Verse of the Day 11/30

 

1 Corinthians 13:7  Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

We've enjoyed spending time with the family so far this Thanksgiving weekend.  We've had time to share the things that we've all been thankful for.  At the core of all of those things is love.  It is love that has held us, comforted us, strengthened us and given us hope through all of the circumstances in life  We are thankful for the love of family, friends, our church and underneath it all the love of Christ.

 

Today's verse is fitting for the day in another way.  Tomorrow the advent season will begin, the Christmas season where we will reflect on and celebrate the greatest gift, the greatest love of all that was shared with us by God the Father sending His only begotten Son as a baby into a world of turmoil and political and religious strive.

 

Our world faces a lot of political and religious turmoil today.  May the love of God through Jesus Christ shine in our hearts and lives this upcoming season to that the hopes and qualities of this love are fadeless under all circumstances.

 

Deuteronomy 33:27  The eternal God is your refuge;  
And underneath are the everlasting arms;  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

1 Corinthians 13:7

The Message (MSG)

^3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Verse of the Day 11/28

 

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Today is a national day of giving thanks.  As Christians we have so much to be thankful for, as Americans we have so much to be thankful for, and as parents and children we have so much to be thankful.  This Thanksgiving I am so thankful to have our kids and grandkids and my mother in law with us.  As I think about every family member that is with us today, I have reasons to give thanks.  Thanks for healing, thanks for restoration, thanks for peace, thanks for blessings too many to list here.

 

I hope that it is so with you and your family and that as you spend time with family, friends or even strangers, that the peace of Christ will "keep you in tune" with each other, with an attitude of thankfulness and praise.

 

Our three grandkids will have the "run of the house" today and most of the coming weekend.  For us adults, may the Lord have the "run of the house" in our hearts and lives "every step of the way".  May he draw the hearts of our families closer together and may we sing His praises.  And as we sit around the table may we all be prepared to share a reason that we can give thanks to God with a grateful heart.

 

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"

 

Give thanks.

 

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 3:17

The Message (MSG)

^15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Verse of the Day 11/27

 

Psalm 69:30   I will praise the name of God with a song;
    I will magnify him with thanksgiving.  English Standard Version (ESV)

I read today's verse in a devotional from John Piper and as I read it I thought that it is a good verse to prepare for and lead us into Thanksgiving.

John Piper writes, "there are two kinds of magnifying: microscope magnifying and telescope magnifying. The one makes a small thing look bigger than it is. The other makes a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.  When David says, "I will magnify God with thanksgiving," he does not mean: "I will make a small God look bigger than he is." He means: "I will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is."  We are not called to be microscopes, but telescopes. Christians are not called to be con-men who magnify their product out of all proportion to reality, when they know the competitor's product is far superior."

Thanksgiving is a time of looking back in our lives, in the life of our family, our country and our faith and to give thanks to God for the great things He has done.  As I do this in my own life I can see where those things that magnify Him most were born out of the trials and their aftermath in my life.  They revealed His presence, His mercy, His grace in unexpected ways.

 

As you gather together with family and friends tomorrow and perhaps over the long weekend, take some time to magnify Him, to "make our big God begin to look as big as He really is" and has been in our lives.

 

Perhaps you are currently experiencing hurt and pain.  If so, such a practice of looking back and praising God through what He has done, what He has accomplished through previous trials may give you the strength to magnify Him in what He will do in your current situation.  If you are there, may God give you "space for healing, and mountain air".

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Psalm 69:29-31

The Message (MSG)

²⁹ I'm hurt and in pain;
Give me space for healing, and mountain air.

³⁰ Let me shout God's name with a praising song,
Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.

³¹ For God, this is better than oxen on the altar,
Far better than blue-ribbon bulls.

Verse of the Day 11/26

 

Joshua 22:5  But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

The men's Bible study that I am in has been studying in 1 and 2 Peter recently.  We noted that the letters were written towards the end of his life, some 30 to 40 years after his call to follow Jesus, serving, learning and teaching about Him in the years and decades that followed.  As he neared the end of his life, writing from jail he still held fast, while encouraging and challenging others.  It is a trait of "God followers" in both the Old and New Testaments.

