Verse of the Day 8/21

Verse of the Day 8/21

Psalm 16:11  You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.    New King James Version (NKJV)

As I read this Psalm, written by King David, this morning a couple of thoughts came to my mind in relation to this verse.  Davids first statement here is that God will show him the path of life, it is a quiet confidence that God will guide and direct his steps through the hills and valleys and the dark times and brighter days.  He then draws upon his experiences in life where He has experienced "fullness" joy in God's presence in and through life's ebb and flow.  Both of these can point to Psalm 23 where David states that God had led him beside still waters and that his cup overflows.  With these things already stated he moves on to the last statement, "at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."  At God's right hand means that he is close to God and is aware that the Lord is with him always and he looks for an eternity spent with him.

David Jeremiah writes, "The psalmist, David, anticipated the "fullness of joy" in God's presence—"pleasures forevermore." He looked forward to the eternal pleasure of experiencing God's presence, what we would refer to, from a New Testament perspective, as heaven. Not evident in the English translation of Psalm 16:11 is the fact that the word "joy" is plural in Hebrew, this plural form also occurs in Psalm 45:15. The plural form intensifies the joy David anticipated: absolute joy, various joys, or intense joy. This was no idle or casual expectation on his part; he was absolutely looking forward to the multifaceted joy of dwelling in God's presence forever."

The Westminster Shorter Catechism of 1648 states "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever." Think about that, while we live we have been created to bring glory to God and look forward to spending eternity with Him in the fullness of joy that David speaks of while continuing to glorify Him!  

These thoughts brought to mind the old hymn.  Hopefully, it rings true in you heart today and will forevermore.

Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow'r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;

Once I was lost in sin's degradation,
Jesus came down to bring me salvation,
Lifted me up from sorrow and shame,
Now I belong to Him;

Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

--   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 16:7-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.^[a]
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being^[b] rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.^[c]

¹¹ You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Verse of the Day 8/19

Verse of the Day 8/19

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.    English Standard Version (ESV)

A sailor on the open sea has to "be watchful" to see changes in the weather approaching; a soldier standing guard is on the lookout for the enemy; both point to the importance of constantly being aware of what is going on around us.  As Christians we have to be aware to be watchful as well.  Still, there are some storms and challenges in our lives that come on all of a sudden.  Instantly we find ourselves in a battle, sometimes for our lives and we must stand.  What we put our faith in, what it is that we stand on and for will make all of the difference.

Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "God will get you through your storms if you've built your life on Jesus Christ. And when you're going through those storms, you'll learn a little bit, because character is not made in crisis; it is revealed.....The storm reveals who you are and what kind of faith you have.....It comes down to this: a faith that can't be shaken is a faith that has been shaken. Hardships will come in life, but God will be there to sustain you. So, put your faith in Him."

Putting our faith in God is the foundation that we need to stand firm in the faith.  If you look back in your life you'll likely see times when your faith had been shaken but you also look at these times or seasons that they have worked to strengthen your faith.

The second verse above, verse 14 almost looks like a stand alone verse, but it is not.  It goes along with what we've been considering the last few days of "doing good" and "doing no harm".  To stand strong, to stand in faith to walk on in faith requires that we do so in love, because He's making the way.

Searching for purpose, you know the way then
Praying through so many silent hours
Finding a breath when you feel like fainting
Loving the lover you are right now

You just gotta have faith

It's light for the shadows, for all your tomorrows
It's knowing He's there through the sun and the rain
It's when you believe it, before you can see it
And you can walk on 'cause he's making the way

Just gotta have some faith, faith
You gotta have some faith, faith   (Faith - Jordan Feliz)

--   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 16:13-18 New King James Version (NKJV)

Final Exhortations

¹³ Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done with love.

¹⁵ I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints— ¹⁶ that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.

¹⁷ I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. ¹⁸ For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.

Verse of the Day 8/18

Verse of the Day 8/18

Ephesians 2:10 God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That's why he sent Christ to make us what we are.    Contemporary English Version (CEV)

I read today's verse in my devotions the other day in the Contemporary English Version (above) and appreciated how it says that "God planned for us to do good things".  Stop and think about that for a minute (or longer); God has a plan for us and it is to do good things. Everything that we do should be held up against that statement.  You've heard people say that we are to do good or "do no harm".  Are we doing things that are harmful?  If so, they are contrary to what God has planned for us.  These thoughts bring me back to Romans 8:28 where we read that "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

I would encourage and challenge you to read through the rest of the passage below.  It is probably more well known for verses 8 & 9 which tell us that it is "by grace that we have been saved through faith, and it is not of our own doing" but God's work in us, often through His Word abiding and working in us.  But remember, this is not something that comes naturally for us nor is it something that we can do in our own power.  Verse1 starts out by saying that we "were dead" our sin and then in verse 4 we have one of the most important little words in our lives "but"; but God, rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ.  Let that sink in, realize it, experience it, and apply it in your life.

Spend some time in this passage, let it speak to you and take a  look at what God has done for you through Jesus Christ.

