Verse of the Day 11/30

Verse of the Day 11/30

2 Peter 1:5-7

English Standard Version

5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[a] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

I've mentioned before how my wife Jean had said at the end of last year that 2025 would be the year of perseverence.  It was for her right up to the end when she was received into glory 6 months ago. Today's verse came up in my read through the Bible plan, and while it does not speak of perseveerence directly, "make every effort" or "be diligent" (dpending on the translation) points to that.  Faith is the foundation but it is the application of it that is spoken about here.  It doesn't come easy, but you quickly see a progression - virtue, knowledge, self control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. Notice that it ends in love.  Love isn't stated first but is the culmination of diligence as well as of perseverence.

We're fighting a battle day by day, but as Christians we must reallze that it is already won. We take it by faith and the Holy Spirit will guide us as we make every effort on our part to supplement our faith with these qualities.

There's peace that outlasts darkness
Hope that's in the blood
There's future grace that's mine today
That Jesus Christ has won
So I can face tomorrow
For tomorrow's in Your hands
All I need, you will provide
Just like you always have

[Chorus]
And I'm fighting a battle
You've already won
No matter what comes my way
I will overcome
Don't know what you're doing
But I know what you've done
And I'm fighting a battle
You've already won

[Verse 2]
There's mercy in the waiting
Manna for today
And when it's gone, I know you're not
You are my hope and stay
When the sea is raging
Your Spirit is my help
He'll fix my eyes on Jesus Christ
I'll say that it is well
Oh, I know that it is well.   (You've Already Won - Shane and Shane)

No matter what we face, the battle has been won at the cross.  Eternal life awaits.

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

2 Peter 1:3-11

English Standard Version

Confirm Your Calling and Election

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,[b] 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,[c] and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities[d] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[e] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Verse of the Day 11/29

Verse of the Day 11/29

1 Peter 5:10-11

English Standard Version

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

It has been a while since I have posted, but I plan on getting back into in the coming days.

Today's verses came up in my daily reading in the New Testament. They speak to those who have suffered and offer encouragement and point to hope and faith in God. Read these words - Christ, who has called you.  He has called you, to what?  To His eternal glory and He gives us 4 things that should give us hope, give us peace and give us confidence as we overcome what has been causing us to suffer.  Think about it, Paul says that Jesus Himself with restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  They are all action words, actions that God is taking on your behalf, and if He sets out to do it, He will accomplish it.

It may not be out of the circumstances or sufferingl, but He will be with you in it and through it.

Through it all

Through it all

I′ve learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God

Through it all

Through it all

I′ve learned to depend upon His word

Through it all

Through it all

I've learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God

Through it all

Through it all

I′ve learned to depend upon His word

I thank Him for the mountains

And I thank Him for the valleys

And I thank Him for the storms He brought me through

For if I never had a problem

I wouldn′t know that He could solve them

And I wouldn't know what faith in God could do

Through it all

Through it all

I′ve learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God

Through it all

Through it all

I′ve learned to depend upon His word

Oh, I've learned to depend upon His word. (Through it All - Andrae Crouch)

I know that I've quoted the song often, but it keeps coming up in my mind and I'm simply passing it along to you.

Blessings,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

1 Peter 5

English Standard Version

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,[a] not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Verse of the Day 11/1

Verse of the Day 11/1

2 Timothy 4:7-8

English Standard Version

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Significant events in our lives can have a major impact on what we see in God's word.  Verses and passages that we're familiar with or even memorized take on a different meaning to us in light of those events. Reading and studying this chapter in 2 Timothy 4 recently brought a new meaning to me after my wife Jean's passing after a long battle with cancer.  Her faith never wavered. She faced her trial with grace, fortitude and perseverence with the power of the Holy Spirit working in her.

Her testimony, which was amazing throughout her life, reached new levels in her final months.  As I read these verses again and again, they describe her walk of faith even through the valley of the shadow of death. She fought the good fight, she finished the race and kept the faith and has now received the crown of righteousness. May we strive and persevere towards the same upward call of Christ.

I've had many tears and sorrows
I've had questions for tomorrow
There's been times I didn't know right from wrong
But in every situation
God gave me blessed consolation
That my trials came to only make me strong

[Verse 2]
I've been to lots of places
I've seen a lot of faces
But there were times that I felt so all alone
But in my lonely hours
Yes, those precious lonely hours
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
That's the reason I say

[Chorus]
Through it all
Mm, Through it all
I've learned to trust in Jesus
I've learned to trust in God
Let me tell you that

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

2 Timothy 4

English Standard Version

Preach the Word

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.