that the other things will take care of themselves, a common thought, but that he'll see to it that they're taken care of, they will be added to you, given to you.  Big difference.

 

What are the things that are causing us worry and anxiety today?  Don't let these things dominate you.  There are enough troubles for each and every day.  Daily we need to seek Him, aim at His way of doing and being right and cast those worries, those burdens on Him, for "He cares for you".

 

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

Matthew 6:31-34 New Living Translation (NLT)
31 "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

 

34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

Verse of the Day 2/7

 

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Today's verse comes from Jesus' sermon on the mount found in Matthew 5-7.  Jesus doesn't pull any punches, He tells it like it is.  These words cannot be avoided and how we react to them will tell us a lot about our faith.

 

When things are going well as an individual, as a family or as a nation, not much thought may go into "who is my master".  But when finances shrink, when there are bills to pay and the economy is suffering we come to a point where we become "perpetually uneasy, anxious and worried (Amp. v.25) and feeling that "something has got to give".  These times prove out the deceitfulness of riches, money and possessions" as pointed out in the Amplified Bible.  Unfortunately, one of the first things that often has to give, is giving itself, not just financially, but in time and acts of kindness as well.

 

David's view from a "broad place" in yesterday's passage is one that sees riches, money, and possessions for what they are, they cannot be trusted, only God can be truly trusted as our currency reminds us.  I was reminded of the song "Our Master" by Matthew Ward. 

 

Our master our savior
You are Lord our king
Our master our Savior
We give our praise
To our King, To our King
(Repeat)

 

You are the everlasting Father
The beginning and the end
There is no one that can take your place
There is no other name

 

 I could picture David singing a song or writing a psalm much like it from that broad place, such as Psalm 121.

 

Psalm 121:7-8  The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.  8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

 

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

Matthew 6:23-25  Amplified Bible (AMP)
23 But if your eye is unsound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the very light in you [your conscience] is darkened, how dense is that darkness!
24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).
25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?

Verse of the Day 2/6

 

2 Samuel 22:20  He brought me out into a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he delighted in me.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

For today's verse we'll return to 2 Samuel 22.  The Lord had been with David through the waves of death, torrents of destruction, cords of Sheol, and the distress mentioned in verses 4 to 7 and brought him to a different place in his life.  Today's verse speaks of that place, it is a "broad place" a place with an open view a different perspective.

 

I love the mountains, especially the views looking across the valleys and the streams below.  Down in the valley those streams may be raging but from the view up high it is a beautiful scene.  I remember hiking up a mountainside through clear cut sections with fallen logs and brambles everywhere.   A tough trek but the view at the top was worth the climb.  That is what I see here from David.  He has come through the trials with a new view and a new perspective.  Instead of questioning God, he realized that God had rescued him and was delighted in him.

 

The verse and these thoughts remind me of one of my favorite quotes from Pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards  "As grace increases the field opens more and more to a distant view, until the soul is swallowed up with the vastness of the object, and the person is astonished to think how much it becomes him to love his God and this glorious Redeemer that has so loved man."

Can you look back on some of waves, torrents and trials in your life and see how they have brought you to a new place, a broad place, with a new view, a new perspective in life?  If you find yourself in the middle of one of those situations now, may you look for deliverance to that higher place.

 

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 Samuel 22:17-25  English Standard Version (ESV)
17 "He sent from on high, he took me;
    he drew me out of many waters.
18 He rescued me from my strong enemy,
    from those who hated me,
    for they were too mighty for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
    but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a broad place;
    he rescued me, because he delighted in me.
21 "The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness;
    according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord
    and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all his rules were before me,
    and from his statutes I did not turn aside.
24 I was blameless before him,
    and I kept myself from guilt.
25 And the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
    according to my cleanness in his sight.

Verse of the Day 2/4

 

  2 Samuel 22:2 He said,"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
³     my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
    my stronghold and my refuge,
    my savior; you save me from violence.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse from 2 Samuel 22 which has the heading David's song of deliverance.  David had know his share of troubles in his life.  The following verses give us an idea of how he looked at them and how we can look at similar trials in our lives.

 

Waves of death (v.5), these may be fears of illness or impending seige from the enemy.  Sometimes our fears come upon us in waves, we get though one just to find another.  Torrents of destruction - pictures of raging storms that also come in waves, in a downpour about all you can do is hunker down and wait it out.  Cords of Sheol, fears of hopelessness can tie us up and bind us, who will free us?  Distress, all of these things can leave us distressed (v.7), frazzled and our nerves frayed.

 

David turns to his God who has been his Deliverer in the past, giving him confidence that he will be so during the current trial.

 

The verse and the thoughts of deliverance reminded me of the chorus to the Rich Mullins song "My Deliverer"

 

My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
He will never break His promise
Though the stars should break faith with the sky
My Deliverer is coming - my Deliverer is standing by
My Deliverer is coming

 

Do you face waves, torrents, cords or distress today?  May you call out to God and realize that your Deliverer is coming.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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2 Samuel 22:1-7

New International Version (NIV)

David's Song of Praise

22 David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. ² He said:

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
³     my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
    from violent people you save me.

⁴ "I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and have been saved from my enemies.
⁵ The waves of death swirled about me;
    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
⁶ The cords of the grave coiled around me;
    the snares of death confronted me.

⁷ "In my distress I called to the Lord;
    I called out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
    my cry came to his ears

Verse of the Day 2/3

 

 

1 Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

May God give you more and more grace and peace.  New Living Translation (NLT)

We recently considered how the Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth that the gospel message is of "first importance".  In Peter's introduction to his epistle he shows that our standing in Christ, as God's chosen children, and the process of cleansing, obedience and growing , our sanctification are of primary importance.

We've also been considering how this is not of ourselves, it is of God.  Here in this verse Peter refers to all three "persons" of the Trinity being involved, working together.  We may not even be aware of it at first, but gradually we see that the Godhead, the blessed Trinity has been working out this process in our lives.

 

Charles Spurgeon in a devotional for today writes. "You remember the day, some of you, when you first learned the doctrines of grace. When we were first converted, we did not know much about them, we did not know whether God had converted us, or we had converted ourselves; but we heard a discourse one day in which some sentences were used, which gave us the clue to the whole system, and we began at once to see how God the Father planned, and God the Son carried out, and God the Holy Spirit applied, and we found ourselves suddenly brought into the midst of a system of truths, which we might perhaps have believed before, but which we could not have clearly stated, and did not understand. Well, the joy of that advance in knowledge was exceeding great."

 

May we see how God the Father planned, and God the Son carried out, and God the Holy Spirit applied the gospel in our hearts and minds, and may God bring you more grace and peace in doing so.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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1 Peter 1:1-3

Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 Peter, an apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, [writing] to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

² Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be ^[a]realized in and through Christ, ^[b]freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts].

³ Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,