Verse of the Day 4/8

Jeremiah 29:12-13   You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

Yesterday we considered Jesus call to action in the words "come, see, go and tell".  Today's verses have something to say to us regarding how we come and see Him.  The previous verse is probably more well known telling us "I know the plans I have for you".  As Christians we do believe that God has a plan for our lives, He has a plan for our world.  Today's verses are an indication that we have the opportunity to participate in that plan.

 

As you start your day, your work week, will you come and pray and then listen to what He has to say to you in His Word and through prayer over it.  One way or another we'll be part of God's plan, the blessing is realizing that it is so and being willing, active participants in it.  Today's action words are "come, pray, seek and search".

 

 Jeremiah 29:11For I know the plans I have for you"—this is the Lord's declaration—"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Jeremiah 29:11-13

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you"—this is the Lord's declaration—"plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Verse of the Day 4/7

 

Matthew 28:6-7   He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he^[a] lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you."   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

We are a week out from celebrating Easter this year.  For most of us things have pretty much settled back to our "normal" routine.  The weather outside, at least in NC, seems to have returned to a normal spring patter, mild temperatures and trees blossoming.  But for us Christians the question is just what is that normal routine.  Does in involve going and telling on a regular basis?

 

Reading these verses you will see verbs, four action words.  Come, see and then, go and tell.

 

We may have come through or perhaps are still in a difficult season in our lives.  Jesus still calls to come to Him, to see, to seek His face, to see His love, His mercy, and then to be able to witness to others as to what we have seen Him do for us and for others.

 

As you worship this weekend, be prepared to come and see and then to go and tell during the week.

 

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Matthew 28:5-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁵ Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.⁶ He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. ⁷ And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you."

Verse of the Day 4/5

 

Psalm 20:6-7  Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed:
    he will answer him from his holy heaven
    with the saving might of his right hand.

⁷ 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

 

This morning in a devotional from John Piper I read the following statement, "He is alive to save, He is alive to give.  And He is thrilled to be this way."

 

We ended yesterday with the song He Lives.  The statement is all about that, He lives to save, He lives to give, He lives to forgive, He lives to teach, and to guide "along life's narrow way". 

 

I read today's verses In my daily reading in Psalms this morning I thought back to the song He Lives and John Piper's statement.  He does all those things for those who put their faith and trust in Him.  Sadly, way too many in today's society will put their trust in chariots and horses, relating to today it might be fast cars, monster trucks, or anything else that we lean on or give our devotion to in seeking happiness.

 

Referring back to Easter, we should be able to say with the Psalmist, Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed.  Hopefully, you can say that I trust in the name of the Lord my God, He is mighty to save, He has saved me, and is living in me to deliver me, to give, to forgive, to teach and to guide.  What does it mean to you that Jesus is thrilled to do so?

 

Mark 10:45  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Psalm 20:5-7

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ May we shout for joy over your salvation,
    and in the name of our God 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 might of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Verse of the Day 4/4

 

Galatians 2:20   My old self has been crucified with Christ.^[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Having just come through Good Friday and Easter, the images of the cross, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus should still be fresh in our minds, (not that we should ever be able to forget those images).  The NLT translation of this verse states that "my old self" has been crucified with Christ.  It speaks of the old versus the new, of a change taking place.  This change is not subtle it is of stark contrast.

 

I've been reading a devotional commentary on Galatians by John Fenton.  Today's devotional was on this passage, he writes, "Jesus had died by the Roman method of executing slaves - crucifixion.  God had raised Him to life.  Paul, like other New Testament writers, does not say of Jesus, 'He lived and died', but always 'He died and lives'.  The life of Jesus followed His death and began on the day of His resurrection.  In the same way Paul's life (in the real sense) began after his conversion, which was like the crucifixion and the resurrection.  The old came to an end and the new began."

 

Can we look back and see such a turning point in our lives where the "old came to an end and the new began"?  It may have resulted from an event, a moment of change in your life that gave you a new lease on life.  That new life is His living in you.

 

I serve a risen Savior
  He's in the world today.
I know that He is living,
  Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
  I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
  He's always near.

 

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
    He lives within my heart.

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

Galatians 2:19-21

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness^[a] were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Verse of the Day 4/3

 Acts 17:30-31  "Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead."    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
 

Yesterday we considered how there are three ways in which people respond to the gospel message, acceptance of it, rejecting even to the point of mocking it, and simply putting it off, perhaps for a decision at a later date.  But even this putting off, at least for the time being is a rejection.  It has been said before that "not to decide is to decide not to".

 

The significance of the resurrection, Easter, and the gospel message is brought out in today's verses and the statement "He has set a day when He is going to judge the world."  Many in today's society don't want to hear about judgment even in the church.  But Jesus' teachings, His own words point to such a day, point to a judgment.

 

He has provided proof of the gospel message by His resurrection seen by so many witnesses.  We will all be judged on what we do with the evidence given us and that we've known and accepted Him.  An old hymn comes to mind. 

 

I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

But "I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day."

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www. mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

Acts 17:30-32

New International Version (NIV)

³⁰ In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

³² When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."

Verse of the Day 4/2

1 Corinthians 1:18  For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God.   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Easter is perhaps (along with Christmas) the best example to show how today's verse applies to society.  The secular society will do everything that it can to marginalize and discount these events, even going to the extent of trying to remove the words Easter and Christmas from public use in stores, schools and other public venues.

 

For the Christian, Easter is the ultimate example of the "power of God", His power over death in through it the offer and assurance of eternal life.  Paul faced three reactions to the gospel message.  Some mocked and jeered, others heard him but put him off for a later date "we will hear you again on this matter", while others believed and joined Paul in following Christ.

 

We hear the same today, people will mock and sneer and if they hear that you believe may say "seriously?".  Others will be too busy, caught up in themselves and their lives to decide whether they will believe.  Others believe and follow.

 

What is your response to the message of the cross, the resurrection, Christmas and Easter?

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

1 Corinthians 1:17-19

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God's power to us who are being saved. ¹⁹ For it is written:

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.^[a]

Verse of the Day 4/1

1 Corinthians 6:20  You were bought with a price [purchased with a ^[a]preciousness and paid for, ^[b]made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Having just celebrated Good Friday and Easter in our church services this weekend we shouldn't need much of a reminder that our salvation came at a great cost.  It was "purchased with a preciousness" that we cannot fathom.  In light of this, how will we live our lives, today, this week and forward?

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote and spoke against what he called "cheap grace".  He knew the cost of discipleship and wrote about it in his book by the same name.

 

I'm reading a book by Thomas Brooks, "Heaven on Earth", written several hundred years ago it is still relevant today.  He writes, "There are five things that God will never sell at a cheap rate: Christ, truth, his honor, heaven, and assurance.  He who will have these must pay a good price for them, or go forever without them."

 

As you head into the work week, remember what this past weekend was all about and what it has meant to you.  Remember the cost.  So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your life.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

Follow the Verse of the Day blog at 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

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁹ Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.