Verse of the Day 1/31

Verse of the Day 1/31

Isaiah 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One

Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.    New King James Version (NKJV)

For today's verse we'll return to Isaiah 57, the same passage where yesterday we considered how God offered restoration; comfort; healing; and to lead to those who would turn or return to Him.  Verse 15 gives us a key component of the heart, the attitude who truly turns to the Lord and repents of there sin.  They are contrite and humble in spirit.

The word contrite is not one that we use or hear very often in our conversations today.  My first recollection of it in Scripture is back in Psalm 51 where David in repentance of His sin with Bathsheba wrote the psalm that contained this word:

Psalm 51:17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.    New King James Version (NKJV)

The word contrite means to be crushed.  I had heard that it would be similar to crushing concrete into mortar, into dust.  But that dust can then be used again.  Shaped by God into a piece of concrete, a new creation or as Psalm 51 from The Message states, "God, make a fresh start in me,  shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life". 

David could relate to this as could Peter who had denied Christ 3 times and Paul who had persecuted the church.  God called to them and they all turned and came back.  I'm reminded of the old hymn "At Calvary", especially the second stanza below.

Years I spend in vanity and pride
Caring not my Lord was crucified
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary

By Gods words at last my sin I learned
Then I tremble at the law I'd spurned
Till my guilty soul imploring turned
To Calvary

O the love that drew salvation's plan
O the grace that brought it down to man
O the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary

Mercy there was great and grace was free
Pardon there was multiplied to me
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary

God will take this kind of heart and revive it.  If your life is in some sort of "chaos" today, turn to the Lord and ask Him to do a Genesis week work to create a new you. 

--   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 57:14-21 The Message (MSG)

¹⁴ Someone says: "Build, build! Make a road!
    Clear the way, remove the rocks
    from the road my people will travel."

^15-21 A Message from the high and towering God,
    who lives in Eternity,
    whose name is Holy:
"I live in the high and holy places,
    but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed,
And what I do is put new spirit in them,
    get them up and on their feet again.
For I'm not going to haul people into court endlessly,
    I'm not going to be angry forever.
Otherwise, people would lose heart.
    These souls I created would tire out and give up.
I was angry, good and angry, because of Israel's sins.
    I struck him hard and turned away in anger,
    while he kept at his stubborn, willful ways.
When I looked again and saw what he was doing,
    I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him,
    creating a new language of praise for the mourners.
Peace to the far-off, peace to the near-at-hand," says God—
    "and yes, I will heal them.
But the wicked are storm-battered seas
    that can't quiet down.
    The waves stir up garbage and mud.
There's no peace," God says, "for the wicked."

Verse of the Day 1/30

Verse of the Day 1/30

Isaiah 57:18-19 Even though I've seen their ways, I will heal them.

    I will guide them forward and repay them with comfort,
    giving mourners the language of praise.
¹⁹ I offer peace to those who are far from me,
    and I offer peace to those who are near,
    and I will heal their deepest wounds," says Yahweh.   The Passion Translation (TPT)

Yesterday we considered how Satan had asked to "sift all of us as wheat", putting us through the sifter or grinder and how that process may cause us to backslide and turn away from God.  But the important thing for us to remember for ourselves or perhaps a wayward child, grandchild or loved one, is that it is God who brings them back, leads them back. Our prayers and actions can be the agents for that return but it is still God that is doing the work.

Reading today's verse in The Passion Translation really hits home.  God sees all that is done, He sees rebellion, He sees our turning from Him but in His grace and mercy He sees beyond that and promises healing.  He doesn't stop there He also provides the way forward and comfort.  The Apostle Paul could relate to this and wrote about it in Romans 5 realizing that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".

John Piper writes:

"So, in the face of recalcitrant, grace-resisting backsliding, God says, "I will heal him." He will "restore." The word for "restore" is to "make whole or complete." It is related to the word shalom, "peace." That wholeness and peace is mentioned in the next verse which explains how God turns around a grace-resisting backslider.    He does it by "'creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace (shalom, shalom), to the far and to the near,' says the Lord, 'and I will heal him'" (Isaiah 57:19). God creates what is not there — peace, wholeness. This is how we are saved. And this is how we are brought back from backsliding — again and again.    The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist. He brings shalom, shalom to the near and the far. Wholeness, wholeness to the near and the far. He does it by "restoring," that is, replacing the disease of resistance with the soundness of submission.    The point of irresistible grace is not that we can't resist. We can, and we do. The point is that when God chooses, he overcomes our resistance and restores a submissive spirit. He creates. He says, "Let there be light!" He heals. He leads. He restores. He comforts.    Therefore, we never boast that we have returned from backsliding. We fall on our faces before the Lord and with trembling joy thank him for his irresistible grace that conquered all our resistance."

