Verse of the Day 6/27

 

1 Corinthians 1:23  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse is another one that is probably familiar to all of us.  We've heard it before, we believe it, so it is very easy to gloss over and not think much of the application of it in our lives.  Sometimes we lose some things in the fairly simple translations that we have.

"So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense."   New Living Translation (NLT)

 

We get the meaning but we lose some of the emphasis when we go back to a closer translation or better yet to some of the Greek words from the original writings.  The word translated as "offended" in the NLT is translated  as a "stumbling block in the ESV and other translations.  The picture that comes to mind is something to trip over, that trips you up, which fits with the context.  The original word in the Greek is "skandalon" from which we get our word "scandal".

It can also be translated as  trap stick or snare.

 

Reading from The Message below, Eugene Peterson paraphrases it as the crucified Christ being treated as an "anti miracle" or just passed off, written off as absurd.

 

Right now there are many "scandals" going on in Washington.  One one side of the fence you have those who just can't get over it and others passing off the thought of any corruption or wrongdoing being absurd., and foolishness.

 

It all points to the importance of truth and the ramifications in our lives.  We believe in the crucified and risen Christ.  We believe what He has done for us, what He will do for us, and that the Holy Spirit lives in us.  Some may be offended that we believe that Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth and the life", others just write it off as being absurd or even scandalous.  The message of the cross is no different today than it was when these words were written by Paul, and we still believe that it is the "power and wisdom of God " (ESV) and that "Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one".

 

I would encourage you that as you come across some of those "familiar" verses, that you would look at them in the different translations, use some of the tools available such as the interlinear Bible to see some of the key words in Greek or Hebrew.  May His Word be "richer, fuller, deeper" and may we treasure what others will consider as folly or nonsense to those who reject it.

 

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 1:22-25

The Message (MSG)

^22-25 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness."

Verse of the Day 6/24

 

Romans 4:20-21  Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises.  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

I read the following quote in my devotions this morning:  "To those to whom Christ is the hope of future glory, he is also the life of present grace".  (John Owen from "The Glory of Christ".

 

It is one thing to trust in God and what the future holds when everything is going well and there are no troubles on the horizon and it is another to trust in God through those challenging, difficult and sometimes heart rendering times.  The Bible is full of examples of those who held onto their faith in God through those times and we still read of their testimonies today.  You may think of Abraham, as referenced here in Romans 4, or it may be Joseph or David, Paul himself or possibly Stephen in Acts chapter 7.   Their faith grew stronger and in doing so their life stories brought glory to God.

 

John Piper writes, "God is honored when we are humbled for our feebleness and failure, and when he is trusted for future grace (Romans 4:20). So unless we learn how to live by faith in future grace, we may perform remarkable religious rigors, but not for God's glory....He is glorified when the power to be holy comes from humble faith in future grace.   My great desire is that we learn how to live for God's honor. And that means living by faith in future grace."

 

That "future grace" is trusting in what He will do in our future, here and for eternity.  It is possible because He overcame the grave, He lives and we trust that we too will do the same.

 

Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives

 

Read the passage from The Message below. May we not "tiptoe around God's promises" but plunge in and come up strong in His future grace.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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

Romans 4:19-25

The Message (MSG)

^19-25 Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

Verse of the Day 6/19

 

Philippians 1:6  And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Our Pastor Bob closed his message last week with this verse. It fit in well with Joseph's life story in Genesis.  As he concluded his sermon Bob asked "do you believe this?" in reference to the verse.  From his wheelchair our son Jeff yelled out "I do".  We know he does.

 

Today, our younger son Jason is defending his dissertation for his doctorate in theology and philosophy.  His story is another one of faith.  Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor early on in college, he never let it keep him down, or better said, God never let it keep him down.  God was not finished with him yet.  Thankfully and prayerfully a couple of years ago an MRI revealed that the tumor was "no longer there".  What a praise that was, it was truly a miracle.  As The Message says in verse 3, it may be said of Jason, "every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God."  It is so today.

