Verse of the Day 9/30

Verse of the Day 9/30

Numbers 6:24-26

 English Standard Version

 

24 The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance

upon you and give you peace.

My daily reading through the Old Testament brought me to these verses the other day.  If you've made a commitment to read through the Bible, Leviticus and Numbers can be challenging, but tucked away in the lists of geneologies, laws, and sacrificial rules we find short pasages like this one that shoiuld help us to be more thankful and appreciative of these books.  These verses are quite often used as a benediction to services in our churches.

They were first given to Aaron and his sons and they follow in line to what God had said to Abraham back in Genesis 12, where Abraham was blessed to be a blessing.  We desire the Lord's favor, and we should, but as we do we should also be mindful that those blessings that we recieive should be shared with those around us.  The end result whould be to experiince God's grace, love and to experience His peace.

Lord, let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let your light shine on us

Lord, let your grace
Grace from Your hand
Fall on us

Lord, let Your love
Love with no end
Come over us

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let Your love come over us
Let Your light shine on us.      (from Shine On Us - Phillips, Craig and Dean)

May the Lord bless you today, His grace fall on you and may you feel His love, love with no end, come over 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

Numbers 6:22-27

English Standard Version

Aaron's Blessing

22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance
 upon you and give you peace.

27 "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."

Verse of the Day 9/27

Verse of the Day 9/27

Psalm 103:11-12

English Standard Version

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103 came up in my devotions a couple of times over the past few days.  Along with chapter 104 they take a look at God's goodness and praise God for His creation and also for His love and compassion which includes forgiveness.  David was "after God's heart", he sought Him.  But as we can see eslewhere in the Old Testament, he also had some monumental failures. Satan, the Accuser, would have us believe that God would turn His back on someone with such failures.  But when we cross the line He offers grace and forgiveness that can restore our relationship.

A.W. Tozer writes, "Do not let any of the things of the world or past mistakes paralyze your hearts. I believe there are Christians who have allowed some of their past mistakes to paralyze them. You were so bright and cheerful in your spiritual life once, and then you made some tragic mistake or had something happen to you. You got out of it somehow, and prayed and wept your way out of it. But it did something to you, and now you cannot lick it. Past wrongs that have been done to you, past failures, times you thought you were going to win and did not, or present sins or discouragement-these things are not mental at all. They are deeper than that; they are subconscious, and they prevent us from believing."

If you've turned away from HIm because of your failures, seek Him, ask for forgiveness and He will remove the barrier.

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

Read the first part of ths psalm below or pick up your Bible and read the whole psalm. May they help you "forget not all His benefits."  Don't wallow in the pit.

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

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Of David.

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Verse of the Day 9/22

Verse of the Day 9/22

Psalm 50:10-11

English Standard Version

10 For every beast of the forest is mine,

    the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

As I had mentioned in yesterday's post, my wife Jean and I have been on vacation in Montana, "Big Sky" country.  We've been on a ranch with many heads of cattle, mountains, streams and rocks rills.  As we were returning to the house yesterday a longhorn bull stood in the middle of the road and blocked our way.  He moved when he was ready but someone was going to have to round him and the other cattle up and return them to where they had escaped from.

I was reminded of today's verses.  He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, not only the cattle but every creature out there; the birds, the elk, the mule dear, the owls and yes even the pesky chipmunks.  God cares for them and we should know from past experience that he cares for us. We may enjoy "nature" but it is not mother nature that takes care of them, it is Almighty God who created and sustains them and us.

He owns the cattle on a thousand hills,
The wealth in every mine;
He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills,
The sun and stars that shine.
Wonderful riches, more than tongue can tell -
He is my Father so they're mine as well;
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills -
I know that He will care for me.  

Know that He will care for you.

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

God Himself Is Judge

A Psalm of Asaph.

50 The Mighty One, God the Lord,
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2 Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
    God shines forth.

3 Our God comes; he does not keep silence;

    before him is a devouring fire,
    around him a mighty tempest.
4 He calls to the heavens above
    and to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 "Gather to me my faithful ones,
    who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!"
6 The heavens declare his righteousness,
    for God himself is judge! Selah

7 "Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
    O Israel, I will testify against you.
    I am God, your God.
8 Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 I will not accept a bull from your house
    or goats from your folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

Verse of the Day 9/21

Verse of the Day 9/21

Psalm 8:3-4

New Living Translation

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

    the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?

I apologize for the lack of posts over the last week, I've been on vacation in Montana.  While I haven't been posting, verses have been running through my mind as I've stepped back to enjoy God's creation.  The other night, there was a prediction that the northern lights would be visible.  I went outside and looked up at the stars in the clear sky and stood in awe.  I didn't see the lights, (they may have appeared later) but the stars and the milky way were in full view.

Immediately, Psalm 8 came to mind.  I've shared this before, but one of my favorite songs that we used to sing in the choir in our church was "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name".  I posted the New Living Translation above because it begins wiith the same worrds "when I gaze into the night sky and see the work of your fingers".

When you are out in God's creation whether it be day or night you can't help but step back and stand in awe of the God who created all of this and then, like the psalmist, consider the fact that this same God loves you and me.  He is for us.  It is nothing that we have done, it is sheerly out of His grace, His love for us that we have all that we do.

As we head out today, may something that you see in God's creation move you in the same way that it did David thousands of years ago.  When we look up, we see the same stars and worship the same God.

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 8

English Standard Version

How Majestic Is Your Name

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.[a] A Psalm of David.

8 O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
2     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

     and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
7 all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Verse of the Day 9/9

Verse of the Day 9/9

Ephesians 6:10-11

New King James Version

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

We've been considering references to the "power" of the gospel, the power of God and how it is demonstrated in our lives, His wonder working power accomplished through Christ's work and living by faith.  It is not something passive, we are not to sit back, "let go and let God" take care of it.  As today's verses and passage below tell us, we are to put on the full or whole armor of God.

John MacArthur writes, addressing this topic of "let go and let God, writes: "But Scripture gives a very different view of the believer's role. It pictures the Christian life as a war, a race, and a fight. We depend on God's energy, power, and strength, but are by no means passive. We're commanded to apply ourselves to good deeds, resist the devil, bring our bodies under subjection, walk in wisdom, press toward the prize, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. Those are calls to fervent action."

That "fervent action" is putting on God's armor, equipping us for the battles of the day. I'm reminded of a hymn that reminds us that we are to do this joyfully as we draw upon His power.

1 There is joy in serving Jesus,
As I journey on my way,
Joy that fills the heart with praises,
Ev'ry hour and ev'ry day.

Refrain:
There is joy, joy,
Joy in serving Jesus,
Joy that throbs within my heart;
Ev'ry moment, ev'ry hour,
As I draw upon His power,
There is joy, joy,
Joy that never shall depart.

2 There is joy in serving Jesus,
Joy that triumphs over pain,
Fills my soul with heaven's music,
Till I join the glad refrain

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 6:10-20

New King James Version

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]

Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV - - Bible Gateway

the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.