Verse of the Day 9/30

Verse of the Day 9/30

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.  English Standard Version (ESV)

Our men's Bible study will be starting a new study in a few weeks in the book of James.  This week James has been part of my "read through the New Testament" plan.  It has been and will continue to be a good preparation for the study.  The book of James "comes at you" from the start with verses like 2 & 3 which state ^" Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

That has to be one of the biggest challenges in the christian's life.  Today's verses, just a few lines beyond those help explain why we are to have that attitude and put it into practice. 

Andrew Murray gives us a good idea of how this can be  done when he writes,

In time of trouble say:    First—God brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place. In that I will rest.    Next—He will keep me in His love and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.    Then—He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.    Last—In His good time He can bring me out again—how and when He knows.    I am here—by God's appointment, in His keeping, under His training, for His time."    No matter where we find ourselves, putting first things first, is realizing that God has brought me here.  We are to realize that He loves us, is with us, and will see us through in His time.  Those who love Him will also realize that He is a good Father.    

Oh, and I've seen many searching
For answers far and wide
But I know we're all searching
For answers only you provide
'Cause You know just what we need
Before we say a word

You're a good good Father
It's who You are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you

    " Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is   mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward   is life and more life.: James 1:12  The Message    Pastor Greg Laurie writes "the faith that cannot be tested is the faith that cannot be trusted", may ours be the kind of faith to "stick it out", loyally in love with and loved by 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    

James 1:12-15The Message (MSG)

¹² Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

^13-15 Don't let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, "God is trying to trip me up." God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one's way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.

Verse of the Day 9/29

Verse of the Day 9/29

John 16:33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."  English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered from Romans 8 how we are to approach God, go to Him in prayer even, perhaps especially in troubled times when we can't even put our feelings into words.  He hears our groanings and knows our longings.  In today's verse Jesus tells us that we can have peace, that we can be overcomers through Him.  Jesus overcame the world, the devil and all that he threw at Him, He overcame death, rose from the grave and brought us salvation and deliverance from death.  It is with this confidence that we can be overcomers.

The notes in my ESV Daily Devotional New Testament for this verse state that "When we place our faith in the finished work of Christ, we are joined with Jesus and overcome the world together with him ( 1 John 5:4–5 ). We will someday experience the fullness of this victory, but in the meantime we can find peace in the midst of trials and suffering by remembering the promises of Christ and his victory ( John 16:33 )."

Yesterday I read the following verse in Psalm 30:

Psalm 30:10Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!

    O Lord, be my helper!" English Standard Version (ESV)

David, in his troubled times called out to the Lord.  We read of many of his "cries" in the psalms.  I'm sure there were just as many times that He sought the Lord with groanings when He could not put his feelings into words.   His cry for mercy reminded me of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet writing in Lamentations 3 about God's mercies being new every morning.  It was his attitude in the midst of trouble as it was David's.  It should be ours as well, to look for His mercies, to rely on God as our "helper" as He leads us.

1	All the way my Savior leads me;   What have I to ask beside? Can I doubt His tender mercy,   Who through life has been my Guide? Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,   Here by faith in Him to dwell! For I know, whate'er befall me,   Jesus doeth all things well, For I know, whate'er befall me,   Jesus doeth all things well.
2	All the way my Savior leads me,   Cheers each winding path I tread, Gives me grace for every trial,   Feeds me with the living bread. Though my weary steps may falter,   And my soul athirst may be, Gushing from the Rock before me,   Lo! a spring of joy I see, Gushing from the Rock before me,   Lo! a spring of joy I see.

"I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace."  (V.33 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    

John 16:33The Message (MSG)

^31-33 Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

Verse of the Day 9/28

 

 

Verse of the Day 9/28

 

Romans 8:26-

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because^[a] the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

I'm  sure there we've all had times where we've offered to pray for people and more  importantly,  I hope we've  followed  through on those  comments.  Often they are said  when  a friend is  facing  a difficult situation  or  has experienced a tragedy in their lives.  The offer to pray is a good one, it  is often better than  trying  to  give advice or make sense  of  the  matter  at hand.  Today's verses are  often  mentioned in the context of one's own personal  experience  but I think they can be  applied to us not knowing the best way to bring it  before the  Lord.  Still, we are to  do so,  to take it  to  the  Lord  in  prayer, knowing  that He  hears our  prayers,  not  only that, He  understands what  is  on our hearts  even  if we can't find  the  words.

 

Romans 8:28 "for all things  work  together for good" is a verse that is often  quoted to  someone  during these times.  The  verse is true, but  speaking  from personal  experience in  my own darkest hour,  it  was not a good consolation or  comfort.  Perhaps better advice would be to let them  know  that you are praying for  them and not only that  but that the  Spirit (v.27) and Jesus Himself (v.34) are also  praying, interceding  for them.

 

The  next time you or a friend are facing something "too deep for words", don't let  it end there, take  your groanings and  the longing, the questions,  the hopes  and  bring them to  the  Lord in prayer.