 

In the final chapters of Joshua we see several times where he calls on the people to take courage, to hold fast, to continue to follow "with all your heart and soul".  The message hadn't changed from the early chapters when Joshua led them into the promised land with the call to "be strong and courageous, very courageous".  It is no different today, we are to hold on, hold fast, be bold, be strong, be courageous while we have our breath, knowing that God is a rewarder of those that will do so.

 

In our men's study we contrasted Peter, as we could Joshua in today's verse, to the person Frank Sinatra sang of in the song "My Way".  He boasted of himself, what he did, in his power, for his glory, for his ego.  Peter, Joshua, Paul, Billy Graham and other God followers through the ages have  boasted in the Lord their God and did their best to live His way, and encouraged others to do the same.  We may not know when "we'll face the final curtain" but for those who take Joshua's advice,we have something better to look for on the other side. 

 

May this be our call as we head out into the world today,  "Love God, your God, walk in all his ways, do what he's commanded, embrace him, serve him with everything you are and have."  (The Message)

 

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

Joshua 22:5

The Message (MSG)

22 ^1-5 Then Joshua called together the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He said: "You have carried out everything Moses the servant of God commanded you, and you have obediently done everything I have commanded you. All this time and right down to this very day you have not abandoned your brothers; you've shouldered the task laid on you by God, your God. And now God, your God, has given rest to your brothers just as he promised them. You're now free to go back to your homes, the country of your inheritance that Moses the servant of God gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Only this: Be vigilant in keeping the Commandment and The Revelation that Moses the servant of God laid on you: Love God, your God, walk in all his ways, do what he's commanded, embrace him, serve him with everything you are and have."

Verse of the Day 11/24

 

Hebrews 6:17-18  God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. ¹⁸ So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.   New Living Translation (NLT)

 

We've considered how we are called and challenged to "hold onto the faith".  It involves hearing, listening to God through His Word, taking action, applying it in faith in our lives and keeping hold of it throughout our lives, in good times and in bad.

 

John Piper in his daily devotional yesterday expanded on this.

Why does the writer encourage us to hold fast to our hope? If our holding fast was obtained and irrevocably secured by the blood of Jesus, then why does God tell us to hold fast?

The answer is this:

• What Christ bought for us when he died was not the freedom from having to hold fast but the enabling power to hold fast.
• What he bought was not the nullification of our wills as though we didn't have to hold fast, but the empowering of our wills because we want to hold fast.
• What he bought was not the canceling of the commandment to hold fast but the fulfillment of the commandment to hold fast.
• What he bought was not the end of exhortation, but the triumph of exhortation.

He has given us the grace, an unbreakable spiritual lifeline (below) and the enabling power to hold on,  He has empowered our wills to hold fast, He see's to it that it will be so, He has done it in triumph, through His life, put on display in ours that we have "a story to tell".

 

We've a story to tell to the nations,   that shall turn their hearts to the right,   a story of truth and mercy,   a story of peace and light,   a story of peace and light. 

  We've a message to give to the nations,   that the Lord who reigneth above   hath sent us his Son to save us,   and show us that God is love, and show us that God is love

Refrain:  For the darkness shall turn to dawning,   and the dawning to noonday bright;   and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,   the kingdom of love and light.

 

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 6:17-20

The Message (MSG)

God Gave His Word

 When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

^18-20 We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.

Verse of the Day 11/23

 

Philippians 2:12- What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God.  The Message (MSG)

 

My father in law, Chester Cocozza, "Papa Chet" as he was known to our kids and grandkids passed away earlier this week.  He had an outgoing personality and it was said of him that he never knew a stranger.  It was an endearing  trait, a part of who he was that he carried with him until his dying day.  Yesterday's verse from James told us to "show no partiality". That is part of what is necessary in never knowing a stranger.  He always had a story or a joke to tell that would break the ice.  He could carry on a conversation with anybody about almost anything.