 

No matter what we face today, may we have faith, may we have the confidence and be convinced of this very thing,  that God is not finished with us and He will be faithful in fulfilling His plans for us.

 

He Who Began a Good Work in You  (Steve Green)

 

He who began a good work in you
He who began a good work in you
Will be faithful to complete it
He'll be faithful to complete it
He who started the work
Will be faithful to complete it in you

If the struggle you're facing
Is slowly replacing
Your hope with despair
Or the process is long
And you're losing your song
In the night you can be sure
That the Lord has His hand on you
Safe and secure
He will never abandon you
You are His treasure
And He finds His pleasure in you

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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

Philippians 1:5-8

The Message (MSG)

A Love That Will Grow

^3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

^7-8 It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!

Verse of the Day 6/18

 

Isaiah 66:2  My hand made all these things,
and so they all came into being.
This is the Lord's declaration.
I will look favorably on this kind of person:
one who is humble, submissive^[a] in spirit,
and trembles at My word.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Yesterday we considered what it means to "hunger and thirst" for a right standing before God, not only for ourselves, but our friends, our church and our community.  Today's verse from the final chapter of the book of Isaiah tells of the ones that God will "look favorably" on, those who he will bless, those who are humble, submissive to God and "tremble" at His Word.

 

R.C. Sproul writes, "In order for us to be rightly related to God, we must know Him, and we cannot know Him if we are not concerned about Him taught in His Word.  This is why believers must be concerned with God's truth more than anything else.  Love for the truth is something that the Holy Spirit must grant us, and hunger for the truth of God's revelation is one sure sign that the Lord has done His work in us."  Do you have a love for God's truth, do you tremble at the Word of God?

 

The Amplified Bible puts it this way, puts some emphasis on some key words, some key conditions of the heart.   "But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands."  The broken or wounded spirit reminds us of David in Psalm 51, the ESV uses the same word "contrite", literally a heart crushed like mortar, but mortar is something that is used to build upon.  God's Word can break our pride, can humble us, make us aware of how sinful in ourselves we really are, can make us tremble, to revere God and cause us to turn towards Him and put us in right standing.  Even this right standing is not something that we achieve, it "comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."

 

Philippians 1:9-11 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

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

Isaiah 66:1-2

The Message (MSG)

Living Worship to God

66 ^1-2 God's Message:

"Heaven's my throne,
    earth is my footstool.
What sort of house could you build for me?
    What holiday spot reserve for me?
I made all this! I own all this!"
    God's Decree.
"But there is something I'm looking for:
    a person simple and plain,
    reverently responsive to what I say.

Verse of the Day 6/17

 

Matthew 5:6  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Have you ever heard someone say that they've "lost their appetite" for something?  It means that they no longer have a desire or craving for something that they used to like, enjoy or even love.  Any number of things can bring this about.

 

Today's verse from the middle of the Beatitudes reveals the heart of the ones who are blessed.  In this verse they have a hunger and a thirst to be in "right standing before God".  This applies to how the person feels about themselves and their relationship to God and should carry over to having that desire for their family, their church and beyond.  As The Message says "they've worked up an appetite for God".  Hunger and thirst are needs within us that need to be fulfilled.  When you are hungry or thirsty you will search for something to meet that desire.

 

These thoughts naturally should lead us to think about our relationship with God, do I have the spiritual appetite that I once did?  Reading through the Beatitudes, reading God's Word in general should give us an appetite for more, to be filled or refilled.

 

I was reminded of the song Hosanna by Hillsong, may the chorus be our prayer, be our desire, our appetite today.

 

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have love me.

 

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth to eternity.

 

You're blessed when you care... (Matthew 5:7 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

Matthew 5:5-7

The Message (MSG)

⁵ "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶ "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷ "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

Verse of the Day 6/15

 

John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse comes from yesterday's passage in my read through the Bible plan.  Once again, it is a familiar passage, but the question that stood out was Jesus' question to Peter, "do you love me more than these."  Earlier in the chapter Peter, perhaps being disillusioned from all the had gone on, perhaps feeling  unworthy to consider himself a "Christ follower" after his denials, he had decided to go back to fishing.