 

Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
  Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Romans 8:26-30The Message (MSG)

^26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

^29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

Romans 8:34Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁴ Who is the one who condemns us? Christ Jesus is the One who died [to pay our penalty], and more than that, who was raised [from the dead], and who is at the right hand of God interceding [with the Father] for us.

 

 

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Verse of the Day 9/24

Hebrews 10:35-36  So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! ³⁶ Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.  New Living Translation (NLT)

Earlier this week we looked at a couple  of passages about having a faith that cannot be shaken, being a person who is in right standing before God, trusting in His steadfast love, enabling us, by His grace to be steadfast in our love to Him, through it all.  Today's verses from Hebrews 10 precede the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11 and encourage us not to "throw away" this confident trust, that we will receive His promises.

If we have faced trials the past, and seen His hand, His power in and through them, we should hold on knowing that each day we draw closer to that eternal reward that He has promised.  As I read these verses and thought back on the previous passages an old hymn came to mind = "Day by Day and With Each Passing Moment".

Day by day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find to meet my trials here; Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment, I've no cause for worry or for fear. He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure, Gives unto each day what He deems best, Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure, Mingling toil with peace and rest.
2	Every day the Lord Himself is near me, With a special mercy for each hour; All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me, He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r. The protection of His child and treasure Is a charge that on Himself He laid; "As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure," This the pledge to me He made.

  If you are facing a trial, a difficult situation or potential conflict and you feel that you are all on your own, hold on, don't turn back,   don't throw away your "this confident trust", because "it won't be long now, he's on the way; he'll show up most any minute" (The Message) with the  strength you need to face the tests of today.     Read the passage below from The Message, may we say "we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all   the way." 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    

Hebrews 10:35-39The Message (MSG)

^32-39 Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It'sstill a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion.

It won't be long now, he's on the way;
    he'll show up most any minute.
But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;
    if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.

But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

Verse of the Day 9/23

  Psalm 112:6-7  Surely he will never be shaken;  The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.  He will not be afraid of evil tidings;  His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. NKJV    The other day I quoted from Hebrews 12 about receiving "a kingdom that cannot be shaken".  The thought behind it is not not about a life here without trials and tribulations but rather having a life that is able to withstand the things that would normally shake us. Today's verses come from Psalm 112 where the psalmist echoes the same thoughts of the author of Hebrews.  The righteous are those in right standing before God, they are in right standing because they have put their faith and trust in Him and aren't swayed by contrasting opinions,    I don't know the author of the following quote but I have it pasted in relation to both passages in my "e-bible". "Knowing the Lord and His comfort does not take away the ache; instead, it supports you in the middle of the ache. Until I get home to heaven, there's going to be an ache that won't quit. The grieving process for me is not so much a matter of getting rid of the pain, but not being controlled by the pain."    We will have our aches, some of which are those "that won't quit".  But those who trust, those who are in right standing before God will remember how He has come through, provided and delivered us in the past and are confident that He will do so again.  Being steadfast, persevering, trusting in the Lord.    Read the psalm from The Message below.  May these words describe us, "unfazed" by the world and troubles that at times may seem to surround us, may we have this steadfast heart.    Unfazed by rumor and gossip,  Heart ready, trusting in God,  Spirit firm, unperturbed,  Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,  They lavish gifts on the poor—  A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.  An honored life! A beautiful life!  (The Message)    Blessings,    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 112The Message (MSG)

112 ^1-10 Hallelujah!
Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish his commandments,
Their children robust on the earth,
And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
Their houses brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God's grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.

Verse of the Day 9/20

 

Hebrews 12:28-29    Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our God is a consuming fire.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verses were in the read through the New Testament  plan that  I am following. As I read them I thought of a faceboook post  that my wife Jean had  made about a gathering of traumatic brain injury survivors and family members that we attended on Sunday.  A common theme  among  those in attendance was their  faith  in God  through it  all.  People  with  brain injuries come from  all walks of  life and seasons  in  life.  The injuries are all unique as are the recoveries from them.  The events that took place in all  of the  families  lives  shook them to the  core, but it was in  those trials and through them that all of us have  learned  the depth of our  faith and  the  depth of  His love.

 

Everyone  in this life will face trials and  tribulations  at  some  point that will shake them  to  the  core and  woe to those  that  don't have a faith  and trust in  God  and  have to face those times  on  their  own and by their own  means.  As we look at our society and the craziness all around the  world, we can see to  that  the whole  world will  face tribulation.  The author  of Hebrews encourages us to be thankful for our faith, for  that  kingdom  that  cannot  be shaken and  to  worship  God  for who He  is  and  what He  has done  for  us  through the trials, death and  resurrection of  Jesus Christ.

 

May we ourselves, may we encourage  others not to "turn a  deaf ear " (The  Message) to God's gracious words of  salvation.  May we be among  those who will  work  at  "getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered." (The  Message). For we know that "there will  be one last  shaking, top to  bottom, stem to  stern".  The religious "junk" and  everything  else  will  be consumed,  will be burned  away, but true faith will stand.

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Hebrews 12:25-29The Message (MSG)

^25-27 So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words. If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the earth to its foundations; this time—he's told us this quite plainly—he'll also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.

^28-29 Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!

 

 

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