Verse of the Day 3/30

Verse of the Day 3/30

Isaiah 62:12 And they shall call them The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord;
And you shall be called Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken. New King James Version (NKJV)

What caught my attention as I read today's verse was "you shall be called Sought Out". I was reminded how Jesus called His disciples and said "follow me and I will make you fisher's of men" and they followed. They had been sought out. Christ followers, including you and I through the ages have been sought out and called by God for His purposes.

Charles Spurgeon writes, "That any should be sought out is matchless grace, but that we should be sought out is grace beyond degree! We can find no reason for it--but God's own sovereign love! We can only lift up our heart in amazement, and praise the Lord that we wear the name of "Sought Out!"

Reading Spurgeon's words about matchless grace, I was reminded of the old hymn "Grace That is Greater".

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

If you haven't received that matchless grace, perhaps God has sought you out and it calling you this moment to receive that grace.

Blessings,

Mike

Isaiah 62:8-12 New King James Version (NKJV)

8 The Lord has sworn by His right hand
And by the arm of His strength:
"Surely I will no longer give your grain
As food for your enemies;
And the sons of the foreigner shall not drink your new wine,
For which you have labored.
9 But those who have gathered it shall eat it,
And praise the Lord;
Those who have brought it together shall drink it in My holy courts."
10 Go through,
Go through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people;
Build up,
Build up the highway!
Take out the stones,
Lift up a banner for the peoples!
11 Indeed the Lord has proclaimed
To the end of the world:
"Say to the daughter of Zion,
'Surely your salvation is coming;
Behold, His reward is with Him,
And His [a]work before Him.' "
12 And they shall call them The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord;
And you shall be called Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken.

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Verse of the Day 3/29

Verse of the Day 3/29

Psalm 150:1-2 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! New King James Version (NKJV)

Recently I posted how David wrote, "7 times a day I will praise You" and we considered what that might look like. My daily reading this morning brought me to Psalm 150 which is all about praise. 13 times in this fairly short psalm praise is referenced. Read through the psalm and note some of the things that are praised and they way that praise is offered. There is joy, there is exuberance, there is celebration. It should be in our lives to.

As I read this I was looking out the window at the Rocky Mountains just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Looking up to the snow covered peaks it is easy to picture the majesty of God, to see a glimpse of His "sanctuary". He is the God of the hills and valleys, His majesty is before Him and He is for us. Think about that.

No matter where you are today, consider His excellent greatness and praise Him, Lord of all!

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.
Refrain:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow'r and glory unto the Lord belong.

Blessings,

Mike

Psalm 150 The Passion Translation (TPT)

The Hallelujah Chorus
150 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Praise God in his holy sanctuary!
Praise him in his stronghold in the sky!
2 Praise him for his miracles of might!
Praise him for his magnificent greatness!
3 Praise him with the trumpets blasting!
Praise him with piano and guitar!
4–5 Praise him with drums and dancing!
Praise him with the loud, resounding clash of cymbals!
Praise him with every instrument you can find!
6 Let everyone everywhere join in the crescendo
of ecstatic praise to Yahweh!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

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Verse of the Day 3/20

Verse of the Day 3/20

Proverbs 13:19-20   A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

    but fools detest turning from evil.

²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise,
    for a companion of fools suffers harm.    New International Version (NIV)

People are longing for all kinds of things.  It may be relief from chronic pain or illness.  It may be longing for a wayward child to return to the right path.  It may be for a new job, career opportunity or perhaps to get into a certain school.  We've all had longings.  Think about those that have been fulfilled and what they meant to you.  Have you praised God for them?  You still can.

As I read today's verse in the NIV, that word "longing" jumped out at me.  Our men's Bible study group has been going through the book of Mark and we are currently in chapter 4.  We've seen Jesus call His disciples, we've seen Him perform various forms of miracles and will see more.  Looking back, you can see in case after case, Jesus was fulfilling someone's longing, often the persons longing was for the benefit of a friend or loved one.  Picture the four men who lowered their friend through the roof of a house in order to put their paralyzed friend in front of Jesus for healing.  They longed for healing for their friend and would stop at nothing to bring Him before Jesus.  Jesus filled their longing.

As I continue to read through the Bible, especially the Gospels I'm going to be paying attention to those who have longings and how Jesus fulfills them.  It started with the disciples and their longing for something better than their lives of fishing or tax collecting.  Jesus called them to "follow" me.  They did so and "walked with the wise and became wise" as verse 20 in today's verses stated.

I'm reminded of the old hymn "There's Within My Heart a Melody" and the words "fills my every longing".  May He fulfill yours or those for a friend or loved one today.  Bring them to Him.

. There's within my heart a melody 
Jesus whispers sweet and low: 
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still, 
in all of life's ebb and flow. 
Refrain: 
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
sweetest name I know, 
fills my every longing, 
keeps me singing as I go. 

