Verse of the Day 3/31

Verse of the Day 3/31

Revelation 3:10-11 You have obeyed my teaching about not giving up your faith. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the whole world to test those who live on earth.

¹¹ "I am coming soon. Continue strong in your faith so no one will take away your crown.   New Century Version (NCV)

These days with all the turmoil, fears and uncertainties of what tomorrow can bring can cause people to doubt and question their faith, a faith that has carried them through previous trials.  As for us as Christians we are called to persevere and to hold onto our faith in hope and confidence that Christ will come again soon.

The passage in Revelation 3 was written to the church in Philadelphia which means "brotherly love".  The church was spoken of having "little power" but yet held on, kept the Word and did not deny Jesus name.  When our faith is not strong, we are called to hold onto what we have that He will provide the grace, strength and courage to face this life to the end in faith.

I'm reminded of something that Pastor Chuck Swindoll has pointed out"Remember that the end of a life reveals more than the beginning".

Keeping and holding onto our faith to the end is something that can encourage others to hold onto the end as well.

Our family watched the recently released movie "I Still Believe".  It is a powerful movie and testimony of faith, a faith that held on till the end.  Not just a faith in faith, but a faith in Jesus, the author and perfecter of all of our faith.  I would encourage you, during these times with more time to watch something on TV to perhaps sit down with your family, watch this movie or others such as "God's Not Dead" and talk about them.  Be strengthened in your faith and be encouraged not to give up on your faith in Jesus.

--   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    

Revelation 3:7-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

To the Church in Philadelphia

⁷ "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

⁸ "'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹ Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. ¹² The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. ¹³ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Verse of the Day 3/29

Verse of the Day 3/29

John 11:3-4 So his sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, our brother Lazarus, the one you love, is very sick. Please come!"

⁴ When he heard this, he said, "This sickness will not end in death for Lazarus, but will bring glory and praise to God. This will reveal the greatness of the Son of God by what takes place."    The Passion Translation (TPT)

There is a lot of fear in the world around us, most of it recently brought on by COVID19. It is an invisible enemy and we feel helpless in defending against it.  The fear of death in our society is much more prevalent than it was just a few months ago.

I read today's verses in my devotions yesterday and Jesus' statement is "this will not end in death" was said to Mary and Martha about their brother Lazarus.  Lazarus then died, this must have left them bewildered, confused and perhaps disillusioned.  But for us, knowing the end of the story, Jesus' statement was true.  Yes, Lazarus died but it was not the end.

The same power that brought Lazarus from the grave after 4 days is the same power that will bring us to eternal life.  Jesus' statement "this will not end in death" can bring great comfort and hope to us today.  Read the conversation between Martha and Jesus before Lazarus was raised.

John 11:21-27 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." ²³ Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." ²⁴ Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." ²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" ²⁷ She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus' statement and question of Martha is the same that He poses to us today " Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

May our response be the same that Jesus is the Messiah; Savior; and Lord over all, including life after death.  If we are believers in Jesus, whatever happens to us, it won't end in death, but in everlasting life.  Jesus said these things to Martha because He loved her.   He allowed Lazarus to die and then raised him from the dead because He loved Him.  He showed us all of this because He loves us and will raise us up when our time comes.

--   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 11:32-45 English Standard Version (ESV)

³² Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." ³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved^[a] in his spirit and greatly troubled. ³⁴ And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." ³⁵ Jesus wept. ³⁶ So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ³⁷ But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus Raises Lazarus

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. ³⁹ Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." ⁴³ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." ⁴⁴ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

The Plot to Kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

Verse of the Day 3/25

Verse of the Day 3/25

Proverbs 15:13   A glad heart makes a cheerful face,

    but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.    English Standard Version (ESV)

I read today's verse this morning and it was something that I needed to see, read and hear.  In these days of a global pandemic with illness, job loss, debt and uncertainty all around us it is easy to feel "sorrow of heart" and our spirit crushed.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  One of the ways of being an overcomer is to have a different focus, not on all of the stuff that is going on around us but looking onward and upward.  Think of things that you can be "glad" about, to be thankful for.  But don't stop there.

I would encourage you to find some ways to laugh, find ways to bring smiles to your face and others.  The other day I did something that caused my wife to laugh almost uncontrollably for several minutes.  She was laughing at me and it caused me to laugh.  It was good to hear that laughter.  I'm not one that goes around with a happy face all the time (my wife can attest to that) but when I take my mind off of things that would bring me and her down, I can make her or other people smile and even laugh.

Proverbs 15:13A cheerful heart puts a smile on your face,  but a broken heart leads to depression.  The Passion Translation (TPT)

I would encourage you to "be glad" in your heart, may it lead to a cheerful face that may bring joy and even laughter to someone in these days of "confused situations".

