Verse of the Day 10/31

Verse of the Day 10/31

2 Timothy 4:7-8 New King James Version

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Today's verse is an encouraging one for us to continue in the battle, to stay the course on to the end when we will receive our reward.  Paul is not boasting in his accomplishments but in his Lord; in the power of faith.

David Jeremiah points out that the word order in the Greek is actually "The good fight, I have fought" and that the emphasis is not on Paul and his accomplishments but on the fight, the race, the faith and thereby on God's grace.

I'm a football fan and these days they keep statistics on everything.  One of my favorites in football is yards after first contact.  When a running back gets the ball this statistic is an indicator of how hard he is to bring down.  He fights for every yard, every inch and never goes down easy.  He may not have the most yards, he may not win a rushing title but when the game is on the line or it is 4th and inches, he is the guy you can count on to give it all he has and won't let one man take him down.

That's a picture of what Paul is talking about.  When we have obstacles placed in our path how do we handle it?  Do we go down easily or do we push on empowered by grace through faith?

If you happen to watch some football today, watch that running back or receiver who gets those tough fought yards "after first contact".  Let them remind you of this verse and apply the same attitude to the challenges in your life.  

David Jeremiah writes, "to fight intensely, to endure bravely, and to guard faithfully - these are the endeavors that Paul knew would allow Timothy to fulfill his divine mission and someday finish well.  These same pursuits will allow the rest of us to finish well too."

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 Timothy 4:6-8

New King James Version

Paul's Valedictory

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Verse of the Day 10/27

Verse of the Day 10/27

Deuteronomy 32:2-3

English Standard Version

2 May my teaching drop as the rain,

    my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
    and like showers upon the herb.
3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    ascribe greatness to our God!

I read today's verses in a devotional the other day and they have been on my mind ever since.  They come as part of Moses final address to God's people desiring to express his hopes that they would follow God, cling to Him; praise Him for His mighty works and follow Him for all their days.

The nation had already gone through plenty of ups and downs, plenty of wandering, roaming about the desert.  Moses was preparing them to move into the promised land but as they experienced, and we see as we read through the pages that follow in the Old Testament, it would not be life on easy street.

The nation had spent years in the desert and the words of rain and dew in themselves would have felt refreshing.  Moses statement if verse three is a message to proclaim the greatness of God for His blessings, for His greatness.

When we think of the world today and the spiritual condition of the country or countries that we live in, it is easy to see how the spiritual landscape is like a desert in need of the dew in the morning and the gentle rain to bring relief and encourage growth. May that be our desire today, to hear His Word, that it would revive and refresh us and that our speech would proclaim His Word, the Gospel message that Jesus saves.

1. We have heard the joyful sound:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Spread the tidings all around:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Bear the news to every land,
   Climb the mountains, cross the waves;
   Onward! 'tis our Lord's command;
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
2. Waft it on the rolling tide:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Tell to sinners far and wide:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Sing, you islands of the sea;
   Echo back, you ocean caves;
   Earth shall keep her jubilee:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
3. Give the winds a mighty voice:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Let the nations now rejoice:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
   Shout salvation full and free;
   Highest hills and deepest caves;
   This our song of victory:
   Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

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

Deuteronomy 32:1-4

English Standard Version

32 "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,

    and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2 May my teaching drop as the rain,
    my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
    and like showers upon the herb.
3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    ascribe greatness to our God!

4 "The Rock, his work is perfect,
    for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
    just and upright is he.

Verse of the Day 10/24

Verse of the Day 10/24

Matthew 16:17-18 New King James Version

17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shallprevail against it.

In verse 15 Jesus asks the disciples "who do you say I am?" to which Peter famously responded, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God".  The church, the gathering of His followers is built upon this statement this belief.  It was not built upon Peter, the person, but upon his belief and faith in God.

I heard this verse referenced recently in our couples small group meeting where we watche "Big Church" from Andy Stanley.  He pointed out that "the gates of hell" in today's verses can also be translated "death".  It doesn't change the meaning but it reminds us that death is not the end, it can't diminish our faith, it can't hold us back from our eternal destiny, our everlasting life with our Savior.  He has conquered death, tore down those bars, opened the gates to heaven.

