Verse of the Day 5/17

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 20-22, John 7:1-36

 

Good morning,

This morning I read a devotional by John MacArthur which focused on Matt. 14:31-32  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

    ³³And those in the boat knelt and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God!

The wind and storm abated when Jesus came into the boat.  The disciples had followed Jesus and were learning from Him but still didn't have full trust in every situation.  He wasn't living in them yet. 

 

How many times is it like that in our lives.  We face pressure and anxiety from a number of situations whether it be responsibilities, debt, health concerns of our own or for family members.  Many times we search for answers in the scriptures (which is a good thing to do), but do we take the next step (as Peter did, getting out of the boat).  

Perhaps you'll see the connection that struck me as I read today's verse. 

John 5:39-40 (Amplified Bible)  You search and investigate and pore over the Scriptures diligently, because you suppose and trust that you have eternal life through them. And these [very Scriptures] testify about Me! 

 ⁴⁰And still you are not willing [but refuse] to come to Me, so that you might have life.

We may read and study but do we truly come to Him in faith, trusting, putting our faith into practice?  "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength" Isaiah 40:31 speaks of waiting on a person, the Saviour.

 

Perhaps you've heard the country song, "Jesus Take the Wheel".  It's pretty much the same picture, only we shouldn't be throwing up our hands only after the car is spinning out of control.  Learn to trust day by day.  When the storms come, He'll be there with you.

 

Another passage that I read this morning was from Hebrews 13, a benediction for that book.  It also gives the picture of Jesus stepping into our lives, into our boats and bringing peace.

 

Hebrews 13:20-21 (Amplified Bible)  Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),²¹Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

 

If you are feeling overwhelmed, turn to Jesus, may He strengthen and equip you to carry out His will in your situation, that He may be glorified.

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

The Fourfold Witness

   
^{John 5:31-47} "If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. ³² There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. ³³ You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. ³⁷ And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. ³⁸ But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. ³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
⁴¹ "I do not receive honor from men. ⁴² But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. ⁴³ I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. ⁴⁶ For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷ But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

 

Verse of the Day - weekend 5/15

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 15-19, John 6:22-71

 

Good morning,

Earlier in the week, I read a devotional from Revelation 22.  The words of this verse have been in my mind since as I've been going through and pondering the book of John.

 

Revelation 22:17 (Amplified Bible)  The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.

 

For today's verse we return to John chapter 4 and the "woman at the well'.  She had come looking for water to quench her thirst.  Jesus offered her, as He offers us, living water (v.10, today's verse describes what it would mean for her and us.

John 4:14 (Amplified Bible)  But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.

 

What He offered was different than the water that was drawn from this well going back to the days of Jacob.  Commentator Richard Burridge writes, "The English translation hides the pun and the beginning of the shift of level, for zon. living, with water means running and moving as opposed to the still, or even stagnant water found in a well.  ....This contrast between ordinary water and a leaping fountain reminds us that water is a key theme in the gospel.  The use of water as a metaphor is very common in the Old Testament scriptures, where the Psalmist's soul is as thirsty for God as a deer for flowing streams (Ps. 42:1) and God calls all who are thirsty to come and drink freely.  (Isa. 55:1)

 

Isaiah 55  Amplified Bible - WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].

 

The important thing for the woman and the important thing for us is to know where to go for this living water.  Jesus calls us, come to me.  Don't be satisfied with stagnant waters when you can have the refreshing, life giving, living water.

 

Jesus calls us o'er the tumult
Of our life's wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, "Christian, follow Me!"

 

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 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 4

A Samaritan Woman Meets Her Messiah

 ¹ Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John ² (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), ³ He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. ⁴ But He needed to go through Samaria.
⁵ So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." ⁸ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.
⁹ Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
¹¹ The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? ¹² Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?"
¹³ Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

Verse of the Day 5/14

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 12-14, John 6:1-21

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's devotional I quoted Samuel Davies, I'll repeat the end of that quote to lead into the thoughts for today. "In short, to be a Christian, is to have our sentiments, our character and our practice, formed upon the sacred model of the gospel."

 

Going through the gospels we see Jesus living out the gospel, and seeing the character and practice of the disciples being formed.  For today's verse we'll go to John 6 where we have the miracle of the "feeding of the five thousand."  You can read of this miracle in the other gospels as well.  As you do you get a more complete picture of what was going on.  When the disciples realized the situation and there hearts and thoughts went out to the people who would be hungry after a long day, Jesus told them "you give them something to eat".  Their responses were pretty much like ours would be in that situation.  Some thought it was impossible after looking at it in practical terms.  Andrew brought what a small boy had offered, five fish and two loaves.

