Verse of the Day 8/11

 

Revelation 3:1b -2'I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ² Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

These words were spoken by Jesus through John to the church at Sardis.  They could be said of many churches and individuals today.

 

What is the difference between "reputation" and "character"?  Reputation has to do with what others think of you based on what you've done, how you've lived your life in the past up to this point.  Character has to do with the real you, who you really are.  Some may be able to go on for quite a while based on reputation, but depending on reputation to see you through will not last forever.  You won't be able to depend on your past deeds forever.  The verse indicates that if we as Christians depend our our past works that we are really dead.

 

What is the answer for the church in Sardis, for churches today, for some of us as individuals?  Wake up, strengthen what remains, those "remnants" of your faith, and get back in the game.  Remember what He has done for you in the past, look for His promises for the future.

 

The passage ends with verse 6 where Jesus says, "he who has an ear, let Him hear what the Spirit says" to the churches, to us.  We all have ears but are we listening to what the Spirit is calling us to do?  May we finish the work that He started.  May we prove that there's "life in you yet" (v.2 The Message).

 

Philippians 1:6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  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

Revelation 3:1-3The Message (MSG)

To Sardis

3 Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks:

"I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you're dead, stone-dead.

^2-3 "Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there's life in you yet. But I wouldn't know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God's work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.

"If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on, oblivious to God, I'll return when you least expect it, break into your life like a thief in the night.

Verse of the Day 8/9

 

Acts 8:5Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people];  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Over the past couple of days we've considered how God has called his people throughout history to "get up and go".  It is not just for the sake of going, it is for the sake of spreading, sharing, teaching the gospel, the good news about Jesus.  Today's verse is an example of that in action.  Philip "went".

 

I choose the Amplified Bible translation because it makes an important point.  Philip was one of the seven deacons that were chosen to take care of the day to day responsibilities of the church.  They weren't the official teachers or preachers of the church.  But what we see in the Bible of Philip and Stephen, they knew what they believed,  the Bible, the gospel, and they carried it with them in their hearts, minds and actions, wherever they went.

 

We may be tempted to think that if we are not in a pastoral or official teaching role in our church that we "are off the hook" as far as sharing the gospel, sharing our faith.  This is not the case.  We need to be prepared as we go, as we head out to face the challenges and opportunities of the day.  Those challenges just may be our opportunities.

 

If you have some time this weekend, read through the account of Philip and Stephen in Acts 7 and 8.  Look at their examples, their faithfulness and the impact that they had on those around them, including a man names Saul who would later go on to write the majority of the New Testament.

 

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

Acts 8:5The Message (MSG)

^3-8 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God's action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

Verse of the Day 8/8

 

Jonah 1:1-2The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² "Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because their wickedness has confronted  Me."   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

 

We've been considering how throughout the ages right up to today how God calls people to "get up and go", that He has a mission for His servants.  Today's verse begin the book of Jonah.  He was another prophet that God called to get up and go, only in this instance we have a "reluctant" servant.  Instead of going where God wanted him to go, he took off in the opposite direction, towards Tarshish.

 

We are all familiar with the story of how Jonah ended up being swallowed by the great fish, or whale only to be spit up in Nineveh.  One of the underlying themes in the book is how God uses his creation to influence people, ultimately to achieve His purposes, which in the end were accomplished.  In this fascinating book God commands a fish to swallow Jonah (1:17). God commands a plant to grow (4:6) and commands a worm to kill it (4:7)/

 

It should humble us and make us think of times in our lives when we may have been reluctant to do something that God has been calling us to do but eventually, "circumstances" brought us around to finally doing it.  Did you think that it was God using such things as plants, animals or something else to bring you around to His way of thinking?

 

Perhaps you know someone that is in a "bad way" (v.2 The Message) but you've been reluctant to reach out.  God has made you aware of the circumstance or the need, is He calling you to "do something"?  After reading about Jonah, it might be a good idea to follow through on God's call, He has all the resources at His fingertips to accomplish His purposes.

 

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

 

Jonah 1:1-2The Message (MSG)

Running Away from God

1 ^1-2 One day long ago, God's Word came to Jonah, Amittai's son: "Up on your feet and on your way to the big city of Nineveh! Preach to them. They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer."

Verse of the Day 8/7

 

1 Kings 19:9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"  New International Version (NIV)

 

Yesterday we considered how  God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah and told him to "get up on his feet and go".  Today's verse deals with another of God's prophets, Elijah.  Talk about a case of ups and downs, Elijah had recently had a great victory over the 450 prophets of Baal only to turn tail and run from the death threats of King Ahab's wife Jezebel. 

 

In this chapter the Lord speaks to the prophet and twice asks the question "what are you doing here"? (v.9&13).  As with the prophet Jeremiah, God had work for him to do.  After a great victory, Elijah felt like he was alone against Jezebel, against the world, but God reminded him that there were plenty of others on his side, and most importantly, God was on his side.  God also told him "go" (v.15) and Elijah obeyed, he got up and "departed from there" and found help in the person of Elisha to carry out his missions.

