Verse of the Day 9/21

Verse of the Day 9/21

Hebrews 12:22-23  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,²³ and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, English Standard Version (ESV)

We all know that life is full of challenges and many of us will be facing some today.  Knowing this can drag us down and take the spring out of our step.  Today's verses are ones that we can read and dwell upon and put some bounce back into our steps.  No matter what we're going through, if we are a child of God, we are marching to that celestial city.

In the Old Testament, Mount Sinai, where God gave the Mosaic law, was a dark and foreboding place and only Moses was allowed to approach God.  Here we have the picture of joy and celebration as God calls His people to the place that He has been preparing for them.  Think of John 14:1-3.

John 14:1-3New Living Translation (NLT) "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. ² There is more than enough room in my Father's home.^[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?^[b] 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

David Jeremiah writes, "When your life on earth is a challenge; avail yourself of the heavenly access that is yours in Christ."

1. Come, we that love the Lord,
   And let our joys be known;
   Join in a song with sweet accord,
   And thus surround the throne.
   • Refrain:
     We're marching to Zion,
     Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
     We're marching upward to Zion,
     The beautiful city of God.
2. The sorrows of the mind
   Be banished from the place;
   Religion never was designed
   To make our pleasures less.

--   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    

Hebrews 12:22-24The Message (MSG)

^22-24 No, that's not your experience at all. You've come to Mount Zion, the city where the living God resides. The invisible Jerusalem is populated by throngs of festive angels and Christian citizens. It is the city where God is Judge, with judgments that make us just. You've come to Jesus, who presents us with a new covenant, a fresh charter from God. He is the Mediator of this covenant. The murder of Jesus, unlike Abel's—a homicide that cried out for vengeance—became a proclamation of grace.

Verse of the Day 9/15

Verse of the Day 9/15

2 Peter 3:18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered in Philippians 4:19 how God will supply every need according to the riches of His grace and how that should help us rid ourselves of anxiety.  We are to be overcomers, not be overcome.  We also considered how we are to trust God, that He is with us and will strengthen and uphold us.   John Piper wrote of God's "future grace" and how it will be hard for anxiety to survive in the person who has it.

In today's verse the Apostle offers a benediction for us, a call for us to grow in grace.  Trusting in God's future grace will involve and require growing in grace.  Our lives are a "Pilgrim's Progress" trusting in God's grace, onward and upward.  There will be ups and downs in our lives, but the overall trajectory is up.

Of this growing in grace, I read the following from J.C. Ryle in a devotional yesterday regarding this growing in grace, he writes:

When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply that . . .
  his sense of sin is becoming deeper,
  his faith is becoming stronger,
  his hope is becoming brighter,
  his love is becoming more extensive, and
  his spiritual-mindedness is becoming more marked.

Looking back over the past weeks, months and years, can we say that of ourselves and our faith?  If so, praise Him, if not, seek Him, trust Him and grow in Him from today forward.

Thinking of that hope becoming brighter I'm reminded and will close with the third stanza of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and His future grace.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! "Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"   Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—     "Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

--   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    

2 Peter 3:15-18The Message (MSG)

^14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

^17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

Verse of the Day 9/14

Verse of the Day 9/14

Philippians 4:19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.   English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we considered Jesus call for us not to be anxious, especially about trivial things.  In today's verse towards the end of Philippians 4 the Apostle Paul speaks from experience a reason why we should not be anxious, even in the big things.  Consider the source, the author of these words, he is the same person who had been, shipwrecked, beaten, stoned and left for dead, imprisoned and many other things.  But God had delivered him and supplied his need through those storms in life.  It is the same for you and me.

That does not mean that it will be easy.  Notice also that it says "every need" and not every desire.  What we want and what we need are most often very different an many times conflict with one another.  Our job is to stay close to Him in His Word and prayer, follow where He leads and obey His promptings, trusting in His future grace for the day ahead.

John Piper writes, "If we live by faith in this promise of future grace, it will be very hard for anxiety to survive. God's "riches in glory" are inexhaustible. He really means for us not to worry about our future.  We should follow this pattern that Paul lays out for us. We should battle the unbelief of anxiety with the promises of future grace.....When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I regularly battle unbelief with one of my most often-used promises, Isaiah 41:10."

Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.    English Standard Version (ESV)

If you are anxious about something today, remember God says "I am with you, I am your God, I will strengthen you and I will uphold you".

 

--   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    

Philippians 4:17-20The Message (MSG)

^15-17 You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I'll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I'm looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.

^18-20 And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.

Verse of the Day 9/13

 

Verse of the Day 9/13

 

Matthew 6:27    And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Are you anxious about something  today?  It could be a business meeting, facing conflict with someone, where the money is going to come from to pay a bill, or what the results will be from some medical test that was just performed.  Anxiety, being anxious is a natural trait, we don't have to plan for it, it just happens.  It is one  thing to be anxious about the "bigger" things but quite another to be all wound up about the trivial.  Confrontation with the trivial, you think you can win, you'll lose.

