Verse of the Day 1/30

Verse of the Day 1/30

Matthew 6:14-15

New International Version

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study went through the parable of the "unmerciful servant" this morning where a servant had been forgiven a great debt but then was unwilling to forgive a much lesser debt to someone else. The parable ended with the master deliverilng the unforgiving servant to jail and stating that your heavenly Father will do the same to those who do not forgive their brothers from the heart.  It is very sobering stuff.

We ended by going through the Lord's prayer where in today's passage we see that Jesus stated three times "when you pray" which culminated in Him giving us the Lord's prayer.  Forgiveness is brought up twice in the the passage with a similar conclusion to the parable.

Forgiveness does not come naturally, but is possible through the working of the Holy Spirit within us and with God's grace.  The model prayer shows us that we should be mindful of forgiveness every time what we "pray like this".

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
This is my heart-cry day unto day;
I long to know Thy will and Thy way;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray. Living in Thee, Lord, and Thou in me,
Constant abiding, this is my plea;
Grant me Thy power, boundless and free,
  Power with men and power with Thee.

2

Power in prayer, Lord, power in prayer!
Here 'mid earth's sin and sorrow and care,
Men lost and dying, souls in despair;
O give me power, power in prayer!

3

My weakened will, Lord, Thou canst renew;
My sinful nature Thou canst subdue;
Fill me just now with power anew;
Power to pray and power to do!

4

Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray;
Thou art my pattern day unto day;
Thou art my surety, now and for aye;
Teach me to pray, Lord, teach me to pray.

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 6:5-15

New International Version

Prayer

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 "This, then, is how you should pray:

"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
    but deliver us from the evil one.[

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Verse of the 'Day 1/28

Verse of the Day 1/28

Proverbs 8:34-35

New International Version

34 Blessed are those who listen to me,

    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life
    and receive favor from the Lord.

Most of us will probably be going to church today to listen to a sermon as a message from God.  I don't know how many of us there would be to get there early before the doors open in eager anticipation of worship.  But today's verses speak abouit someone waiting daily for the Lord, being alert and open to what the Lord is ready to reveal to us as we read and meditate about it and then prayerfully take it with us into the day and desiore to apply it in our lives.

it's a picture of personal devotions, carving out time each day, starting the day out right and then as we go out we can expect to find life and blessing from the Lord.

This "watching and waiting" reminded me of the lines from the last stanza of "Blessed Assurance" below. May we start the day doing so as well and then be praising our Savior all the day long.

1	Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine; Oh, 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.
2	Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3	Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

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

Proverbs 8:32-35

New International Version

32 "Now then, my children, listen to me;

    blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life
    and receive favor from the Lord.

Verse of the Day 1/27

Verse of the Day 1/27

Matthew 18:1-3

New International Version

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

In reading today;s verses we become aware that talk about the "GOAT", "the greatest of all time" is not a new phenomenon.  Today we've alll heard arguments of who was/is the greatest quarterback of all time, or the greatest running back; or the greatest basketball player (believe it or not there are those who think that is up for discussion).  Others have declared themselves to be the greatest.  In today's vesres Jesus makes it known that this should not be a concern for us as Christians but instead focuses on what is truly important.

It is natural, especially in this day of social media and selfies, that it is easy to try to elevate ourselves as being important if not great. Jesus points us in a different direction.  Let us focus on coming before God with thanksgiving and seeking how we may serve Him and others.

David McCasland points out that "not many children seek position or power.  Instead, they want acceptance and security.  They cling to the adults who love and care for them.  Jesus never turned children away."  If we are seeking security and acceptance, there is no place better to find it than in Jesus.

I searched the world
But it couldn't fill me
Man's empty praise and treasures that fade are never enough
Then You came along
And put me back together
And every desire is now satisfied
Here in Your love (Hey)

[Chorus]
Oh, there's nothing better than You
There's nothing better than You
Lord, there's nothing
Nothing is better than You.  (Graves Into Gardens - Elevation Worship)

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 18:1-5

New International Version

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Verse of the Day 1/22

Verse of the Day 1/22

1 Peter 4:8-9

New International Version

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

In this passage Peter states that "the end of all things is near", not that time was coming to an end, but the goal of his life, the culmination of his ministry had been attained and he was ready to share some final words.  So now through the end of this letter he gives his readers some final instructions beginning with today's verses.

Love each other deeply.  How is this done?  Put aside differences, forgive, don't hold grudges, don't try to "get even", be humble, give as was given to you, show hospitality.