In these days of confused situations
In this night of a restless remorse
When the heart and the soul of a nation
Lay wounded and cold as a corpse

From the grave of the innocent Adam
Comes a song bringing joy to the sad
Oh, your cry has been heard and the ransom
Has been paid up in full, be ye glad

Oh, be ye glad
Oh, be ye glad
Every debt that you've ever had
Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord
Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad"

Read the passage below which goes under the heading "Living an Ascended Life", find a reason to be "glad" today and also find a way to "silence strife".  Be ready to have and share some fun.  Perhaps start by making fun of yourself.  Be glad.

--   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 15:13-18 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Living an Ascended Life

¹³ A cheerful heart puts a smile on your face,
but a broken heart leads to depression.
¹⁴ Lovers of God^[a] hunger after truth,
but those without understanding
feast on foolishness and don't even realize it.
¹⁵ Everything seems to go wrong
when you feel weak and depressed.
But when you choose to be cheerful,
every day will bring you more and more joy and fullness.^[b]
16 It's much better to live simply,
surrounded in holy awe and worship of God,
than to have great wealth with a home full of trouble.
¹⁷ It's much better to have a kind, loving family, even with little,
than to have great wealth
with nothing but hatred and strife all around you.^[c]
18 A touchy, hot-tempered man picks a fight,
but the calm, patient man knows how to silence strife.

Verse of the Day 3/24

Verse of the Day 3/24

Psalm 55:22 So here's what I've learned through it all:

Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord,
and measureless grace will strengthen you.   The Passion Translation (TPT)

Many, if not most of us, have received a "care package" at some point in our lives.  Very often it can be in the form of a meal for you or your family perhaps during a time of recovery from illness; or the loss of a loved one; or any other difficult period in our lives.  The purpose of these care packages is to comfort, encourage and help to sustain that person during the time of trouble and to help strengthen them to see them "through it all".

Today's verse challenges and calls us to cast your cares, anxieties and worries at the feet of the Lord, cast them before His throne as ruler of all, then to count on Him to do His work.  The psalmist speaks from experience as he states in verse 16 "as for me, I will call upon God, the the Lord will save me."

Here is part of a post that appeared in today's "Grace Gems" devotional:

Who is it that cares for us?    It is the Lord, the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy;  who is so great--that we have no adequate conception of His greatness;  who is so good--that it is impossible fully to set forth His goodness;  who is so glorious--that no sinner can see His face and live.   It is He . . .     who created all things with His word,     who governs all by His wisdom,      and upholds all by His power.   His resources are infinite,   His compassion is exquisite, and   His patience is astonishingly great.   He enters into all the circumstances of His redeemed people, is ever present with them, and rejoices over them to do them good.   

As things turn around and we are able to come within 6 feet of each other once again, may we be ready to provide "care packages" to those who are in need of them, physically, emotionally or spiritually.  We may just be the instrument that God is using to relieve those cares and anxieties that have been cast at His feet.

Come, every soul by sin oppressed
There's mercy with the Lord
And He will surely give you rest
By trusting in His Word

Only trust Him, only trust Him
Only trust Him now
He will save you, He will save you
He will save you now

--   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 55:16-22 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God,
And the Lord shall save me.
¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
¹⁸ He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.
¹⁹ God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.

²⁰ He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
He has broken his ^[a]covenant.
²¹ The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart;
His words were softer than oil,
Yet they were drawn swords.

²² Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be ^[b]moved.

Verse of the Day 3/22

Verse of the Day 3/22

Psalm 121:7-8 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.     New King James Version (NKJV)

Psalm 121 is probably best known for it's opening verses, "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,  who made heaven and earth."  ESV.  The whole psalm points to the sovereignty of God.  In times of turmoil people go in all directions in search of help, especially "a quick fix".  Many will put their trust in the government to take care of them to carry their burdens individually and even industries to "bail them out".  But for us we must realize that government and it's institutions may be like the hills in the psalm, where the psalmist, a follower of God realized, "my help comes from the Lord."

Sovereign Ruler of the skies,  Ever gracious, ever wise,  All my times are in Your hand,  All events at Your    His decree, who formed the earth,  Fixed my first and second birth;  Parents, native place, and time,  All appointed were by Him.    He who formed me in the womb,  He shall guide me to the tomb.  All my times shall ever be,  Ordered by His wise decree!    Times of sickness, times of health;  Times of poverty, and of wealth;  Times of trial, and of grief,  Times of triumph, and relief.    Plagues and death around me fly;  Till He bids, I cannot die!  Not a single shaft can hit,  Till the God of love sees fit!  (John Ryland)  

May we realize that  we stand in the power of the One who made the hills and the mountains and everything else and go to Him for help.  He will preserve your soul.

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand  (In Christ Alone   KEITH GETTY & STUART TOWNEND)

--   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 121 English Standard Version (ESV)

My Help Comes from the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.