Verse of the Day 3/31

Verse of the Day 3/31

Luke 4:36  Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."  New King James Version (NKJV)

What a word this is!  Reading that statement made me think of the Geico commercials with the camels discussing "hump day", what day it is!  I today's passage, near the beginning  of Jesus' ministry He casts a demon out of a man, by His Word.  The people were astonished 

that His words had such authority, they had never seen anything like this before.   

His word is more than enough to just get us over the hump, in our lives or in our week.  

His words have the power to change lives. The author of Hebrews realized this when He  wrote in Hebrews 4:12 that it is sharper than a double edged sword.  It cuts going in and coming out, it accomplishes Gods purposes.  As Martin Luther said, "The Bible is alive,   it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me."   

 J.R. Miller writes, There is nothing written in the Bible merely for ornament or beauty. Every word is practical! There is no truth in Scripture which has not some bearing upon   actual living. When we come to it eager to know how to live, and ready to obey its precepts--we shall find it opening its inmost meaning to us!     

What things need to be cast our of our lives?  Spend time in His Word, it will achieve His purposes.  May we be able to say, "what a word this is" to what He reveals to us  in His Word, day by 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   

 Luke 4:33-37 The Message  

^33-34 In the meeting place that day there was a man demonically disturbed. He screamed, "Ho! What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to. You're the Holy One of God and you've come to destroy us!"

³⁵ Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The demonic spirit threw the man down in front of them all and left. The demon didn't hurt him.

^36-37 That set everyone back on their heels, whispering and wondering, "What's going on here? Someone whose words make things happen? Someone who orders demonic spirits to get out and they go?" Jesus was the talk of the town.

Verse of the Day 3/29

Psalm 119:15-16I will meditate on your precepts

    and fix my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.    English Standard Version (ESV)

We'll continue with the theme of "fixing our eyes" on God, on Jesus with today's verse from Psalm 119 in the next group of 8 verses from yesterday's passage.  The NIV
translation for verse 16 uses the word "neglect" in place of the word forget.  The two thoughts go together.  If you don't neglect something you won't forget it.  However
you do neglect something for days, weeks or years you are more apt to forget it.

God's Word is on the psalmist's heart, he thinks about them, meditates on them and they govern the thoughts and intents of his heart which lead to his actions.
Committing the Word to memory makes it accessible in all circumstances (v.11). By meditating on Scripture, we discover its meaning and how to apply spiritual principles (v.15). In addition, sharing with others what we learn can edify them.  The Message puts it like this, "I'll transfer to my mouth all the counsel that come from your lips" (for us that is from His Word).

Pastor James Smith wrote, "He sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts, to convince us of sin, lead us to Jesus, and make us fit for Heaven!

We have . . .

His Word in our hands,

His grace in our hearts,

His mercies in our houses,

His Heaven before our eyes!

O for a thankful heart!"

Colossians 3:15-17New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

--   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 119:15-16The Message (MSG)

^9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
    I won't forget a word of it.

Verse of the Day 3/28

Psalm 119:5-6Oh that my ways may be steadfast

    in keeping your statutes!
⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. English Standard Version (ESV)

"Fix my eyes" has definitely become the focus of these devotionals as the topic has come up time and time  again in my personal devotions.  Today was no exception.  Each day I read through a Psalm, or in today's case in Psalm 119 a portion of the Psalm.  I had not previously thought of Psalm 119 in terms of fixing our eyes on God and His Word but the words jumped out at me today.

David once again reveals his hearts desire to be a God follower, someone that "follows hard after God".  The verses are a reminder that to do so is more than thinking "what is the wise thing to do", or more recently in recent years "what would Jesus do"?  Those are good thoughts in and of themselves, but if we don't know what God would do or say based on His Word, we are simply elevating our thoughts and equating them with God's.  We need to pay attention and get our direction from God's Word and seeing His actions in the Old Testament and the actions of Jesus, God incarnate in the New Testament.

Verse 6 states, then I shall not be put to shame.  This takes me back to the "fix my eyes song" from yesterday, especially the words  "stand tall and above it all".  This standing tall is living in a way where we will not be put to shame.  It is living a life with integrity and character.  You've probably heard the saying from Stephen Covey ""Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny", as Christians, we are to be sowing God's thoughts and His actions as we find them in the Bible.

May our attitude be: "I'm going to do what you tell me to do;
    don't ever walk off and leave me."  Psalm 119:8 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    

Psalm 119:1-8The Message (MSG)

119 ^1-8 You're blessed when you stay on course,
    walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You're blessed when you follow his directions,
    doing your best to find him.
That's right—you don't go off on your own;
    you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
    now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
    keeping to the course you set;
Then I'd never have any regrets
    in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
    I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I'm going to do what you tell me to do;
    don't ever walk off and leave me.

Verse of the Day 3/27

Genesis 39:21-22 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. ²² And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Last Sunday night in our youth service at church we sang the song "Fix My Eyes".  It is one of those songs that sticks in your head and keeps coming up.  For me, it has been coming up in my daily readings.  I had read Matthew 14 where Jesus comes to the disciples walking on the water and when Jesus calls him, Peter jumps out of the boat and begins to walk on the water but then takes his eyes off Jesus and begins to sink.  Jesus lifted him out of the water.    My daily Old Testament reading has been in Genesis.  Yesterday I read today's verses and couldn't help but think of Joseph and his life.  Talk about ups and downs, but as you read through his story, chapter by chapter, through all the turns, Joseph kept his focus on God.  Treated unfairly at every turn, he rose above it all, or should we say God lifter him above it all.  In the end, he could see how God had worked out all of these things, not only for his good but the good of his family and his people.

