Verse of the Day 7/27

Verse of the Day 7/27

Psalm 104:31-32

English Standard Version

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

    may the Lord rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke!

I had the privilege this past weekend to be in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway offered some majestic views, from the mountains and the valleys.  The mornings and evenings are especially beautiful as you see the mists between the mountains which create the "blue ridges" that you see.

Many people that I spoke with recognize that this is all part of God's creation and praise God for it, rejoicing in His works.

John Piper writes, "God means for us to be stunned and awed by his work of creation. But not for its own sake. He means for us to look at his creation and say: If the mere work of his fingers (just his fingers! Psalm 8:3) is so full of wisdom and power and grandeur and majesty and beauty, what must this God be like in himself!....These are but the backside of his glory, as it were, darkly seen through a glass. What will it be to see the glory of the Creator himself! Not just his works! A billion galaxies will not satisfy the human soul. God and God alone is the soul's end."

The view of God's handiwork on the outside should make us stop and consider what He has done in us and for us.  Just as He touched the mountains and they smoke, so He has touched our hearts and makes us whole.

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.       [Chorus:]  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)

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

Psalm 104:31-35

English Standard Version

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

    may the Lord rejoice in his works,
32 who looks on the earth and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains and they smoke!
33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let sinners be consumed from the earth,
    and let the wicked be no more!
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Praise the Lord!

Verse of the Day 7/26

Verse of the Day 7/26

1 John 5:20

English Standard Version

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study reviewed 1 John 5 this morning and it was pointed out that the word "know" is repeated 7 times in this short passage (below). As in the Gospel of John in verse 20:31 where John states the intention of his gospel "that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing we may have life in His name", John wants to give his readers confidence, assurance that they can know for certain that Jesus is their Savior.

John Piper writes that "these things are written - the whole Bible is written- that we might believe - that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder - that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world."  Have you been stunned, have you been awakened to the wonder?  

In the passage John writes that we may : know that we have eternal life; we know that He hears us when we pray; we know that we have the requests, the things we've asked of Him; we know that those who are born of God do not keep on sinning; we know that we are from God and the rest of the world lies in the power of the evil one; and we know that the Son of God has come and given us understanding.  Through these things we know that we are in "him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life.  What more assurance do we need?

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine
O what a foretaste of glory divine
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blessed
Watching and waiting, looking above
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

May you be watching and waiting for His return.

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 John 5:13-21

English Standard Version

That You May Know

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God[a] will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.

18 We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Verse of the Day 7/25

Verse of the Day 7/25    

1 John 5:4-5

English Standard Version

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Our Tuesday Morning men's Bible study will be covering this passage tomorrow.  There are several things in these verses and in this passage that all Christians need to be reminded of from time to time.  

The author, John, also wrote the gospel of John and Revelation.  Written late in his life, he has seen enough of the trials and challenges of life to know what he was talking about.  John is well known for many verses going back to John 1:1 "in the beginning was the Word" ; John 3:16 and "for God so loved the world"; the 7 "I Am" statements such as "I am the way the truth and the life".  Now, later in his life he is encouraging every believer that they are "overcomers".

Notice how in this passage that 3 John uses the word "everyone" 3 times pertaining to those who believe that Jesus is the Christ.  Everyone who loves God "has been born of Him".   This goes back to John 6:44 "no one can come to me unless the Father draws him".  Finally, "everyone born of God overcomes the world" and the conduit to being overcomers is "our faith".

John Piper writes, "Satan wants to catch us at a time when our faith is not firm, when it is vulnerable. It makes sense that the very thing Satan wants to destroy would also be the means of our resisting his efforts. That's why Peter says, "Resist him, firm in your faith" (1 Peter 5:9). It is also why Paul says that the "shield of faith" can "extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" (Ephesians 6:16).  The way to thwart the devil is to strengthen the very thing he is trying most to destroy — your faith."

A key component in strengthening your faith is to know and take these verses to heart, realize that through Him, you are an overcomer and can overcome the world.

His banner over us is love,   Our sword the Word of God; We tread the road the saints before   With shouts of triumph trod. By faith, they like a whirlwind's breath,   Swept on o'er every field; The faith by which they conquered death   Is still our shining shield. Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory! O glorious victory,   That overcomes the world.

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 John 5:1-5

English Standard Version

Overcoming the World

5 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Verse of the Day 7/21

Verse of the Day 7/21

Colossians 1:13-14

English Standard Version

13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

In yesterday's verses from 1 John 4 we read that "God is love" and He showed that love to us as He wrote in John 3:16 that He so loved the world that He sent Jesus into the world to save us from our sins.  In today's verses Paul conveys that same message, he speeks of redemption, that our sins have been covered, the price has been paid.

