Verse of the Day 2/9

 

1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written,

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
    nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him"—English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Over the past few days, the word "prepared" has come up three different times in my devotions.  Yesterday we considered how God is preparing a place for His prepared people.  Today's verse tells us something that describes something of those preparations without letting us in on the secret.  It is so great that He doesn't want to spoil the surprise.  But the verse tells us that it is going to be something beyond our wildest imagination and blow away any expectations that we may have.

 

Think of that "no eye has seen, heard, or imagined what God has prepared, what God has in store for us, those He has called His own.  Not even the experts, the greatest theologians on philosophers have a clue (see The Message below).

 

David Jeremiah writes, "when we see beautiful photographs of the earth's natural wonders, we are often stunned at the awesomeness of God's creation.  Amidst such natural beauty, we are often shocked when we remember we are looking at a creation cursed by sin.  If earth is so beautiful in a cursed state, how much more beautiful will it be when the whole creation has been redeemed?"

 

We can take those thoughts to another level and think of our personalities and our relationships minus our sinful, selfish nature.  There will be a time, for eternity, when we can truly live and truly love as we ought to love.  He's preparing that for us now, for those who love Him now, imperfect though we may be.  Let us do our best to prepare to be amazed.

 

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 Corinthians 2:9

The Message (MSG)

^6-10 We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross. That's why we have this Scripture text:

No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.

But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you.

Verse of the Day 2/6

 Verse of the Day 2/6

 

Psalm 55:16-17  But I call to God,
and the Lord will save me.
I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,
and He hears my voice.   Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

 

My wife Jean has been leading a Bible study group and recently an assignment was to rewrite Psalm 23 in the exact (as closely as possible) opposite in tone and meaning to the original.  It was not an easy thing to do.  After reading what she wrote, I asked if I could share it.

 

The Lord isn't My Shepherd.

 I want everything!

 He never lets me rest,

 He brings me into the crashing waves.

 He drains me.

 He gives me no direction and leaves me all alone.

 When I am at my best

 I am filled with fear for I am alone.

 Your empty hands, scare me.

 I have nothing to give my family and friends.

 You curse me and my cup is empty.

 Surely your meanness and hate will

 Follow me and my life will be filled with darkness and I won't dwell

 in the house of The Lord for even a minute.

 

If we are honest with ourselves, and God, aren't there times when we feel this way towards God in many of these examples?  We accuse Him of abandoning us, leaving us empty, drained and unable to find rest, let alone quiet waters.

 

The amazing thing is that He takes this, He hears our complaints, our groans and grumblings and is still ready (as we considered yesterday) to lift us out of the muck and the mire and set us on a rock, giving us a firm place to land, stand and eventually move forward.  In light of these things, how much greater do His love, mercy and grace appear to us.

 

Wherever you find yourself today, be aware that God does hear you, He is answering your prayers, one way or another.  One day you will be able to see how these prayers had been answered for your good and His glory.  May we be able to say "as for me, I will call upon God" (v.16 AMP).

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at http://www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com/

Psalm 55:16-18

Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.

¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice.

¹⁸ He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], for they were many who strove with me.

 

Verse of the Day 2/5

 

Psalm 69:16-17 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
    according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide not your face from your servant;
    for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Our hearts desire for ourselves and for friends and loved ones is to be faithful.  In life there are times when our decisions and choices in life can bring us down into the muck and the mire. 

 

That is the setting for this psalm of David.  He spent much time in the desert. Often, travel would be along dried up river beds, wadis.  Water could be found in the gullies and ravines in low places where the water had slowed down in after the floods and had been deposited,  water would also form in pools in these areas often surrounded by cliffs.  The mud itself would be like wet thick clay.  The kind that you may have walked through as a kid  when your boot would be pulled off trying to walk through it.  A wayward sheep looking for water could easily get stuck in this mud.

