Verse for Today - Psalm 2:9-11 (click to read)

"Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."

 These verses from Psalm 2 are remarkably pointed.  They speak prophetically of the coming Messiah... and more.  They warn the mighty, the rich and powerful people of earth.  By logical extension, the commands and warnings to them, are commands and warnings to all (ourselves included).

The Kings and Judges of the world might have influence and wealth now, but one day THEY will all give account before the Lord of all.  They are told to respond rightly, with wisdom, to the Christ the Lord.  "Be wise," "Be instructed," Serve the LORD with fear and Rejoice with trembling."  "Kiss the Son." 

Why?  Because when He returns, it will be for judgment.  How one responds to the Gospel of Christ makes all the difference.  Those who pay Him no respect will perish; but "blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."    

"God's grace is free, but it costs you everything."  If you have questions, I can tell you about the One who has the answers.  :)

Verse for Today 2 Corinthians 12:9-12 (click to read mini-blog)

I've been thinking about a quotation I heard from Allistar Begg in a recent message I heard a while back:  

"If dependence on God is the objective, then weakness is advantage."

I think this is quite profound. It certainly seems to be corollary to the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 12:9-12

"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

How often don't we resist or even resent weaknesses, trials and troubles? Yet, these are the very means by which the Lord draws us closer to Him. Any trial or adversity that draws us nearer to the Lord or causes us to depend more upon Him, is in the bigger picture, a blessing.

Ironically, in recent months, one of my recurring prayers has been that the Lord would mold me into a more effective and faithful minister of the Gospel. My hope is that the Lord would use me to strengthen the church I pastor and advance the broader work of the Kingdom. In recent weeks I've faced a few trials and discouragements, and have concluded that these were in affect the Lord's answer to my prayers.

"For when I am weak, then I am strong."

When we recognize our own inadequacies or weaknesses, we learn afresh our need of God and His grace.  When we recognize this, we will the more earnestly seek His aid and depend upon Him.

Truth be told we all need to believe and endure like Job. He endured loss of loved ones, financial ruin, and even his health, and responds to his exasperated wife, "Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” The Lord works in mysterious ways. He is pleased when we persevere through trials, when we trust His Word and hold fast to our integrity for His sake. As Peter says, “Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

Seems the point is that we should trust in God all the time, especially when going through trials.

Verse for Today - Ephesians 2:19,20 (Click for mini-blog)

Ephesians 2:19,20

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Ephesians 2

These two verse from Ephesians 2 are important.  They anchor a number of essential truths that affect how we're supposed to think about ourselves, the Church, and the Scriptures.

1. Ourselves.  The Book of Ephesians is written to essentially a "Gentile" church.  Most of the members were not of Hebrew or Jewish descent.  They are no longer "strangers and foreigners" but "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."   In other words, they are not second class citizens, but are fully on par with other members.  While this might not sound like that big a deal, it really is.  It identifies believers (regardless of race) as belonging to God... as those who have been bought and paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The Church.  The Church is composed of individual believers who become inter-related with each other..."fellow citizens and members of God's household" or family.  Pretty remarkable.  These words describe the core of our identity.  We really, truly, and genuinely become co-heirs with each other through the Gospel of grace in Christ.

3. The Scriptures.  Here's the zinger.  1 and 2 are amazing, but don't yet distinguish those who assume they are the Church from those who actually are.  3. The Scriptures are the only foundation on which the Church is built.  "The Foundation of the apostles and prophets" is the objective standard of the Word of God, such that our relationship to them determines our relationship to God.

Not everything that calls itself the Church is.  Only those who hold to the Scriptures and its message are true.  Paul affirms this in Ephesians 4:4f "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism...." And with earnestness in Galatians 1:8 when he says, "But even  if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed."    

So be like the Bereans in Acts 17 and search the Scriptures daily to see if these things are so.  :)

Verse for Today - Mark 8:36

"What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?"

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Mark 8

These semi-familiar words of Jesus strike at the heart of human existence.  Almost everyone everywhere evaluates their success or importance by material wealth.  To some extent this is probably true for each of us.   Advertisers know well how easily we are led along.  If only we had the next, new, better, shiny, even useful new thing, then we would be happy... or at least happier than we are right now.  If you think about it you know this isn't really true.  Material things and improved appearance won't make you happy...in fact they can't make you happy.

We are not random compilations of DNA.  No, we are special creations of Almighty God.  In fact, we were all created in the image of God Himself.  To suppose that we could find the fullest expression of earthly happiness apart from God is to not be thinking too clearly.  The Apostle Paul speaks of this inRomans 1:25, where he says unbelieving people "exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."

So what does this have to do with Mark 8:36?  Well, I'm just agreeing with Jesus.  It does NOT profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul.   Instead, all should humble themselves before God, confess their sins and pray to Him for grace and forgiveness through His Son, the only Savior Jesus Christ.  

If you have questions, I know the One with the answers (and I'm sharing).

