Verse of the Day 4/30

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Take care of your own business, and do your own work as we have already told you. ¹² If you do, then people who are not believers will respect you, and you will not have to depend on others for what you need.  New Century Version (NCV)

Yesterday's verse came from the first passage that I had read in the day and today's comes from the last passage that I read in my devotions this morning.  I read it in the ESV which stated "aspire to live quietly".  That word "aspire" caught my attention.  What do we "aspire to", what are our aspirations, our desires in life?

At first, the quiet, peaceful life spoken of here may seem boring or uneventful.  Far from it.  Jesus would have been considered to have had a quiet life.  The days may be busy and full, but it means "taking care of business at hand" but also reserving time to catch your breath, recharge your batteries so that you don't burn out.  The flipside would be the prodigal son as he set out on his journey, partying and blowing everything that had been given, passed on to him.

John MacArthur refers to this quiet peaceful life as referring to "one who does not present social problems or generate conflict among the people in his life, but whose soul rests easy, even in the midst of difficulty".  We are not to be the ones to start a fight, start conflicts or be "coal adders" adding fuel to the fire and instigating riots.

May we aspire to "stay calm, mind our own business and do our own job" (The Message) even in the midst of conflict and in doing so gain the respect of others that we may give a better testimony of Whom we follow.

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

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12The Message (MSG)

^9-10 Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don't need me to tell you what to do. You're God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You're already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it.

^11-12 Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts. We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends.

Verse of the Day 4/29

 

1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

¹² The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn't have the Son of God does not have life.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Today was one of those mornings where I did not have a clear idea of what verse to use.  This passage from 1 John 5 was the first one I read this morning.  I left it open on my I-pad as I read other things in my devotions.  I came back to it a couple of times and in the end, just had the conviction that someone needed to read these words, so here they are.

I would say that everyone is looking for a good life, a better life, some devoting more time to it than others.  But if that search does not involved God, does not involve Jesus, it is a futile, frustrating, empty search.

John is giving us his testimony and if we also believe, it is ours, that this life in Christ that we have, that we possess, is the grace and power to live day by day in faith.  It is the day by day experience of knowing Christ in one's life.  Something that we'll carry as it carries us from here to eternity. 

In the following verse John writes, " I write these things "that you may know that you have eternal life".  He is writing to you and me.  To give us confidence to face the day, knowing that He is with us, not just beside us, but in us to give us "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow".  It is a reality, not an illusion (The Message). Great is His faithfulness.

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

1 John 5:11-15The Message (MSG)

^11-12 This is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal life; the life is in his Son. So, whoever has the Son, has life; whoever rejects the Son, rejects life.

The Reality, Not the Illusion

^13-15 My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God's Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours.

Verse of the Day 4/28

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 My grandson Tyler turned 5 recently and he received a couple of Transformers, toys, for his birthday.  These toys which turn robots into cars or other things have been around for probably 20 years and movies are still being made with this concept.  With one of the toys that Tyler received, we couldn't even figure out what the robot turned into, it just didn't make sense.

Today's verse is one of many great ones from the book of Romans, it speaks of being transformed, changed, but instead of being manipulated from the outside, it involves being transformed from the inside out.  It is not the outside forces but a "renewing of the mind" that changes us.  This change, it is through the work of the Holy Spirit in us will change us into something useful, something better, we will be who we are meant to be.

The opposite is to let those outside influences of the world.  The picture for the word "conform" here is one of being pushed into the mold of the world, squeezed, pressed even forced into being something that we really are not, that we don't want to be.  The person in this state is not happy they long for something else.

You were meant for "such a time as this", to be transformed by God's Word, His will, and to hear His voice, to listen to it, to be transformed from the inside, to do His will,  whatever it is.

--   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 12:1-3Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) serviceand spiritual worship.

² Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God,even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

³ For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him.

Verse of the Day 4/25

Luke 8:14  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.   English Standard Version (ESV)

I had the opportunity this week to see all of my children and grandchildren.  The grandkids range in age from a few week old up to 7 years old.  They are all  precious as they are but our hope is that they will grow and mature in life and in their faith to become the next generation of Christians. 

It won't be easy in today's society.  They will hear the Word of God but they will also be bombarded by all kinds of messages and theories let a lone the "cares and riches and pleasures of life."   The "riches" here speaks to wealth, and the excesses that go along with it, "the desire to acquire".  All of those things make it hard to hear, to listen to what God has to say to us.

Thomas Brooks, centuries ago, wrote, " Earthly riches are called thorns, and well they may; for as thorns, they pierce both head and heart. They pierce the head with cares in getting them--and the heart with grief in parting with them. Earthly riches have cast down many, they have slain many.  If poverty has slain her thousands; riches has slain her ten thousands."
 
The passage focuses on hearing, true listening.  We are to hear, to listen to the Word of God, whatever it is wherever we hear it.  We are to take heed how we hear, how we listen and not let the word of God go into one ear and out the  other.  Let it come and dwell, may it reside in our heart and show in our actions.  May we have the good hearts who hear, who mature, who "sieze the Word and hold on no matter what" (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    

Luke 8:13-15The Message (MSG)

¹³ "The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone.