What is your response to Jesus' question, "who do you say I am"?  If your response is the same as Peter's, the gates of hell; death; will have no power over you, you will be raised to new life.

This all reminded my of the Bill Gaither hymn "Because He Lives".  Life is worth the living because He lives.

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Blessings,

Mike

Matthew 16:15-19

New King James Version

15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]

will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Verse of the Day 10/21

Verse of the Day 10/21

Matthew 24:35

New King James Version

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Today's verse is a reminder of how God's Word stand the test of time.  Kings and rulers have tried to eliminate it, people have tried to edit it and downplay the importance of it.  But as you look back through history there is no doubt that while those leaders and people who oppose it do pass away, His Word stands.

As you read these verses, think of them as the very words of Jesus and His teachings.  David Jeremiah writes, "The teachings of Jesus were true because He is the truth (John 14:6), so we can know Him.  He fulfills the truth, so we can trust HIm.  He tells the truth, so we obey Him. He models the truth, so we can emulate Him.  He predicts the truth, so we can expect Him.  And He comforts us with the truth, so we can love HIm."

All of the Bible is God's Word, but it we want to know more about Jesus we have His direct words, His teaching still available to us.  There are some red letter versions of the Bible which highlight statements.  If you have some time today and if you have one of those Bibles, pick it up and read His teachings in the gospels.  If, you don't have one, perhaps you can just go back and read The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7.

I'm reminded of the Casting Crowns song "The Word is Alive" which testifies that "His word will not pass away but remains yesterday and forever the same, accomplishing His purposes in our lives and in all of creation.

Looking out from His throne, the Father of light and of men
Chose to make Himself known and show us the way back to Him
Speaking wisdom and truth into the hearts of peasants and kings
He began to unveil the Word that would change the course of all things

With eyes wide open, all would see

The Word is alive
And it cuts like a sword through the darkness
With a message of life to the hopeless and afraid
Breathing life into all who believe
The Word is alive
And the world and its glories will fade
But His truth, it will not pass away
It remains yesterday and forever the same
The Word is alive

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

Matthew 24:32-35

New King James Version

The Parable of the Fig Tree

32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that [a]

Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV - - Bible Gateway

it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

Verse of the Day 10/17

Verse of the Day 10/17

Isaiah 64:4 New Living Translation

4 For since the world began,

    no ear has heard
and no eye has seen a God like you,
    who works for those who wait for him!

Many of you can probably remember hearing one of your children say as a toddler, "I do myself".  Most likely, you said it yourself, although you were too young to remember it.  It is one of the fist signs of the child gaining a sense of independence.  As we grow we tend to become more and more independent, then gradually, especially in those "senior" years we get to a point where we realize that we can't do everything that we used to do, we do need help and sometimes become anxious in waiting for it. But as the verse points out "God works" for us.  Our duty is to wait on Him, to pray to Him, to have our eyes and minds open to what He is doing on our behalf.

To wait is not just to sit back and depend on God to work all things out.  It is to pray and wait expectantly for God to work.  Sometimes it will be directly, giving us the strength to do something that we didn't think we had the strength to do.  More often, God will be working around us, many times through other believers that He brings into our lives to help.

John Piper writes, "At first it may sound arrogant of us, and belittling to God, to say that he works for us. But that's only because of the connotation that I am an employer and God needs a job. That's not the connotation when the Bible talks about God's working for us. As in: "God works for those who wait for him" (Isaiah 64:4)....The proper connotation of saying God works for me is that I am bankrupt and need a bailout. I am weak and need someone strong. I am endangered and need a protector. I am foolish and need someone wise. I am lost and need a Rescuer......"God works for me" means I can't do the work."

For more on this perhaps you can go to Isaiah 40:26-31 where we read "strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord".