 

A while back I lead a Bible study through the book of John.  As I went through it I paid particular attention to the questions  that Jesus asked.  They were for his hearers then and for us today.  As I read this passage I noticed several questions asked by Jesus in regards to being anxious.  "Isn't life more than food and  clothing?  Aren't you more valuable to him than these?  Why do you have so little faith?

 

He brings up the subject of being anxious four times in this  short but powerful passage.  It should catch our attention.  Today's verse was asked in the form of a  question but within it there is a promise.  John Piper writes, "This is a promise of sorts — the simple promise of reality that you can discover from experience: Being anxious will simply not do you any good. That's a promise. This is not the main argument, but sometimes we just have to get tough with ourselves and say, "Soul, this fretting is absolutely useless. It promises nothing. You are not only messing up your own day, but a lot of other people's as well. Renounce it. Leave it with God. And get on with your work.  Anxiety accomplishes nothing worthwhile. That's a promise. Believe it. Act on it.

 

If Jesus is asking you any of those questions about anxiety today may we realize and acknowledge that "anxiety accomplishes nothing worthwhile, that's a promise, believe it and act upon it.

 

Blessings,

Mike

 

Matthew 6:25-34New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁵ "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.³³ Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

 

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

Verse of the Day 9/12

Verse  of  the Day 9/12

 

Isaiah 46:4  I will be the same until your old age,
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and save you.  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

 

At some  point we have to admit that  we  are past middle age,  that we are growing  old.  A common, (but not always) indicator is gray hair.  People  will  do  all  kinds  of  things to cover it up, to mask it for fear of  being considered or labeled  as old, but at some  point  we have to  admit  it.  As we age we realize that we  aren't as nimble, we  aren't as quick as we used to be and unfortunately, it is the way it is.

 

Reading today's verse made me smile,  I have to admit that I'm getting  older but the verse brings confidence, even moving  into  "old age", because  the  same God who has carried  me  through  the trials  of this  life will be carrying  me into, through and  beyond  old  age into  eternity.  Think about  these  promises of God to those who believe the first statement "I  have  made  you".  He  states through the prophet, "I  will carry you, I  will  bear you and  save you."   That is  encouragement  for  me and  I hope  it  is  for you  too.

 

Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Through eternal ages let His praises ring, Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,   Standing on the promises of God.
	Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God my Savior; Standing, standing,   I'm standing on the promises of God.
	Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail,   Standing on the promises of God.

 

Let's review the promises in this verse -  "I will be the  same  to  your  old  age",  I will  bear you up when  you turn gray, I will carry you, I  will  bear  you,  I  will  save  you.  Count on it.

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

Isaiah 46:1-4The Message (MSG)

This Is Serious Business, Rebels

46 ^1-2 The god Bel falls down, god Nebo slumps.
    The no-god hunks of wood are loaded on mules
And have to be hauled off,
    wearing out the poor mules—
Dead weight, burdens who can't bear burdens,
    hauled off to captivity.

^3-4 "Listen to me, family of Jacob,
    everyone that's left of the family of Israel.
I've been carrying you on my back
    from the day you were born,
And I'll keep on carrying you when you're old.
    I'll be there, bearing you when you're old and gray.
I've done it and will keep on doing it,
    carrying you on my back, saving you.

 

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

Verse of the Day 9/10

Verse of the Day 9/10

1 Corinthians 1:23-24  but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.    English Standard Version (ESV)

Yesterday we read of Paul's call to Timothy to "preach the Word", in season and out of season.  The Gospel is the message of the cross and Jesus death and resurrection, His victory over the grave.

I read the following statement by J.C. Ryle in today's "Grace Gems" devotional.  As I read it today's verse came to my mind in relation to yesterday's verses.  J.C. Ryle writes, "There is a common, worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have, and think they have enough. It is a cheap Christianity which offends nobody, and requires no sacrifice--which costs nothing, and is worth nothing."

In many churches watered down messages will be given that will have the intention of not offending anyone.  If you won't take that risk, you won't correct, challenge or change a person.  You will offer what Ryle refers to as  a "cheap Christianity".    This "Christianity" that requires no sacrifice, which costs nothing is not true Christianity and is worth nothing at all.

True Christianity will resemble what Paul spoke of in Galatians 2:

Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   English Standard Version (ESV)

May these words be our testimony today:

I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today
I know that He is living, whatever men may say
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way
He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart

--   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    

1 Corinthians 1:20-25The Message (MSG)

^18-21 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written,

I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

^22-25 While Jews clamor for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified. Jews treat this like an anti-miracle—and Greeks pass it off as absurd. But to us who are personally called by God himself—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God's ultimate miracle and wisdom all wrapped up in one. Human wisdom is so tinny, so impotent, next to the seeming absurdity of God. Human strength can't begin to compete with God's "weakness."