Verse of the Day 1/16

Verse of the Day 1/16

Matthew 11:28-29 "Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. 29 Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle,[d] humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. The Passion Translation (TPT)

Burdens can come in many shapes and forms. It might be an illness, an injury, the loss of a loved one, care for a loved one who has strayed from the path; you've been there or might be there right now. It can feel like you are alone in a desert. You are thirsty, tired and at times, feel as if you can't go on.

Perhaps you know someone who has been battling cancer or had another serious illness with slow recovery or little hope for a complete recovery, yet in spite of all that, they are more positive than you are. You may wonder how they can be like that or even how can i be like that?

Jesus says "come to me". I've been reading The Passion Translation this year and in today's reading what jumped out at me in this familiar verse was the concept of an oasis. You can picture a spring or a stream in the desert that brings the refreshment that you need. Drinking from that cool spring, you find relief, can breath deeper, you have renewed hope.

If you find your self in a desert place, if you have burdens, bring them to Jesus, spend time in His Word, and pray. In Him you can find the oasis and the refreshment that you need.

Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same

He touched me, oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole

Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I'll shout it while eternity rolls. (William Gaither)

Read the passage below.

Blessings,
Mike

Matthew 11:25-30 English Standard Version (ESV)

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest
25 At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

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Verse of the Day 1/15

Verse of the Day 1/15

1 Timothy 6:17-18 To all the rich of this world, I command you not to be wrapped in thoughts of pride over your prosperity, or rely on your wealth, for your riches are unreliable and nothing compared to the living God. Trust instead in the one who has lavished upon us all good things, fulfilling our every need.

18 Remind the wealthy to be rich in good works of extravagant generosity, willing to share with others.
The Passion Translation (TPT)

The small groups in our church are all doing the same study for the next 4 weeks, "How to Be Rich", based on the book by Andy Stanley. Today's verese are the backdrop for the study. Paul tells Timothy as he tells us about the "rich" but with the underlying tone that they are rich.

In my read through the New Testament plan that I'm following, this year I'm reading in The Passion Translation" so I looked up the verses in that translation. The words that caught my attention were "wrapped up". The nature of people then and now is to be so wrapped up in themselves that they don't even realize that they are rich. They are not aware of how God has blessed them and that the reason God blessed them was so that they in turn could be a blessing to others. (see Genesis 12:2-3 for starters).

The wealthier we are the more we tend to rely on ourselves and our bank accounts than to rely on and call on God. The call of the passage, the study, is to trust in God who has given us, lavished good things upon us so that we may in turn be "extravagantly" generous ourselves, sharing God's blessings with others.

As we head out today may we consider how we can be generous, even extravagantly generous, to someone today.

Out in the highways and byways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing,
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
2
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His pow'r to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, every moment you live.
3
Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.

Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Blessings

Mike

1 Timothy 6:12-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[a] Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called "knowledge," 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Grace be with you.

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Verse of the Day 1/11

Verse of the Day 1/11

Luke 12:20-21 "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared—whose will they be?'

21 "That's how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

We live in a nation at a time when we are the richest nation in the world. That doesn't mean that there isn't poverty and needs, but overall, compared to the rest of the world and from their eyes we are "rich". But what do we do with that wealth and as Christians, how are we at sharing that wealth?

Our church will be going through a study "How to Be Rich" in the coming weeks, I'm sure that it will open eyes and change hearts. Today's passage (below )from the parable of "The Greedy Farmer", and the message that "life is not defined by what you have" is more evident today than it was back in Jesus time.

I read the following in a devotional recently and pasted it in my eBible for today's verses,

Being rich toward God means growing a soul that is increasingly healthy and good.

Being rich toward God means loving and enjoying the people around you.

Being rich toward God means learning about your gifts and passions and doing good work to help improve the world.

Being rich toward God means becoming generous with your stuff.

Being rich toward God means making that which is temporary become the servant of that which is eternal.

Being rich toward God means savoring every roll of the dice and every trip around the board. (Unknown author)

Reading the passage and reading the notes on "being rich toward God", how do we measure up?
Blessings,

Mike

Luke 12:13-21 The Passion Translation

The Story of the Greedy Farmer
13 Someone out of the crowd said, "Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance."

14 He replied, "Mister, what makes you think it's any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?"

15 Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."

16-19 Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'

20 "Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'

21 "That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."

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Verse of the Day 1/10

Verse of the Day 1/10

Jeremiah 29:11-12 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. New International Version (NIV)

I know that 2018 was a difficult year for many of us, dealing with illnesses, loss of loved ones, perhaps job changes and many other things. It is likely that many of those things or their impact carry over into this year. At the same time, hopefully, you can look back and see how God was with you in those times, you can look back over your whole life and see how God has been with you and brought you to his place.

Today's verses are encouraging but it is important to realize the backdrop of when they were given. God gave these words to the people not in a time of ease or prosperity but when they were facing 70 years of captivity. Captivity would bring suffering, hunger and make life in general a struggle. But God is telling them I will be with you and have plans, good plans for you.

Many times we may read verse 11 and not go further, but we need to look at verse 12 where God says "call on me, come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." When we do, He speaks peace to us, calms our fears, causes and enables us to see through the situation or to trust Him in the storm. We'll come out the other side stronger, more grounded in our faith, and able to use what we've learned for the benefit of others.

Read the passage from The Message below. Call on Him, you won't be disappointed.

Blessings,

Mike

Jeremiah 29:10-14 The Message (MSG)

10-11 This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

12 "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.

13-14 "When you come looking for me, you'll find me.

"Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree.

"I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.