 

Today's verse tells us that we should have that same kind of trait, that same mindset about our faith, about our salvation.  Many translations say "work out" your salvation.  Pastor Greg Laurie writes " a more accurate translation would be, "Carry to the goal and fully complete."  What this means is we are working out what God has worked in."  We are to "carry out", to live out our salvation to the end.  To live it, breathe it, share it or as The Message translates it "be energetic in" our lives of salvation in reverence to God knowing that we live each day "coram deo".  To live "coram deo" is to live one's entire life in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and to the Glory of God.

 

We will miss you Papa Chet, may we remember and learn from you what it means to "never know a stranger" and apply it in our lives.  May we be as "energetic" in it, apply it in our faith and pass it on to the next generation.  After all we have a story to tell.

 

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 2:12-13

The Message (MSG)

Rejoicing Together

^12-13 What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

Verse of the Day 11/22

 

James 2:1  My brothers, do not show favoritism as you hold on to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

As you may have noticed the last two verses that I've shared have come from James.  They've come up in the read through the Bible plan that I'm following.  Over the years, I've probably read today's verse dozens of times but have always focused on the "partiality" or favoritism aspect of the verse.  With yesterday's topic of faith still in my mind what jumped out at me today was  "as you hold on to the faith". Think about it.  The Amplified Bible translates it "hold onto and practice" the faith.  Not showing partiality is practicing.  But what about holding on to?

 

Faith is something that needs to be held onto in order to be shared.  You can let it  slip away if you "let public opinion influence you" (The Message).  It has to be held onto in the every day life and also during the storms of life "when the sea billows roll".  But when we do it is an anchor for the soul, secured by Jesus.

 

I'm reminded of another hymn that brings these thoughts together "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less".  Read the two stanzas below

 

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

What is it that supports us, that is the cornerstone of our faith?  His  oath, His covenant, His blood shed for us.  When all earthly props give way may we hold on and rest in faith to His unchanging grace.  Those who do so will not show partiality but compassion and grace in their dealings with others.

 

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

James 2:1

The Message (MSG)

The Royal Rule of Love

2 ^1-4 My dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, "Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!" and either ignore the street person or say, "Better sit here in the back row," haven't you segregated God's children and proved that you are judges who can't be trusted?

Verse of the Day 11/21

 

James 1:6   But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Outside of the Christian community "faith" is often looked upon as something nebulous, something that may build like the clouds but also fade away in the heat.   This is not so for the Christian, in Hebrews 11, that great chapter on faith, it is spoken of as being "the assurance of things hoped for"  and the "conviction" and evidence of things to come.  It is substance.

 

There can be times in our lives, the trials mentioned in James 1:2, where our faith may be tested, our world is rocked.  Our emotions may sway, we may toss and turn without sleep with worry with anxiety of things beyond our control.  It may be an upcoming exam, the health of a loved one, or a strained relationship.  It is in times like these that we need to have faith, we need to call on God, knowing and believing that He is there with us.

 

John MacArthur writes that "prayer must be offered with confident trust in a sovereign God.  The person who doubts God's ability or willingness to provide this wisdom is like the billowing, restless sea, moving back and forth with its endless tides, never able to settle."  The key for the Christian is that final line "never able to settle", we may be tossed but we are able to settle when God's says "peace, be still" to the billowing , restless seas in our lives.  It comes from a deep and quiet, relentless trust.

 

A few lines from the Steve Green song "A Chasing of the Wind" come to mind"

  Only God can be our reason
  For deep and quiet trust
  He will guard us from the dangers
  That gladly make men fools
  Apart from Him and all His meaning
  All things fail as they begin

 

If you are feeling like you are being tossed around, pray to the Father, in faith, "He loves to help"  (The Message)

 

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

James 1:6

The Message (MSG)

^5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

Verse of the Day 11/20

 

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

In yesterday's verse, Hebrews 4:16, we were encouraged, challenged to boldly approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Today's verse serves as a reminder that God is willing and able to make grace abound to us, to overflow from us "in all things and at all times" for every good work.

