Verse of the Day 5/6

Verse of the Day 5/6

Luke 21:19.  New International Version.      19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

I recently led a study in Ephesians 6:10-18 regarding putting on the full armor of God.  As I read today's verse in my study Bible I was reminded of that passage. In Ephesians 6:11 we are told to "stand against the schemes of the devil". In verse 13 we are told to take up the whole armor of God to "withstand" in the evil day, and "having done all to stand firm".  Verse 14 begins with "stand therefore".  Are you starting to get the picture? We need to stand, withstand and take a stand against the schemes of the devil and to the trials and challenges that this world throws at us.

Other translations use the word "endurance and patience in place of "stand firm". They all give us a full picture of what Jesus is saying here. The Greek lexicon for "hypomone" in my study Bible states that it "refers to that quality of character that does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. Particularly, with the genitive of thing, as enduring afflictions. Generally signifying endurance, patience, perseverence or constancy under suffering."  Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible.

My wife Jean in her long battle with cancer has been the picture of that put on disply before me in my life.  Her life verse continues to be:

John 3:30

New International Version

30 He must become greater; I must become less."

May God grant me, grant you the strenght to stand in whatever we are facing today until that day when He calls us home.

1. All the way my Savior leads me.
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt his tender mercy,
Who thru' life has been my Guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in him to dwell!
For I know, whate'er befall me,
Jesus fashions all things well.

2. All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for ev'ry trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Tho' my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

3. All the way my Savior leads me;
Oh, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father's house above.
When my spirit, cloth'd immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song thru' endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

Blessings,

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

Luke 21:12-19

New International Version

12 "But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.

Verse of the Day 5/5/2025

Verse of the Day 5/5

Psalm 121:5-6

English Standard Version

5 The Lord is your keeper;

    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

Today's verses came up in my daily reading in the Psalms.  They serve as another reminder of who God is to us.  In other Psalms we read of Him being our "refuge" and "strength" in Psalm 46.  He is our strong tower (Prov. 18:10). But in today's verses He is referred to as our "keeper" and the "shade" at our right hand.

It may not be summer yet, but even in May in North Carolina and the southern states in general, working outside when it is in the upper 80's and it feels like summer is here.  If you've been working in the sun you enjoy taking a break under a shade tree that is close by in your yard.  The shade and the breeze are a refreshing break. We may experience heat in our lives, perhaps even a drought where it seems like there is no reliev in sight.  But this verse reminds us that God is right there with us, at our right hand, within reach and His Word is there for us to comfort us, encourage us and give us the strength and refreshment that we need.

If you face some "heat today", remember that He is your keeper and the shade at your right hand.

Psalm 121:7-8

English Standard Version

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

[Verse 1]
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Blessings,

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 121

English Standard Version

My Help Comes from the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Verse of the Day 3/12

Verse of the Day 3/12

2 Thessalonians 3:5

English Standard Version

5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Our Men's Tuesday Bible study reviewed this passage yesterday and today's verse drew my attention.  Towards the end of this letter Paul is praying for the church.  The first words are a. prayer that the Lord may direct their hearts to the love of God. In this busy world there are many directions that our hearts can be drawn towards. Staying in God's Word and prayer can help us to keep them headed in the right direction.

Pastor John Piper writes "The heart has directions. It moves toward one thing or another. It moves toward what it regards as attractive and satisfying and valuable. So Paul is praying that God would give the heart a sight of the love of God as more attractive and satisfying and valuable than ordinary earthly things. "May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God." 

The second part of the verse that I'd like to focus on is the "steadfastness of Christ".  No matter what we face or are going through God can give us the grace and the strength to go through it, Christ gave us the example.  He knew that the cross was before Him, but He remained steadfast in His mission to save us.

The song " I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" was one of the first ones that I remember from childhood. The words mean more to me now than ever.

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back; no turning back.

2. If no one joins me, still I will follow;
If no one joins me, still I will follow;
If no one joins me, still I will follow;
No turning back; no turning back.

3. The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
The cross before me, the world behind me;
No turning back, no turning back.

Blessings,

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

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

English Standard Version

Pray for Us

3 Finally, brothers,[a] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.[c] 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Verse of the Day 3/5

Verse of the Day 3/5

Isaiah 55:6-7

English Standard Version

6 "Seek the Lord while he may be found;

    call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Have you ever felt that you were far away from God?  Who moved?  It wasn't God, unfortunately it is all too easy to drift and before we realize it we are way off course. The good news that if we find ourselves where we feel that way, all we have to do is turn around and seek Him.  He is always near.

This passage contains one of the clearest invitations to salvation in the Old Testament.  We can receive it now with everlasting implications and blessings. If comes by faith, but true seeking in faith involves a turning, a repentance, a change of direction, and taking time to spend in His Word and in prayer.  When we do so, the Lord gives us grace and a pardon with the power to walk with Him, live for Him.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus.  (Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega)

Blessings,

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 55:1-9

English Standard Version

The Compassion of the Lord

55 "Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
    and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has glorified you.

6 "Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Verse of the Day 3/1

Verse of the Day 3/1

2 Timothy 3:14-15

English Standard Version

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I read today's verses in the Our Daily Bread devotional for today.. Normally, when I read this passage I focus on verses 16 and 17 which tell us that we can be thoroughly equipped and trained by reading, studying and applying the inspired word of God. But today, what first caught my attention were the first few words of today's verses, "but as for you."

We may have our thoughts and opinions of what another person could or should do in any given situation without addressing what we are called to do.  Paul says, "as for you", keep going, keep persevering and grow in your faith and knowledge of the Lord. We never get to a point in our Christian life where "we have arrived", gotten our degree with a feeling that there is nothing more for us to do.  Ours is a pilgrim's progress.  We face ups and downs but the general trajectory is always upwards, pressing on to the goal, the upward call of Christ.

1. I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Refrain:
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven's table land;
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Tho' some may dwell where these abound,
My pray'r, my aim is higher ground.

3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.

4. I want to scale the utmost height,
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till Heav'n I've found,
Lord, lead me on to higher ground.

As for you, keep pressing on the upward way.

Blessings,

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

2 Timothy 3:10-17

English Standard Version

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[b] may be complete, equipped for every good work.