Verse for Today - Romans 11:33-36 (Click for mini-blog)

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?”
 “Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."

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Read all of Romans 11

I have probably said this before, but I would have to rate Romans 11:33-36 as some of my favorite verses.  These verses find themselves at the conclusion of some of the hardest chapters of the Bible... those that deal explicitly with God's sovereignty in election and reprobation.   These are things hard to understand... impossible to comprehend... and yet the very things that are revealed.  How can God be Sovereign and men be responsible?  It's a mystery, yet revealed truth.  The same God that sovereignly knew and loved his own from eternity past, is the same one who commands all men everywhere to repent...that  the Gospel should be preached to the ends of the earth.

These verses, perhaps as clear an any others, affirm that God is God and has the right and wisdom to do all that pleases.  He is not subject to our perceptions or understanding.  As human beings we are inherently limited in our scope and knowledge.  The psalmist and prophets affirm that we are like the grass or flowers of the field... we spring up, we grow, we bloom... and then we fade.  Not so with God.  "His ways are past finding out."  

After one thinks about these things, it's a good time to pray.  Amen?

Verse for Today - Romans 5:6-8 (click to read Mini-blog)

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

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Read all of Romans 5

Parts of the first 11 chapters of Romans are pretty intense.  Romans 5 would certainly be included in this.  Understanding the severe affect of the Fall and its consequences in the hearts and minds of men is essential.  

Today's verses are pretty clear on the affect of sin on our spiritual selves.  We are called "powerless."  In Ephesians 2:1-3 we are called "dead in sins" and "children of wrath."  All of which indicate the desperate and dark condition of the human heart.  None of this is new.  Before and after the Flood, the assessment of mankind was "only evil all the time" and the Prophet Jeremiah proclaims that the heart is "deceitful above all things" and "desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9).  

All this provides the amazing back drop for God's grace in the Gospel:  "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." 

If you can see your sin, look to the Savior. 

Verse for Today - Isaiah 53:5-6

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

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Read all of Isaiah 53

As we read these verses from Isaiah 53, it's amazing to think they were written 7-800 years before Jesus of Nazareth was born, lived and died.  This remarkable truth has to be responded to... somehow?  Either it adds conviction and thus comfort, by testifying to the historic prophecies fulfilled by Christ; OR it has to be rejected all together... relegated as either a forgery or maybe a pure coincidence.  

Interestingly, this passage from Isaiah is found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.... which pre-date the life of Christ.  That sort of rules out the possibility of it being forgery.  That leaves the possibility of all this being "a pure coincidence." 

It is clear that Jesus viewed himself as the Messiah sent to suffer and die for the sins of His people, "the Son of Man came to seek and so save that which was lost."    He was viewed by many of his contemporaries and especially His followers as the Christ, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

You dear reader should think about this (John 20:30,31):  

^"And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

Verse for Today - Psalm 33:4-5 (click to read about)

"For the word of the Lord is right,

And all His work is done in truth.
^{He loves righteousness and justice;}The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord."

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Read all of Psalm 33

Psalm 33 is remarkable on a number of levels.  In recent years it has become a favorite of mine.  It is subtitled in the NKJV "The Sovereignty of the Lord in Creation and History."  Verses 4 and 5 follow a five-fold exhortation to worship and rejoice before the Lord.  Verses 4 and 5 provide the "short" answer for why all of God's people should give glory to God.  The "long" answer is really the remainder of the Psalm.

Now let's consider these two verses.    The Lord Almighty and all that He does is impeccable... without sin.  He is and is the source of truth and righteousness.  These virtues (His virtues) are part of why we should worship and serve him.  Can we trust God?  Can we trust his words, will and commands?   ABSOLUTELY!  Listen to Deuteronomy 32:4:

"He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He."

These things cannot be said of anyone else.  Trust and worship the Living God.

Verse for Today - James 4:10 (Click to READ)

James 4:10

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

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Read all of James 4

This verse in James 4 is found amid of exhortations in which the inspired author instructs believes how to see themselves and live in the world.  I remember when I first read and preached on this passage I was almost embarrassed by the strong language and forceful words.  Verse 10 is mild by comparison.

We're told to humble ourselves before the Lord... we do this by recognizing his greatness and our sinfulness.  He is the Lord and Master of all and we are unworthy and undeserving creatures.  I've said before that when we pray with out faces to the ground, we are modeling the proper relationship between ourselves, others and God.  

A little earlier in this passage an important verse from Proverbs 3:34 is quoted: . 

"God opposes the proud 

 but shows favor to the humble."

That should be reason enough for us to obey today's verse... and yet there is also a promise... "and He will lift you up."  How cool is that.

Verse for Today - James 1:5 (Click to Read Brief)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." 

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Read all of James 1

James 1 is a profound chapter on many levels.  In this first section he is explaining how trials and troubles are commonplace in the Christian faith.  With a tinge of hyperbole he says we should count it a joy when we face these difficult times.  This exhortation is not based on the idea that we should "enjoy" the difficulties, but rather the beneficial affect of them.  

The exhortation of Today's Verse is a good reminder and concludes with an encouraging promise.  If these difficult times are leaving you at a loss, pray to God... ask him for wisdom and understanding.  Lean on Him and He will supply what you need.  

Earlier today (before even thinking about sending out this verse) I found myself singing the verse of "How Firm a Foundation."  Notice the question in Stanza 1 is answered in Stanzas 2-5 (especially 4).  I think they fit.

1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
   Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
   What more can He say than to you He hath said—
   To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2. “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
   For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
   I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
   Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
   The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
   For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
   And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
   My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
   The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
   Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
5. “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
   I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
   That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
   I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

Verse for Today - Matthew 7:12 (click to read mini-blog)

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

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Read all of Matthew 7

I mentioned the other day that this verse, which we frequently call the Golden Rule, is in a sense, a summary of the Summary (of the law) of the Summary (the Ten Commandments).   There are hundreds if commands in first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch)... according to some rabbi's count over 600.  The Ten Commandments are a distillation of God's revealed will... most all of the other 600+ commands can be arranged under the primary Ten Commandments.

The Summary of the Law, is stated by Christ in the New Testament, but he actually is quoting from Leviticus 19 and Deuteronomy 6.  

"Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”  Matthew 22:37-40

In today's verse Jesus states all this even more plainly.   If you ever want to know how you should treat others or whether you should do, pass your decision through this filter and the way will be clear.  Would you want others to do this unto you? 

 "FOR THIS SUMS UP THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS."