Verse of the Day 11/4

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. New King James Version (NKJV)

 

"You didn't build that" is a phrase that came out of this years presidential campaign that stirred up quite a bit of debate.  It was said in regards to our personal and corporate success.  We won't get into that debate here.

But when it comes to our faith, today's verse makes a similar statement, "it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".

 

As Christians we should do plenty of boasting, but not in and of ourselves, it is of our Savior and what He has done for us.

 

Burk Parsons writes, "At the time of the Reformation, the word "sola" (Latin for alone) became a necessary qualifier in order to guard the simple truths that Scripture is our only infallible authority for faith and life and that we are justified, or declared righteous, by God's grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and all for the glory of God alone.  And make no mistake, we are not justified by believing the solas but by believing in Christ."

 

As is sung in the song "In Christ Alone",   "In Christ alone I place my trust, and find my glory in the power of the cross, in every victory, let it be said of me, my source of strength, my source of hope, is Christ alone." 

 

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 2:8-10   New King James Version (NKJV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Verse of the Day 11/3

Deuteronomy 6:5-6  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.
6 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts;   Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

As I finished yesterday's devotional about "out of the abundance of the heat the mouth speaks" a song came to mind.  It was "The Measure of a Man" by 4 Him.  The chorus may be familiar to you.

 

Oh I say the measure of a man
Is not how tall you stand
How wealthy or intelligent you are
'Cause I found out the measure of a man
God knows and understand
For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart
And what's in the heart defines
The measure of a man

 

Many are measuring the political candidates by their wealth, their intelligence, ability to give speeches and win debates.  But when it boils down to it, for every person, what matters is who they are at there core, or should I say Who is at the core of their hearts.  We cannot measure this, only God can.  But as with yesterday's verse, what is inside any of us should, and will come out in our words and actions.

 

If God has first place in our hearts, our love for Him will be revealed in our speech and our actions and will be shared with others as we live, as we walk along the road, interact with family or friends when we sit down to eat, and be in our grateful hearts as we begin and end our days in praise or thanksgiving to Him.  If this is true, what is in our hearts will define the measure of who we are.

 

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

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Amplified Bible (AMP)
4 Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].
5 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.
6 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]
7 You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.
8 And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets (forehead bands) between your eyes.
9 And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Verse of the Day 11/2

Matthew 12:34b-35  For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things  .Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

As we come to the final weekend before the presidential election we know that we will be bombarded by speeches and commercials for the candidates.  Much of the speech, from the candidates themselves to campaign professionals to old ladies in commercials, will be filled with venom, malice, slander and worse.  Today's passage is sobering when it is held up against what we hear.

 

Other translations say "out of the abundance of the heart", the Amplified Bible here does as its name implies, it amplifies, clarifies the message.  It is out of the "overflow" of the heart that the mouth speaks.  What the candidates say reveals what is in their hearts.  But once again, before we cast judgment upon them we must step back and take a look at ourselves, look at our speech, and look inside to see what our hearts are filled with.

 

These feelings are not new regarding the state of politics and our hearts as Christians.  John Newton wrote, "The state of the nation, the state of the churches--both are deplorable! Those who should be praying--are disputing and fighting among themselves! Alas! how many professors are more concerned for the mistakes of government--than for their own sins! ".

 

May we be those who may be able to "fling forth good things" from what is in our hearts, to friend and political foe.

 

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 12:33-35  Amplified Bible (AMP)
33 Either make the tree sound (healthy and good), and its fruit sound (healthy and good), or make the tree rotten (diseased and bad), and its fruit rotten (diseased and bad); for the tree is known and recognized and judged by its fruit.
34 You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.

Verse of the Day 11/1

Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death forever;
and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,
    and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,
    for the Lord has spoken.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

As we grow older it is fun to watch our kids and grandkids and the children in our neighborhoods go out "trick or treating".  Along with the super hero characters you still see plenty of zombies, ghosts and skeletons.  In a way, they may be mocking death.  Today some denominations will be celebrating All Saints Day while others will hold observance of it this weekend as they remember and honor those who have gone before us.

 

My dad passed away a little less than a year ago.  I thought of him several times this week and especially this morning as I read this verse.  His last weeks and days were difficult and at the end every breath was a struggle.  Tears came to my eyes remembering the scene.  While we may mock death at times, it is a reality.  In this world it swallows up human beings, some after long battles with illness, others suddenly without notice.  Reality is that we must all face it at some point.

 

In today's verse the prophet Isaiah looks to one who will defeat, swallow up death forever, he looked to our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Thankfully, He overcame and conquered death and because of this we no longer need to fear death no matter when or how it comes.  This knowledge of a Savior can wipe away those tears from our eyes as it did for mine this morning.  I know that my dad lives, he lives eternally with his Savior.

 

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.

 

Isaiah 25:9 It will be said on that day,
    "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.
    This is the Lord; we have waited for him;
    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."  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

Isaiah 25:8-10  New Living Translation (NLT)
8 He will swallow up death forever!
    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
    against his land and people.
    The Lord has spoken!
9 In that day the people will proclaim,
"This is our God!
    We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
    Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!"
10 For the Lord's hand of blessing will rest on Jerusalem.
    But Moab will be crushed.
    It will be like straw trampled down and left to rot.

Verse of the Day 10/31

Titus 3:2  They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

The Bible reading plan that I follow recently brought me through Titus.  Today's verse was fitting for our thoughts over the past few days as well as the "political season" that we are in.  In Titus, Paul is giving instructions on the qualifications for elders, for overseers of the church.  As we look at the various candidates for political office, they are seeking to become overseers for us in our government.

 

As you hear and watch political adds over the coming week hold them up to these words, "they must not slander anyone", "avoid quarreling", "be gentle" and show "true humility" to everyone.  It is sad when you look at the caustic political environment.  But before we try to hold the politicians to these standards we must first ask ourselves, how am I doing in these areas.  How are we

 

As he closes out the chapter, Paul charges his readers, including us with these words:

 

Titus 3:14  And let our own [people really] learn to apply themselves to good deeds (to honest labor and honorable employment), so that they may be able to meet necessary demands whenever the occasion may require and not be living idle and uncultivated and unfruitful lives.  Amplified Bible (AMP)

 

Let's not be living "idle, uncultivated and unfruitful lives, but get in the game, be engaged, be productive by doing good.

 

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

 

Titus 3:1-5  New Living Translation (NLT)  Do What Is Good

 

3:1 They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. 2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.

 

3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

 

4 But—"When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Verse of the Day 10/30

Verse of the Day 10/30

 

Matthew 11:28-29   "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.   The Message (MSG)

 

Yesterday we considered our salvation, it is here in the person of Jesus Christ.  We've also been considering what it means, what it looks like to have our hearts and minds "engaged".  Today's passage is a familiar one where Jesus calls those who are weary and heavy laden and offers them rest in Him.

 

In his message "The Dangerous Life" last Sunday, Pastor Bob quoted the passage from The Message as I've posted it above.  Take a look at how it brings out how Jesus calls us.  He calls our "come to me", get away with me, walk with me, work with me,watch how I do it, and learn from me."  What a succinct way to describe what it truly means to follow Jesus.  It is what having our hearts and minds "engaged" is truly about.

 

If you've been "burned out on religion" chances are that you've been doing it on your own, in your own way, your own power and according to your own will.  Yeah, that would describe me.  May we be willing to live what some would call "the dangerous life" of watching how He does it and find rest in Him along the way.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Matthew 11:28-30  New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Verse of the Day 10/29

      Isaiah 12:2-3 "Behold, God is my salvation;
    I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation."
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.  ESV

 

I read these verses earlier in the weekend then in our worship service on Sunday the first song that we sang was "Salvation is Here".  We've considered how are hearts and minds should be engaged as we worship and as we head out into the work week.  The songs, verses and messages from the weekend should propel us into the week.

 

We can hear the sound from past generations and we have a lot to celebrate ourselves and to show to others just what it is that we have found, no matter the situation.  Cause we know God saved the day, His love has made a way, and His Word never fails to say "salvation is here" in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

Salvation is Here

 

Hear the sound of the generations
Making loud our freedom song
All in all that the world would know Your name
It's gonna be alright

 

'Cause I know my God saved the day
And I know His word never fails
And I know my God made a way for me
Salvation is here

 

 

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

Isaiah 12
New International Version (NIV) Songs of Praise

 

12 In that day you will say:

 

"I will praise you, Lord.
    Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
    and you have comforted me.
2 Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation."
3 With joy you will draw water
    from the wells of salvation.
4 In that day you will say:

 

"Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done,
    and proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
    let this be known to all the world.