Love like I'm not scared
Give when it's not fair
Live life for another
Take time for a brother
Fight for the weak ones
Speak out for freedom
Find faith in the battle
Stand tall but above it all
Fix my eyes on You
On You

  Joseph was able to live like he was not scarred, give when it was not fair, took time for his brothers, spoke out for freedom and found faith in the battle.    Today, and for the rest of our lives we should "keep our eyes fixed on the Lord" knowing that He will be faithful to the end and at that end may we realize   that "God made sure that it worked out for the best".   (V.23 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    

Genesis 39:19-23The Message (MSG)

^19-23 When his master heard his wife's story, telling him, "These are the things your slave did to me," he was furious. Joseph's master took him and threw him into the jail where the king's prisoners were locked up. But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners—he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.

Verse of the Day 3/26

Malachi 3:6 "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Recently, towards the end of the day my wife Jean pointed out that my "five o'clock shadow" had turned gray.  I had never noticed it before, but when I looked  in the mirror, sure 

enough it was gray. It was just another indicator that things change, in my case, in this 

instance it meant that I am getting older.    

When we look at ourselves and the world around us we realize that no matter what we try to do to prevent it, things change.  We grow older,our bodies change, our  attitudes may 

change and the world around us changes. We change schools, jobs, cars, houses and the list goes on and on.  As we mentioned yesterday, nations change,   they get or elect new leadersthat take them in a different direction.    

David Jeremiah pictured it being like we are in a stream being carried along in its currentwhen he writes:  "We're like twigs caught in an ever-rolling stream of change. Every momentis different than the previous one. Our bodies change, our children change, our work      

changes,  our health and wealth change; our culture and world are constantly in flux. But 

at the core of the universe is an unchanging God—immutable, enduring, abiding,  changeless, the same yesterday, today, and forever. In Him we have "an anchor of the soul, both sure  and steadfast" (Hebrews 6:19).     

In all of this change aren't you glad that there is something, Someone who is above it all, who does not change? More importantly than that, it is our God who  does not change, and 

He is a God who loves us and will see us through.     

If you've drifted away from God in this stream of change, perhaps our "God of the Angel 

Armies" is calling to you today "return to me so I can return to you".    

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    

Malachi 3:6-7The Message (MSG)

^6-7 "I am God—yes, I Am. I haven't changed. And because I haven't changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven't been destroyed. You have a long history of ignoring my commands. You haven't done a thing I've told you. Return to me so I can return to you," says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Verse of the Day 3/25

Psalm 46:1-2God is our refuge and strength,

    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verses from Psalm chapter 46 were written during a tumultuous time, nations raging, kingdoms tottering and chaos in the world.  The Psalm is probably more well known for verse 10 which calls for God's people to "be still and know that I am God."  That verse is quite often quoted to bring comfort to someone, it has a soothing ring and has been put to song in that way.  But literally, it is more like a parent telling a child to "BE QUIET" and settle down, I've heard one well known pastor say that God is actually saying "shut up" and listen.

We live in a time when we see chaos in the world.  We've seen nations and kingdoms totter and fall within the last few months.  Others are on the verge of the same.  But the verses also apply to us as individuals in this crazy world. Even in the midst of this crazy world we need to "BE QUIET" and focus more on God, receive our directions from him, to lead us through the chaos in our lives and in our world.

Reading verses 1 and 2 reminded me of the song "We Believe" by Steve Green, the song is an affirmation of what we as Christians believe and hold to, the conclusion of the song states what we believe in terms of the future.

Though the earth be removed
And time be no more
These truths are secure
God's word shall endure
Whatever may change, these things are sure . . . We believe

So if the mountains are cast down into the plains
When kingdoms all crumble, this one remains
Our faith is not subject to seasons of man
With our fathers we proclaim
We believe our Lord will come as he said
The land and the sea will give up their dead
His children will reign with Him as their head

We believe
We believe

Let's "step out of the traffic", (The Message) draw near to Him today and realize that in the midst of this chaos, His kingdom remains, and ultimately, He is in control.

--   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    

A Song of the Sons of Korah

46 ^1-3 God is a safe place to hide,
    ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
    courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
    the tremors that shift mountains.

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

^4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city,
    this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
    God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
    but Earth does anything he says.

⁷ Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

^8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
    He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
    breaks all the weapons across his knee.
"Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
    loving look at me, your High God,
    above politics, above everything."

¹¹ Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
    God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Verse of the Day 3/24

Verse of the Day 3/24

Romans 8:32He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?  Amplified Bible (AMP)

This passage starting in verse 24 and going through the end of chapter 8 is one of my favorites in all of the Bible.  I've mentioned before that my attention is drawn to the words "all things".  In verse 28 we read that "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."  Today's verse indicates that God is willing, desires to give us "all things", including His Son.   Verse 37 indicates that "all things" including trials and struggles are to show us as being "more than conquerors" when we put our faith and trust in Him.

John Piper spent 8 years preaching through Romans.  With that as a backdrop, what he writes about today's verse should draw our attention.  "The most far-reaching promise of God's future grace is found in Romans 8:32. This is the most precious verse in the Bible to me. Part of the reason is that the promise in it is so all-encompassing that it stands ready to help me at virtually every turn in my life and ministry. There never has been, and never will be, a circumstance in my life where this promise is irrelevant.    Piper continues, "Romans 8:32 contains a foundation and guarantee that is so strong and so solid and so secure that there is absolutely no possibility that the promise could ever be broken. This is what makes it an ever-present strength in times of great turmoil. Whatever else gives way, whatever else disappoints, whatever else fails, this all-encompassing promise of future grace can never fail. "

Whatever we may face today, may we hold to His "all encompassing promise of future grace" which can never fail.

In Christ,
 Mike

 Follow 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 8:31-39The Message (MSG)

^31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.