Verse of the Day 3/30

1 Peter 1:3  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,     Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

The other day in Acts 2:23 Peter spoke of "this Jesus" whom the Pharisees and Roman officials had crucified.  Peter spoke of the resurrection then and starts off his epistle speaking of what we have as Christians because of this resurrection, an "ever living" hope.  This resurrected Jesus is whom we celebrate today.

 

I read the following quote this morning in a devotional, "The resurrection of our Lord is the single greatest event in history.  Had the Lord merely died, he would have been considered a great teacher and moral leader, but would not have proven Himself God.  By coming out of the grave, He triumphed over death and hell, showed His sacrifice on the cross as being acceptable to God, and gave eternal hope of eternal life to everyone who puts their trust in Him."

 

We have this ever living hope because He is risen, He took on the weight of our sin and paid the price so that we too may one day rise again to live with Him.  We sang the Matt Maher song "Christ is Risen" in church this morning.  May the words resound in our hearts today as we feel honored and blessed that Jesus Christ died for us and then rose again in triumph, may we live this day and every day in what the NLT describes as  "great expectation" for that day.

 

Beneath the weight of all our sin,

You bow to none but heavens will

No scheme of hell, no scoffer's crown

No burden great can hold you down

In strength you reign

Forever let your church proclaim

 

Christ is risen from the dead

Trampling over death by death,

Come awake, come awake

Come and rise up from the grave

 

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 Peter 1:2-4

New Living Translation (NLT)

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.

The Hope of Eternal Life

³ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ⁴ and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

Verse of the Day 3/28

 

Acts 2:23-24 This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men.

²⁴ [But] God raised Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

As I read these verses this morning I was struck by the first two words "this Jesus".  The Pharisees and Sadducees had seen Jesus as a lawbreaker, breaking the rules of the Sabbath in his healings, they saw him as one who stood in opposition to their religious order.  The sick, the lame, the blind, the downcast saw him as their healer and deliverer.

 

The Jesus that Peter and John talk about in Acts it the one prophesied of in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 52 and 53 and elsewhere.  He is the One who came to die for us.  He went to the cross, died, and rose again to live that we too might live.  This Jesus is the Jesus that we celebrate this weekend in Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter services.

 

Octavius Winslow  describes "this Jesus" and what He came to accomplish for us, "The death of Jesus was the opening and the emptying of the full heart of God; it was the outgushing of that ocean of infinite mercy that heaved and panted and longed for an outlet; it was God showing how he could love a poor, guilty sinner."  Octavius Winslow

We will see images of Jesus in services, in movies such as The Passion or in the current TV miniseries "The Bible".  Which Jesus do we see, that of Peter and John who was the "emptying of the full heart of God,  or that of the Pharisees, or that of 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

Acts 2:22-24

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²² You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and attested to you by God by the mighty works and [the power of performing] wonders and signs which God worked through Him [right] in your midst, as you yourselves know—

²³ This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men.

²⁴ [But] God raised Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it.

Verse of the Day 3/27

 

Luke 5:16   So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.   New King James Version (NKJV)

 

As you read through the gospels and follow the ministry of Jesus you realize that he must have been a busy, very busy person.  Today's passage reveals that great multitudes of people followed him to hear and to be healed by him.  If anyone could have felt the pressures of things to do virtually every waking moment it would have been Jesus. Jesus easily could have been "too busy to pray" but instead was the example for us in being "too busy not to pray". Today's passage also reveals that Jesus "often" withdrew, not just to be alone, but to be alone with his Father in prayer.

 

You may wonder, where do I find a wilderness to retreat to in order to pray?  You have heard mention of a "prayer closet" or other solitary place that people find to withdraw from the distractions of the day to pray.  It may be your car or just about any location where you can get away.  I remember a time when I would simply go out at lunchtime behind the building where I worked and simply sit in the sunshine in the grass in back of the building.  I definitely needed that quiet time in solitude and in prayer.  It helped me through hectic demanding days, achieving more through withdrawing for a while instead of "working through" lunch.

 

Do you stop and take time to get away and pray?   If not, try to today.  Be creative in finding your place, a wilderness or desolate place that you can find nearby.  If Jesus needed to do so, we should too.