 

I read the following quote from C. S. Lewis this morning - "As to the state of the world' if we have time to hope and fear about it, we certainly have time to pray.  I agree it is very hard to keep one's eyes on God amid all the daily claims and problems.  I think it wise, if possible, to move one's main prayers from the last thing at night position to some earlier time: give them a chance to infiltrate one's other thoughts."

 

For me, the quote brought yesterday's verse and today's together, approaching the throne of grace in the morning, to receive, power to receive grace sufficient for every good work available to us today.  As we consider the state of our world today, let God's Word and  prayers to God guide your thoughts today "so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done." (The Message)

 

Read the passage from The Message below may it encourage and challenge us today.

 

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 Corinthians 9:8

The Message (MSG)

^8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

Verse of the Day 11/19

 

Hebrews 4:16  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Has there ever been a time when you were in need or want of something and the opportunity was right in front of you but you didn't have the nerve to ask for it?  Then, someone else walk's right up, asks and it is given to them?  That is the picture here as portrayed in The Message paraphrase below.

 

In John Piper's daily devotional this morning he writes, "I need help to live my life and to handle death and to cope with eternity - help with my family, my spouse, my children, my loneliness, my job, my health, my finances.  I need  help.  But I don't deserve the help that I need."  That is where today's verse comes in.  We aren't looking for what we deserve, we are looking for God's mercy, His grace to "meet the need".  The Message in verse 16 challenges us not only to seek, to ask for this mercy but to take it, to accept the help.

 

This morning, my daily reading in Psalms brought me to chapter 51 where David's first words are "have mercy on me Lord according to your steadfast love".  No matter what situation we face today, no matter  what the need, may that be the attitude of our hearts.  If we need to get our act, get our life "together" may we also pray like David and receive mercy and fresh wind in our sails.

 

Psalm 51:7-11 Soak me in your laundry and I'll come out clean,
    scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don't look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
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!  The Message (MSG)

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 4:14-16

The Message (MSG)

The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain

^14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.

Verse of the Day 11/18

 

2 Peter 1:1-2 Simeon Peter, a slave and an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those who have obtained a faith of equal privilege with ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.

² May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Our men's Bible study this morning was in 2 Peter 1 where we go for today's verse.  All too often it is easy to "blow past" the introduction of a letter to get to the body, the meat of the letter without giving it much thought.  To do so in this instance and other letters in the New Testament is to skip an important part of the meal.

 

Think of just who Peter was.  A fisherman, personally called by Jesus to follow him, to join and exclusive group, to learn, follow and know Jesus, the long expected Messiah.  You can think of his boldness, his denials, his restoration, his final boldness. 

 

Quite often someone in such an introduction would start out by saying "president" of, ambassador to, leader of, author of or some other self promoting distinction.  What does Peter say "a slave" or other translations say "a servant", then a follower.  Even in his introduction he was thinking less of himself and more of his Master and others.  This attitude is borne out in the second line "to those who have obtained a faith of equal privilege with ours".  He wasn't putting himself on some pedestal, before the cross the field is level.  And what was first and foremost on his mind?  That God's grace and peace would be multiplied to them through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

 

When I read that word grace I often think of how John Piper describes it as not just being pardon for sin, but pardon with power, power to persevere in hope, power to serve, power to endure,  power to comfort, power to challenge, power to encourage .... the list goes on, fill in the blanks for what you need in your life.

 

It is my prayer for you today, in whatever situation you may find yourself in, "May grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 

 

It may be found "At Calvary"

 

1. Years I spent in vanity and pride,
   Caring not my Lord was crucified,
   Knowing not it was for me He died
   On Calvary.
   • Refrain:
     Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
     Pardon there was multiplied to me;
     There my burdened soul found liberty
     At Calvary.

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 Peter 1:1-2

The Message (MSG)

1 ^1-2 I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God's straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.

Verse of the Day 11/15

Verse of the Day 11/15

 

 John 6:67-68   Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, "You don't want to go away too, do you?"

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered, "Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Yesterday we considered what it means to "decide to go with trust" and I quoted the old chorus "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus".  There may come times in our lives when we come to a crossroads, perhaps during the deepest trial in our life where we will have to make a decision, do I continue to follow or do I learn to trust?

