Verse of the Day 9/30

Verse of the Day 9/30

Habakkuk 3:19 God, the Lord, is my strength;

    he makes my feet like the deer's;
    he makes me tread on my high places.    English Standard Version (ESV)

Whenever I read today's verse a picture comes to my mind from a time in the Rocky Mountains and watching several mule deer traverse a clear cut running at full speed without breaking stride or legs for that matter.  It would take a human probably and hour to cross the same field that they did in a minute or two.

This passage just happened to come up in my reading through the Old Testament on Friday.  That day, my son Jeff and I went out on a hunt here in North Carolina hosted by Back in the Woods Again, through a local church and in cooperation of the state DNR, working with land owners to provide an opportunity for hunters who due to injury, illness, birth defects or other challenges that would make hunting difficult if not impossible.  Through this, somewhere around 80 hunters harvested about that many deer, most of the meat from which was donated the hurricane relief efforts here in North Carolina.

While thinking about how the deer managed to go through a treacherous field seemingly with ease, it came from a lifetime of dealing with those challenges, it became second nature to them.  So it is with how many of the disabled face life.  Life is a challenge every day and they do it one day at a time, trusting in God, family and others to help see them through and navigate life's challenges.

Seeing the faces of my son Jeff and the other hunters and the joy of just being out there with loving, helpful people, enjoying God's creation and others and perhaps harvesting a deer, made them feel like "king of the mountain" (verse 19 The Message).  If only for a day.

However, in Christ, we look forward to a day when He will wipe all the tears from our eyes, eliminate all the handicaps and challenges, and navigate eternal life as if if were second nature.  In Christ we have this hope.

In whatever challenges you may be facing, know that the Lord God is your strength, and He can make your feet, like the deer's, to tread, to walk, to run on high places.

--   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    

Habakkuk 3:17-19 The Message (MSG)

^17-19 Though the cherry trees don't blossom
    and the strawberries don't ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
    and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
    and the cattle barns empty,
I'm singing joyful praise to God.
    I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Counting on God's Rule to prevail,
    I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
    I feel like I'm king of the mountain!

Verse of the Day 9/27

Verse of the Day 9/27

Habakkuk 2:4   "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

    but the righteous shall live by his faith.    English Standard Version (ESV)

We've considered what it means to "hear the voice of God" from behind you in Isaiah and yesterday how we are to practice the things that we have learned and received from God, those things learned from time with Him and in His word that are brought to our recollection when we need them.  The process as a whole is called walking by faith.  Today's verse, tucked away in this short book of Habakkuk, is the first time in the Bible that "the righteous shall live by faith" occurs.  It is repeated in the New Testament in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.

I think it was John Piper who translated the verse as saying "the just by faith shall live".  The meaning remains the same but it puts the faith part in front of the living.

I read the following in a recent devotional by Greg Laurie which digs deeper into this walking, living by faith:

I have discovered the secret of a successful Christian life. Are you ready for it? It is living and walking by faith every day. It is consistency. It is staying with it. As philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, "The essential thing 'in heaven and in earth' is . . . that there should be long obedience in the same direction."    Faith sees what could be. Faith does things. Faith takes action. Faith takes risks. Faith leaves its comfort zones to do things for the Lord. And faith that doesn't produce works is a faith that doesn't work.  When we step out in faith, God will work. But if we don't step out in faith, then really not much is going to happen. God works through people who are applying faith.     Read the short passage below from The Message.  Do you have questions for God?  Bring them to Him, look into, study His Word and wait on Him.  He will answer you as you live by faith.  

--   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    

Habakkuk 2:1-4 The Message (MSG)

2 What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst.
    I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.
I'll wait to see what God says,
    how he'll answer my complaint.

Full of Self, but Soul-Empty

^2-3 And then God answered: "Write this.
    Write what you see.
Write it out in big block letters
    so that it can be read on the run.
This vision-message is a witness
    pointing to what's coming.
It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait!
    And it doesn't lie.
If it seems slow in coming, wait.
    It's on its way. It will come right on time.

⁴ "Look at that man, bloated by self-importance—
    full of himself but soul-empty.
But the person in right standing before God
    through loyal and steady believing
    is fully alive, really alive.

