Verse of the Day 12/18

Verse of the Day 12/18

Mark 1:2-3   As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

"Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
    who will prepare your way,
³ the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
    'Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,'"   English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verses come from the beginning of the gospel of Mark where he writes of how John the Baptist prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ.  One of the most beloved hymns of the Christmas season is Joy to the World, which states "let every heart prepare Him room".  The Advent Season is one of preparation for the coming of Jesus, for the greatest gift, His presence among us, Immanuel, God is with us.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta wrote, "The world today is hungry not only for bread but hungry for love; hungry to be wanted, to be loved. They're hungry to feel that presence of Christ. In many countries, people have everything except that presence, that understanding. That's why the life of prayer and sacrifice comes to give that love. Through your dedication, you are to be that presence, that bread of God to break. People are hungry for the Word of God that will give peace, that will give unity, that will give joy. But you cannot give what you don't have. That's why it is necessary to deepen your life of prayer. Allow Jesus to take you, pray with you and through you…We are called to love the world. And God loved the world so much that he gave Jesus. Today he loves the world so much that he gives you and he gives me to be his love, his compassion, and that presence, that life of prayer, of sacrifice, of surrender to God."    As we prepare our hearts to celebrate Christmas with friends and family, may we not be so concerned about the presents but be more concerned about His presence.  He has already given it to us but may it be upon our hearts  to share "his love, his compassion, and that presence, that life of prayer, of sacrifice, of surrender to God", giving of ourselves because He has so richly given to us His presence every day of the year.   

Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Joy to the world
Joy to the world
Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the earth receive her king
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let the angel voices ring
Joy to the world, now we sing
Let men their songs employ
Joy to the world, now we sing
Repeat the sounding joy

Oh oh 
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The light of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love

--   In Christ,  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    

Mark 1:1-6 The Message (MSG)

John the Baptizer

1 ^1-3 The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

Watch closely: I'm sending my preacher ahead of you;
He'll make the road smooth for you.
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God's arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

^4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

Verse of the Day 12/14

Verse of the Day 12/14

Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. English Standard Version (ESV)

I read today's verse in my New Testament devotional reading. Twice in chapter 3 of Revelation , John tells the churches to hold onto their faith. In verse 3 he writes, "remember what you have heard and received and hold fast" and in verse 11 - "hold fast what you have".

The things that are precious to us in life are those things that we want to hold onto, to cling to, to hold fast. It doesn't matter what season in life it is, but we often come to this realization that we need to do it in the tough times. It involves faith and trust in God, completely, even when we don't have answers to the problems and challenges at hand.

In "The Root of Righteousness" A.W. Tozer writes, "What we need badly these days is a company of Christians who are prepared to trust God as completely now as they know they must do at the last day. For each of us the time is surely coming when we shall have nothing but God. Health and wealth and friends and hiding places will all be swept away and we shall only have God. To the man of pseudo faith that is a terrifying thought, but to real faith it is one of the most comforting thoughts the heart can have."

Think about it this morning, when all is stripped away is your faith real or is it a pseudo faith? If there is doubt seek Him, return to the Lord with the love you had at first, seek Him with your whole heart.

"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches." Revelation 3:13 The Message

Blessings,

Mike

Revelation 3:11-13 The Message (MSG)

11 "I'm on my way; I'll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.

12 "I'll make each conqueror a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, a permanent position of honor. Then I'll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God's City—the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven—and my new Name.

13 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."

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Verse of the Day 12/12

Verse of the Day 12/12

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I had a rough night last night with nerve pain that runs from my shoulder down my arm and into my hand making my fingers numb. When I got up to go through my devotions, the first verse I read was today's verse in a devotional from David Jeremiah. Is God working through me in this pain?

David Jeremiah writes, "We may not worship God for the pain, but we can certainly worship Him because He is in control of our life; He has a purpose and knows the outcome. Trust in God's purposes which He reveals in worship."

Yes, I've had this pain for the past couple of weeks. But what about the rest of my life? God has been good and He is good. What I need to to is to trust that He has a purpose and knows the outcome.

Reading the passage from The Message also encourages to look past the current challenges. Yes, I want relief from the pain and I trust in Him for the relief. In the meantime, I am thankful for the health that I've had and will lean on Him through this time. Look at how Paul describes it in The Message.

"Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing." Philipians 2:14-16 The Message

Blessings,

Mike

Philippians 2:13-16 The Message (MSG)

Rejoicing Together
12-13 What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

14-16 Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

 Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Verse of the Day 12/11

Verse of the Day 12/11

Revelation 1:8   "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty."    Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I read today's verse in the read through the New Testament plan that I'm following.  It was fitting that my Old Testament reading has been in the book of Genesis.  Today's verse reminded me of how God spoke to the patriarchs, He spoke with Abraham, He wrestled with Jacob and spoke to Joseph in dreams. 

We are in the Advent season now where we are preparing our hearts to celebrate Jesus coming to earth over 2000 years ago.  We will be singing the song "Joy to the World" which has the line "let every heart prepare Him room".  That should be in our minds every day of this Advent season.

Today's verse also reminds us that Jesus will come again, He is the One to come and when He does He will bring His children home with Him.  Even more reason to celebrate and for our hearts to prepare Him room.

Marvelous message we bring,

Glorious carol we sing,

Wonderful word of the King,

Jesus is coming again!

Chorus

Coming again, Coming again,

May be morning, may be noon,

May be evening and may be soon!

Coming again, Coming again;

O what a wonderful day it will be -

Jesus is coming again!

Forest and flower exclaim,

Mountain and meadow the same,

All earth and heaven proclaim,

Jesus is coming again!

--   In Christ,  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    

Revelation 1:5-8 The Message (MSG)

His Eyes Pouring Fire-Blaze

^4-7 I, John, am writing this to the seven churches in Asia province: All the best to you from The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive, and from the Seven Spirits assembled before his throne, and from Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings.

Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us,
    who blood-washed our sins from our lives,
Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father,
    forever—and yes, he's on his way!
Riding the clouds, he'll be seen by every eye,
    those who mocked and killed him will see him,
People from all nations and all times
    will tear their clothes in lament.
    Oh, Yes.

⁸ The Master declares, "I'm A to Z. I'm The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I'm the Sovereign-Strong."

Verse of the Day 12/7

Verse of the Day 12/7

Psalm 90:12   So teach us to number our days

    that we may get a heart of wisdom.    English Standard Version (ESV)

A health scare, a near miss of an accident or perhaps surviving a serious accident are all things that can cause us to stop and take notice.  Perhaps you've had moments in your life where you've seen your life flash before you.  It is likely that you came away from those events with a new or different perspective, realizing that you can't take this life for granted and to focus on the things that are really important.

The world is moving at a fast pace and it is easy to let the world pass you by or keep you in a blur.  The passage below from Psalm 90 begins with talking about the span of our years and how quickly they pass and we will "fly away".  We are going somewhere and it is important to realize that.  The HCSB version below, says that we are to number our days "carefully.  It involves planning, making sure to take care of the big things first; otherwise the trivial will consume the day.

A.W. Tozer writes, "In the year just gone the world has been writing history, not with ink only but with blood and tears; not in the quiet of the study but in violence, terror and death in city streets and along the borders of nations; and other and milder but more significant history has been written by incredible feats of power in sending man-made objects out to circle the moon and the sun....".  Those words were written in the middle of last century when space travel was just beginning.  The pace, the strife, the violence are still around and will always be there.  As we head towards the end of the year and look forward to the new one, Lord willing, let us do our best to avoid being caught up in it all, but to take the time necessary to number our days "carefully".  Spending time with God and in His Word and in prayer should lead us to reserve time with our families and for the things that are most important, things that will prepare us for the day when we do "fly away".

Some bright morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly
I'll fly away

Oh, how glad and happy when we meet
I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet
I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys will never end

I'll fly away.

I'll fly away, oh glory
I'll fly away in the morning
When I die, Hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away

Read the passage below.  May this be our prayer today.

Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;
establish for us the work of our hands—
establish the work of our hands!  Psalm 90:17 HCSB

--   In Christ,  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    

Psalm 90:10-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

¹⁰ Our lives last^[a] seventy years
or, if we are strong, eighty years.
Even the best of them are^[b] struggle and sorrow;
indeed, they pass quickly and we fly away.
¹¹ Who understands the power of Your anger?
Your wrath matches the fear that is due You.
¹² Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.^[c]

¹³ Lord—how long?
Turn and have compassion on Your servants.
¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love
so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.
¹⁵ Make us rejoice for as many days as You have humbled us,
for as many years as we have seen adversity.
¹⁶ Let Your work be seen by Your servants,
and Your splendor by their children.
¹⁷ Let the favor of the Lord our God be on us;
establish for us the work of our hands—
establish the work of our hands!