 

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 5:15-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁵ However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. ¹⁶ So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic

¹⁷ Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Verse of the Day 3/26

Colossians 4:2  Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 

 

Prayer is one of the weak spots in my life.  I don't pray as I should as often as I should for those I should.  Today's verse served as a wake up call, a reminder of that.  It is so easy to put our life as a Christian on some kind of autopilot where we think we are following Christ.  But how can we if we don't spend time with him in prayer?

 

John Piper in a sermon on this passage states, "prayer is not some small thing.  It is not a marginal thing.  It is not some incidental thing in the Christian life.  Prayer is at the heart of why God created the universe.  You may have the modern, secular notion that the universe is really about great galactic events and supernovas and remarkable expanses of time and space and energy.  But in reality the center of the created universe is man in the image of God.  And the meaning of man in the image of God is to display God's glory.  And the way God delights to display his glory in man is by being depended upon through prayer."

 

In our secular society, independence and self sufficiency are looked upon as strengths and virtues.  For the Christian, in good times and in bad, we should realize and make known our dependence on God.  Perhaps the best reflection of that is seen in our devotion to prayer, to communion with him.  The devoted part has to do with staying alert in it, not being distracted or drawn away, while praying with thanksgiving.

 

Do you feel too busy to pray at times?  In reality, we're "too busy not to pray".

 

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

Colossians 4:2-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

² Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

³ And at the same time pray for us also, that God may open a door to us for the Word (the Gospel), to proclaim the mystery concerning Christ (the Messiah) on account of which I am in prison;

⁴ That I may proclaim it fully and make it clear [speak boldly and unfold that mystery], as is my duty.

⁵ Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.

⁶ Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

Verse of the Day 3/25

Ecclesiastes 3:1  For everything there is a season;
    a time for every activity under heaven.  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Spring officially arrived last week, but for the southeast and many areas of the country, it sure doesn't feel like it.  But we do know that even though it is delayed, the spring weather will come along.   So it is in our lives, we try to delay aging, purchasing products to keep us young to prevent us from crossing the line and moving into the next season.  We'll purchase things to color our hear to hide the gray, sprays that will mask bald spots, buy anyi aging cream, but no matter what we try to do our internal "clock" keeps ticking and knows what season it is in.

 

How much better off we are if we realize and accept the seasons and the things appointed for each season by God.  We can enjoy and praise God for the different seasons in nature and in our lives realizing that there is a time for all of the activities mentioned in the passage for the glory, praise and honor of God.

 

Fast forwarding to the end of the book, Solomon closes with these words which are good for us in any season, "fear God and obey His commands", good advice for us to be able to find joy in the seasons.

 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. ¹⁴ God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

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

Ecclesiastes 3

New Living Translation (NLT)

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
² A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.

Verse of the Day 3/24

 

Luke 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is on Me
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me
to proclaim freedom to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today's verse comes from the read through the Bible plan that I'm following.  Jesus had come through his testing in the wilderness and was about to begin his earthly ministry.  In the temple he reads today's verses from the scroll, the book of Isaiah and sets the tone and conveys the purpose of his ministry.  It is a theme that he would return to many times during his ministry.

 

Take a look at the things he came to do, think of each of these in physical and spiritual terms;

• preach good news to the poor - not doom and gloom, not false hopes, but true good new
• proclaim freedom to the captives, not more rules and regulations, not pre-requisites to join his fellowship
• recovery of sight - new light and life, light instead of foreboding and darkness,
• lifting of oppression - rest from the onslaught
• not just a day of the Lord's blessing, or a year of jubilee, but a time of deliverance into a new era

What are the things that might be holding you or a friend who is captive, oppressed, poor or blinded by circumstances in their lives?  What can you do in leading, pointing someone to Jesus?

 

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,   	snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;   	weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen,   	tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.   Refrain:   	Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;   	Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.

 

 

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 4:17-19

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁷ The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him, and unrolling the scroll, He found the place where it was written:

¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me^[a]
to proclaim freedom^[b] to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.

Verse of the Day 3/22

 

Deuteronomy 6:5-6  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ⁶ These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

In yesterday's verse we were called to "love intensely", the picture is of striving with determination. 

