Verse of the Day 9/27

 

 

Verse of the Day 9/27

 

Psalm 86:5-6   For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
    abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
⁶ Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
    listen to my plea for grace.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

There are times in our lives when we know that we have sinned, there are times when we may have fallen away or wandered away from Him and have the feeling that He would not take us back.  That is the enemy talking, whispering in our ears.  God is forgiving, He knows our faults, none of them are hidden from Him.  But He is mighty to save, mighty to forgive.  The question is are we willing to call out to God as the tax collector did in Matthew 18:13 "be merciful to me, a sinner."

 

James Smith writes:

What a beautiful representation of God is this! How comforting, at the close of another day's cares and troubles, sorrows and sins--to be reminded that our "God is good," and especially that He is "ready to forgive"--ready to pardon all the faults and follies of this day--ready to pass them by, and still treat me as His beloved child!

 

He only requires me to confess and be sorry for my sins--and in a moment, all is forgiven, all is forgotten, and forgotten forever!

 

Then He is "abundant in mercy." The fountain of His mercy has not yet run dry. Run dry! It is not in the least diminished! His mercy is a boundless, fathomless, endless ocean!

 

God has plenty of mercy for miserable sinners . . .

  mercy to pardon them,

  mercy to purify them,

  mercy to comfort them,

  mercy to save them--

mercy for all who call upon Him! 

 

If you have fallen or wandered away, be willing to call out to Him, be reminded as James Smith said that "God has plenty of mercy for us miserable sinners", mercy to pardon, purify, comfort and save.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Psalm 86:1-8New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

¹ Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;
    answer me, for I need your help.
² Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
    Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
    You are my God.
³ Be merciful to me, O Lord,
    for I am calling on you constantly.
⁴ Give me happiness, O Lord,
    for I give myself to you.
⁵ O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
    so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
⁶ Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
    hear my urgent cry.
⁷ I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble,
    and you will answer me.

⁸ No pagan god is like you, O Lord.
    None can do what you do!

 

 Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Verse of the Day 9/24

 

Verse of the Day 9/24

 

Isaiah 40:31  but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse came in the Old Testament portion of my read through the Bible plan.  It is one  of my favorite verses and one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  I know the verse by heart and can turn to it any time, but still, I look forward to this chapter coming  up in my reading.  Chapter 40 begins with God saying through the prophet, "comfort my people, comfort my people" and that is just what today's verse has done for countless people through the age.

 

There are times when illness, stress or just life in general can sap us of our strength, where we are worn down and tired out.  These verses call us to wait on the Lord, seek Him, trust Him, firmly believing that He will renew our strength.  We can do so because He has proved Himself to us in the past in our lives and in the lives of His saints through the ages. 

 

The promise is not only for today, but it also points to the future when Jesus calls us home.   The Good Shepherd will restore us to what we were intended to be.  The "waiting" here is not passive, we don't sit back and  just wait for it to happen.  We seek Him, we look for Him to answer us, we long for His return "come Lord Jesus, come!"

 

As you read through the passage below, or perhaps the whole chapter, take time to think of other  passages that  come to mind.  Think of Psalm 8 and David considering as he looked at the stars and said "oh what is man that you are mindful of him?".  Perhaps you may think of Psalm 23, Isaiah 55, John 10 or 17, or James 1 or another passage.

 

Go to it and wait on Him.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Isaiah 40:26-31Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁶ 
Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these heavenly bodies,
The One who brings out their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one is missing.

²⁷ 
Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God"?
²⁸ 
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become tired or grow weary;
There is no searching of His understanding.
²⁹ 
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who has no might He increases power.
³⁰ 
Even youths grow weary and tired,
And vigorous young men stumble badly,
³¹ 
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
Will gain new strength and renew their power;
They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
They will run and not become weary,
They will walk and not grow tired.

 

 Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Verse of the Day 9/22

Verse of the Day 9/22

Ecclesiastes 12:11  The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.   English Standard Version (ESV)

In considering Psalm 23 yesterday and "the Lord is my Shepherd" brought me back to a study in Ecclesiastes that our men's group recently completed.  In Ecclesiastes 12, Solomon, known to be the wisest person on the earth at the time, towards the end of his life and at the conclusion of the book gives us sage advice and to heed the words of the "one" Shepherd.

When we read of the goads, prods to motivate reluctant animals or nails used to secure the gates and the pens holding the sheep, protecting them from wandering into dangerous territory, we have a picture of how God's wisdom, through His word motivates us and protects us and that true wisdom only comes from one source, God.

Solomon was wise, he was rich and obviously at times in his life he had allowed his own advice for himself to lead him down the wrong path.  But in his wisdom he came back to God, herd the Shepherd's voice and we would be wise today to pay attention to his "conclusion of the matter", what it all boils down to.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Read the short passage from the Amplified Bible today.  Whether a goad to prod you along or nails to protect you from wandering may you draw wisdom from His Word.  May God's Word, the collected sayings of the Bible be firmly fixed in our minds, like well driven nails to protect us, to guide us and to challenge us this day and every 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    

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹¹ The words of the wise are like [prodding] goads, and these collected sayings are [firmly fixed in the mind] like well-driven nails; ^[a]they are given by one Shepherd. ¹² But beyond this my son, [about going further than the words given by one Shepherd], be warned: the writing of many books is endless [so do not believe everything you read], and excessive study and devotion to books is wearying to the body.

¹³ When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. ¹⁴ For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

Verse of the Day 9/21

Verse of the Day 9/21

Psalm 23:1-3 a The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verses are probably very familiar to most of us.  It is often read at funerals, we've heard Psalm 23 read in person, in movies and on TV shows.  Perhaps, because it is familiar, it is also easily passed over or dismissed when we hear it.

When you look at verse 1, there is one key word that should make all the difference to us, they are all important, but it starts with "my", the Lord is "my" shepherd.  It makes all of the difference.  If you don't identify with that little word in reference to the rest of the psalm you can see why the world dismisses it.

In stressful times, I'll often wake up in the middle of the night and the first thoughts, the first words out of my mouth as I lie in bed are these verses.  It happens instinctively,  it is because the Lord is my Shepherd.  The verse leads to thoughts of John 10 where in verses 11 and 14 Jesus says "I am the good Shepherd", and what the good Shepherd does is lead.  It leads to thoughts of other verses and passages such as John 14:6, when Jesus says, "I am the way" , He is the good Shepherd telling us, calling us to follow.  His sheep hear his voice.

The next time you hear this psalm read, try to remember that little word "my" and think about what it means to you.  If you are in a stressful time, remember it, recite it and say a prayer because of it.  Something like:

Psalm 69:13English Standard Version (ESV)

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
    At an acceptable time, O God,
    in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
Much we need Thy tender care;
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,
For our use Thy folds prepare:
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,
Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

--   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 23New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.