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won't grow weary.     (Everlasting God - Chris Tomlin)

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

Isaiah 64:3-5. New King James Version

3 When You did awesome things for which we did not look,

You came down,
The mountains shook at Your presence.
4 For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
You are indeed angry, for we have sinned—
In these ways we continue;
And we need to be saved.

Verse of the Day 10/16

Verse of the Day 10/16

1 Peter 1:3-4

English Standard Version

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,

After the introduction and his call for God's grace and peace be multiplied for his readers, the Apostle Peter begins the body of his letter with words of praise and thanksgiving. Many speeches, sermons and letters begin with an outline of what the letter intends to achieve or convey.

Reading the verses reminded me of all of the church services at the church I grew up in and then the church where we raised our children.  In both churches, the services began with hymns, mostly of praise, such as the "Doxology" - praise God from whom all things flow; or "Holy, Holy, Holy" - early in the morning our song will rise to Thee; or 'Praise the Savior" - ye who know Him, who can can tell how much we owe Him.

Not as many of the modern church services begin with traditional hymns but the purpose is still the same and if you listen to the words, they are not very different from the hymns we learned and loved from childhood on.  Third Day's "Children of God" came to mind.

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
Children of God, by the blood of His Son
We have been redeemed and we can be called
Children of God
Children of God

Read the passage below.  May the words prepare your heart for worship this weekend and while you're at it, may you sing out one of your favorite hymns or one of today's songs that give praise to the Lord for all that He has done for us and all that we have in Him.

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 Peter 1:3-9

English Standard Version

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Verse of the Day 10/14

Verse of the Day 10/14

Romans 12:2

English Standard Version

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect

Today's verse is probably familiar to many if not most of us.  The two key words are "conformed" and "transformed".  Both of them involve change.  Being conformed is being changed from the outside, a modern Bible translation states, "don't let the world squeeze you into it's mould".  The other is "transform", it is a change that happens from the inside.  The root word in the Greek is the word we use for metamorphosis, the picture that comes to mind is that of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.  Not only is the butterfly changed, it is as if it were a new creature, hardly recognizable from the original.

We hear a lot about "transformational change" in our country today, but it is not a change from the inside, not a change of heart.  What is actually being attempted is the change the country by "squeezing" society into the idealistic mould of idealists.

R C Sproul writes, "God gives us the revelation of sacred scripture in order for us to have our minds changed so we begin to think like Jesus.  Sanctification and spiritual growth is all about this.  If you just have it in your mind today and you don't have it in your heart, you don't have it.  But you can't have it in your heart without first having it in your mind.  We want to have a mind informed (and transformed) by the Word of God."

Which of these is occurring in your mind?  May it be that your mind is being transformed and renewed by God's Word at work in your life as you read, study and apply His Word.

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 12

English Standard Version

A Living Sacrifice

12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c]but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[

Verse of the Day 10/11

Verse of the Day 10/11

John 15:7-8

English Standard Version

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Some of the things that we've been considering lately have been that the Lord said in Isaiah 43 "I am God and there is no other"; Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the life" (John 14:6); that "Jesus is the image of the invisible God" Colossians 1:15: and that Jesus is the "one mediator between man and God" (1 Timothy 2:5).  This same God loves us and cares for us and wants us to come to Him (Matthew 11:28) wants to provide for us.  

The key to living this life, for having communion, communicating with God is abiding, remaining in Him and His Word.  Now re-read the second portion of verse 8, "by this my Father is glorified".  When we call upon HIm, when we seek Him, when we pray to Him and remain in Him no matter what; He is glorified.

Think of all of the Old Testament stories of the patriarchs, their answered prayers and how God was glorified in them.  Think of the disciples and apostles and their answered prayers.   Think of your own.

Pastor John Piper has said, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him".  Being satisfied has to do with abiding, remaining; such attitudes will bear fruit and will bring glory to God.  I didn't even get to the "ask whatever you wish part".  All too often that is what is thought of first, but if there is true abiding it will will not be the top priority. 

Read the passage below.  How does it speak to you 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

John 15

English Standard Version

I Am the True Vine

15 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.