 

In today's passage many were turning away from Jesus finding out that this life of following was not an easy one to follow.  As others walked away Jesus asked the 12 directly, do you want to walk away too?  Peter's answer will be the same for those today who come to that crossroad but realize Who they have in Jesus and that there is no turning back.

 

A friend responded to yesterday's song "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" and pointed out where it came from.  You can find several variations to the history of it but here is a snapshot from Wikipedia - "The lyrics are based on the last words of a man in Assam, north-east India, who along with his family was converted to Christianity in the middle of the 19th century through the efforts of a Welsh missionary. Called to renounce his faith by the village chief, the convert declared, "I have decided to follow Jesus." In response to threats to his family, he continued, "Though no one joins me, still I will follow." His wife was killed, and he was executed while singing, "The cross before me, the world behind me." This display of faith is reported to have led to the conversion of the chief and others in the village.

An American hymn editor, William Jensen Reynolds, composed an arrangement which was included in the 1959 Assembly Songbook. His version became a regular feature of Billy Graham's evangelistic meetings in America and elsewhere, spreading its popularity.

 

These words bring added meaning to the song, especially the stanza below.  It is why Billy Graham, even at 95, continues to tell of the cross of Christ.

 

The world behind me, the cross before me,

The world behind me, the cross before me,

The world behind me, the cross before me.

No turning back, no turning back.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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John 6:63-69

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁶³ The Spirit is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn't help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some among you who don't believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning those who would not^[a] believe and the one who would betray Him.) ⁶⁵ He said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted to him by the Father."

⁶⁶ From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. ⁶⁷ Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, "You don't want to go away too, do you?"

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered, "Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!"

Verse of the Day 11/14

 

 1 Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

In yesterday's verse Daniel was told to go and live his life to the end.  Thinking of his life, his devotion to God in relation to this verse brought my mind back to 1 Peter 5 and today's verses.  His life and the life of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles were examples of this humbling themselves, and casting their care on Him in all kinds of circumstances.

 

Our Pator Bob's current series has been on relentless trust.  It is what all of these people exhibited in their lives.  Bob shared part of His personal testimony of some of the trials and dark nights in his families lives.  During that time he came to the "valley of decision" and he said "we decided to go with trust".  It is a God honoring statement from the heart and gives a modern day example of what these verses are about.  Going with trust is "casting all your care on Him" knowing that He cares about you.

 

I'll close with another chorus learned from childhood that still rings true today.  It is about deciding "to go with trust".

 

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

I have decided to follow Jesus,

No turning back, no turning back.

 

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

 

1 Peter 5:5-7

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁵ In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because

God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Verse of the Day 11/13

 

Daniel 12:13  "As for you, Daniel, go and live your life until the end. You will get your rest. At the end you will rise from death and receive your share of the promise."  Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

 

If you are a Christian, a follower of Christ, today's verse is one of those "insert your name here" verses.  "As for you ______." It is for those who have "set their hearts on pilgrimage" (Psalm 84:5) and live their lives with the attitude "this world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through, my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue".

 

I read this verse yesterday after reading Jeremiah 29:11 in a devotional by Greg Laurie.  Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.  English Standard Version (ESV)  About these thoughts Laurie writes, "they are thoughts of peace, not evil.  They are good thoughts to give you a future and a hope.  The word future in Jeremiah 29:11 also could be translated "an expected end" or "ground of hope" or "things hoped for".

 

Our lives as Christians will not be easy, there will be plenty of trials, plenty difficult days and challenges.  But we continue on in our pilgrimage in hope, knowing that there will be an "expected end", "a ground of hope" where we will stand like Daniel to receive our share of the promise.

 

Let us be able to go about our business today without "worrying or fretting" (The Message, below) knowing that He's got our back and will see us through.

 

Blessings,

Mike
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Daniel 12:12-13

The Message (MSG)

¹² "Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days.

¹³ "And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward."

