Verse of the Day 3/16

Verse of the Day 3/16

Proverbs 4:20-22

New Living Translation

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.

    Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don't lose sight of them.
    Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
    and healing to their whole body.

I've heard it said by many Bible commentators that the book of James can be considered as the Proverbs of the New Testament for it's practical principles and applications.  In yesterday's post we considered how James calls us to be "doers of the word and not hearers only'.  This means we are to take it in, take it to heart and apply it.

For today's verses we go back to the Old Testament book of Proverbs that gives us similar advice.  Note what the passage says, "pay attention", don't just skim through it like a check list of something to do; "listen carefully", spend some time to understand what you have just read and heard; "don't lose sight", keep God's Word before you daily, keep it in you mind and in your heart; "let them penetrate deep", let God's Word permeate you, your thoughts and actions; for .. they will bring life and healing to our bodies and help to restore our soul (Psalm 23).

Charles Stanley writes, "knowledge comes from hearing Biblical prinicples; wisdom has to do with applying them.  The Lord cautions us to keep His Word in our heart and in our heads so that we will heed His instructions."

Paul echos that sentiment when he writes in Colosians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs."

I'll close with an old hymn that came to mind as I just read that verse:

1 May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day,
By his love and pow'r controlling
All I do and say.

2 May the word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through his pow'r.

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

Proverbs 4:20-27

New King James Version

20 My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24 Put away from you a [a]deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26 Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.

Verse of the Day 3/15

Verse of the Day 3/15

James 1:22

New Living Translation

22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study began a study in the book of James this morning.  The book is filled with practical, everyday advice for the Christian.  Today's verse is one of those practical statements.  Putting what we learn from God's word into practice is what Bible reading, devotions and listening to sermons should be about. It should never be like so many of the commercials that we see on TV or hear on the radio which come in one ear and quickly go out the other.

John MacArthur writes, "Hearers" in James 1:22 translates a Greek word that speaks of auditing a class. Auditing students attend class and listen to the instructor but don't do any work. Consequently, they don't receive credit for the course. The phrase "delude themselves" speaks of being victimized by one's own faulty reasoning. People who listen to God's Word but never obey it are spiritual auditors who delude themselves by thinking that hearing the Word is all God requires of them. Unfortunately, many churches are full of such people. They attend services and hear the sermons but their lives never seem to change. They're content to hear the Word but never apply it. Like those whom Jesus condemned in Matthew 7, they've chosen religious activities over true faith in Christ."

The verse says that if we don't listen to and do what the Word says, we are fooling ourselves.  Bible reading, devotions, sermons and attending Bible studies don't mean much, other than being a checklist; if we don't apply what we hear in our daily lives.  When we take God's Word to heart, it becomes implanted and God will cause it to grow.

God causes all things to grow
Through every season we know
He will guard the life
That He's planted in our souls
And when we feel the cold winds blow
We'll hold to what we know
God causes all things to grow.   (Steve Green)

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

James 1:21-24

New King James Version

Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

Verse of the Day 3/13

Verse of the Day 3/13

Lamentations 3:22-23. New International Version

22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

The other day we considered God's great love for us in Daniel 9:23 along with the song "Count Your Many Blessings".  When you do so it may truly surprise you what the Lord has done.  Yesterday we considered Ephesians 5:20 where we are called to "always give thanks to the Father" and how we are to have "grateful hearts like a magnet ... collecting reasons for gratitude.

In the closing of our Pastor's sermon this morning he suggested that we take a walk and be "aware of the Lord's presence".  Here in North Carolina, if you were to do so you would see sunshine, blue skies, daffodils popping, pear treason blossoming, hear birds singing while feeling the cool crisp air on your face, all reasons to praise and give thanks.

Today's verses bring all of those thoughts together, at least for me.  Things in the world around us aren't any different than they were yesterday (except the weather) but our awareness of His presence changes our outlook, helping us to realize that God has "great love for us" and that is mercies, His compassions are there every day whether we see, feel, acknowledge it or not.   His is a steadfast, loyal love that is there faithfully each day.  

Daniel knew about trials, can you imagine being thrown into a lion's den and still awakening to a new morning and giving glory to God for it.  Jeremiah wrote Lamentations, 5 chapters of lament for the situation he and the nation found themselves in, yet in the midst of it, his heart was like a magnet, realizing God's great love for him even in troubled times.

The verses are the basis for one of my favorite hymns, which adds "pardon for sin and a peace that endureth" to the things that are picked up by our spiritual magnets.

1	"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
	"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!
2	Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3	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!

If you have the chance, go for a walk.  Feel His presence, praise Him for His faithfulness, His mercies and His steadfast, loyal love.

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

Lamentations 3:19-26

New King James Version

19 Remember my affliction and roaming,
The wormwood and the [a]gall.
20 My soul still remembers
And sinks within me.
21 This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.

22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

Verse of the Day 3/12

Verse of the Day 3/12

Ephesians 5:20

New Century Version

20 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The other day I posted the words to the old hymn "Count Your Manny Blessings".  With all that is going on around us from war in the Ukraine to the ongoing battle with COVID 19 and financial struggles due to rising inflation, it is easy to forget to count our blessings.  But when was the last time you thanked God for the ability to breath, to taste, to smell, to feel the warmth of the sun on your face or on your back; to see the flowers of spring "popping" or to see a child playing and laughing with their father or mother?