-- 

Verse for Today - Ephesians 3:17b-19 (click to read mini-blog)

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Ephesians 3

-- 

This out-of-place benediction is found in the middle of Ephesians 3.  The Apostle Paul has been expounding the outworking of the God's redemptive plan.  From the beginning He was planning to extend his transforming grace to people of every race, language and location around the world.  For a time, the Nation of Israel (the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) were THE covenant people of God... but now through the Gospel of Christ, the People of God has been expanded to include believers from every race and place.  Those of Hebrew descent are now just a part (albeit the root) of God's cosmopolitan global congregation, His Church.

This is the MYSTERY we read about at several points in the Book of Ephesians (1:9, 3:3, 3:4, and 3:9)... The Creator of all, is the Lord of all, and the God of all... and by His Sovereign grace calls them (and brings them) to Himself through His Son, the Savior Jesus Christ. 

I don't know a better way to conclude that with the verses just preceding Today's Verse:  

^"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;"  Ephesians 3:14-17

 This is my prayer for you too.

Verse for Today - Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Philippians 4

The Problem:

Sometimes we let life get us down.  We worry about our finances, our friendships, our jobs, our activities, our time... our futures.  How will everything ever work out?  

If this is something you do, then Today's Verse is just what you need hear. 

First off the verse tells us not to worry or be to be anxious.  Easier said than done, right?  Well, most any time when the Bible tells us not to do something, it's because we naturally tend to.  This might be our initial response, but we shouldn't stay there.

The Solution:

We should voice our concerns to God.  As the Apostle says, "in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  We're never stronger than when we're relying upon the grace to God to help.  It might seem artificial or forced at first, but God will hear the prayers of those who call upon Him.  He is near to the brokenhearted.  While these verses are written to believers, there is an implicit promise those who are still coming to him.  We pray... God listens.

Then the peace and presence of God will help you through... it "will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."   

Pretty encouraging, don't you think?

Verse for Today - Isaiah 53:3-4

Isaiah 53:3-4

"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Isaiah 53

Tis the Season... for remembering what Christ did to save us from our sins.  In vivid fashion Isaiah 52:13-53:12 recounts the expectation, experience and anticipated outcome of the Messiah's work.  

Today's verses recount some of how He would be perceived by the people of His day.   He came as the Suffering Servant.  He came bearing the sins of his people.  While on Palm Sunday He was hailed as their King, in just a few short days he would be rejected, despised, spit upon.  No doubt the people (when they saw His broken, beaten and bloodied body) thought He was then getting what He deserved.  They did not understand that He was really getting what THEY deserved.

2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Verse for Today - I Corinthians 13:1-3 (Click to read mini blog)

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

These verses are beautiful, as is the chapter as a whole.  The Apostle Paul is describing the necessity, nature and value of LOVE.  In these first three verses he mentions several acts of piety and religious zeal, but indicates that the essential element is love.  So much is this the case, that if any or all of these things are done without love, they lack any value or worth.

The Corinthians were contentious.  They sought to build up their own esteem and importance.  The Apostle had spent most of chapter 12 admonishing them regarding spiritual gifts and how they were to use them for the benefit of others.  When he comes to this chapter, he extols the virtue of love.  He describes how love acts, what it looks like, how a person with love thinks and treats others.

Of course one of the important points in this chapter is that reveals the nature and character of God and His love... and of course how we should love each another. In John 15:2 Jesus said,

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." 

Think about that. 

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."

Read at Bible Gateway

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 - II Corinthians 5:18-20 (click to read mini-blog)

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of 2 Corinthians 5

In these verses the Apostle Paul is emphasizing the centrality of God in providing salvation.  How much more clearly could he state it?  "All this is from God." He is the one that provided His Son as our Savior. And Jesus would be true to His name, "For He would save his people from their sin" (Matthew 1:21).  

These truths become the basis for what the apostle says next.  God does it all, but He administers His grace through the ministry of Gospel preaching... "the message of reconciliation."  Ambassadors represent those who send them.  They don't have authority beyond their charged responsibility.  In the case of Christian ministers, they plead the Gospel message on behalf of God and Christ.  They are exhorted to exhort you: 

"BE RECONCILED TO GOD!"

(If you haven't already, know that your present and future happiness depend on it.)

Verse for Today - Psalm 118:5-6 (click to read mini-blog)

 "I called on the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Psalm 118

Psalm 118 is a Psalm of distinction for a number of reasons.  

1. It's overall message and theme are edifying and encouraging.  The first and last verse of the Psalm urge us to "Give thanks to the Lord; for His mercy endures forever."

2. It is located between the shortest and the longest Psalms, #117 and #119.

3. More than this (and I'm relying on an article I once read), Psalm 118 is said to be middle chapter of the Bible.  Incidentally, this is why if you take your bible in hand and open it to the middle, you will probably open to one of the 150 Psalms. 