Verse of the Day 1/8

Verse of the Day 1/8

Psalm 112:5-6 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever. English Standard Version (ESV)

Our Pastor Bob referenced verses 1 and 2 from this passage in his sermon this past Sunday. He quoted from "The Passion Translation" which I was not familiar with. Many translations use the word "commands" in verse 1. The words, commands, decrees and law, among others are used to describe God's Word in Psalm 119, the longest book in the Bible which is virtually all about His Word. The one who delights in God's Word, in His commands will be blessed. Today's verses reveal the outcome of the one who loves God's word and follows His commands, they will be generous in return to God and to others.

Read the passage below. Many people would desire to be influential, but I would say that few would choose this path to achieve it. It is consistent with other passages in God's Word. "It is better to give than to receive"; 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" John 7:38; "my cup overflows" Psalm 23:5; and Luke 6:38:

Luke 6:38. give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." English Standard Version (ESV)

To be righteous is to be in right standing with God and verse 6 tells us they "will never be moved and will be remembered forever". This not only involves loving God, but also loving, and giving to others. May it be said of us as is stated in The Passion Translation:

Psalm 112:5-6. Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable,
conducting affairs with honesty and truth.
6 Their circumstances will never shake them
and others will never forget their example. (TPT)

Blessings,

Mike

Psalm 112:1-6 The Passion Translation (TPT)
The Triumph of Faith

112 Shout in celebration of praise to the Lord!
Everyone who loves the Lord and delights in him
will cherish his words and be blessed beyond expectation.
2 Their descendants will be prosperous and influential.
Every generation of his godly lovers will experience his favor.
3 Great blessing and wealth fills the house of the wise,
for their integrity endures forever.
4 Even if darkness overtakes them,
sunrise-brilliance will come bursting through
because they are gracious to others, so tender and true.
5 Life is good for the one who is generous and charitable,
conducting affairs with honesty and truth.
6 Their circumstances will never shake them
and others will never forget their example.

Verse of the Day 1/6

Verse of the Day 1/6

Psalm 57:5    Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

    Let your glory be over all the earth!   English Standard Version (ESV)

Most of us have or will be going to church this weekend to worship, hear from God's Word and sing His praises.  Today's verse is a reminder that our God is to be exalted.  He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, the Almighty and He is worthy of our praise.

A.W. Tozer, in the  middle of the last century wrote, "Perhaps one reason we do not have much confidence in the character of God today is that we do not have a high enough opinion of God.  God has been talked down and reduced, modified, edited, changed and amended until He is not the God that Isaiah saw as "high and lifted up".  If that was true 75 years ago, I would say that it is even more true today.

We read bumper stickers that say "God is my co-pilot, as if we are in control and that He is along for the ride and can give us directions or we can ask Him if He knows the way to go.  Others think of Him as "the man upstairs", a friendly old soul that we can talk to when we want to.  Still others view Him as the Genie in a bottle, we carry Him in a bottle and open it up only when we want Him to grant us a few wishes.

As we head to church today or in the coming weeks and year, may we see Him "high and lifted up" , exalted.  May we show Him reverence, may we trust Him, believe in Him and realize that He is God above the heavens, having created the heavens.  May we have hearts that truly want to worship Him as He would have us worship.

Exalted, he is exalted
On high, he is exalted
Great is the Lord, let all the nations say
Exalted, he is exalted

Blessing and honor
Glory and power unto the Lord be praised
Sing with a chorus resounding before us
Holy is his name, his name   (Chris Tomlin)

--   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 57:1-5 The Message (MSG)

A David Psalm, When He Hid in a Cave from Saul

57 ^1-3 Be good to me, God—and now!
    I've run to you for dear life.
I'm hiding out under your wings
    until the hurricane blows over.
I call out to High God,
    the God who holds me together.
He sends orders from heaven and saves me,
    he humiliates those who kick me around.
God delivers generous love,
    he makes good on his word.

⁴ I find myself in a pride of lions
    who are wild for a taste of human flesh;
Their teeth are lances and arrows,
    their tongues are sharp daggers.

⁵ Soar high in the skies, O God!
    Cover the whole earth with your glory!

Verse of the Day 1//4

Verse of the Day 1/4

Matthew 4:4  But he answered, "It is written,

"'Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"    English Standard Version (ESV)

If you have begun following a read through the Bible plan as part of a new year's resolution, there is a high probability that you may have read today's verse and passage in your reading.  Matthew 4 begins with the account of Satan's temptation of Jesus after his time of fasting in the desert.  You'll notice that he tempts Jesus when He would be physically at his weakest.  Jesus' response to Satan goes back to the book of Deuteronomy 8 where the words were given to the Israelite's after they fled from Pharaoh in Egypt and were being prepared for their journey through the wilderness.

We should notice in looking back to Deuteronomy that God allowed Israel to hunger that ultimately He would feed them with manna day by day, learning to depend upon Him, on His Word and to do His will.

What caused you to hunger for God's Word?  If we follow the theme in these verses, we will see that for us it may have been any number of circumstances, but "underneath" it is that God allowed us to hunger that He might lead us.

From The Message (below) we read the following from today's verse ""It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."  May we realize that we need more than physical food to stay alive, to live a life for God, we need that "steady stream of words from God's mouth".

You may hit some "dry patches"; but push through and when you are tempted may you follow Jesus lead and quote from the scriptures that we have learned, memorized and taken to heart.
 "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."  Matthew 4:10 The Message.

If you are reading through the New Testament you will soon be reading "The Sermon on the Mount" in chapters 5 through 7, the best sermon ever given.  May we read, hear the message and follow His words.

--   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    

Matthew 4 The Message (MSG)

The Test

4 ^1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread."

⁴ Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."

^5-6 For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone."

⁷ Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God."

^8-9 For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, "They're yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours."

¹⁰ Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."

¹¹ The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus' needs.