Verse of the Day 12/31

Jeremiah 29:11-12  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. ¹² Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. English Standard Version (ESV)

We've been considering what it means that Immanuel, God is with us, means to us.  Today, as we close out the old year and prepare to ring in the new one, we should be reminded by today's verses that God has a plan for us. Being the last day of the year it is a time when we naturally look back, but we shouldn't spend too much time dwelling on it. Hopefully, we've learned from our experiences and are ready to move on, move forward into the coming year.

For the Christian that means following Jesus and doing it more closely.  The new year may be a time when you decide to do a read through the Bible plan. I'd suggest one that has daily Old Testament and  New Testament  readings.  If you do so, most New Testament plans will begin in Matthew  where you will read first of Jesus life and ministry.  At the end of the year of following, some time of reflecting is helpful as J. R. Miller does below:

"We have seen Jesus in all the different phases of His life. We have heard many of His words. Now it remains only for us to follow Him. The outcome of seeing and knowing Jesus--should be holy living and doing. The last day of the year suggests also the same duty.

Who is satisfied with his life as it appears in retrospect? The past, however blotted, must go as it is; we cannot change it, and we need not waste time in regretting. But the new year is before us, and if we would make that better than the stained past, it must be by following Christ more closely.

To follow Christ is to go where He leads--without questioning or murmuring. It may be to a life of trial, suffering, or sacrifice--but it does not matter; we have nothing whatever to do with the kind of life to which our Lord calls us."

As the prophet stated in verse 12, "then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you".  May our prayer be something like this as we prepare for tomorrow and  the new year.

Day by day, day by day
Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray

To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly, day by day  - Godspell

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Jeremiah 29:11-12The Message (MSG)

^10-11 This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

¹² "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.

Verse of the Day 12/30

Revelation 21:3-4  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God^{. 4} He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."    English Standard Version (ESV)

This passage in Revelation 21 speaks of the new heaven and earth, it is talking about eternity, and for those who believe and put their faith and trust in Jesus, it will be a place of no more death, pain, suffering and no more tears.

We've been considering Jesus as the Messiah, Immanuel, God with us, and these verses carry that to conclusion.  A few days ago I quoted the old hymn, Jesus, What a Friend of Sinners,  read once again that chorus and the last line:

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

We serve a risen Savior and while we celebrate Immanuel, God with us and we sings songs of praise to Him and look forward to that "end", in reality that end, the end of or earthly life is only a beginning, ushering us into a new life in a new world, a world where God dwells and is with man "continually".  We hope that the coming year will be one without personal illness, pain and tears.  If that proves not  to be the case, we can trust that we will see, we will enjoy an eternity of that with the Godhead Three in One.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Revelation 21:1-8The Message (MSG)

Everything New

21 I saw Heaven and earth new-created. Gone the first Heaven, gone the first earth, gone the sea.

² I saw Holy Jerusalem, new-created, descending resplendent out of Heaven, as ready for God as a bride for her husband.

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

^6-8 Then he said, "It's happened. I'm A to Z. I'm the Beginning, I'm the Conclusion. From Water-of-Life Well I give freely to the thirsty. Conquerors inherit all this. I'll be God to them, they'll be sons and daughters to me. But for the rest—the feckless and faithless, degenerates and murderers, sex peddlers and sorcerers, idolaters and all liars—for them it's Lake Fire and Brimstone. Second death!"

Verse of the Day 12/29

John 14:16-17  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  New King James Version (NKJV)

In today's verses we will still be considering "Immanuel", God is with us and what it means to us.  In these verses we have references to the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The verse starts out with Jesus saying He will pray the Father - that is intercession for us.  I will send - says the Father, that is His gift to us, and "I will comfort" says the Holy Spirit, that is His influence on our lives.

The Trinity is not a new concept, it was there in the beginning when God said, "let us make man", the Trinity in agreement said "let us save man" and this was accomplished in the gift of Jesus, and the three together agreed We will save man.

Charles Spurgeon writes, "whatever the Son says, the Father listens to; whatever the Father promises, the Holy Ghost works; and whatever the Holy Ghost injects into the soul, that God the Father fulfills.  So the three together mutually promise on one another's behalf."

The world scoffs at the belief in Jesus, and even more so in the concept of the Trinity.  But we know it, we believe it, we hold onto it, and we should proclaim it and give evidence of it in our lives.

