Verse of the Day 2/14

Verse of the Day 2/14    

John 13:34-35

New International Version

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today is a day where love will be expressed perhaps more than any other day across the country, in the form of cards, texts, emails and notes attached to flowers given to celebrate the event. Few will probably carry out love to the extent that Jesus states here in today's verses.

In this passage Jesus speaks of this love while predicting the denials of Peter. It could not have come easy, but that is how this love is. It will be hard at times.  It is a love that shows devotion, compassion and mercy as can only be provided through the grace and power of Christ and the power of the Spirit working in us. It is a love with weight behind it. It is a love that survives through "thick and thin".

I'm reminded of what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians, while not using the word love, the verses convey another quality of love, that of renewal day by day in spite of the "momentary troubles" of life.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 New International Version  16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

The love of God is greater far
  Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
  And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
  God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
  And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!
  How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
    The saints' and angels' song.

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

John 13:31-38

New International Version

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[a] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"

Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."

38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

Verse of the Day 2/12

Verse of the Day 2/12

Psalm 84:10-11

New International Version

10 Better is one day in your courts

    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

My daily reading in the Psalms this morning was in Psalm 83. Knowing that Psalm 84 was right ahead I chose today's verses, I couldn't wait for tomorrow to read on ahead. My morning quiet times are some of my favorite times, looking forward to what the Lord will have for me each day spent in His Word.

While grace is not spoken of in the verses, verse 11 speaks of God's favor and honor and that He doesn't hold back from giving us what we need.  Charles Spurgeon writes, "Grace in all its forms he freely renders to his people: comforting, preserving, sanctifying, directing, instructing, assisting grace, he generously pours into their souls without ceasing, and he always will do so, whatever may occur. Sickness may befall, but the Lord will give grace; poverty may happen to us, but grace will surely be afforded; death must come but grace will light a candle at the darkest hour. Reader, how blessed it is as years roll round, and the leaves begin again to fall, to enjoy such an unfading promise as this, "The Lord will give grace." 

Did you catch that one statement above, "he always will do so"?  We can count on it 

Verse 10 speaks of being a "doorkeeper" in the house of God. Today, we might call that person a greeter.  They are happy to be there and welcome all with a smile. I bet that you can picture some of the greeters at your church as you read this.  Perhaps, you are one of them. The next time you see them, smile, thank them for their ministry as you enter the sanctuary.

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus.  (Give Me Jesus - Fernando Ortega)

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

Psalm 84

New International Version

Psalm 84[a]

For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
    Lord Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints,
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
    for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
    Lord Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
    they are ever praising you.[c]

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs;
    the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion.

8 Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e] O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.

10 Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

12 Lord Almighty,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Verse of the Day 2/11

Verse of the Day 2/11

Romans 5:3-5

New International Version

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Our Monday Men's Bible Study Fellowship Group is going through the book of Revelation.  Last night we were in Revelation 14 and part of the discussion revolved around hope in the midst of sufferning.  I don't know how many of us could say that we "glory" in our sufferings, but in looking to Him we can praise Him even in the midst of our trials for His presence and guidance through them.

The lesson book used stated "The abundant life Jesus promised is not a life free of trouble but rather a life in which God is glorified.  Believers find His strength and even joy in the midst of suffering.  Christians lives often flourish through difficutly......When we suffer, God tenderizes our wayward hearts and teaches us how little we control.  We learn to dpend on God (and His Word) when we realize how much we need His sustainiing grace."   Amen to that!

The verses above mention perseverence and character and these things are grounded in the hope that we have in Him. This hope does not disappoint.

Seversal songs came to mind in relation to these thoughts.  The hymn "Praise Him, Praise Him" speaks of the hope of eternal salvation, just think for a minute of the scope of what that means to you. Now, read below some of the words from Jeremy Camp's song "There Will Be a Day".  This is our hope, and it is not a maybe, it will be.

