Verse of the Day 12/3

Verse of the Day 12/3

Luke 1:37-38

English Standard Version

37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant

 of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible Study went through some of the miraculous births in the Bible this monring from Isaac through Jesus and including our second birth, being born again.  Today's verses come from the Christmas story in Luke 1 where the angel Gabriel had just spoken to Mary directly about the coming of the "Holy Son of God", Jesus, through her.

The Messiah had been pointed to from the book of Genesis and through the prophets including Isaiah where have many predictions of His coming.  After 400 years of silence after the book of Malachi things began to come together for the coming Savior.  Zechariah had  been visited and John the baptist was on the way and then the Gabriel broke the news to Mary, most likely a teenager of 13 to 16 years of age.

Her reaction is amazing, "let it be to me according to your word".  Step back and ponder that one for a few minutes.  Can you imagine that, can you imagine your child or grandchild reacting and accepting something like that.  Yet God chose to fulfill His prophecies through a teenage girl.

Try to imagine in this coming season what must have been going through her mind that God's deliverer was residing in her.

1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

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

Luke 1:26-38

English Standard Version

Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed[a] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"[b] 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"[c]

35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant[e]

Luke 1:26-38 ESV - - Bible Gateway

 of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Verse of the Day 12/1

Verse of the Day 12/1

Luke 1:46-48

New King James Version

The Song of Mary

46 And Mary said:

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent and today's verses are often read at the beginning of the Advent season as they point to the comimg of Jesus through Mary.  Jesus is on the way, but before He even arrives Mary is prasing God for the blessing that is inside of her and the One who will be the Savior of the world. We are among those of futurre generations that will call her blessed and be blessed through her.

In yesterday's post I quoted from the hymn "Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High."  Another verse follows with 

Jesus is the name of the Lord, Jesus is the name of the Lord, Jesus is the name of the Lord Most High.   The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and they are saved."

In verse 49 Mary refers to God as the "the Mighty One who is holy, and He has done great things for me. Jesus still had much more to do for Mary but she looked forward to what God would do in her life and throuh her.  What about you?  What has God done for you?  May you realize that He has done great things to you and may you and generations to follow be blessed by what He has done.

Luke 1:49

New Living Translation

49 For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.

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

Luke 1:46-56

New King James Version

The Song of Mary

46 And Mary said:

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever."

56 And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Verse of the Day 12/1

Verse of the Day 12/1

Psalm 20:7-8

New King James Version

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;

But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

Today's verses came up in my daily reading in the Psalms.  As I read thesen words I wondered how these words would be changed today.  What do people put their faith and trust in.  Some trust in bank acounts of 401K's, others trust in fast cars, some trust in government to solve their problems.  But tor those of us who trust in Christ, we still trust in the name of the Lord our God.

My reading in Proverbs this morning brought me to these verses:

Proverbs 18:10-12

New King James Version

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

The righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own esteem.

12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
And before honor is humility.

Running to our bank accounts or 401k's may solve some problems but they will not save us.  They won't bring healing or hope.  We run to the Lord,  our strong tower.  It is Him that we trust and find what we need.

Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be the name of the Lord Most High! (Repeat) The name of the Lord is a strong tower, The righteous run into it, And they are saved.

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

The Assurance of God's Saving Work

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

20 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob [a]defend you;
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
3 May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah

4 May He grant you according to your heart's desire,
And fulfill all your [b]purpose.
5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6 Now I know that the Lord saves His 

anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.

9 Save, Lord!
May the King answer us when we call.