Verse of the Day 9/30

Verse of the Day 9/30            a

2 Corinthians 13:11

The Voice

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, keep rejoicing and repair whatever is broken. Encourage each other, think as one, and live at peace; and God, the Author of love and peace, will remain with you.

I've been using The Voice paraphrase for much of my devotional reading this year.  This morning I read today's verses and passage.  What caught my attention was Paul's instruction to the church in Corinth to "repair whatever is broken".  It is something that the church in American in general and churches individually should take as a challenge.  We spend a lot of time complaining about what is wrong but how much do we really do to try and fix it.

The English Standard Version, my "go to" version for study says "aim for restoration".

When relationships within the church are strained we need restoration.  The rest of the verse gives basic logical things that we can do that are a startiing point for restoration and fixing what is broken.  First of all, find something to rejoice and be joyful about, share it with others.  Then, how about encouraging one another.  Aim towards unity, thinking in unity as one, this involves finding areas of agreement,  Then, "live at peace".  Peace is not just the absence of war or conflict, it goes way beyond that.  Make sure that there are no "hidden" feelings that can flare up and destroy that unity.  Above all, let God's love and peace remain with you as you abide in Him.

These challlenges are not just for the relationships in the church.  What about our faimilies and with our spouses.  Are things strained or broken?  Aim for restoration, repair  what is broken, encourage each other, and live at peace.  Count your blessings.

Blessings,

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

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

English Standard Version

Final Greetings

11 Finally, brothers,[a] rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,[b] agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Verse of the Day 9/29

Verse of the Day 9/29

Ephesians 1:7-8

English Standard Version

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

The read through the New Testament plan that I follow brought me to the book of Ephesians this morning. Many consider it to be one of the Apostle Paul's most important letters in the New Testament, full of the doctrines of the faith,  second only to the book of Romans.  

I've always loved today's verses and passage because they outline what we as believers have "in Him", in Christ.  It is a wonderful list of blessings that we have in Him that we can count on, that we rely on to give us strength on hope all the days of our lives..  We have been adopted by God into His family along and receive the benefits shared with our brothers and sisters in Christ (v.5); we are given God's grace, freely, His pardon with power (v.6); we are redeemed from the slavery to sin, He paid the price to set us free (v.7); He has given us wisdom and insight to be able to understand His Word and apply it in our lives throught the power of the Holy Spirit (v.8); we are given an inheritance as one of His children (v.11); and we have been confirmed, sealed, signed sealed and delivered as His (v.13-14).

What more could we ask for?

Praise to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Our God and our King, to Him we will sing
In His great mercy He has given us life
Now we can be called the children of God
Great is the love that the Father has given us
He has delivered us
He has delivered us


Children of God, sing your song and rejoice
For the love that He has given us all
Oh, oh
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God
Children of God      (Children of God - Mac Powell -  Third Day)

Blessings,

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

Ephesians 1:3-14

New International Version

Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[c] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,[d] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

Verse of the Day 9/28

Verse of the Day 9/28

1 Timothy 1:5

English Standard Version

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

For many people the goal, their aim in life is to live a long life with financial security so that they can spend their final years doing as they please, perhaps collecting sea shells on the sea shore.  Paul is writing to Timothy about the goal of the church, the goal of ministry and the goal of a Christ follower.  The charge is to love God and love others.

Greg Laurie in his devotional for today writes, "Peter Marshall, the former chaplain to the United States Senate, once said, "The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration but its donation".  It is not about how long we live but what we do with it.  What is our donation to society?  As a Christian what is our donation to the church, to the furtherance of the gospel.

What is the point of what we do day in and day out?  Is it for a long life on "easy street" or is to show love in spreading, sharing the gospel in living our lives from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere fatih?

As you head out today consider what will be your donation to society, to your church, to Christ today?

Blessings,

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 Timothy 1:3-7

English Standard Version

Warning Against False Teachers

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship[a] from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

Verse of the Day 9/27

Verse of the Day 9/27

Romans 1:16-17

New International Version

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Our Monday Morning Men's Bible study group began our journey through the book of Romans this morning and today's verses were some of the key verses in the study and in the book of Romans; and in fact the whole Bible.  Packed within these verses are words, principles and thoughts that can be observed throughout Scripture and applied in our lives.

The verses begin with "I am not ashamedof the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation".  The book was addressed to the people in Rome during a time when the tyrant Nero was governing the empire.  It could not have been an easy place for a church to survive let alone grow and thrive.  With men it would be impossible, but with the power of God; the Creator of the universe and all that  is in it,  if He is for it, none will stand against it.  John Piper writes, "what this means is not that the gospel is God's power to convert people to faith (although that is indeed true!), but that it means the gospel is God's power to bring those who keep on believing to everlasting safety and joy in the presence of God.