 

John 6:10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.   NKJV

As always, whether it be changing the water into wine, calming the sea or healing someone, Jesus was in control of the situation.  Our God is a God of order and even in the most pressing circumstances, He has a plan.  In all of these circumstances in the gospels He was teaching them, as He is teaching us,  to "Trust and Obey".

 

Trust And Obey

 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy with Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

 

In his Tabletalk Devotional for today, R.C. Sproul writes, "He is able, by His Spirit, to fortify us through the greatest struggles in life, enabling us to stand firm for godliness and truth."  What we need to do is to follow, and to trust, and obey.
Read the passage below.  If you face a situation today where you are ready to throw up your hands and give up, seek Him, ask for His will, trust that He will lead you, and obey what He prompts you to do.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 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 6:1-15

 

Feeding the Five Thousand
(Matt 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17)

 

6 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.  3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

 

4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"  6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

 

7 Philip answered Him,"Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."

 

8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, 9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"

 

10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost."  13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."   NKJV

Verse of the Day 5/13

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 10-11, John 5:30-47

 

Good morning,

In Acts 11:26 we read "the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."   NKJV  The word here literally means "little Christ's".

Samuel Davies wrote, "To be a Christian, in the popular and fashionable sense, is no really difficult or excellent thing. It is to be baptized, to profess the Christian religion; to believe, like our neighbors, that Christ is the Messiah, and to attend upon public worship once a week, in some church or another. In this sense, a man may be a 'Christian'--and yet be habitually careless about eternal things. He may be a 'Christian'--and yet fall short of the morality of many of the heathen. He may be a 'Christian'--and yet a drunkard, a swearer, or a slave to some vice or other. He may be a 'Christian'--and yet a willful, impenitent offender against God and man.
But is this to be a 'real Christian'--in the original and proper sense of the word? No! that is something of a very different and superior kind.
To be a Christian indeed--is to be like to Christ, from whom the name is taken!
To be a Christian indeed--is to be a follower and imitator of Christ!
To be a Christian indeed--is to have Christ's spirit and temper; and to live as He lived in the world!
In short, to be a Christian, is to have our sentiments, our character and our practice, formed upon the sacred model of the gospel."

These are sobering words for me and for all of us who like to refer to ourselves as Christians.

For today's verse we'll go to today's reading in John where Jesus tells His disciples where he gets His direction.

John 5:30 (Amplified Bible)³⁰I am able to do nothing from Myself [independently, of My own accord--but only as I am taught by God and as I get His orders]. Even as I hear, I judge [I decide as I am bidden to decide. As the voice comes to Me, so I give a decision], and My judgment is right (just, righteous), because I do not seek or consult My own will [I have no desire to do what is pleasing to Myself, My own aim, My own purpose] but only the will and pleasure of the Father Who sent Me. 

In our day we often desire and are encouraged to be independent.  Jesus shows here that to be like Christ, to be "little Christs" we must be dependent upon God through the Holy Spirit and not our own aim our own purpose.
How are your sentiments, character, and practice formed?

 

Blessings,

Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

John 5:24-31

Life and Judgment Are Through the Son

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 

25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 

27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 

28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 

29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.  NKJV

Verse of the Day 5/12

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 7-9, John 5:1-29

 

Good morning,

My Bible's study notes on John chapter 4 state that "the Samaritan's, like the Jews, expected a Messiah to come.  They revered Moses as the true prophet, and based upon Deuteronomy 18, cherished hope that a prophet like Moses would one day restore both themselves and their sanctuary.  They described the Messianic figure as the "Restorer".

 

For today's verse we'll go to John chapter 4 where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well.  She had come to get water, Jesus met her along the road, by the well and gave her living water which would restore her relationship to God.  The impact on her life was immediate, she had to go out into the community, along the road and tell others what he had done for her.

 

John 4:29 "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?"

30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.    NLT

The people knew this woman, who she was, what she had done.  They could see the change and wanted to see who it was that could bring about this transformation this restoration.

After reading that passage yesterday I read the following in a devotional.

 

"That the tide of sin, which before did run so strong — should be so easily turned; that the sinner who, a little before was sailing hellward, and lacked neither wind nor tide to carry him there—should now suddenly alter his course, and tack about for heaven—what a miracle is this!

To see . . .

an earthly man become heavenly,
a carnal man become spiritual,
a loose man become precise,
a proud man become humble,
a covetous man become liberal, and
a harsh man become meek, etc.,
is to behold the greatest of miracles!"

- Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity

What kind of change has he brought about in your life?  Will you tell others? 

 

Psalm 56: ^12-13 God, you did everything you promised,
      and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
   You pulled me from the brink of death,
      my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
   Now I stroll at leisure with God
      in the sunlit fields of life.   The Message

 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

John 4:20-31

20 So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?"

21 Jesus replied, "Believe me, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. 

22 You Samaritans know so little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. 

23 But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. 

24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." 

25 The woman said, "I know the Messiah will come — the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26 Then Jesus told her, "I am the Messiah!"  

27 Just then his disciples arrived. They were astonished to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why he was doing it or what they had been discussing.

28 The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone,

29 "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?"

30 So the people came streaming from the village to see him.    NLT

Verse of the Day 5/11

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 5-6, John 4:43-54

 

Good morning,

Yesterday we considered how Jesus ministered "along the road", out among the people and in the community.  We are challenged to bring our faith to the world to obey the Holy Spirit's promptings out in the world.

 

I was reading in John 17 this morning where Jesus prayed to the Father for Himself, for us, and the world.  We'll go there for today's verse.

 

John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.    NLT

Jesus  began His prayer, praying for himself to be glorified in the Father's presence, then prays that His followers, including us, would be able to share that glory, drawing us into His prayer.

 

Skip down to verses 20 and 21 below where we see the purpose of His sending us out, "that the world may believe and be convinced that God had sent Jesus."  Isn't that our mission?

 John 17:20  ²⁰Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,

    ²¹That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.  Amplified Bible

 

Richard Burridge writes, "As Jesus reminded His disciples earlier, "you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit (15:16) Now Jesus looks beyond His immediate disciples to the result of that consecrated mission, to the fruit they will bear."

In this prayer He is looking beyond to the fruit that we will bear as we go out into our world with His message in word and in deed, knowing that He is always with us.

 

Matt. 28: ¹⁹Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

    ²⁰Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).   Amplified Bible

Blessings,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

John 17:11-21

11 Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them — all those you have given me — so that they will be united just as we are. 

12 During my time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. 

13 "And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy. 

14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. 

15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 

16 They are not part of this world any more than I am. 

17 Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 

18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 

19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours. 

20 "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 

21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father — that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. 
NLT

Verse of the Day 5/10

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 3-4, John 4:16-42

 

Good morning,

As we head into the book of John, the thing that I'd like you to think about as we go along is how many of Jesus' miracles, how much of his teaching, came in the normal course of life, "along the road" as it were.

 

In today's society, we tend to expect that we will learm most about Jesus in church or church activities.  But as you go through the New Testament you begin to notice how many healings, how many lessons, how much of learning to "walk in His steps" came as the disciples followed Jesus in the community, interracting with friends, curiosity seekers, and those that wanted to trip Him up and discredit Him.

 

Today's verse is from John chapter 2 where we find the first recorded miracle in John's gospel.  It was something that came about as a request from the person that knew Jesus most, His mother.  You are probably familiar with the situation, Jesus, His mother and the disciples were attending a local wedding.  They had run out of wine and Mary suggested that they seek the help of Jesus.

 

John 2:5 But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."  NLT

Richard Burridge, in His commentary writes, "For the evangelist, the important thing is not the event - but the fact that Jesus was there (2:2).  The Word made flesh, the God who dwells among us, goes to wedding parties, joins in our everyday activities and gets involved with human affairs."

 

It is in just this type of setting that Mary tells the servants to "do whatever he tells you".  What happens here when they do what Jesus tells them to do?  It is something that I'm sure the servants would never forget, and "His  disciples believed in Him."  (v.11 below)  The miracle happened through the persistence of Mary and the obedience of the servants and is spoken of and read about somewhere every day.

 

The same challenge goes out today, as we go to work, school, or to the living room.  Whenever you feel prompting from the Holy Spirit we should "do whatever He tells you."  What kind of memorable things would He do in and through us if we did so?

 

Burridge concludes the passage with this prayer,may it be ours today.

 

"Lord, when resources run out and things seem hopeless, grant me the faith to trust in you and the willingness to do whatever you say, that your abundance may be shed on this world."

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

John 2:1-12

 

2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus' mother told him, "They have no more wine."

 

4 "Dear woman, that's not our problem," Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come."

 

5 But his mother told the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

 

6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, "Fill the jars with water." When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, "Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies." So the servants followed his instructions.

 

9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 "A host always serves the best wine first," he said. "Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!"

 

11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.   NLT