 

If we look back in our lives we may find times where we stood our ground in faith against the odds, against circumstances only to flee, to run from situations, to run from God when faced by lesser things.  Sometime God will speak to us in the same way "what are you doing here ________ (insert name)?   It is a time to come to our senses, to realize who is in control and to get on with what God has called us to do.

 

Sometimes He calls in a low whisper (v.12) other times it may seem like He is shouting at or to us.  The question is are we listening for His Word, for His voice and if we hear it will we get up and go?

 

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 Kings 19:8-10The Message (MSG)

^8-9 He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.

Then the word of God came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"

¹⁰ "I've been working my heart out for the God-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

Verse of the Day 8/5

Verse of the Day 8/5

 

2:18"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,  'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:  New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Our men's small group has been going through the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3.  Yesterday we went through the words written about and to the church at Thyatira, where Jesus, through the apostle describes himself as "the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire".

 

In our discussion we talked about these flaming eyes.  John didn't have modern technology to refer to, but his reference brings images of anger, piercing eyes.  In modern words we talked about lasers, how they are piercing and can cut through things.  We also considered X-rays, that see through the surface to see what is hidden inside of a person.

 

Later in the passage in verse 23 Jesus refers to himself as "he who searches the mind and the heart".  These words match those descriptions.  He sees the church, he sees its members, he sees us as we are.  Knows our hearts, he knows our works, and he knows our weaknesses.  There is no fooling him, he sees through the facade.

 

The church's call was to hold on to their faith, to keep loving and keep persevering but also to avoid the pitfalls of falling into the temptations and sin that can creep into our hearts and lives; as individuals and as a church.

 

May we "get better at it every day". (v.19 The Message)

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Revelation 2:17-19The Message (MSG)

¹⁷ "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name."

To Thyatira

¹⁸ Write this to Thyatira, to the Angel of the church. God's Son, eyes pouring fire-blaze, standing on feet of furnace-fired bronze, says this:

¹⁹ "I see everything you're doing for me. Impressive! The love and the faith, the service and persistence. Yes, very impressive! You get better at it every day.

Verse of the Day 8/2

 

Romans 4:20-21No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, ²¹ fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's verse comes from the New Testament read through the Bible plan for the day.  In the chapter Paul goes back to Abraham and shows how he exemplified, the life of faith.  He trusted God even when he couldn't see or fully understand God's plans for him.  Abraham (and Sarah) questioned God at times but the words from today's verse that caught my attention in reading them was "no unbelief made him waiver" concerning God's promises.

 

It is very likely that we've all questioned God at times, we couldn't understand why he chose, or allowed certain things to happen.  But may it be said of us as well that we still believed in God and that our faith at it's core did not, does not and will not waver.  When it comes down to it, may we be "fully convinced" of God's promises.

 

Perhaps you are questioning God about something right now.  Go ahead and question but keep trusting.  Think back on some of God's promises, choose a passage this weekend and read it, think about and dwell on the promises found there.  If none come to mind, John 14 may be a good place to start.  "Let not your heart be troubled", Jesus said, believe in God and believe in me.   That believing is trusting, standing on the promises of God.

 

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

 

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
List'ning every moment to the Spirit's call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

• Refrain:
  Standing, standing,
  Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
  Standing, standing,
  I'm standing on the promises of God.

Don't waver, choose to stand on the promises.

 

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

 

Romans 4:20-25The Message (MSG)

^19-25 Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

Verse of the Day 8/1

 

Ephesians 4:32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

 

Today's verse came to me from David Jeremiah's "Turning Point" devotional where he writes, "The Latin phrase lex talionis refers to the "law of retaliation," illustrated by the biblical instruction of "eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Exodus 21:24). The biblical guideline was meant to limit punishment, not mandate it; and the New Testament suggests a better response to wrongdoing: love and grace instead of retaliation."

We commonly see retaliation in the world around us, whether it be between spouses, siblings, neighbors (like the Hatfield's and McCoy's) or even between and within nations as we see happening in the world today.  What the world needs is more grace and less retaliation.  The Message paraphrase of verse 31 (below) shows us a good place,  a good way to start, "make a clean break" from those acts of retaliation which often starts with words of "cutting, backbiting and profane talk".  These are a prerequisite to what follows in verse 32 of being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.

 

We may not feel that we have a tendency to retaliate, but consider your words from the last few days.  Is there evidence of this cutting and backbiting or perhaps gossip?  If we see it, as we head towards the weekend, may we "make a clean break" and instead, in the power that Jesus provides, may we be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving to those individuals.  Changing the world starts with our little corner of it.

 

Show love and grace instead of retaliation.

 

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

 

Ephesians 4:32The Message (MSG)

^31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.