¹⁴ "And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

¹⁵ "But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Verse of the Day 4/24

Acts 4:12 ^"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men^[a] by which we must be saved."  English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verse is one I memorized as a child in AWANA Clubs (approved workmen are not ashamed- 2 Timothy 2:15).  It is one of the foundational verses of AWANA and of the Christian faith.  It seems that we don't hear it quoted very often in this day of political correctness and tolerance with the feeling that everyone has the right to their opinion.  Everyone does have the right to there opinion but contrary to the modern day version of tolerance, not all opinions are correct.

The words recited in today's verse by Peter in Acts 4 echo the words of Jesus in John 6:44 "I am the way, the truth and the life".  It is the dividing point in life, believing vs. not believing and following vs. turning away from Jesus.

We are identified by our names and also with the names of those whom we identify with.  David Jeremiah writes, "No other name has the power of Jesus. No other name can raise the dead, strengthen the living, save the lost, defeat the demons, delight the angels, and bear us through perilous times. Only Christ could offer Himself as a righteous sacrifice for sin and shed His blood as an everlasting atonement. If we reject Christ, we are rejecting the only possible means by which we can receive forgiveness and salvation. There is no other name." 

There are politicians, world leaders and religious leaders that people follow.  As Christians we affirm that we follow Jesus who has the power to "raise the dead and strengthen the living".
These thoughts should be in our hearts when we need "strength for today, with a bright hope for tomorrow."

Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
	"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"   Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—     "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

If we are questioned about our faith, may we be like Peter and say "we have nothing to hide" (The Message) we praise His great name and HIs great faithfulness.

--   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    

Acts 4:8-12The Message (MSG)

^8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: "Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I'll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is 'the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.' Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one."

Verse of the Day 4/21

Psalm 128:6

May you see your children's children!

Peace be upon Israel!  English Standard Version (ESV)

I'm sorry for missing several days but I've been off spending some time with my children and grandchildren.  I read Psalm 128 in the course of my daily reading through the psalms.  This chapter and today's verse were very fitting.  Yesterday Jean and I left Chicago having spent the weekend their celebrating our grandson Tyler's 5th birthday and we arrived in New Jersey to celebrate our granddaughter Ava's 3rd birthday on her birthday.  It is also an opportunity to see the latest edition to our family, our grandson John Michael, who has been given the nickname "Jack". 

The Message (below) starts out by saying "all you who fear God, how blessed you are!".  I wouldn't argue with that statement.  The psalm also encourages and instructs us stand in awe of God and to enjoy the life He's given us and that includes our children and grand children.

These thoughts shouldn't be with us only when we are visiting family or spending time as a family around the table, at home, or out and about.  We should be continually thankful for all of His blessings.

We all receive blessings from God but special blessings are experienced for those who fear God, which involves respect and obedience.  The person who does this "walks in His ways" and passes on that faith, trust and reverence to their children and children's children.  The psalm is a prayer for prosperity, but not by worldly standards, it is about prosperity in love, in joy, in hope and peace within the family from generation to generation.

I, for one, am truly blessed.

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

Psalm 128 The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song

128 ^1-2 All you who fear God, how blessed you are!
    how happily you walk on his smooth straight road!
You worked hard and deserve all you've got coming.
    Enjoy the blessing! Revel in the goodness!

^3-4 Your wife will bear children as a vine bears grapes,
    your household lush as a vineyard,
The children around your table
    as fresh and promising as young olive shoots.
Stand in awe of God's Yes.
    Oh, how he blesses the one who fears God!

^5-6 Enjoy the good life in Jerusalem
    every day of your life.
And enjoy your grandchildren.
    Peace to Israel!

Verse of the Day 4/15

Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart

    and the hills be removed,
  but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Often as I read the  Bible and various devotionals there will be days, sometimes several, where certain topics or trains of thought will keep recurring.  Since Sunday and my trip to Zion National Park, it has been mountains.

As I was walking through the park on various trails, I was amazed at God's creation, the beauty and splendor of  it all as it seemed to change by the hour of the day.  The rocks themselves didn't change but the shades and hues of the rocks did as light was reflected from different angles.  As I walked I began to think how long these mountains had remained the same.  Then I looked at the base of the mountain and some of the larger boulders there.  How long had they been sitting in place?  Perhaps they had been there, sitting in place from the time the first explorers went through the park.  But through the ages they have changed, the canyons and valleys are evidence of that.

Monday morning I read today's verse, it is a reminder that God and His love are more permanent than the mountains.  They will go on for eternity, never changing, steadfast, and immoveable.

Commenting on Psalm 46, John MacArthur writes, ""When earth changes and when mountains move (or) shake (or) totter (or) slip . . . " . These are poetic allusions to earthquakes. Since "the earth" and "mountains" are regarded by men as symbols of stability, when they "dance" great terror normally ensues. But when the most stable becomes unstable, there should be "no fear" because of the transcendent stability of God."