Verse of the Day 11/12

 Verse of the Day 11/12

Colossians 3:12   Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.   New Living Translation (NLT)

In yesterday's verse from 1 Peter we were challenged to stop being wrapped up in ourselves and to "clothe ourselves" in humility towards one another.  In today's verse from Colossians 3 Paul reveals the same heart and shows a little more of what is involved of this "clothing ourselves".

 

When someone who is wrapped up in themselves they tend to look down on and find fault with others.  J.R. Miller acknowledges that we may see some of those faults in others but we will see them through different lenses when he writes,  "We should learn to look at the blemishes and faults of others--only through the eyes of love, with sympathy, patience, and compassion. We do not know the secret history of the lives of others around us. We do not know what piercing sorrows have produced the scars we see in people's lives. We do not know the pains and trials which make life hard, to many with whom we are tempted to be impatient. If we knew all the secret burdens and the heart-wounds which many keep hidden beneath their smiling faces--we would be patient and gentle with all people."

As we head out today why don't we " dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline" (The Message) and see the world through different lenses, and" regardless of what else you put on, put on love."  Don't leave home without it.

 

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.      (Mighty to Save - Hillsong United)

Blessings,
Mike
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Colossians 3:12-14

The Message (MSG)

^12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love,dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

Verse of the Day 11/11

 

1 Peter 5:5  In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

You've probably heard it said of someone that they "all wrapped up in themselves".  To paraphrase and old country and western song "I want to talk about me, want to talk about I, talk about my, my, my, my, my".  Reading today's verse should help the Christian stand back and take a look at the subject of our conversations.

 

We are to "clothe ourselves" wrap ourselves in humility, humility towards one another.  It points towards the other person, a desire to know what is going on in their lives, not just in a superficial way but showing grace and in service.  According to John MacArthur the word for "clothe yourselves" literally means to tie something on yourself, like an apron.  In the context of this verse it means being prepared to serve.  Functionally, what does an apron do, it covers your clothes to keep them clean.  Not that we are in danger of being stained by others, but protecting us from being stained by our own pride.

 

The last part of the verse is a sobering one."God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble".  It is something to think about as we head off into the work week.  Will we receive God's grace to serve or will be resistant to His promptings in order to serve our own pride.  Or will our conversations and the focus by about me, my and I?

 

Blessings,
Mike
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1 Peter 5:4-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁴ And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the ^[a]conqueror's crown of glory.

⁵ Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, ^[b]so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,

Verse of the Day 11/10

 

Psalm 43:3-4  Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me.
Let them bring me to Your holy mountain,
to Your dwelling place.
⁴ Then I will come to the altar of God,
to God, my greatest joy.
I will praise You with the lyre,
God, my God.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Earlier in the week, in the read through the Bible plan that I'm on, I read Hebrews 4:12.  It has been on my mind all week and I was wondering when I would use it again as the verse of the day.  When I read today's verses from Psalm 43 I decided to reference the verse in relation to today's verse and the thoughts of Billy Graham and those who have proclaimed the gospel message through the years.

 

Hebrews 4:12For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the ^[a]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.  Amplified Bible (AMP)  The Amplified Bible states that the Word is alive and full of power.  When I think of these words, "active, operative, energizing, and effective" I think of the effect that they've had on those we've considered this week, Billy Graham, Paul, and James to name a few.  God's Word definitely was a light for them to lead them.  They continually approached "the alter of God" with great joy all the days of their lives, and they worshipped him with praise.

 

We'll close with a hymn that George Beverly Shea sang for years in conjunction with Billy Graham's crusades - "I'd Rather Have Jesus".  If fits with words from David's heart here when he speaks of "his greatest joy". 

 

1. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
   I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
   I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
   I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
   • Refrain:
     Than to be the king of a vast domain
     And be held in sin's dread sway;
     I'd rather have Jesus than anything
     This world affords today.
2. I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
   I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
   I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
   I'd rather be true to His holy name

Can you  say or sing the same today?

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Psalm 43:3-4

The Message (MSG)

^3-4 Give me your lantern and compass,
    give me a map,
So I can find my way to the sacred mountain,
    to the place of your presence,
To enter the place of worship,
    meet my exuberant God,
Sing my thanks with a harp,
    magnificent God, my God.