The Greek word for delivered used here means "to draw to oneself".  We did not find God on our own, God did the work of "drawing us" to Himself.  In doing so we have been conveyed, transferred to a new kingdom which begins here and goes on for eternity.

Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.
	Redeemed, redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed, redeemed,   His child, and forever, I am.

Have you been redeemed?  Proclaim it!  Praise Him!  Never forget that you are His child, forever, a child of the Great I AM.

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

Colossians 1:9-14

English Standard Version

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks[ to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Verse of the Day 7/20

Verse of the Day 7/20

1 John 4:15-16

English Standard Version

15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study group reviewed this chapter this week.  The Apostle John is well known for his description and explanation of God's love for us. Perhaps the most well known verse of the Bible comes from his pen, John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son." Today's verses are also well known for his statement "God is love".  What a great statement and description of God the Father.

But what I'd like to focus on today comes from verse 16, a simple statement that is perhaps, easily overlooked. He writes, "We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us."  What does that statement mean to you?

It is one thing to know a set of facts. It is quite another to place your faith and trust in the basis of those "facts" and to live your life by them for them and through the sustaining power and grace of the Holy Spirit, Christ in us.  The "abiding" spoken of here is just that.  It is more than simple acknowledgement, it is living, breathing, praying, studying, memorizing, testifying, and proclaiming all that He has done for us.

My prayer for you today is that you have "come to know and believe the love that God has for you."

1. May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
   Live in me from day to day,
   By His love and pow'r controlling
   All I do and say.
2. May the Word of God dwell richly
   In my heart from hour to hour,
   So that all may see I triumph
   Only through His pow'r.
3. May the peace of God my Father
   Rule my life in everything,
   That I may be calm to comfort
   Sick and sorrowing.
4. May the love of Jesus fill me
   As the waters fill the sea;
   Him exalting, self abasing,
   This is victory.
5. May I run the race before me,
   Strong and brave to face the foe,
   Looking only unto Jesus
   As I onward go.

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 John 4:13-21

English Standard Version

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does n ot love his brother whom he has seen cannotlove God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Verse of the Day 7/18

Verse of the Day 7/18

Colossians 2:9-10

English Standard Version

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

We have been considering how God is with us, as He has been with His followers through the ages.  We have benefitted and been partakers of His varied grace; past, present and future and His grace empowers us.

The writer of Hebrews states:

Hebrews 1:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible

3 The Son is the radiance[a] of God's glory and the exact expression[of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. 

Think about that.  Jesus is the "exact expression of God's nature", and He sustains "all things" by His powerful word.  When today's verse states that we are filled "in Him" it is not saying that we are equal to Him, we could never be filled to that level; but He fills us to be all that we can be, giving us the strength for today's challenges.

1 Peter 4:11 English Standard Version. 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.   

John Piper writes,"Notice that it says "supplies" and not supplied. As you serve, serve in the power of the ongoing supply of God's grace to do what you need to do."

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

Colossians 2:6-15

English Standard Version

Alive in Christ

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b] and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Verse of the Day 7/17

Verse of the Day 7/17

Acts 4:33

English Standard Version

33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

We've been considering God's presence, His being with us providing grace that we need in facing the trials of life.  We've looked back to Joseph, Paul and others in the Bible as examples and we can think of others in our own lives who have faced the trials of life by God's grace; past, present and future.  Today's verses states that the apostles gave testimony with great power.

I can think of several people in my life that live their lives with "great power", not of themselves but by God's grace providing "great grace" to face "great trials".

John Piper writes, "The power to witness with faithfulness and effectiveness did not come mainly from memories of grace; it came from the new arrivals of "great grace." "Great grace was upon them all." That's the way it was for the apostles, and that's the way it will be for us in our ministry of witnessing. Whatever added signs and wonders God may show to amplify our witness to Christ, they will come the same way they came for Stephen. "And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people" (Acts 6:8). Grace was arriving from God for all that Stephen needed — eventually all that he would need to die."

I am amazed by the grace and courage in others, but underneath it all is God's grace, past present and future working with great power in them.  May you call upon Him and receive this "great grace", not only in times of need, but every day of our lives and let it work with great power in our lives.

Oh, patient Saviour, You make me whole
You are the Author and the Healer of my soul
What can I give You, Lord, what can I say
I know there's no way to repay You
Only to offer You my praise

Your grace still amazes me
Your love is still a mystery
Each day I fall on my knees
'Cause Your grace still amazes me
Your grace still amazes me

It's deeper, it's wider
It's stronger, it's higher
It's deeper it's wider
It's stronger, it's higher than anything my eyes can see

Your grace still amazes me.     (Phillips, Craig and Dean)

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

Acts 4:32-37

English Standard Version

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.