1. I know not why God's wondrous grace
   To me He hath made known,
   Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
   Redeemed me for His own.
   • Refrain:
     But "I know Whom I have believed,
     And am persuaded that He is able
     To keep that which I've committed
     Unto Him against that day."
2. I know not how this saving faith
   To me He did impart,
   Nor how believing in His Word
   Wrought peace within my heart.
3. I know not how the Spirit moves,
   Convincing men of sin,
   Revealing Jesus through the Word,
   Creating faith in Him.
4. Refrain:
   But "I know Whom I have believed,
   And am persuaded that He is able
   To keep that which I've committed
   Unto Him against that day."

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 14:16-17The Message (MSG)

The Spirit of Truth

^15-17 "If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

Verse of the Day 12/28

Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."    English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered how Immanuel, "God is with us", in the form or our Savior Jesus is with us all the days of our lives.  Yes, we celebrate His birth at Christmas, but that knowledge should carry us through the rest of the year, each and every year.

Those thoughts led me to today's verse from the book of Joshua.  In a few days we will be headed into the New Year with unknown challenges to face and boundaries to cross and there will be uncertainty.  Today's verse was given as Joshua was preparing to lead the people into the promised land.  His message to them "Be strong and courageous, do not fear, for the Lord your God is with you".  That still applies to us today, each and every day.

These thoughts also brought me to a song by Morris Chapman that we sang at Promise Keepers many years ago:
 Be bold! (be bold!) / Be strong! (be strong!) / For the Lord thy God is with thee / (repeat) / Do not be afraid / Do not be dismayed / Walk in faith and victory / Walk in faith and victory / Walk in faith and victory / For the Lord thy God is with thee /

As we go out today, through this week and into the new year,  may we be bold, be courageous and walk in faith and victory, knowing that the Lord, my God is with me.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 1:9The Message (MSG)

1 ^1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses' assistant:

"Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I'm giving to the People of Israel. I'm giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It's all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

Verse of the Day 12/27

Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Christmas Day is over and most of us, after a long weekend will be returning to work or at least other activities come Monday.  Presents that had been wished for and hoped for with anticipation will be put aside.  Toys will end up in the toy box and soon forgotten.  Darts for the dart guns will be lost and the present will soon be forgotten about.  The new clothes will get stained and eventually get worn out and put aside.

Today's verse is often  quoted at Christmas time as we celebrate the greatest gift in the form of the Christ Child, Jesus.  In this verse the Messiah is referred to as Immanuel meaning God is with us.  He is one gift that never wears out, that never  goes out of style, and never suffers from missing parts.  God is with us, in the form of the Holy Spirit given to us.  His Word is with us in our hearts and minds each time it is brought to our remembrance.  The wonder of this should not be lost on us, or by us, any day of the year.

The gift has been given to us, but it is not a normal gift in another respect.  While we have the gift, the gift gives us anticipation of another gift, His return to earth, His re-appearing, the second coming when He will come to rule and to bring all those who have believed and received that first gift to us to our eternal home where we will experience joy, peace and praise every day of our new life into eternity.

No matter what our "normal" every day life looks like, may we remember that God, this Jesus, friend of sinners, will be with us to the end.

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain

Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 7:14-17The Message (MSG)

^13-17 So Isaiah told him, "Then listen to this, government of David! It's bad enough that you make people tired with your pious, timid hypocrisies, but now you're making God tired. So the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us). By the time the child is twelve years old, able to make moral decisions, the threat of war will be over. Relax, those two kings that have you so worried will be out of the picture. But also be warned: God will bring on you and your people and your government a judgment worse than anything since the time the kingdom split, when Ephraim left Judah. The king of Assyria is coming!"

Verse of the Day 12/24

Verse of the Day 12/24

Romans 5:10-11  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.   English Standard Version (ESV)

We've been considering the "gift" of Jesus and what it means to and for us.  You've all seen signs that say "Jesus, the reason for the season". When it comes down to it, the reason that Jesus came to earth, the reason for the incarnation was to bring reconciliation, to restore the proper relationship between God and man.  The only way that that could be accomplished was through the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Savior.

In considering this gift, John Piper writes:

"So here's the Christmas point. Not only did God purchase our reconciliation through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not only did God enable us to receive that reconciliation through the Lord Jesus Christ (verse 11), but even now, verse 11 says, we exult in God himself through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus purchased our reconciliation. Jesus enabled us to receive the reconciliation and open the gift. And Jesus himself shines forth from the wrapping — the indescribable gift — as God in the flesh, and stirs up all our exultation in God.

Look to Jesus this Christmas. Receive the reconciliation that he bought. Don't put it on the shelf unopened. And don't open it and then make it a means to all your other pleasures.  Open it and enjoy the gift. Exult in him. Make him your pleasure. Make him your treasure."