Have you been "resisting" God's call?  Listen to Him, He may be calling you now.  Do you know someone else who has been resisting His call?  Pray for them, pray also.  You may be the agent that God uses to bring them back 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    

Isaiah 57:14-21 The Passion Translation (TPT)

A Promise of Revival and Healing

¹⁴ Yahweh says, "Let the people return to me.
    Build! Build up the road, clear the way, and get it ready!
    Remove every obstacle from their path."
¹⁵ For this is what the high and majestic one says,
    the one who fills the eternal realm with glory,^[a]
    whose name is Holy:
    "I dwell in high and holy places
    but also with the bruised and lowly in spirit,
    those who are humble and quick to repent.
    I dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble,
    to revive the heart of those who are broken over their sin.
¹⁶ You will not find me continually accusing them^[b]
    or holding anger against them,
    lest they feel defeated and lose heart before me.
    For I am the One who gave the breath of life to my people.
¹⁷ It was their sin and greed that made me angry,
    so I struck them and hid my face from them.
    But they continued in rebellion, following their own desires.
¹⁸ Even though I've seen their ways, I will heal them.^[c]
    I will guide them forward and repay them with comfort,^[d]
    giving mourners the language of praise.
¹⁹ I offer peace to those who are far from me,
    and I offer peace to those who are near,^[e]
    and I will heal their deepest wounds," says Yahweh.
²⁰ "But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,
    whose restless waves are never still,
    stirring up mud and mire.
²¹ There is no peace^[f] for the wicked," says my God.

Verse of the Day 1/29

Verse of the Day 1/29

Luke 22:31-32   "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." 

New International Version (NIV)

It is approaching a year now since the pandemic hit us.  Many have suffered illness, loss of those close to them, suffered job loss or had to manage on reduced income or have had to remain "sheltered in place" for an extended period of time.  Some of you reading this may feel as if you had been through the sifter, "sifted like wheat" as the verse goes.  In times like these ones faith can be shaken to the core.  But Jesus knows all about our situation just like He did Peter's.  Jesus encouraged him subtly "when you have turned back", meaning that there would be an end to his struggles.

John Piper writes, "Jesus said to Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:31–32)....Not if you return. But when you return. I have prayed for you! You will return. And when you do, it will be my sovereign grace that brought you back from the precipice of apostasy."

If you feel that you have been put through the sifter or ringer these words apply to you as they have to many through the ages.  Jeremiah, "the weeping prophet" knew something about these feelings and the book of Lamentations is five chapters mostly of lament.  However, towards the end of that book he writes,

Lamentations 5:21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored!  Renew our days as of old—   English Standard Version (ESV)

Many of us may be looking and praying for a return to "normalcy", our own "days of old".  But if need Him today don't be afraid to "Cry Out to Jesus" and encourage and strengthen your "brothers" to do so as well.

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
When you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
And love for the broken heart
And there is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus
Cry out to Jesus          (Cry Out to Jesus - Third Day)

--   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    

Luke 22:31-34 New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

^31 [a]And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

³³ But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

³⁴ Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

Verse of the Day 1/27

Verse of the Day 1/27

Proverbs 8:33-34 Listen to my instruction and be wise.

    Don't ignore it.
³⁴ Joyful are those who listen to me,
    watching for me daily at my gates,
    waiting for me outside my home!   New Living Translation (NLT)

Where do people go when looking for wisdom these days?  Many go to school and college to gain wisdom; we go to technical school for wisdom in the trades; we turn to self help books to improve "ourselves" and we may go to parents or grandparents as well as a number of other sources.  But today's verses come from King Solomon whom many consider to be one of the wisest people in history and he points to a wisdom that comes from beyond ourselves.

The picture is of the kings people waiting daily outside the gates of the palace for a good word from the king. It doesn't go into specifics but we can imagine some of the things that they may have hoped for, perhaps even an invitation from the king to come through the gates and into his courts.  We have Jesus as the King of our hearts and the way that we watch and wait for Him is to seek Him in His Word and in prayer - daily.

Sinclair Ferguson writes, "When we read  it, study it and seek to obey it, we hear His voice and recognize His authority. (John 10:3-5)  That is why one mark of the Christian will be loving study of the Scripture and a growing obedience to everything Christ teaches us through Scripture."

Whether it be through our own reading and studying or sitting under the biblical teaching of someone else, we will be wise to hear it and not ignore it on a daily basis.  I'm reminded of the hymn "Take Time to be Holy".  To be holy is to be set apart for God, part of which is setting apart the time to spend with Him, waiting outside His gates for a good word and an invitation to follow Him.

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

--   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 8:32-36 English Standard Version (ESV)

³² "And now, O sons, listen to me:
    blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
    and do not neglect it.
³⁴ Blessed is the one who listens to me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting beside my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
    and obtains favor from the Lord,
³⁶ but he who fails to find me injures himself;
    all who hate me love death."