 

The danger here is that a flash flood could come rushing back at any time.  Sheep that had wandered and found themselves stuck in the mud would be in danger.  There bleating would draw the attention of the shepherd.  He would pull them out with his staff or perhaps do it by had, grabbing them by the wool on their backs and putting them safely on the rocks before the floods would come rushing back.

 

When we get stuck in the mud, in the mire of this world, we are to call for Jesus, the Great Shepherd, He will hear us, He will answer our call, our prayers.  His love is steadfast and in His mercy He will turn to us, lift us out of the muck before we are overwhelmed.

 

If we find ourselves stuck in the mire today, may we cry out for deliverance with the urgency of David as portrayed in The Message, "answer right now!"

 

 

Blessings,

Mike
Follow the verse of the day at http://www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com/

 

Psalm 69:14-17

The Message (MSG)

¹⁴ Rescue me from the swamp,
Don't let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.

¹⁵ Don't let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

¹⁶ Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.

¹⁷ Don't look the other way; your servant can't take it.
I'm in trouble. Answer right now!

 

Verse of the Day 2/4

Verse of the Day 2/4

 

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

As I had mentioned the other day, our youth group participated in a "Walking Wisely Weekend".  The theme through the weekend was "labels", what they can do to and for us, how they can affect our lives.

 

I do not like rap music and the guest musician for a Saturday night concert was a Christian  rap artist KB. I was willing to be there and to listen because of the kids.  As he performed, my opinion of rap music didn't change.  But this rap artist had a great testimony and shared experiences of his standing up for his faith in difficult situations.  In his ministry and his life, his key verse is Romans 1:16 "for I am not ashamed of the gospel".  When it comes down to it, that is who he is first, a Christian, a Christ follower.  The other labels don't matter.

 

We discussed labels among our small group and the leaders were asked to give a couple of labels to the kids in their small groups that evening.  As I thought about it that night, each kid in our group was given a label, something like "leader" or "encourager" or "professor".  But one that I'd like to be able to put on them and have them take to heart would to "faithful".  That they would grow to be faithful to their friends, families, and most importantly to their Lord and Savior.

 

When pressed by someone about their faith, may they be able to say "I am not ashamed" and may that label "faithful" encourage and challenge them to do so.  Even if at times we may falter, we can still be faithful, we can get back up again with the help and power of God, who is always faithful.  As The Message says in verse 17," gives us a picture what being faithful looks like, " the person in right standing before God by trusting Him really lives".

 

May those kids, may we be "faithful" and really live.

 

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 1:16-17

The Message (MSG)

^16-17 It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."

Verse of the Day 2/1

 

Psalm 119:9-10  How can a young man keep his way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
  let me not wander from your commandments!  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

The youth at our church, middle school through high school are participating in a "Walk Wisely" weekend.  There will be worship in song, in study and in service.  Whether you are young or old, today's verses from Psalm 119 fit with the concept of "walking wisely".  The Message puts it like this, we are to be "reading the roadmap" of His word and then following it. 

 

The focus of this weekend is "labels".  The world likes to put labels on us and it is easy to get caught up in it and also to put labels on ourselves that can shake our confidence and even weaken our faith.

 

One of the ways that we can walk wisely is to seek God, to internalize His Word, take it to heart and to defend against the labels that Satan would want to put on us.  God has some labels that He gives to us, ones that trump any others.  He says you are "mine", "redeemed", "justified", "forgiven" and "set free".  Instead of accepting what labels others try to apply may we "relish" (v.16 The Message) what He has told us, what He thinks of us, and what He has planned for us.  He will keep our ways pure when we guard our way, guard our hearts according to His Word.

 

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

Psalm 119:9-16

The Message (MSG)

^9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
    By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
    don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
    so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
    train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
    all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
    than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
    I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
    I won't forget a word of it.