 

When I read that word and thought about it for a moment, my daughter Laurie came to mind.  She was and always has been a strong willed child, when she set her mind on something she would do all that she could to achieve it.  remember her winning the sprint in the AWANA Olympics, she went on to set school records in track in high school.  If you were to put her in Washington DC, she'd be the fiscal hawk that could put the country's finances in order.  It would be tough but she'd strive with a strong determination to do it.

 

That's the kind of picture I have for today's verse, loving, striving, a strong determination to love God with all our heart.  This was at the forefront of the mind of Moses in Deuteronomy 6 which came to be known as the "Shema" and would be repeated daily by the followers of God through the ages.  It was needed to build a strong faith, a strong love, and a strong home.  Thinking of that strong determination brought me to the words of the Philips, Craig and Dean song of the same name.

 

It takes a strong determination;

A faith that never doubts,

A courage to forgive,

A heart that reconciles,

Life full of devotion'

A faith that won't give up,

It takes a strong determination

To build a house of love.      Philips, Craig and Dean - Strong Determination

 

My prayer for my daughter Laurie, and my prayer for all of us is that we would have that strong determination to love God with all our hearts and to apply it in our homes in devotion, courage, forgiveness and reconciliation.

 

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

Deuteronomy 6:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[a] 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.

Verse of the Day 3/21

 1 Peter 4:7-8   Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
 

The heading for this passage in the HCSB is "End Time Ethics".  I am not trying to be a "doomsday" person, but being 55 years old, it is obvious that I'm closer to the end of my life than the beginning.  At the same time, we need to realize as Frank Sinatra sang,, that at some point we will" face the final curtain ".  However, the point of this verse, or at least a point, is that instead of trying to do things "my way" for ourselves  we should come to the realization that we should love each other "intensely", with they type of love that Jesus exhibited.

 

What difference would it make in our lives if we did so?  What would it mean to our family, friends, loved ones and to perfect strangers if we did so?

 

Even this intense love is not something that is done on our own, from ourselves in "our way".  It comes from seeking God in our lives, in prayer and His Word, seeking guidance and direction from Him and applying it in our lives, in our daily situations.

 

Finally, think of what such love does.  It covers a multitude of sins.  We can't undo things that have happened.  All wrongs cannot be corrected.  But there can be forgiveness and a part of loving intensely is forgiving.  Read the passage from the message below.  Will it have an impact on your attitude today?

 

Blessings,
Mike
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1 Peter 4:7-11

The Message (MSG)

^7-11 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

Verse of the Day 3/20

2 Peter 1:19  So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

When we're going through the trials, the storms in our lives it can feel like we're in a dark dismal place, things just seem to close in around you.  God's word can be a light in those times to help us "see through" the darkness and lead us out into the light.  You can see examples of this in so many of the psalms.  David may be in  a dark place, picture him being in the cave chased by Saul.  Yet in these times he called out to God, he recalled God's faithfulness in the past, and David was able to rejoice in the present while looking for the Lord's deliverance.

 

Regarding God's Word, Charles Spurgeon writes,"I am the book of God: man, read me.  I am God's writing; open my leaf, for I was penned by God; read it for he is my author, and you will see him visible and manifest everywhere."

 

Even in his dark days, in the valleys of life, David saw Him everywhere.  May we call on Him may His Word shine in our hearts, may we see Him in time of need.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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2 Peter 1:18-20  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁸ And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation,

Verse of the Day 3/19

Matthew 11:28-29  Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  New Living Translation (NLT)

Yesterday we considered how "our faith has found a resting place  ...in the ever living one."  It is through coming to Him, trusting in Him and resting in His promises.

 

Our youth group has been going through a series on miracles.  I shared my testimony the other night of the "miracles" our family has experienced.  As many of you know our oldest son Jeff suffered a TBI which has left him disabled.  The miracles in his life are that he is able to talk when doctors said that he would not be able to.  The bigger miracle is his heart, his love, his attitude in spite of and in the midst of his circumstances.  He often thanks God for (in his words) this stupendous, or awesome or wonderful life.  What a blessing he is.  Our younger son Jason was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor 8 years ago.  To make a long story short, the miracle is that there is no longer any sign of it.  Another miracle to me is how Jason never let it keep him down but always focused on what was ahead.  He has one year left on his doctorate in theology.