Verse of the Day 12/6

Verse of the Day 12/6

Isaiah 30:21  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.  I English Standard Version (ESV)

I mentioned yesterday that I'm reading Spurgeon's "Beauty for Ashes: Sermons on Isaiah".  Today's verse is the subject of the next sermon in the book.  I've always liked the old hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" and one of the key statements is "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love'.  It is in our  nature to wander.  Our minds drift off when we're in the classroom or at work. Our steps in life can also wander off the right path at times and this is the subject of today's verse.  We don't find our way back, God, through His Spirit and His Word, calls us.

In his sermon, Spurgeon writes, "How does God find men when he declares that they shall hear a word behind them? First, he finds them with their backs turned to him. This is clear enough, if you remember that the word is to be heard 'behind' them. The sinner has gone away from God, and God calls after him from behind.  He has turned his back upon his true Friend, his best Friend, his only capable Friend, but that Friend does not therefore change his temper and resent the insult; nay, he is provoked to a love more pleading and persuasive than ever, and calls to him to come into the right way."

The thoughts go back to Psalm 23 where in verse 6 David writes that  God's "goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life" (HCSB).  In His faithfulness God pursues the wanderer (us) and when we have wandered, His voice, His Word calls out to us and calls us back to a right relationship to Him.

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help I've come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

Oh, that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in the blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above

If you've wandered He is calling you back.  If you've come back, praise God for it, for grace and for the peace that passes understanding.

--   In Christ,  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    

Isaiah 30:19-22 The Message (MSG)

^19-22 Oh yes, people of Zion, citizens of Jerusalem, your time of tears is over. Cry for help and you'll find it's grace and more grace. The moment he hears, he'll answer. Just as the Master kept you alive during the hard times, he'll keep your teacher alive and present among you. Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: "This is the right road. Walk down this road." You'll scrap your expensive and fashionable god-images. You'll throw them in the trash as so much garbage, saying, "Good riddance!"

Verse of the Day 12/5

Verse of the Day 12/5

Isaiah 26:3  You keep him in perfect peace

    whose mind is stayed on you,
    because he trusts in you.    English Standard Version (ESV)

Today's verse has been one of the most often posted verses in these devotions over the years because they ring so true through lives challenges.  We are to be "see throughers" and to be able to do so we have to learn to trust, to have God's peace in trying circumstances.

Yesterday I was reading in Spurgeon's "Beauty for Ashes: Sermons on Isaiah" and I just happened to be reading in this chapter yesterday (do you think?).  The verse, the passage and Spurgeon's sermon were things that I needed to hear yesterday.  Spurgeon writes:

"Let us commit ourselves, and all that we are, and all that we have, and all that we have to do, and all that we have to suffer, to the guardian care of our loving God, casting all our care upon Him, for He careth for us. Here we are in God, and here we mean to abide. We are not regretting the grace of yesterday, nor sighing for the grace of to-morrow. We stay where we are—at home with God. Our anchor is down, and we do not mean to draw it up again. "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.""

I like that statement "we are stay where we are- at home with God", it is at home with God that we can find peace.  We don't have to go anywhere, although we can be anywhere and be at home with God.  When we are at home with God we can experience the grace of God every day.

As I was reading this the old hymn "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" came to mind, I love the way the music, the notes, the words lift you and it does so because the matchless grace of Jesus reaches us.

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!

Refrain
Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
the rolling sea;
Wonderful Grace, all sufficient for me, for even 
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
sing it!
Greater far than all my sin and shame
my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!

Whatever you are facing today, cast your cares on Him, may God give you His peace through His matchless grace.

--   In Christ,  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    

Isaiah 26:1-6 The Message (MSG)

Stretch the Borders of Life

26 ^1-6 At that time, this song
    will be sung in the country of Judah:
We have a strong city, Salvation City,
    built and fortified with salvation.
Throw wide the gates
    so good and true people can enter.
People with their minds set on you,
    you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
    because they keep at it and don't quit.
Depend on God and keep at it
    because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.
Those who lived high and mighty
    he knocked off their high horse.
He used the city built on the hill
    as fill for the marshes.
All the exploited and outcast peoples
    build their lives on the reclaimed land.