It is hard to imagine those mountains disappearing, falling into the sea or turning to rubble in the valley.  Let it be harder to imagine for us for God's steadfast love for us to change through the different seasons, the symbolic floods and earthquakes in our lives.  His love "won't walk away from you".  The Message (below)

--   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 54:9-17The Message (MSG)

^9-10 "This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:
    I promised then that the waters of Noah
    would never again flood the earth.
I'm promising now no more anger,
    no more dressing you down.
For even if the mountains walk away
    and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won't walk away from you,
    my covenant commitment of peace won't fall apart."
    The God who has compassion on you says so.

^11-17 "Afflicted city, storm-battered, unpitied:
    I'm about to rebuild you with stones of turquoise,
Lay your foundations with sapphires,
    construct your towers with rubies,
Your gates with jewels,
    and all your walls with precious stones.
All your children will have God for their teacher—
    what a mentor for your children!
You'll be built solid, grounded in righteousness,
    far from any trouble—nothing to fear!

Verse of the Day 4/14

Psalm 121:7-8 The Lord will keep you from all evil;   he will keep your life.

⁸ The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Last week I was in Las Vegas on business and I had a free day on Sunday and decided to take a drive to visit Zion National Park in Utah.  That morning in the course of my daily reading through the Psalms I came to Psalm 121, a psalm of ascents which is probably most famous for the statement if verse 1, "I will lift my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come from?"  It was the perfect psalm to read in preparation to the visit to this park.  God is good, all the time, -  all the time God is God.

The park is know for and is named for 3 major peaks, named after the patriarchs of the Old Testament, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  It is a majestic sight to look at them.  But as verse 1 indicates, the psalmist lifts his eyes to the hills or the peaks; he was looking to Jerusalem.  But his strength came from God.  It is the same with us.

Verses 7 and 8 hold some important promises for God's followers.  He will keep our going out and coming in.  He is there with us through the peaks and valleys, towering over us in majesty from this time, today, forward to forevermore.  We should take comfort in the fact that the God who formed these majestic mountains made those promises to us and they will stand longer than these mountains that seem changeless and timeless.  While they seem it, God is.

In this psalm God is our Helper (v. 1 -2), our Keeper (v. 3-4), our Protector (v.5-6), and our Preserver (v.7-8).    He guards you now, He'll guard you always.  (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 121 The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song

121 ^1-2 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

^3-4 He won't let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel's
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.

^5-6 God's your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.

^7-8 God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
    he guards you now, he guards you always.

Verse of the Day 4/11

Verse of the Day 4/11/15

 

John 9:24-25   So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." ²⁵ He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse comes from John chapter 9 where Jesus heals a man who was born blind, He gives him vision.  The Pharisee's don't see how this could be true.  The question others on whether or not this man had been born blind and finally find his parents who confirm the fact.

 

The subject of  vision came up everywhere I turned in my devotions today, here and also in Habakkuk 1:13 which reads "You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness", and also in Exodus three where Moses saw the burning bush where he said " I will now turn aside and "see" this great sight.  It was the passage where God revealed Himself to Moses as the Great I AM.

 

If we have received Christ as our Savior it means that He has revealed Himself to us to see Him for who He is.  Once this has happened in our lives our "vision" will change.  We will see differently and from a different perspective.  We may have been blind to some things that are now open and apparent to us while other things that would have attracted and entertained we consider to be "wicked" or to be out of place in our lives.

 

As in John chapter 9, many in today's world would like to hear of personal turn arounds, how a life has been changed, that is until it is attributed to Jesus.  To mention Jesus as the source is often dismissed or may cause you to be looked upon with contempt.  The man who had been healed in John chapter 9 was cast out of the temple by the leaders because of his testimony.  Our call, our challenge is not to be dismayed but to continue to tell the story of what Christ has done for us, how He has "opened our eyes" to His salvation.  Some may remember the simple song that we sang in Sunday School, the message has not changed.

 

Stop: And let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me. Stop: And let me tell you what the Lord has done for me. He forgave my sin and He saved my soul. He cleansed my heart and He made me whole. Stop: and let me tell you, what the Lord has done for me.

 

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

John 9:24-33The Message (MSG)

²⁴ They called the man back a second time—the man who had been blind—and told him, "Give credit to God. We know this man is an impostor."

²⁵ He replied, "I know nothing about that one way or the other. But I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see."

²⁶ They said, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"

²⁷ "I've told you over and over and you haven't listened. Why do you want to hear it again? Are you so eager to become his disciples?"

^28-29 With that they jumped all over him. "You might be a disciple of that man, but we're disciples of Moses. We know for sure that God spoke to Moses, but we have no idea where this man even comes from."

^30-33 The man replied, "This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him, but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It's well known that God isn't at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of—ever. If this man didn't come from God, he wouldn't be able to do anything."