Verse of the Day 5/30

Verse of the Day 5/30

Isaiah 55:10-11 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven

and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
¹¹ so My word that comes from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do."   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For today's verses we'll return one more time to the 55th chapter of Isaiah.  What a word picture that it gives us about the power of God's Word coming down to us to heaven providing - seed to grow; moisture in the form or rain and snow to cause it to germinate and sprout; providing seed to grow; food to eat and nourishment to us body and soul.

We've all seen picture of the desert flowers that spring up out of nowhere after the rainfall.  Hopefully, our hearts are not like deserts that have been barren, but even if they are there is hope that the rain will fall and accomplish it's purpose in those times of drought in our lives.

Take some time this weekend to take in God's Word like rain.  Allow it to accomplish it's purposes in your life - planting a seed that will grow and flourish as you apply it in your life while bringing refreshment through His grace.  I'm reminded of the Todd Agnew song "Grace Like Rain" which builds upon the old hymn "Amazing Grace".  May we experience it.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
And I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now I see so clearly

And Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
And Hallelujah, and all my stains are washed away
They're washed away

'Twas grace that taught
My heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

And Hallelujah, grace like rain falls down on me
And Hallelujah, and all my stains are washed away
They're washed away

Throughout history His word has always accomplished His purposes as it is send out and it will continue to do so through eternity.

--   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 55:10-13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁰ "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

¹² "For you shall go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
    shall break forth into singing,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
    an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Verse of the Day 5/29

Verse of the Day 5/29

Isaiah 55:8-9 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not My ways."
This is the Lord's declaration.
⁹ "For as heaven is higher than earth,
so My ways are higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts.    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For today's verses we'll return to Isaiah 55 and pick up where we left off yesterday.  When we don't read God's Word or pray to Him every day we are letting, allowing our thoughts direct our actions.  It is easy to fall into the "my way" syndrome.  Think of the old Frank Sinatra song, "I stood tall and did it my way".  In the end that will lead to emptiness and nothing accomplished for God and likely other people.  No matter "how good" we may think of ourselves on our own, left to ourselves our ways will not be His ways in the long run.  The sooner we come to that realization the better off we will be and the more that He will accomplish through us as we follow His ways.

Our ways, like the lyrics of "My Way" will fade, but His Word will not.  It endures and will endure forever.

The word is alive
And it cuts like the sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and the frail
Breathing life into all who believe

The word is alive
And the world and its glories will fade
But its truth, it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The word is alive

Simple strokes on a page
Eternities, secrets revealed
Carried on from age to age
It speaks truth to us even still

And as the rain falls from heaven
Feeds the earth before it returns
Lord, let Your word fall on us
And bring forth the fruit You deserve
With eyes wide open, let us see

The word is alive  (The Word is Alive - Casting Crowns)

The words from this song came to mind as I read today's verses and the passage below.  The lines of the last stanza above tie in with verses 9 and 10 from the passage.

--   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 55:6-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ "Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
⁷ let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Verse of the Day 8/28

Verse of the Day 8/28

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found;

call to Him while He is near.
⁷ Let the wicked one abandon his way
and the sinful one his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord,
so He may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for He will freely forgive.    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For today's verses we'll return to Isaiah 55.  This chapter has become one of my "go to" chapters in the Bible.  We probably have (or at least should have) several chapters in the Bible that are our favorites, can you rattle off a few?  There are several in Isaiah including chapters 40 and 41 and more that we'll be drawing from as we continue towards the end of the book.  In the New Testament you may go to Romans 8 or 12; perhaps Philippians 4; or Ephesians  1 or 2; or John 3.  There are plenty to choose from, but the key is to seek Him.  You may have drifted away, but His Word is still there calling out to us.  The verses reassure us that He is near and that He will respond to us when we call out to Him.

He is ready to forgive, forgive freely without strings attached.  We don't have to make deals, just ask for it and He will "freely forgive".  The world around us needs more of this attitude of forgiveness.  If you find yourself in a "dark place", call out to Him from your desperate heart,, seek His favor, and as He reveals Himself in His Word to you, treasure it and return to it for mercy and healing.

Lord of Eternity
Blessed is the man
Who walks in Your favor
Who loves all Your words
And hides them like treasure
In the darkest place
Of his desperate heart,
They are a light
A strong, sure light.