I have fallen short of glory
I can't make it on my own
If You kept record of my past
I'd be sinking like a stone

But God, rich in mercy
You came to save me
Now I'm alive
But God, strong and mighty
You reached down for me
So I could rise

Now I'm breathing in, I'm breathing out
I was in the grave, but God You called me out
I'm breathing in, I'm breathing out
I was in the grave, but God You called me out   (Alive - Big Daddy Weave)

Breathe in and breathe out and be thankful that you are alive in Christ and He has planned good things for 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    

Ephesians 2:1-10 English Standard Version (ESV)

By Grace Through Faith

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^[b] 4 But^[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may 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 8/17

Verse of the Day 8/17

Romans 15:5-6   God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. ⁶ Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Contemporary English Version (CEV)

The read through the New Testament plan that I'm following recently brought me to Romans chapter 15 where we go for today's verses.  What caught my attention at the beginning of this chapter was the heading "Please Others and Not Yourself".  This statement is very counter cultural in our day and in our society.  Much of what we see going around us has to do with people "pleasing themselves".  Taking advantage of situations and other people for personal benefit and gain without any thought to who might be affected by our actions.

Back in 1972 the late Ricky Nelson came out with the hit single "Garden Party".  It was a very catchy tune and the chorus of it just seemed to roll off the tongue.  It felt natural and easy to sing along with and the more you sang along with it the more you believed it.  It is a basically a cheerful song but those who follow its mantra would not find peace in following its suggestions.

"But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself"

Today's verses and God's Word in general, has some better advice.  Being patient and cheerful are things that come from and can be found in God alone.  By following His Words we can live at peace and hope with each other in these troubled times as we treat others with kindness, love and respect.  As verse 4 says in the Contemporary English Version states:

Romans 15:4 And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope.   Contemporary English Version (CEV)

--   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    

Romans 15 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Please Others and Not Yourself

15 If our faith is strong, we should be patient with the Lord's followers whose faith is weak. We should try to please them instead of ourselves. ² We should think of their good and try to help them by doing what pleases them. ³ Even Christ did not try to please himself. But as the Scriptures say, "The people who insulted you also insulted me." ⁴ And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. ⁵ God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. ⁶ Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse of the Day 8/14

Verse of the Day 8/14

Psalm 1:1-2  God blesses those people

    who refuse evil advice
    and won't follow sinners
    or join in sneering at God.
² Instead, the Law of the Lord
    makes them happy,
    and they think about it
    day and night.    Contemporary English Version (CEV)

In my daily readings in the Psalms I just completed the book yesterday which meant that today I am starting over, this time, in the Contemporary English Version.  When I read this translation of verse 1 what caught my attention was the reference to those who "refuse evil advice" as being blessed.  It reminded me of the passage that we considered the other day from Proverbs 1, written by Solomon, David's son which said "if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them". (Proverbs 1:10).  It seems that David and Solomon recognized the importance of being careful of whom we listen to.  The English Standard Version below shows a downward spiral of "walking " while taking the advice of the wicked; "standing" in the way with sinners; and "sitting" in the seat of scoffers.

As you walk along someone can come up to you and offer to sell you something.  You may listen or not or tell them to go.  Listening to their sales pitch is the starting point.  Once you stop walking and stand still, they know that they have your attention you've opened yourself up to greater risk.  When they ask you to "come over here" to sit and talk about it you've made a greater commitment.  That's the progression, each stage shows a greater level of comfort to what is being said.

We are to reject enticements that are contrary to God's Word and use His Word do so just as Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11.  The other thing to think about this is that we will be blessed when we do so.  David Jeremiah suggests that we count the blessings found in these verses when he writes:

"In verse 1, you are blessed by your separation—the things you don't do and people you avoid ("Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel in the ungodly"). In verse 2, you're blessed by your meditation ("But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates…"). In verse 3, you're blessed by your maturation as God develops you ("like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit"). And in verses 4-6, you are blessed in your destination ("The Lord knows the way of the righteous")."

If you walk with the Lord in the light of His word you will receive blessings.  David Jeremiah continues, " blessings for those who turn away from harmful habits, rededicate themselves to studying and meditating on God's Word, envision themselves as trees by channels of water, and look forward to God's leading every step of the way. "

May you be blessed by your "separation" from the things you should avoid; by your meditation in God's Word; by your "maturation" as your faith grows by it; and by realizing your eternal "destination" as you walk along the way.  We are to refuse evil and instead walk with the Lord.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

--   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 1 English Standard Version (ESV)

Book One

The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 Blessed is the man^[a]
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law^[b] of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
⁴ The wicked are not so,
    but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
    nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked will perish.

Verse of the Day 8/13

Verse of the Day 8/13

Romans 12:17-18 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.   English Standard Version (ESV)

We've been considering how the apostle Peter called for us to "Honor all people and love the brotherhood" (1 Peter 2:17) and yesterday how King Solomon indicated that those who listen to God's wisdom will live in safety, without fear of harm."  Today's verses came up in the read through the New Testament plan that I am following.  In the NIV translation (below), the heading for the passage is "Love in Action".  To love one another is a common theme in the Bible and this includes everyone, friend and enemy alike.

Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "During the Civil War, someone asked President Abraham Lincoln why he was making friends of his enemies when he should be thinking about destroying them. Lincoln replied, "Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"

We've all heard of the term "payback" where someone seeks to inflict harm or damage to someone who may have done something wrong to them.  This is not a Biblical picture.  Our country has a long tradition of "payback", we all know of the "Hatfield's and McCoys".  How much better off would we be if we followed Abraham Lincoln's advice and got rid of our enemies by making them friends?  It won't be easy, but it is possible and it starts with treating others, even our enemies, as we would like to be treated ourselves.

What would happen to the unrest in our communities and the discord in our nations capital between parties if there was more effort made to "give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all" and "live peaceably with all?"

Read the passage below from Romans 12 "Love in Action".

Romans 12:12   Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.    New International Version (NIV)

--   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    

Romans 12:9-21 New International Version (NIV)

Love in Action

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.^[a] Do not be conceited.

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"^[b] says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
    if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."^[c]

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.