 

St. Augustine wrote, "Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.  Lord teach me to know and understand which of these should be first, to call on Thee, or to prasie Thee; and likewise to know Thee, or to call upon Thee." The statement completes or comes full circle.  We call on Him, He answers, we praise Him which helps us to know Him and causes us to want to know Him better so we call on Him more.

 

I don't know the circumstances in your life today, but God does.  Call on Him, find rest in Him and like St. Augustine, figure out which comes first - to call, praise to know or to call.  Is it all of the above?
 

Blessings,
Mike
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Matthew 11:28-30

The Message (MSG)

^28-30 "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Verse of the Day 3/18

 

Hebrews 4:3  For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,

"In my anger I took an oath:
    'They will never enter my place of rest,'"

even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.  New Living Translation (NLT)

People can have faith in any number of things including themselves.  It is not the power of your faith that will save you and deliver you in times of need, it is the power of Whom you have faith in, putting your full weight and trust in Whom you believe in.  B.B. Warfield writes, "It is not faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ.... It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith.  The saving power resides exclusively, not in the act of faith or the attitude of faith or in the nature of faith, but in the object of faith." 

 

Jesus Christ is the object, the author and perfector of our faith.  He has told us that He is the way, the truth and the life. We can rest in that.

 

My faith has found a resting place,
  Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
  His wounds for me shall plead.

 

I need no other argument,
  I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
    And that He died for me.

 

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
  This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
  He'll never cast me out.

 

My heart is leaning on the Word,
  The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's name,
  Salvation through His blood.

 

My great Physician heals the sick,
  The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
  For me His life He gave.

 

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

Hebrews 4:2-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

² For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with ^[a]the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; ^[b]neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).

³ For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, ^[c]in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world.

⁴ For in a certain place He has said this about the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.

Verse of the Day 3/17

John 3:3  Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today's verse is a natural progression from yesterday's thoughts of regeneration, replacing our heart of stone with a new heart of flesh and a new life in Christ.  The verse starts out with strong words, the translations differ in what words they use, but they are all stressing the point, I assure you, or truly truly.  Jesus is leaving no room for error.  If you want to see the kingdom of God, you must be born again.

 

The phrase literally means be "born from above".  Just as our birth into this life, it is something that we didn't do on our own.  So it is with our salvation, it is the work of God.  And as a baby is born, it must learn, grow and develop, this growth is a process.  So it is spiritually, we aren't just born again and then live our lives as if nothing had changed.  Tim Keller writes, "The Christian life is a process of renewing every dimension of our lives - spiritual, psychological, corporate, social - by living out the ramifications of the gospel.  The gospel is to be applied to every area of thinking, feeling, relating and behaving." 

 

Reading this verse and Tim Keller's statement, has our being born again had an impact in renewing "every dimension of our lives"?

 

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.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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John 3:2-4  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

² This man came to Him at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him."

³ Jesus replied, "I assure you: Unless someone is born again,^[a] he cannot see the kingdom of God."

⁴ "But how can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked Him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born

Verse of the Day 3/16

Ezekiel 36:26-27  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

When I was thinking of yesterday's verse and the thoughts of walking along the beach with fresh air in my lungs I thought of the Third Day song "Born Again".  Then in my devotions my Old Testament reading was in Ezekiel 36 where I came across these verses and the notes in my HCSB Study Bible which state that "regeneration is a secret act of God by which He imparts new spiritual life to dead hearts.  This is sometimes called being born again."  

 

Having been saved from the crashing waves, the storms of life, walking on the beach through the woods or along city streets help us to appreciate the air in our lungs and the blessings in our lives.  Being born again gives one a new lease on life, one of praise and thanksgiving for every day.  Makes you want to sing.

 

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
For the very first time

It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving
For the very first time
For the very first time

I wasn't looking for something that was more,
Than what I had yesterday,
Then You came to me,
Then You gave to me,
Life and a love that I've never known,
That I've never felt before   - Third Day

To hear the song and listen, perhaps sing to the video :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_dP2n-5W8
 

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

Ezekiel 36:24-28   The Message (MSG)

^24-28 "'For here's what I'm going to do: I'm going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I'll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I'll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I'll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that's God-willed, not self-willed. I'll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You'll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You'll be my people! I'll be your God!