Verse of the Day 9/26

Verse of the Day 9/26

Philippians 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered from the prophet Isaiah of "hearing a word from behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it" and how God speaks to us directly from His Word and other times through the recollection of His Word that has been studied and memorized coming to mind as a voice, at just the right time.    Today's verse comes from the benediction to the letter to the Philippian church.  Paul had just said in verse 8 (The Message below) that we are to be "filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst", these are the things that come out of God's Word, they are what we have learned and seen in Jesus as we've spent time in His Word.  The peace mentioned at the end of the verse can be thought of as the Holy Spirit working in us and telling us, "this is the way, walk in it", with confidence.    David Jeremiah writes, "Eat well to be well physically. But more importantly, feed your heart on the Word of God and that which honors Him."

As you go out today, take His Word with you, dwell on it, let it lead you, filling your minds and doing things that are noble, reputable, authentic, compelling and gracious.

--   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    

Philippians 4:8-14 The Message (MSG)

^8-9 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Verse of the Day 9/25

Verse of the Day 9/25

Isaiah 30:21   And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.     English Standard Version (ESV)

I like to walk and I like to hike.  Whether it be in the local woods or at a national park like Yosemite, I enjoy being out in God's creation.  But when you are walking in unfamiliar territory it is nice to be with someone who knows the territory, where you are and more importantly, where you're going.  In the walk or hike of the Christian life, God's voice doesn't just come to us in every situation.  He speaks to us through His word, quite often the recalled word, remembering something He's told us and taught us when reading and studying His Word.  At just the right time, it comes up and speaks to you.

I read this verse yesterday and thought of these things.  I also read another verse in Spurgeon's devotional from John 5:39 where we read " You search the Scriptures".  He writes, "The Greek word here rendered "search" signifies a strict, close, diligent, thorough search--such as men make when they are seeking gold. We must not rest content with having given a superficial reading to a chapter or two, but with the candle of the Spirit, we must deliberately seek out the spiritual essence of the Word. Holy Scripture requires searching--much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babes, but also meat for strong men....No man who merely skims the book of God, can profit from it. We must dig and mine, until we obtain the hidden treasure. The door of the Word can only opened with the key of diligence! The Scriptures warrant searching. They are the writings of God--we dare to treat them with levity. He who despises them--despises the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should leave our Bibles to become swift witnesses against us in the great day of account. The Word of God will repay searching. Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of wonders!"

If you long to hear a voice from behind you telling you which path to take in the fork in the road ahead, it will likely come from that "diligent, thorough search" and study being brought to your recollection.  As Spurgeon says "the scriptures warrant searching, they are the writings of God".  May they be that word from behind you saying "this is the way, walk in it."

--   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 30:20-22 New Century Version (NCV)

²⁰ The Lord has given you sorrow and hurt like the bread and water you ate every day. He is your teacher; he will not continue to hide from you, but you will see your teacher with your own eyes. ²¹ If you go the wrong way—to the right or to the left—you will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the right way. You should go this way." ²² You have statues covered with silver and gold, but you will ruin them for further use. You will throw them away like filthy rags and say, "Go away!"

Verse of the Day 9/22

Verse of the Day 9/22

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love. English Standard Version (ESV)

The other day we considered David's question from Psalm 8 "oh, what is man that you are mindful of him?". Today's verse from Micah takes it to the next step, to reflect back on God, who is mindful of us and cares for us.

Most of us are parents and many are grandparents. We've seen our kids screw up sometimes, but we forgive them, we are angry for a moment, perhaps longer, but when it comes down to it we love them, and forgive them. It began when they were toddlers with their first "no" when asked to do something and it goes on from there. When it comes to grandchildren and if we are lucky enough to live that long, great grandchildren we have even more patience are even quicker to offer forgiveness.

Now, turn your attention back to God. Read from The Message below how God has "wiped the slate clean, turned a blind eye to something we have done, or had a deaf ear to something that we've said, because the price has been paid and there is forgivenesss and redemption through Christ.

There is truly no one like our God.