 

In doing so he must have realized that it was not what he was to be doing.  His heart was no longer in it.  Jesus comes to him at this point.  He provides a miraculous catch and it shows Peter's true heart.  He is not excited about the catch, but realized immediately that the catch was the Lord's doing.  Perhaps too, at some part in this this story that he would rather be a fisher of men.  The conversation solidified the feeling of his heart.  Jesus asked penetrating questions, ones that would cause Peter to look deep within and then outside of himself to see what is truly important.  Feeding the Jesus' lambs.

 

We may look back in our lives to a time when we were disappointed in circumstances, events in our lives that left us disillusioned and perhaps unworthy at times.  Do you recall a time when you were tempted to give up and go back to your old ways?  Hopefully, God spoke to you in the same way and asked "do you love me more than these", those things that you used to do and follow?

 

On this Father's Day, it is a reminder for us fathers about our priorities.  May we not lose focus on feeding the lambs.  They may be our children, grandchildren or other friends and loved ones.  The other things in life lose their importance when we consider our call to love the Lord and to love our families and friends.

 

Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be; 
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free. 
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Let us early turn to Thee. 
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Let us early turn to Thee

 

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 21:14-16

The Message (MSG)

^13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

Do You Love Me?

¹⁵ After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"

"Yes, Master, you know I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶ He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

"Yes, Master, you know I love you."

Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."

Verse of the Day 6/14

 

John 20:30-31 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

The read through the Bible plan for yesterday was in John 20 where we find today's verses.  The heading for the passage in the ESV is "The Purpose of this Book", it is referring to the book and writings of John but it can apply to the entire Bible.  It should also be the purpose of our churches, the ministries in which we serve and in our lives as Christians in general.

 

Yesterday I began reading R. C. Sproul's expositional commentary on the book of John in the first chapter, relating to the opening passage of the book, he writes, "Simply put, John is not interested in being a detached observer and chronicler of the life of Jesus.  He is trying to persuade his readers of the truth of Christ so that they may become His disciples."  A couple of words caught my attention, he mentions that John was not interested in being a "detached observer."

 

As we prepare for worship this weekend may we take a moment to look within ourselves, at our own heart at our own purposes in life.  May we not be "detached observers" but be engaged and encourage others to believe that they may have life in His name.

 

John 1:12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  English Standard Version (ESV)

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 20:30-31

The Message (MSG)

^30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

Verse of the Day 6/12

 

Deuteronomy 13:4  You shall walk after the Lord your God and [reverently] fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and cling to Him.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

There are plenty of people or organizations in our world that would like us to follow them.  How many people do you "follow" on fb?  There is casual following and then there is serious following.  There are things advertised and things that draw our attention which stimulate desires and lead us to following.

 

The previous verse warns us to be aware of the things that divide our hearts, that steal our attention away from God and to worship other things, other gods.  We are not to fall into this trap but walk after, follow God, follow Jesus, follow the Holy Spirit "reverently".  It is with respect, honor and gratitude.

 

I also read about the full armor of God this morning in Ephesians 6, it points us to how we are to go about "walking after God", it is with God's full armor, being ready come what may standing with the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit.

 

^"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"  Ephesians 6:13-18 ESV

 

May we "keep alert with all perseverance" this day with all that is within us.

 

In Christ,

Mike

 

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Deuteronomy 13:4

The Message (MSG)

13 ^1-4 When a prophet or visionary gets up in your community and gives out a miracle-sign or wonder, and the miracle-sign or wonder that he gave out happens and he says, "Let's follow other gods" (these are gods you know nothing about), "let's worship them," don't pay any attention to what that prophet or visionary says. God, your God, is testing you to find out if you totally love him with everything you have in you. You are to follow only God, your God, hold him in deep reverence, keep his commandments, listen obediently to what he says, serve him—hold on to him for dear life!