2. All my life was wrecked by sin and strife, 
discord filled my heart with pain; 
Jesus swept across the broken strings, 
stirred the slumbering chords again. 
(Refrain) 

3. Though sometimes he leads through waters deep, 
trials fall across the way, 
though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, 
see his footprints all the way.

--   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    

Proverbs 13:19-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁹ It is pleasant to see dreams come true,
    but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise;
    associate with fools and get in trouble.

²¹ Trouble chases sinners,
    while blessings reward the righteous.

Verse of the Day 3/19

Verse of the Day 3/19

1 Corinthians 15:58   So now, beloved ones, stand firm and secure. Live your lives with an unshakable confidence. We know that we prosper and excel in every season by serving the Lord,^[b] because we are assured that our union with the Lord makes our labor productive with fruit that endures.    The Passion Translation (TPT)

The other day we considered from Psalm139:17 "how precious to (towards) me are your thoughts, O God".  When we think that way what kind of impact should it have on our life, that day and any day that we take the time to spend in His Word and realize that He is with us; He is for us?  As I read today's verse over the weekend I saw the answer.  We are His "beloved ones" mentioned in the verse and we should be able to stand firm and secure, living our lives with "unshakable confidence".  This is the case in every season of the year, every season of our life.

The result of living that way will be productive it will achieve God's purposes in our lives and produce "a fruit that endures".  We will look back over our live and realize that we've been blessed "beyond all measure".

I was blind, now I'm seeing in color
I was dead, now I'm living forever
I had failed, but you were my redeemer
I've been blessed beyond all measure

I was lost, now I'm found by the father
I've been changed from a ruin to treasure
I've been given a hope and a future
I've been blessed beyond all measure

I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Letting go and trusting when I cannot see
I am counting every blessing, counting every blessing
Surely every season you are good to me                              (Rend Collective)

May we realize that in this season, God is good to us and will give us victory.

--   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    

1 Corinthians 15:53-58 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

"Death is swallowed up in victory."
⁵⁵ "O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?"

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Verse of the Day 3/17

Verse of the Day 3/17

Psalm 139:17-18    How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
    I awake, and I am still with you.    English Standard Version (ESV)

As I read today's verses the first thoughts that came to mind were that God's thoughts as expressed in the Bible, His Word are precious to me.  However, the words "to me" can mean much more than my personal thoughts.  Reading from The Passion Translation (below) may cause us to look at these words, these verses a little differently.  God's Word are His thoughts towards us, they are meant for us.  Just as He knew us before we were formed in the womb, God has had these thoughts for us since before we ever came into being.

If His Words are meant for us we should consider them as precious and we should desire to hear from God and act upon what He speaks "towards" us daily in His Word.  David Mathis writes , "One of the most important actions we can take on any given day is to fight through the fog, against Satan's great deception, and get our souls within earshot of God's word. Cultivating the daily habit of enjoying "time alone with God" in the Scriptures feeds our souls and gives us our bearings for the rough and tumble of everyday life, whatever your vocation and state of family, church, and community responsibilities"

Believing that His thoughts are towards us also adds meaning to the statement if verse 18 in the ESV "how vast is the sum of them".  He has words and thoughts for us beyond measure.  Won't we take some time each day to find out what thoughts that He has for us day by day?

As I read the word "vast" the song from Fernando Ortega came to mind about His love being "vast as the ocean".  He shows us this through His word.

Here is love, vast as the ocean
Lovingkindness as the flood
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heav'n's eternal days

On the mount of crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God's mercy
Flowed a vast a gracious tide
Grace and love, like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
And Heav'n's peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love

Read the passage below today.  May they be precious to you and help you realize that you are precious to Him.

--   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 139:17-24 The Passion Translation (TPT)

^17–18 Every single moment you are thinking of me!
How precious and wonderful to consider
that you cherish me constantly in your every thought!
O God, your desires toward me are more
than the grains of sand on every shore!
When I awake each morning, you're still with me.
¹⁹ O God, come and slay these bloodthirsty, murderous men!
For I cry out, "Depart from me, you wicked ones!"
²⁰ See how they blaspheme your sacred name
and lift up themselves against you, but all in vain!
²¹ Lord, can't you see how I despise those who despise you?
For I grieve when I see them rise up against you.
²² I have nothing but complete hatred and disgust for them.
Your enemies shall be my enemies!
²³ God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart.
Examine me through and through;
find out everything that may be hidden within me.
Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares.
²⁴ See if there is any path of pain I'm walking on,
and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways—
the path that brings me back to you.

Verse of the Day 3/13

Verse of the Day 3/13

Psalm 139:9-10. If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you're there!
If I fly into the radiant sunset, you're there waiting!
10 Wherever I go, your hand will guide me;
your strength will empower me. The Passion Translation (TPT)

I've been traveling this week on business and flew out to the west coast with the wings of one of the airlines. I've travelled across the country, across time zones, over mountains, deserts and along the coast and God has been with me all the way.