Sometimes I call out Your name
But I cannot find You.
I look for Your face,
But You are not there.
By my sorrows, Lord,
Lift me to You,
Lift me to Your side.

Lord of Eternity,
Father of mercy,
Look on my fainting soul.
Keeper of all the stars,
Friend of the poorest heart
Touch me and make me whole.   (Lord of Eternity - Fernando Ortega)

--   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 55:1-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Compassion of the Lord

55 "Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
³ Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.
⁴ Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵ Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
    and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has glorified you.

⁶ "Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
⁷ let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Verse of the Day 5/27

Verse of the Day 5/27

Isaiah 55:1-2 "Come, everyone who thirsts,

    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.   English Standard Version (ESV)

For today's verse we'll return to Isaiah and chapter 55 where twice within the first three verses we hear the call of God, through the prophet, to "come".  It is similar to the call of Jesus in Matthew 11 "come to me, you who are weary and heavy laden".  In the current chaos of the world today this call still goes out, Jesus is calling "come to me"; don't worry; don't be consumed by the need for "things" that will not satisfy, that will not bring you happiness, let alone joy.

The way that we come to Jesus and seek the Lord is through prayer and spending time in His Word.  J.R. Miller writes, "The habit of laying up a text of Scripture in the morning, to be meditated upon while engaged in the business of this world through the day, is both profitable and delightful. It is as a refreshing draught to a weary traveler!...Nothing is more helpful and practical in Christian living, than the habit of getting a verse or phrase of Scripture into the mind and heart in the morning. Its influence stays through the day, weaving itself into all the day's thoughts and words and experiences."

Do you need to be "refreshed" today.  Jesus is calling.

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself?
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there's no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

--   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 55:1-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Come to the Lord

55 "Come, everyone who is thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you without money,
come, buy, and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost!
² Why do you spend money on what is not food,
and your wages on what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
and you will enjoy the choicest of foods.^[a]
3 Pay attention and come to Me;
listen, so that you will live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
the promises assured to David.
⁴ Since I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples,
⁵ so you will summon a nation you do not know,
and nations who do not know you will run to you.
For the Lord your God,
even the Holy One of Israel,
has glorified you."

Verse of the Day 5/26

Verse of the Day 5/26

Isaiah 54:10  Though the mountains be shaken

    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.   New International Version (NIV)

For today's verse we'll return to the book of Isaiah to a verse that should encourage us to hang on, have faith, and trust God.  In these difficult days and time, many people around us have been "shaken" by the virus and resulting illness, loss of a loved one; loss of work and any number of other things.  Some may question what they might have done that this has happened to them and to question God's love.

A. W. Tozer shares some thoughts about these feelings (see verse 7 below)when he writes, "It was a great day in my life when I believed God about this.  I believe that though God may have to correct me and chasten me, He will never be angry with me again, for Jesus Christ's sake, for His promises' sake, and for His faithfulness' sake.  He has sworn that He will not be wroth with me.  "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord who has compassion on you."  That is His word to the anxious."

We may feel that the circumstances in our lives are seismic in proportion.  Never fear; God will not be shaken and His love for you will not be shaken.  He will again comfort you and bring you to a place of peace in your life.

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

For Jesus shed His precious blood
Rich blessings to bestow
Plunge now into the crimson flood
That washes white as snow

Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way
That leads you into rest
Believe in Him without delay

--   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 54:7-17 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ For a brief moment I deserted you,
    but with great compassion I will gather you.
⁸ In overflowing anger for a moment
    I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,"
    says the Lord, your Redeemer.

⁹ "This is like the days of Noah^[a] to me:
    as I swore that the waters of Noah
    should no more go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,
    and will not rebuke you.
¹⁰ For the mountains may depart
    and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

¹¹ "O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,
    behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
    and lay your foundations with sapphires.^[b]
12 I will make your pinnacles of agate,^[c]
    your gates of carbuncles,^[d]
    and all your wall of precious stones.
¹³ All your children shall be taught by the Lord,
    and great shall be the peace of your children.
¹⁴ In righteousness you shall be established;
    you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
    and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
¹⁵ If anyone stirs up strife,
    it is not from me;
whoever stirs up strife with you
    shall fall because of you.
¹⁶ Behold, I have created the smith
    who blows the fire of coals
    and produces a weapon for its purpose.
I have also created the ravager to destroy;
¹⁷     no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
    and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
    and their vindication^[e] from me, declares the Lord."