Verse of the Day 6/27

Verse of the Day 6/27

1 Samuel 16:7

New King James Version

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [a]refused him. For

the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

Today's verse gives us an indication of what is most important in a person, it is the quality of the heart.  Saul had been chosen as Israel's first king largely due to the fact that he looked the part, he was "taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward".  You might say he was head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd.  The crowd got what they wanted with disastrous results.

We know of David's heart towards God and many of the Psalms that he has written reveal this to us.  That doesn't mean he was perfect, we all know of his shortcomings, but his heart was after God and after he had fallen, he turned back to his heavenly father.

In today's society people are the same.  They look for someone that looks the part, whether it be a politicialn, a CEO or sometime even a pastor.  But we should not be that way, we should we willing to look beyond outward appearances and look for the qualities of the heart- love, kindness, compassion and encouragement. Jesus is our eternal king and He deserves our devotion for the love that He has poured out, lavished on us.

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus.     (Michael W. Smith - The Heart of 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

1 Samuel 16:1-7

New King James Version

David Anointed King

16 Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have [a]provided Myself a king among his sons."

2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me."

But the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you."

4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?"

5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify[b] yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him!"

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have [c]refused him. For[d] the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16 NKJV - - Bible Gateway

Verse of the Day 6/12

Verse of the Day 6/12

Psalm 19:1-2

New King James Version

The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament[a] shows 
His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

As I read today's verses in my devotions this morning, I couldn't help but notice another beautiful day that was unfolding; the bright sunshine, the bright blue (low humidity) sky.  I know that "officially", according to the calendar it is not summer yet, but for all practical purposes, it is, at least here in North Carolina.  Over the past week I have been able to enjoy beautifil weather at the beach, on the golf course and driving in the country.

Recently we've had events in the heavens, a total solar eclipse in some regions of the country, sun spots affecting weather and other things on earth.  All of these things point to the majesty of God's creation as the Creator and sustainer of the heavens and the earth and everything in them.  The seasons show us that God is faithful in all seasons on earth and in all seasons in life.

God created us to delight in the world that He created and to praise Him for it.  We should notice His great gifts more often.  The. hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" comes to mind. But instead of quoting that one, I'll go to a more recent one.

I love You, Lord
Oh, Your mercy never failed me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

[Chorus]
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

[Verse 2]
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

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 19

New King James Version

The Perfect Revelation of the Lord

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

19 The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament[a] shows [b]His handiwork.
2 Day unto day utters speech,
And night unto night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4 Their [c]line has gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.

In them He has set a 
tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
And rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6 Its rising is from one end of heaven,
And its circuit to the other end;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Verse of the Day 6/9

Verse of the Day 6/9

John 17:3

New King James Version

3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Last we our Monday Men's Bible study group starrted with a discussion of what heaven would be like.  If you ask 100 different people you will get 100 different answers, but today's verse holds a key.  Eternal life focuses on knowing God, knowing Jesus better.  We'll have eternity to find answers to any questions that we may have had during our lives.  We'll gain greater understanding of just how things all fit togehter in His plan, his design in nature to the intracacies of the heart of God.

Some might believe that there will be time for our hobbies in heaven.  Personally, I feel that we'll be too occupied by greater things.  Think about hobbies that you may have been involved in that seemed to fade away because something else took it's place.  In heaven, getting to know about Him will cause all of those things to grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Thro' death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O'er us sin no more hath dominion--
For more than conqu'rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you--He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

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 17:1-5

New King James Version

Jesus Prays for Himself

17 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He [a]should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Verse of the Day 6/7

Verse of the Day 6/7

John 15:4-5

New King James Version

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

For today's verses we come to John 15 where we find Jesus' 7th "I am' statement, "I am the vine".  The passage has to do with "abiding", or "remaining" in Him.  When we do so we remain connected to the vine.  As I'm writing this I am on vacation on the coast of North Carolina. Normally, when we think of abiding we think of a place that we live, it is tied to a certain location, but this type of abiding is a condition of the heart, not tied to a location but tied to the person of Jesus Christ.

My reading in the Psalms this morning was in Psalm 73 where we read:

Psalm 73:23-24

New King James Version

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.

As we abide, as we remain connected to the vine, Jesus is with us continually through the Holy Spirit living in us. He upholds us, holding us by the hand and guiding us as we walk. He instructs us in His word and draws us to Him in prayer.  At the end of this life we'll be prepared to be received by Him into glory.

May we be constantly abiding.

1. There's a peace in my heart that the world never gave,
   A peace it cannot take away;
   Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,
   I've a peace that has come here to stay!
   • Refrain:
     Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;
     Constantly abiding, rapture divine;
     He never leaves me lonely, whispers, oh, so kind:
     "I will never leave thee"—Jesus is mine.
2. All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King,
   When peace sweetly came to my heart;
   Troubles all fled away and my night turned to day,
   Blessed Jesus, how glorious Thou art!
3. This treasure I have in a temple of clay,
   While here on His footstool I roam;
   But He's coming to take me some glorious day,
   Over there to my heavenly home!

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 15:1-7

New King James Version

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 [a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Verse of the Day 6/2

Verse of the Day 6/2

John 14:6

New King James Version

6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

For today's verse we return to the Gospel of John for the 6th of Jesus' "I am" statements.  It is a key verse and passage in the Bible.  Jesus states unequivicably that He is "The way", not one of many. It goes along with His statement "I am the resurrection and the life, do you believe this"?

The passage starts off John 14 which tells us of the place that Jesus is preparing for us.  It also encourages us to believe in Him and not to be troubled when we face life's challenges.  He is there for us, will be with us, and will raise us up to be with Him in the place prepared for all of His children.

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

CHORUS:
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

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 14:1-6

New King James Version

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

14 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many [a]mansions; if it were not so, 

I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know."

5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"

6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.