 

Verse of the Day 6/11

 

Verse of the Day 6/11

 

James 5:7-8  Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸ You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

This is one of those times of the year that I love driving in the Midwest, going through the farm fields you see that the cornstalks are growing.  It brings to mind the old farmers saying "knee high by the fourth of July".  With modern farming practices and fertilization, it is normally a given that it will be so. At the same time, the farmer must be patient, he can't force the crops to grow, they must grow day by day, nourished by the sun and getting the necessary water.  In a drought condition, they may not reach the "knee high by the 4^th of July".

Sometimes we want to see spiritual growth in our lives or in the lives of our children or loved ones.  It doesn't come automatically and it can't be forced.  It must happen day by day through the nourishment of the Son, the Living Word and the watering of the Spirit (thinking of John chapter 4).

I can't finish this without addressing the "being patient" at the beginning of the verses.  Patience is not easy and it is something that one should be careful in praying about.  The passage references Job and in Pastor Bob's series you might also look to Joseph in Genesis as examples.  They trusted God and persevered through many trials but their patience showed, and it paid off.

John Newton knew of this when he wrote the following stanza of Amazing Grace.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

May we strengthen our hearts today, giving us the strength to stand, trusting in His Amazing Grace, "because God cares, cares right down to the last detail." (v.11 The Message).

In Christ,

Mike

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James 5:7-11

The Message (MSG)

^7-8 Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.

⁹ Friends, don't complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner.

^10-11 Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

 

 

 

 

Verse of the Day 6/10

Verse of the Day 6/10

 

Verse of the Day 6/10

 

Galatians 6:7-8  Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, ⁸ because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

 

You've probably all heard of the term "you reap what you sow", it has been used in society for ages and its use is not limited to Christian circles.  You might expect to see it in the book of Proverbs or perhaps James in the New Testament, instead it comes here where Paul is summing up his letter to the Galatian churches.

 

He has been encouraging his readers to restore those who have stumbled and to bear one another's burdens and ends this passage with "let us do good to everyone".

 

We all realize that you don't plant kernels of corn and expect watermelon to grow.  So it is in our spiritual life and in raising children or serving in a church.  Our actions, the things we do to and for other people are the seeds we are planting.

 

It has been said, "sow a thought, reap an act.  Sow an act; reap a character.  Sow a character; reap a destiny."  It starts with our thoughts and leads to a destiny, and in between we find our character.

 

In keeping with this passage may we keep in step with the Spirit, plant the seeds of doing good and one day be able to see the harvest.

 

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Verse of the Day 6/8

 

Acts 10:44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Reading today's verse and how the Holy Spirit "fell" on the people of the early church, I was reminded of the song "Spirit of the Living God".

 

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me; 
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. 
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. 
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. 

 

The call is for God to melt, mold, fill and use us for His purposes and His glory.  So often our prayers to God are "give me".  Please give me this or give me that.  The song and the power of the Holy Spirit are through submitting, it is not a matter of giving it is a matter of making, making us who we are to be.

 

I'm reminded once again of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15.  The son asks the father to "give him" what is coming to him, his inheritance.  After being blowing it all on extravagance and wild living he is finally humbled, he comes to himself and realizes that his heart was all wrong.  He comes back to the father and says "make me" (Luke 15:19 NKJV) as one of your servants.

 

As we come before God with our prayers and requests may we be aware of the attitude of our hearts in them.  Are they "give me" or "make me".  His Spirit will come, will fall upon those who come to Him and ask Him "make me what you will".

 

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 10:44-48

The Message (MSG)

^44-46 No sooner were these words out of Peter's mouth than the Holy Spirit came on the listeners. The believing Jews who had come with Peter couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on "outsider" non-Jews, but there it was—they heard them speaking in tongues, heard them praising God.

^46-48 Then Peter said, "Do I hear any objections to baptizing these friends with water? They've received the Holy Spirit exactly as we did." Hearing no objections, he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Then they asked Peter to stay on for a few days.