These verses came up in my devotional readings yesterday and were very fitting. I landed in San Diego yesterday to see a radiant sunset over the ocean. I stand in awe and amazement of God in His creation but even more so in His Word that is there to guide me wherever I go. We don't have to carry scrolls or even a physical Bible to have His Word. Today we can have it on our laptops, iPads and cell phones. Do we access it and let His hand guide us?

Wherever you go today, from coast to coast or anywhere in between, know that He is with you. And if you have His word with you in any form; access it; read it and let His hand guide you and His strength empower you as you go.

Read the passage below, the first portion of Psalm 39. Let it speak to you today.

Blessings,

Mike

Psalm 139:1-11 New King James Version (NKJV)

God's Perfect Knowledge of Man
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You [a]comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
5 You have [b]hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in [c]hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall [d]fall on me,"
Even the night shall be light about me;

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Verse of the Day 3/12

Verse of the Day 3/12

2 Chronicles 15:2-3 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; New King James Version (NKJV)

One of the devotionals that I read is "Today in the Word" and this month it is going through the book of 2 Chronicles. What caught my attention as I read the chapter were the words in verse 2 "The Lord is with you while you are with Him." It should be obvious to all of us but how many of us can look back out our lives and observe the words from the old hymn "Come Thou Fount", "prone to wander, Lord I feel it prone to leave the God I love."

The Holy Spirit can bring us back by a word. It can come from God's Word, a prophet or perhaps a friend who shares something with him. The important thing is what do we do when we hear that word?

A.W. Tozer writes, "Never has there been a time in the history of the world when we needed more the knowledge of God. If the average Christian in the average church in America today were really to understand God as He truly is, it would revolutionize American Christianity."

What the prophet said to Asa impacted him and it revolutioned the nation of Judah. If you, like Israel in the verses, have been a long time without the true God and His Word, He may be calling you back. If He is, listen to His voice and He will be found by you. It just may revolutionize your world.

Blessings,

Mike

2 Chronicles 15:1-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

Asa's Religious Reforms
15 Then the Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. "Listen to me, Asa!" he shouted. "Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. 4 But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him out, they found him.

5 "During those dark times, it was not safe to travel. Problems troubled the people of every land. 6 Nation fought against nation, and city against city, for God was troubling them with every kind of problem. 7 But as for you, be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded."

8 When Asa heard this message from Azariah the prophet,[a] he took courage and removed all the detestable idols from the land of Judah and Benjamin and in the towns he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. And he repaired the altar of the Lord, which stood in front of the entry room of the Lord's Temple.

9 Then Asa called together all the people of Judah and Benjamin, along with the people of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had settled among them. For many from Israel had moved to Judah during Asa's reign when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.

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Verse of the Day 3/10

Verse of the Day 3/10

Mark 2:9-11   Which is easier, to say to this paralyzed man, 'Your sins are now forgiven,' or, 'Stand up and walk!'? ¹⁰ But to convince you that the Son of Man has been given authority to forgive sins, ¹¹ I say to this man, 'Stand up, pick up your stretcher, and walk home.'"    The Passion Translation (TPT)

Our men's Bible study group is going through the book of Mark and we'll be in Mark 2 this week.  Going back to chapter 1 and now in chapter 2 you realize that Jesus' mission is all about life change.  He calls the disciples, they follow and will never be the same.  He heals people of diseases and from demon possession and there is life change.  In today's verse we see another healing, but it has to do with the forgiveness of sins and the lifting of the weight of guilt.

Those who turned and followed Jesus experienced life change.  Those who received healing experienced life change.  Others didn't.  The crowd wanted to see a show, it was something that they would talk about but soon they would be back to their old life, no real change.  The Pharisees were blind to the meaning of what Jesus was doing, what He was offering.  He was offering life change, offering to be right with God, but they would have none of it.

At first glance you might say that it was easier for Jesus to offer forgiveness than to heal.  What do you think?  Max Lucado expounds on it and challenges us to grasp this as he writes:

"You answer the question. Which is easier for Jesus? To forgive a soul or heal a body? Which caused Jesus less pain — providing this man with health or providing this man with Heaven?    To heal the man's body took a simple command; to forgive the man's sins took Jesus' blood. The first was done in the house of friends; the second on a hill with thieves. One took a word; the other took His body. One took a moment; the other took His life."

Jesus had the authority then to heal then as He does today.  He also has the power to forgive based on the life, His precious life that was given for us.

Do you need life change today?  It can be physical, emotional or spiritual, either way; Jesus has the power and authority to bring it about.

--   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    

Mark 2:4-12 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴ And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."

⁶ And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ⁷ "Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁸ But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? ¹⁰ But that you may know that the Son of Man has ^[a]power on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic, ¹¹ "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." ¹² Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"