I try to hold on to this world with everything I have
But I feel the weight of what it brings, and the hurt that tries to grab
The many trials that seem to never end, His word declares this truth
That we will enter in this rest with wonders anew

But I hold on to this hope and the promise that He brings
That there will be a place with no more suffering

There will be a day with no more tears
No more pain, and no more fears
There will be a day when the burdens of this place
Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face
But until that day, we'll hold on to you always

I know the journey seems so long
You feel you?re walking on your own
But there has never been a step
Where you?ve walked out all alone

Troubled soul don?t lose your heart
Cause joy and peace he brings
And the beauty that?s in store
Outweighs the hurt of life?s sting

What is the sting in your life today.  Be assurred that the beauty that's iin store will outweigh this life's hurting.

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

Verse of the Day 2/8

Verse of the Day 2/8

Ecclesiastes 3:11

New International Version

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet

no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Today's verse came up in my daily reading in the Wisdom literature mainly attributed to Solomon.  The third chapter of Ecclesiastes records the well known section "a time for every season".  Who can't read that passage without having the Byrds' song "Turn, Turn, Turn" come to mind?  Even in secular society I would say that most peple believe in some kind of afterlife and today's verse states it well, it is God that has put eternity in the human heart." There is a wonder about it and a desire to find the answer to what lies beyond.

St. Augustine famously wrote, "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until they find rest in you." In all those times and seasons mentioned earlier in the chapter God is there, He has given us the desire to find Him, to know Him, to understand Him and to praise Him in all of these seasons.

Pastor John Piper writes, "The self was never designed to satisfy itself or rely upon itself. It never can be sufficient. We are but in the image of God, not God himself. We are shadows and echoes. So there will always be an emptiness in the soul that struggles to be satisfied with the resources of self."

Is your heart at rest, have you found your rest in Him?  Finding it can leave you speechless.

So what kind of love can this be
That will trade heaven's throne for a cross
To think that you still celebrate
For finding just one who was lost.
To know you rejoice over us
The God of this whole universe.
It's a story too great for words

And I am speechless, I'm astonished and amazed
I am silenced by your wondrous grace.
You have saved me
You have raised me from the grave.
And I am speechless in your presence now.
I'm astounded as I consider how
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless
We are speechless

Oh, how great is the love
The Father has lavished upon us
That we should be called
The sons and the daughters of God

We are speechless
(We stand in awe of your grace)
so amazed
(We stand in awe of your mercy)
You have saved us
(We stand in awe of your love)
from the grave
(We are speechless)                   (Speechless - Steven Curtis Chapman)

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

Ecclesiastes 3:9-15

New International Version

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

15 Whatever is has already been,
    and what will be has been before;
    and God will call the past to account.[

Verse of the Day 2/5

Verse of the Day 2/5

Hebrews 10:36-37

New International Version

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

"In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay."

Our Tuesday Men's Bible study has been going through the book of 1 Thessalonians and yesterday we were in chapter 4 which begins the teaching on the events leading up to Jesus' second coming.  There will be trials and tribulations, but through it all we are called to persevere.

My wife Jean sent out a family newsletter at Christamas, knowing that it was going to be a challenging year to say the least, she said that it will be a year of perseverence. Today's verses remind us that in the challenges and trials of life, we need to hold onto what we believe and look with expectation for the day of His return.  Come Lord Jesus, come!

Pastor John Piper writes, "mainly we must focus on the preciousness of the promises and help each other value above all things how great the reward is that Christ has purchased for us. We must say to each other what Hebrews 10:35 says: "Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward." And then we must help each other see the greatness of the reward.....That is the main task of preaching, and the main purpose of small groups and all the ministries of the church: helping people see the greatness of what Christ has purchased for everyone who will value it above the world. Helping people see it and savor it, so that God's superior worth shines in their satisfaction and in the sacrifices that come from such a heart."

Through all seasons of the year, there is growth.  Even in winter you see growth. Crocuses often puch up throgh the snow, winter wheat and oats begin to grow and other plants that we may not even realize. So it is in our lives.  Those trials and challenges in our lives can also be times of growth in our lives, if we persevere.

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

You know where I've failed
My weakness has been unveiled
And yet by grace you choose to love and to forgive
So come what may our home is here to stay
A witness to the lasting promise He has made.     (God Causes All Things to Grow - Steve Green)

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

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

Hebrews 10:19-39

New International Version

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"[a] and again, "The Lord will judge his people."[b] 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

"In just a little while,
    he who is coming will come
    and will not delay."[c]

38 And,

"But my righteous[d] one will live by faith.
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back."[e]

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.