Verse of the Day 6/14

Verse of the Day 6/14

Jeremiah 9:23-24?? Thus says the??Lord:?????Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,??^24??but??let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the??Lord??who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.??For in these things I delight, declares the??Lord.????????? English Standard Version (ESV)

In reading today's verses, there are several things that can "jump out" at us and draw our attention.?? Boasting, on our part, would be front and center.?? The word "justice" should also stand out.?? Many people today are calling out for justice for themselves without thought of their own actions and injustices rendered against others.

Many people have "hair triggers" when it comes to anger and calling out for justice, it doesn't take much to set us off with collateral damage that can't be taken back.?? What would our world look like if the opposite were true, that we were ready to show grace and love even in the most trying situations?

John Piper writes, "God loves to show mercy. Let me say it again. God loves to show mercy. He is not hesitant or indecisive or tentative in his desires to do good to his people. His anger must be released by a stiff safety lock, but his mercy has a hair trigger. That???s what he meant when he came down on Mount Sinai and said to Moses, ???The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love??? (Exodus 34:6). It???s what he meant when he said in Jeremiah 9:24, ???I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.???

Steadfast love is a loyal love; it comes from someone who is devoted to another.?? May we be able to boast not of ourselves but of the fact that we know Him;?? the One who shows this kind of love to us.??

In our Pastor Bob's message this morning he mentioned that "WWJD" bracelets that were popular some years ago.?? The key thing is that to know what He would do we have to know Him as He is revealed in His Word.?? Bob stated that it would be better to consider "WDJD" asking "what did Jesus do".

As you see all the images in the news these days it is obvious that this is the furthest thing from the mind of most.?? May we do our part to know what Jesus did and to put it into practice.??

--   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