Don Fortner writes, "Love covers, overlooks, speedily forgives and forgets. Love invents reasons to avoid strife. Love puts the best possible construction on doubtful matters. Love seeks unity and agreement. Love does not rigidly examine a brother's failures. It will not deliberately expose a brother's faults. It refuses to uncover the sins of another.....Who among us does not need the full extent of this covering? What is our brother's evil against us, compared with our sin against God? Can we hesitate to blot out our brother's few dollars, who look for a covering for our debt of ten million dollars to God? Let us imitate Christ's spirit of forbearing, forgiving, self-sacrificing love!  "

Verse 7 also speaks of being sober minded and to "stay wide awake in prayer" (The Message).

1	What a Friend we have in Jesus,   All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry   Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit,   O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry   Everything to God in prayer!
2	Have we trials and temptations?   Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged,   Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful   Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness,   Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3	Are we weak and heavy-laden,   Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—   Take it to the Lord in prayer; Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?   Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He'll take and shield thee,   Thou wilt find a solace there.

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 4:7-11

New International Version

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Verse of the Day 1/21

Verse of the Day 1/21

Romans 12:1

New International Version

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

In yesterday's post from Lamentations 3, we considered how God's mercies are new, or renewed every morning.  The song Great is Thy Faithfulness captured it well with summer and winter, springtime and harvest.  Every day, in every season His mercies are renewed.  How do we respond to this knowledge of God's mercy towards us?  Today's verse from Romans 12 tells us, worship God by offering of ourselves as a living sacrifice.

Paul David Tripp writes, "God's mercy is form-fit for the problems that you are facing right here, right now. Each morning you are given new mercies for the particular things that you will face that day......So, you can wake up tomorrow with courage and hope. And you can do this, not because of your strength and wisdom, but because you know that the most important thing you have ever been given will never wear out. You can also have hope because you know that the God who has given that new mercy, knows exactly what you are about to face."

We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but no matrer what we'll face we know the One who holds tomorrow in His hands and in His mercy He is holding us.  The old hymn gives us what would be a logical response from us.

1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.

3 Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.

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 12:1-3

New International Version

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Verse of the Day 1/20

Verse of the Day 1/20

Lamentations 3:21-23

New King James Version

21 This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

I've been preparing to lead a Bible study next week on the prodigal son from Luke 15.  There are several key points in that parable but the one that jumps out first is the statement "he came to himself".  As I read today's verses this morning in my devotions the words of Jeremiah in Lamentations 3 reminded me of the sons realization as he came to himself, here Jeremiah remembers, "recalls to mind" the love and mercies of God; the Father and they gave him hope.

The prodigal realized his situation and turned.  At that moment of his turning, he remembered the Father's goodness, His faithjfulness and His benefits.  We go on to see something of the person of God wjhen we read in Luke 15 that "the Father ran to him". Neither the prodigal nor Jeremiah had to run all the way back, God came to meet them.

there may come a time when we feel that we are away from God we need to recall to mind His mercies, His grace and His love.  John Piper writes, "If we don't "call to mind" what God has said about himself and about us, we languish. O how I know this from painful experience! Don't wallow in the mire of godless messages. I mean the messages in your own head. "I can't . . ." "She won't . . ." "They never . . ." "It has never worked . . ."..The point is not that these are true or false. Your mind will always find a way to make them true, unless you "call to mind" something greater. God is the God of the impossible. Reasoning your way out of an impossible situation is not as effective as reminding your way out of it."  

Turn to Him and He will come to you, for great is His faithfulness and His mercies are renewed every morning.  Perhaps you will "call to mind" the hymn that comes from today's verses.

1 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
as Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed Thy hand hath provided:
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest;
sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. [Refrain]

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow:
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! [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

19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the [g]gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

Verse of the Day 1/18

Verse of the Day 1/18

Matthew 12:36-37

New International Version

36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

In yesterday's post I mentioned how we should not only read the Bible but we are also called to meditate on it.  As we read, pick out a verse and think about it during the day, apply it in situations in your life.  Today's verses are probably good ones to take with us.  We are familiar with them, I know I've read them countless times, but all too often after reading them we don't think about them much.

We've all probably had instances and situations where we said something, perhaps in the middle of an argument, where we say something that we wish we could immediately take back, we wish we could reach out and grab it before it hit the victim. Too late.  We may be careful around some people, loved ones and less careful with others.

J.R. Miller writes, "We are careful to speak words whcih would give pain to the hearts of those we love.  Are we as careful not to say anything that would grieve our heavenly Father?"

Many of us probably learned the following song as children.  The principles haven't changed.

1	Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see, Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see. There's a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little eyes, what you see.
2	Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear. There's a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little ears, what you hear.
3	Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say, Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say. There's a Father up above looking down in tender love, Oh, be careful, little tongue, what you say.

The song reminds us that the Father is not looking down on us as an ogre, He's looking down on us in tender love.

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 12:33-37

New International Version

33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."