Verse of the Day 1/31

 

Matthew 7:11  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.  New Living Translation (NLT)

 

Last weekend my wife and I had the privilege to watch our 21 month old granddaughter Ava while her parents went out for the evening.  She is sweet, precious and already sharp as a tack.  I can't believe how quick she picks up on things.

 

As we were sitting down watching her play with various toys in our living room I went to get a nice big bowl of Moose Tracks ice cream.  As soon as I sat down, there was Ava, bumping her chest against my knees as should stood in front of me while I took the first spoonful.  She smiled and I didn't even have to ask what she wanted.  I offered her a spoonful (followed  by several more).  I still had plenty for myself, but it was a joy to see the look on her face, the sparkle in her eyes, smile on her face and her appreciation for "gramps" (and the ice cream).  There was no need for her to bargain with me.  She had won me over, the delight was mutual.

 

She came to me and I knew what she wanted.  I wouldn't have thought of giving her a brussel sprout or sawdust (The Message).  Why is it that we hesitate to ask God for things that will bring us joy and that he would be happy to give us?  Is it our pride and our "I can do it, or obtain it myself" attitude that wants to leave God out of the picture?

 

Is there something that you know that God would give you if you would only ask Him for it?  The delight would be mutual, He'd be glad to give it, and you'd gladly receive it with gratitude and praise.

 

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 7:10-12

The Message (MSG)

^7-11 "Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?

¹² "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get.

Verse of the Day 1/30

 

Psalm 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

We've been considering God's shade, protection and leading through the desert.  Keeping these thoughts in mind and then reading Psalm 91 the words "dwell", "abide", and shadow jump out at me.  Elsewhere in the Bible when we read of abiding and dwelling another word is sometimes used, it is remain.  In John 15 we have the vine and the branches.  The thought can be applied here as well.  Those that remain in Him, in hope, faith and trust will feel at home, will feel His presence, will experience His shadow or shade in those desert times.

 

I read the following quote from "The Lord of the Rings" and it reminded me of this. The great stories of the Bible and many of the great works of fiction are loved and held dear because the speak of and remind us of those who have persevered in faith.  J.R.R. Tolkien writes, "The brave things in the old tales and songs, .... I used to think that they were things the wonderful folk of the stories went out and looked for, because they wanted them, because they were exciting and life was a bit dull, a kind of sport, as you might say.  But that's not the way of it with the tales that really mattered, or the ones that stay in the mind.  Folk seem to have been just landed in them, usually — their paths were laid that way, as you put it.  But I expect they had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't.  And if they had, we shouldn't know, because they'd have been forgotten.  We hear about those as just went on — and not all to a good end, mind you; at least not to what folk inside a story and not outside it call a good end.  You know, coming home, and finding things all right, though not quite the same — like old Mr. Bilbo.  But those aren't always the best tales to hear, though they may be the best tales to get landed in!  I wonder what sort of a tale we've fallen into?'"     The Lord of the Rings (Boston, 1994), page 696.

 

Who knows what type of journey we may land in, find ourselves in?  It will be worth remembering, if we persevere through our deserts sheltered by the Almighty,  close enough to Him to remain and abide in His shade, His shadow.  After all, He is the author and finisher of our faith, of our story.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,  (NKJV) 

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at http://www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com/

 

Psalm 91:1-13 (MSG) | Whole Chapter

91 ^1-13 You who sit down in the High God's presence,
    spend the night in Shaddai's shadow,
Say this: "God, you're my refuge.
    I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps,
    shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you—
    under them you're perfectly safe;
    his arms fend off all harm.
Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night,
    not flying arrows in the day,
Not disease that prowls through the darkness,
    not disaster that erupts at high noon.
Even though others succumb all around,
    drop like flies right and left,
    no harm will even graze you.
You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance,
    watch the wicked turn into corpses.
Yes, because God's your refuge,
    the High God your very own home,
Evil can't get close to you,
    harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels
    to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they'll catch you;
    their job is to keep you from falling.
You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes,
    and kick young lions and serpents from the path.