Verse of the Day 3/15

Verse of the Day 3/15

Matthew 14:30-31 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!  ³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

"He is not merely the rope that pulls us from the threatening waves; he is the solid beach under our feet, the air in our lungs, and the beat of our heart, and the warm sun on our skin, and the song in our ears, and the arms of our beloved".  _ John Piper

 

I read this quote from John Piper this morning and was reminded of times at the beach having fun in the waves, enjoying walks along the beach, breathing in the salty air,

 appreciating the warmth of the sun, while realizing that He is the creator of it all.  We've also been on the ocean when a hurricane was passing by hundreds of miles away

but still had the power to kick the waves up to 10 feet or higher.  Surfers were willing to test the waves but I surely wouldn't have ventured out. 

 

These thoughts brought me to today's passage where Peter stepped out of the boat, into the crashing waves willingly, no surf board, no safety line only his faith in the voice

and command of Jesus.  When was the last time you have been asked to step out in faith?  When will be the next time?

 

Looking back on those times help us to appreciate the times of blue skies, salty breezed and fresh air and clear lungs to breathe it in.

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'
"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth   - Casting Crowns

 

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

Matthew 14:28-30

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

²⁹ "Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Verse of the Day 3/14

2 Peter 1:5-7  "make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,⁶ knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, ⁷ godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Most every day I take a multi vitamin, fish oil, and a prescription to supplement my diet.  The goal is to decrease cholesterol, keep the arteries clean in order to keep the heart and other organs in better condition, in a better position to ward off illness and live a healthy life.  Today's verses challenge us to look at our lives and consider what we are doing to "supplement" our faith.

 

Can you use a little (or a lot) more goodness, biblical knowledge, self control, love and affection for others in our lives?  How does one go about taking these supplements?  We do so by "living for Jesus".  Spend time in His word, in prayer and thinking how we may be obedient to His call, putting what we learn into practice, and loving others. 

 

When you think of endurance and self control, you may think of a marathon runner.  Our life of faith is a marathon.  This faith is not passive, it is active and takes effort to be applied.  Are we making every effort, striving to add these supplements to our daily walk?

 

1. Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
   Striving to please Him in all that I do;
   Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
   This is the pathway of blessing for me.
3. Living for Jesus through earth's little while,
   My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
   Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
   Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
4. 
   O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
   For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
   I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
   My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
6. 2 Peter 1:8  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  New International Version (NIV)

 

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 1:4-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse of the Day 3/13

 

2 Corinthians 1:20  For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Reading this verse I was reminded of Tiger Woods winning a golf tournament this past weekend.  He did so by making 27 birdies, mainly through excellent, even remarkable putting.  His signature mark when he sinks a long put is to clench his fist and flex his muscle.  You can hear him say "yes!" as he sees the ball find the hole.  It is saying, yes, I've done it.  It is a celebration of oneself.  For those of us who enjoy golf, we can (occasionally) relate to that feeling. 

 

For the Christian, we hope to experience many "yes" moments in our lives, however, it is not the feeling of accomplishment on our own and of ourselves.  We realize that our yes is in Christ, it is through His grace, His enablement that we accomplish anything for His sake.  It is why we give the glory back to Him.

 

Amen is another word for yes or so be it.  It is an affirmation.  John Piper writes, "When you realize that "Amen" and "Yes" mean the same thing, here's what the verse says; In Jesus Christ, God says his Yes to us through his promises; and in Christ we say our Yes to God through prayer".

 

As we have opportunities to say "yes" in our lives, in ministry may we say yes back to God in prayer and in praise to our God of "positive promise".

 

The Christ of God to glorify,
His grace in us to magnify;
His Word of life to all make known—
Be this our work, and this alone. —Whittle

 

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 Corinthians 1:19-22

J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

^19-22 Jesus Christ, the Son of God, whom Silvanus, Timothy and I have preached to you, is himself no doubtful quantity, he is the divine "yes". Every promise of God finds its affirmative in him, and through him can be said the final amen, to the glory of God. We owe our position in Christ to this God of positive promise: it is he who has consecrated us to this special work, he who has given us the living guarantee of the Spirit in our hearts. Are we then the men to say one thing and mean another?