Perhaps the greatest gift in any relationship is reconciliation.  Many families need reconciliation, many marriages need it.  The best place to find it is in Christ, to receive Him, believe in His Word and apply it.  If we do so, we may be able to truly rejoice in the reconciliation that only He can bring.   He arrived "at the right time to make it happen" (The Message).

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 5:8-11The Message (MSG)

^6-8 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

^9-11 Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!

Verse of the Day 12/23

Matthew 3:2-3   "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.'"   English Standard Version (ESV)

Reading today's verses you may not think of them often in terms of the Christmas story.  Isaiah prophesied of the coming of the Savior but he also prophesied of His forerunner, John the Baptist who would prepare the way, lay the groundwork for Jesus' earthly ministry.  The word that I'd like to focus on today as we draw nearer to Christmas is "prepare".  John was drawing peoples attention away from the world and  pointed  towards Jesus, the coming One who actually was already there.

Some of our favorite hymns of the day speak of that word prepare.  In Joy to the World we sing "let every heart prepare Him room".  It speaks to cleaning out the clutter in our lives so that we can focus our attention and our devotion to Jesus in order to truly celebrate the greatest gift.

Another hymn that we sing is "Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne" in which the author confirms that "there is room in my heart for thee."

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

Refrain

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

May that be the state of our hearts this Christmas, "there is room in my heart for Thee", if that is the case, our hearts will be prepared to receive joy, truly celebrate the gift of Jesus and the salvation He offers, and that our hearts and lives may be channels, straight paths for His love to flow through us.  We can do this knowing that He is preparing, preparing a place for us in eternity (see John 14).

Billy Graham writes,"God speaks to those who are prepared in their hearts to listen."  May we get away from the last minute preparations for Christmas and put some time aside to prepare our hearts to listen to what He is saying to us in His Word, through prayer and in services over the next couple of days leading to Christmas.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King, let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing....

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 3:2-3The Message (MSG)

Thunder in the Desert!

3 ^1-2 While Jesus was living in the Galilean hills, John, called "the Baptizer," was preaching in the desert country of Judea. His message was simple and austere, like his desert surroundings: "Change your life. God's kingdom is here."

³ John and his message were authorized by Isaiah's prophecy:

Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

Verse of the Day 12/20

Psalm 63:7-8 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

⁸ My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.   King James Version (KJV)

Today's verses may not appear to be Christmas or Advent verses, but as I read these verse, from the King James Version today two words jumped  out at me - "followeth hard".  Having just considered the journey of the wise men it was fitting.  The journey for them could not have been easy, no air conditioned car, no coolers full of refreshments, I'm sure that that provisions were not what they would have had "back home".  It is the picture of following hard.  In their case, they hadn't met the Christ child yet but were being driven by something in side of them.

Many this Christmas will be searching for peace, most will be searching for love, others will be searching for hope.  The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus.  Others have found Jesus but the following will still take perseverance.  The journey may get tough, but the challenge and the call is to follow, to draw near to God in this season and in all seasons of life.

Another hymn came to mind, not necessarily a Christmas hymn, but Christmas is a time when "God came near" and at this time we should be drawing near to Him.

1. There is a place of quiet rest,  near to the heart of God;  a place where sin cannot molest,  near to the heart of God.  Refrain:  O Jesus, blest Redeemer,  sent from the heart of God,  hold us who wait before thee  near to the heart of God.  2. There is a place of comfort sweet,  near to the heart of God;  a place where we our Savior meet,  near to the heart of God.

If we are looking for a place of rest, of comfort, of peace, of joy this Christmas, may we find it in Jesus.  May we bring others along on the journey.  It will come  to those who will "follow hard  after God".

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 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 63Contemporary English Version (CEV)

(A psalm by David when he was in the desert of Judah.)

God's Love Means More than Life

63 You are my God. I worship you.
    In my heart, I long for you,
    as I would long for a stream
    in a scorching desert.

² I have seen your power
and your glory
    in the place of worship.
³ Your love means more
than life to me,
    and I praise you.
⁴ As long as I live,
    I will pray to you.
⁵ I will sing joyful praises
and be filled with excitement
    like a guest at a banquet.

⁶ I think about you
    before I go to sleep,
    and my thoughts turn to you
    during the night.
⁷ You have helped me,
    and I sing happy songs
    in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ I stay close to you,
    and your powerful arm
    supports me.

⁹ All who want to kill me
    will end up in the ground.
¹⁰ Swords will run them through,
    and wild dogs will eat them.

¹¹ Because of you, our God,
    the king will celebrate
with your faithful followers,
    but liars will be silent.