Verse of the Day 8/25

Verse of the Day 8/25

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.    New King James Version (NKJV)

Yesterday we considered the picture of an abandoned home which would make anyone wonder what went wrong?  We also considered that in the building of our lives, our faith, we need not have to worry about "our building", our faith, because as we read in Philippians 1:6 "He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you".

In today's verses there were a few things that caught my attention.  It starts out with the word "now", not tomorrow, a month from now or some time in the distant future, the author is praying for the peace of God for his readers, for us, right now, and the source of that peace is God "through His everlasting covenant".  He will see to it.

Even if our faith may seem incomplete or to have fallen into a state of disrepair, He will "make you complete", He will finish the work.  Other translations use the words "equip you".  The meaning is the same, God will equip you with the tools you need to complete the work that He began in you, your faith.  As you follow Him in His Word it will work in you to live a life that is "pleasing in His sight" (contrast that building falling into disrepair) for His honor and glory.

I'll close with this prayer for you, part the writer of Hebrews prayer as translated in The Message, "Now (may God) put you together, provide you
    with everything you need to please him", this day and forever more.

--   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 13:20-21The Message (MSG)

^18-21 Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.

May God, who puts all things together,
    makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
    the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
    up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
    with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
    by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
    Oh, yes, yes, yes.