 

4. The Psalm progresses from the writer's personal experience of deliverance (vss. 5,6), to the Messianic expectation of Christ and His ultimate victory over all his enemies (and ours) (vss. 21-28)... esp. verses 22,23 and 26:

²² The stone which the builders rejected
         Has become the chief cornerstone.
²³ This was the LORD’s doing;
         It is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
         We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

Verse for Today - Isaiah 1:16-17

Isaiah 1:16-17

"Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow."

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Isaiah 1

Isaiah 1 is an interesting chapter.  I would recommend reading it.  I have a memory from my early childhood of a minister reading the first verses about how a oxen and donkeys have more sense than God's covenant people.   I think there's supposed to be something appalling about it.  People should pay proper respect to the One who brought the forth, clothed and cared for them.  The prophet goes so far as to say that the people of Israel would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah (completely destroyed and consumed by the anger of the Lord), except the LORD had left a remnant among them... a few examples of His grace and mercy.

As painful and sore as this is, the most remarkable part of the chapter is found in and after the verses we're looking at today.  Our verses today are a call to repent, turn from sin, and do what God commands.  Pretty tough call for spiritually dead, sinful people.  But there is hope.  Jesus said that His people will hear His voice and follow Him.  It is His voice that we hear in these verses.  They awaken and bestow spiritual life to those who hear. 

In fact, they form the premise to the wonderful Gospel call in verses 18 and following.    Hear and heed God's voice!

“ Come now, and let us reason together,” 
      Says the LORD, 
      “ Though your sins are like scarlet, 
      They shall be as white as snow; 
      Though they are red like crimson, 
      They shall be as wool. 
      If you are willing and obedient, 
      You shall eat the good of the land; 
      But if you refuse and rebel, 
      You shall be devoured by the sword”; 
      For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Verse for Today - Micah 6:8 (click to read mini-blog)

Micah 6:8

" He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? "

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Micah 6

As a person comes to faith and becomes aware of what it means to be a Christian and live out the Christian faith, they often ask the question answered by the Prophet Micah in this verse.  What does God want from us?  Why would he call us out spiritual death and darkness into His spiritual Light?  

The ultimate answer to these questions is stated by saying "for this glory."  God has chosen to reveal his justice and mercy by condemnation and salvation.  The why's and wherefore's on this level are hidden in the secret counsels and will of God.  However, these questions can also be answered more directly in terms of how should we respond to God for the act of His grace whereby we go from being children of wrath, to the children of God.

This is where Micah 6:8 is helpful.  How should we act and live in God's world?  How can we show  our thankfulness to God for his Grace?  

1. Live justly.  Be fair and kind.  If you know the right thing to do, do it.  You will never regret honoring God with your good conduct.

2. Love Mercy.  Be gracious and to forgiving.  Remember others have weaknesses just like you.  Don't hold others to a higher standard than you hold yourself.

3. Walk Humbly with your God.  Recognize your place before Him.  He has given His only Son to pay the price of your redemption.  The least you can do is thank Hhim and show this thankfulness with your time, prayer and worship.

Verse for Today - Titus 2:11-12 (click to read mini-blog)

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,”

 Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of Titus 2

 This is a good verse for us to consider as we begin the New Year.  The Apostle Paul wrote this epistle/letter to a you pastor named Titus.  He was left in Crete to organize and minister to the believers there.  He was challenged by the culture and popular opinion to go with the flow, but was urged to faithfully teach by words and example how to live the Christian faith.  

In fact, this is precisely how Chapter 2 begins… he tell Titus what he should teach to the different age groups that compose the church… to older and younger, to the men and women, even to servants and masters (basically equivalent to today’s employees and employers).  The Scriptures are relevant to all.  Whatever weaknesses challenge us most are those that are to be taught against. 

As we begin a new year, we too should “say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and live self-controlled, upright and godly lives…”   In the next two verses the Apostle concludes:

“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

How zealous are you gonna be in 2012?

Verse for Today - 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17

" Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. "

Read at Bible Gateway

Read all of 2 Corinthians 5

What a great verse to begin our 2012 Verse for Today posts.  The Apostle Paul is explaining the remarkable change or transformation that takes place in a person's life when they become a Christian.  Fundamentally, this change is called regeneration, or being born again.  However, the Apostle Paul is referring to this fact as an encouragement or perhaps a reminder.

You see in the Christian life there is this ongoing tension between the old and the new... between the flesh and the spirit.  This reality is clearly taught in Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."  Romans 7 speaks of the same struggle.  

The Apostle Paul brings this up in II Corinthians 5 to encourage us all to fully experience and rest in this spiritual reality.  He wants us to see ourselves, the world and others from the proper perspective.  Just a few verses before he stated: "that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."  

Our experience of this spiritual reality takes place in time over the course of our lives.  In a sense it is something that we almost enforce upon ourselves. We remind ourselves of what the Word says and then act upon it... live it out.  The Apostle says to the believer, If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.  

Remember it.  Believe it.  Live it.