The verses end with "the righteous shall live by faith".  This hearkens back to the prophet Habakkuk 2:4 in the Old Testament which contrasted the proud who live by their own devices while those who live by faith, trust and depend upon God for their well being, for everything in life.  It can be looked at another way, the just; those who are in right standing before God, will live by faith in Him.  This same thought shows up in Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.

We are saved through faith that is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, by the power of God.  We are to stand by it and be unashamed about it.

"God gives to us the righteousness that He demands from us".  John Piper

Blessings,

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

Romans 1:8-17

New International Version

Paul's Longing to Visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,[a] that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[b]

Romans 1:8-17 NIV - - Bible Gateway

 just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."[

Verse of the Day 9/26

Verse of the Day 9/26

Ruth 1:16

New International Version

16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

My Old Testament reading plan recently brought me through the book of Judges and has now moved into Ruth where we find today's verse. Judges ends with this foreboding statement:

Judges 21:25

 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.  NIV

I say that this was a foreboding because of the ramifications of their actions and their heart as a nation.  They had turned from God and the beginning of Ruth deals with the consequences.  A famine came upon the land, some left the country in search of food and sustenance but without trust in the Lord the results brought about tragedy.  Ruth and her mother in law Naomi returned home and that is where the book of Ruth picks up.

Ruth's statement to Naomi above shows her faith and trust in Naomi and in her God.  God is faithful and He provided for them to meet their daily needs through their kinsman redeemer, Boaz.  He also was looking out for the nation and the world, for as read that Ruth ended up marrying Boaz and from that lineage came King David and ultimately, Jesus 

Ruth 4:21  Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, 22 Obed the father of Jesse,and Jesse the father of David.

Things may seem today like everybody is doing as they see fit and who knows where that will lead.  We should not lose faith that God is in control and He will bring His people back to Him for "our Redeemer is faithful and true."

As I look back on this road I've traveled
I see so many times He carried me through
And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life
My Redeemer is faithful and true

My Redeemer is faithful and true
Everything He has said He will do
And every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is faithful and true  (Our Redeemer is Faithful and True - Steven Curtis Chapman

Blessings,

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

Ruth 1:15-19

New International Version

15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me." 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them,

Verse of the Day 9/24

Verse of the Day 9/24

2 Corinthians 5:1-2

New International Version

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,

Most of you reading this post are probably middle aged or older and we easily realize that we are not what we used to be.  All it takes is to go out to participate in a sporting event or even an exercise routine that we used to do to realize that we are not the same.  

Television and other forms of media have advertisements for all kinds of products to reduce the effects of aging, saying that if you use their products "you can look and feel decades younger".  Even if it were true, aging is still inevitable.

Today's verses point out a couple of key things for the believer.  Our bodies are "tents", temporary dwellings for us in this world, but we have an eternal body that won't age, that won't be subject to aches and pains and chronic illnesses that we suffer from today.  We not only will receive new bodies but Christ is preparing and eternal dwelling for us.

If you are suffering from aches and pains, illness or loss, keep this in mind, that while we groan, we can look forward in hope to a brighter; eternal future not only for us but for loved ones who know Him that have had to suffer here on this earth.

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop  In that bright land where we'll never grow old  And some day yonder we will never more wander  But walk on streets that are purest gold

Blessings,

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

2 Corinthians 5:1-5

New International Version

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Verse of the Day 9/15

Verse of the Day 9/15    

Hebrews 3:13

New King James Version

13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

In September many new small groups have started up.  Small groups are an important element in the growth of the church and the spiritual development of it's members.  Today's verse is a call to "exhort", to challenge and encourage others daily towards spiritual growth. The shared experiences of others within the group can be a source can be a source of strength and help us to persevere in our faith through what life throws at us.

As I was driving yesterday, I listened to a sermon from John Piper and it happened to be on Hebrews 13:3 and he used it to reinforce the importance of small groups to his church and others.

Pastor John Piper writes, 'one of the essential means of not becoming hardened — the protection against an evil heart of unbelief — is the other believers around you speaking faith-sustaining words into your life — your family, your friends, your shepherd group. "Exhort one another every day." That is, speak words of faith-sustaining truth into each other's lives. Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Only let out of your mouth what is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."....So the second point of this theology of perseverance is that God has designed his church so that its members endure to the end in faith by means of giving and receiving faith-sustaining words from each other. You and I are the instruments by which God preserves the faith of his children. Perseverance is a community project. Just like God is not going to evangelize the world without human, faith-awakening voices, neither is he going to preserve his church without human faith-sustaining voices. And clearly from the words, "exhort one another" (verse 13), it means all of us, not just preachers. We depend on each other to endure in faith to the end."

Think about that, do you need to hear those around you  "speaking faith sustaining words into your life"?  If so, consider joining a small group.  If you're already in one, consider asking others to join.  Remember, "perseverance is a community project".

Blessings,

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

Hebrews 3:12-15

New King James Version

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but [a]

exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 

exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

"Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."