Max Lucado writes, "The grateful heart is like a magnet sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude. A zillion diamonds sparkle against the velvet of your sky every night. Thank you, God. A miracle of muscles enables your eyes to read these words and your brain to process them. Thank you, God. Your lungs inhale and exhale eleven thousand liters of air every day. Your heart will beat about three billion times in your lifetime. Your brain is a veritable electric generator of power."

Amid the challenges of the day, may your heart be a "greatful magnet", sweeping over the day to draw out and perhaps discover anew things to be thankful for. It may change your day and that of those around you.

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

Ephesians 5:15-20

New International Version

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse of the Day 3/9

Verse of the Day 3/9

Daniel 9:23

English Standard Version

23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

Today's verse has been on my mind recently.  With all that is going on in the world and in our own lives, war; illness; finances and other things that can cause anxiety, the verse is a reminder to us that we should turn to the Lord in prayer, seek His mercy, seek His grace and seek His guidance. 

Daniel was a man of prayer.  He was a man of faith but he still had concerns for the events that we evolving around him personally and for his countrymen.  In response to his prayer in this passage, God sent the angel Gabriel to him in a vision telling him, reminding him that he was greatly loved by God.  It should serve as an example to us to remind us that we are loved by God as well.  Today's verses reveal to Daniel and reveal to us that God has heard our prayers "at the beginning of our pleas".  He knows the full story, we don't need to bring Him up to date.

If you are feeling anxiety, pray; go to His Word.  If you are in financial straights, facing illness; feeling anxious or worried about what lies ahead; read the following verses and know that your prayers are heard and that God can speak to you through His word to encourage you in your circumstances.  They are may be a place today where you can begin to "count your blessings".

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . . to proclaim good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18). "The sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings" (Malachi 4:2). "[He is] gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29). "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14).

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.

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

Daniel 9:17-23

English Standard Version

17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord,[a]

Dan 9:17-23 ESV - - Bible Gateway

 make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name."

Gabriel Brings an Answer

20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, 21 while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, "O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.

Verse of the Day 3/6

Verse of the Day 3/6

Deuteronomy 33:26-27. New International Version

26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,

    who rides across the heavens to help you
    and on the clouds in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
    saying, 'Destroy them!'

I woke up last night in the middle of the night and verse 29, above, for some reason came to my mind, "underneath are the everlasting arms".  When I opened up my email this morning, the first devotional I read was on this verse.  When something like that happens, I feel that God has brought it to my attention for a reason.  Someone reading this also needed to read, to feel this today.

From the loss of a loved one: chronic illness; inflation making it harder to make ends meet; concerns for Ukraine and global conflict there are plenty of things that can bring us down.  We may feel like things are in a hopeless downward spiral.  These verses and God's Word; God's character encourage us and give us hope.

Pastor John Piper writes, "You may be going through things right now that are painfully preparing you for some precious service to Jesus and to his people. When a person strikes rock bottom with a sense of nothingness or helplessness, he may find that he has struck the Rock of Ages. You cannot sink so low in despairing of your own resources that God does not see and care. In fact, he is at the bottom waiting to catch you."

I'm reminded of the old hymn, learned as a child and emblazoned in my mind that is based on this verse.  Whatever you may be facing today, may this be your attitude, may this be your song, realizing that in all these things, underneath are the everlasting arms.

1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
   • Refrain:
     Leaning, leaning,
     Safe and secure from all alarms;
     Leaning, leaning,
     Leaning on the everlasting arms.
2. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms;
   Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.
3. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms?
   I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
   Leaning on the everlasting arms.

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

Deuteronomy 33:26-29

New International Version

26 "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,
    who rides across the heavens to help you
    and on the clouds in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
    saying, 'Destroy them!'
28 So Israel will live in safety;
    Jacob will dwell secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
    where the heavens drop dew.
29 Blessed are you, Israel!
    Who is like you,
    a people saved by the Lord?
He is your shield and helper
    and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
    and you will tread on their heights."

Verse of the Day 3/5

Verse of the Day 3/5

1 Corinthians 6:14

English Standard Version

14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.

A friend of mine recently passed away from complications related to COVID.  He was a believer and we know that He is now with His Savior.  Today's verses are a reminder for those of us who lose loved ones that have loved the Lord that though they are now "absent from the body they are present with the Lord."  His resurrection showed us that there is life beyond the grave.  Death should not be looked upon as an end but a transition.

Pastor Rick Warren writes, "We miss that the story of the Resurrection isn't just Jesus' story — it's our story as well.

You see, you are a part of the Resurrection. Jesus' death and Resurrection didn't just prove there was life after death. The Resurrection proves you can have life after death, that there's life beyond your grave.Jesus says, if you trust in him, death becomes a transition, not an ending point."

While we miss those who have gone to be with the Lord, we rejoice in the fact that they are now with their Savior and that one day, we will see Him too.

1.Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2 Corinthians 5:8-9. New King James Version

8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.   9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

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

1 Corinthians 6:12-14

New Living Translation

12 You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything. 13 You say, "Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food." (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can't say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. 14 And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.