What is this love that won't relent
That's calling out with heaven's breath
Who is reaching wide to save our souls?
Only you, oh oh oh oh oh oh

What is this grace that makes no sense
That we could never recompense
Who gives us all a second chance?
Only you, only you, only you

There is no one like our god
There is no one like our god
There is no other god who can save
There is no one like our god

Who hung the stars upon the night
And showed the sun how bright to shine
Who shaped the world within his hands?
Only you, oh oh oh oh oh oh. (Lincoln Brewster)

Blessings,

Mike

Micah 7:18-20 The Message (MSG)

18-20 Where is the god who can compare with you—
wiping the slate clean of guilt,
Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear,
to the past sins of your purged and precious people?
You don't nurse your anger and don't stay angry long,
for mercy is your specialty. That's what you love most.
And compassion is on its way to us.
You'll stamp out our wrongdoing.
You'll sink our sins
to the bottom of the ocean.
You'll stay true to your word to Father Jacob
and continue the compassion you showed Grandfather Abraham—
Everything you promised our ancestors
from a long time ago.

Verse of the Day 9/18

Verse of the Day 9/18

2 Corinthians 5:20-21   Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.²¹ For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.    English Standard Version (ESV)

As I read 2 Corinthians 5 the other day in may devotions, two words caught my attention, strong words that may not often be used in today's society where everyone has "a right to do their own thing" and not to be told differently.  Sometimes it is the case, but there are times when someone needs to be told about something, to do or not to do it.

In verse 14 Paul writes that the love of Christ "compels us", it controls us, presses; pressures us into action.  We have to decide whether or not to comply with His promptings or let the opportunity pass.  A. W. Tozer writes, "Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done. In God's sight my giving is measured not by how much I have given but by how much I could have given and how much I had left after I made my gift.  The needs of the world and my total ability to minister to those needs decide the worth of my service."  When reading those words we would normally think of monetary giving, which is true.  But it also involves our giving in service in how Christ compels us to give of our time.

The second word that caught my attention was in verse 20 where Paul says "we implore you" to be reconciled to God.  The verse begins by reminding us that we are Christ's ambassadors, He is making this kind of appeal through us and His life, His example should compel us to do so.  This may involve sharing the gospel, the good news to someone who doesn't know Christ as their Savior.  It can also involve imploring, begging someone else to return to Him, to return to the fold.

To whom may we be an ambassador of Christ today?  I'm reminded of the song by Casting Crowns, "Jesus Friend of Sinners" which calls us to "let our hearts be led by mercy" to "reach with open hearts and open doors".

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

--   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    

2 Corinthians 5:14-21 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

¹⁶ Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Verse of the Day 9/16

Verse of the Day 9/16

Jeremiah 7:3-4  Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. ⁴ Do not trust in these deceptive words: 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.' English Standard Version (ESV)

I read this passage in my devotions this morning and the words that caught my attention was "amend your ways and I will let you dwell in this place".  We go to the church (building) to worship, but it should be an outcropping of what God has been doing in us and our response to Him throughout the week, coming to completion in corporate worship.  This was not case in Jeremiah's time or in Isaiah's time (see Isaiah 1) and sad to say it is not very common in our time.  Many, if not most, come to the house of God to be filled, like the gas tank on a car, that has been drained all week and now needs filling.

Verses 5 - 7 give us an idea of what needed to be done then and now,  "start treating each other with justice;⁶ only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. ⁷ Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever."

Worshiping involves surrender, submitting to God and living, abiding in His presence.

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

All to Jesus I surrender
Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures all forsaken
Take me Jesus take me now

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee my blessed Saviour
I surrender all

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me Saviour wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit
Truly know that Thou art mine  (Israel Houghton)

Jesus spoke of what true worship looks like in John chapter 4:

John 4:24  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."     English Standard Version (ESV)

David spoke of this heart, this longing, this worship of God when he wrote:

Psalm 27:4  One thing have I asked of the Lord,

    that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire in his temple.     English Standard Version (ESV)

It is not a one day a week thing, it is daily seeking His presence in His Word and in prayer, and living it.

--   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    

Jeremiah 7:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jeremiah Speaks at the Temple

7 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, ² "Go to the entrance of the Lord's Temple, and give this message to the people: 'O Judah, listen to this message from the Lord! Listen to it, all of you who worship here! ³ This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says:

"'Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. ⁴ But don't be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord's Temple is here. They chant, "The Lord's Temple is here! The Lord's Temple is here!" ⁵ But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice;⁶ only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. ⁷ Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.

⁸ "'Don't be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It's a lie!