Word for Today, Mon, 15 Mar 2004: Weekly Verses
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's message consists of the compilation of daily scripture
verses, thoughts and meditations on each verse, and a daily
prayer, compiled into a collection called Weekly Verses. You
can find the individual messages at Crosswalk.com, and if you so
choose, you can either read them online or subscribe to them by
Email. I frequently include the Weekly Verses collection in my
messages, so if you're not a regular Email or Web subscriber,
you will often find Phil Ware's messages among the messages that
I pass on to the readers of this list.
This week's collection of verses are directly connected with the
work of Jesus Christ, what He's done for us, how He speaks to
us, how He brings us a lasting hope, how He is the Way.
My prayer for those who don't really understand these things is
that these passages will lead you closer to a place where you
may find Christ - and ultimately fully trust Him for
everything. For those who've already found Christ, I pray that
your personal relationship with Jesus Christ will be renewed and
refreshed, especially if it has somehow stagnated.
I pray that each of us realizes that Jesus gave us everything in
every possible way, and He had to become human to do it - first
to live among us without exercising any godly power, to identify
with us, fully appreciating our human condition. Then He gave
up all rights, not only His godly rights, but His human rights
as well. He had the power to do things any way, but by
completely offering His own life, He paid for our misdeeds and
the misdeeds of all humanity - for all who completely trust God
and realize that it is the sacrifice of Jesus' human life that
makes us right with God - not anything we do or can do.
Interestingly enough, it is also this freedom that allows us to
actually live good, worthwhile lives, loving and caring for one
another, even to the point of being sacrificial in the choices
that we make.
May we love and serve one another out of kindness in our hearts
and gratitude for what God has planned for us and what Jesus
Christ has done for us.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.20005.1.293748
March 15, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.20005.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets
at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he
has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all
things, and through whom he made the universe.
--Hebrews 1:1-2
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God is a speaking God. He loves us and has chosen to get
his message to us in words. First there were the patriarchs
and great prophets. Then there was the written record in the
Scriptures. But God's greatest message, his most powerful
words, were not really words at all, but a person named Jesus
of Nazareth, who is Christ and Lord of all. For us, his
Church, to be what he wants us to be, we must not just look at
Scripture, we must also look at him. He is the key to
understanding what Scripture means and how it is to be lived.
MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, help me to see Jesus and his work and purpose
more clearly as I open your Book and seek to understand your
will. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I may greet each
decision awakened to the answer to "What would Jesus do?"
Through Jesus, my Lord and Savior I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me
will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be
thirsty."
--John 6:35
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
We crave food at regular intervals during the day. During
this holiday season food occupies our thoughts and fills up our
activities. But deep in our soul is a hunger, a soul hunger.
It cannot be filled by food, drink, or chemicals. This hunger
was the desire built into us by our Creator, placed there when
he knit us together in our mother's womb. This hunger can only
be satiated by Jesus.
MY PRAYER...
Please fill me, my Father, with Jesus. Give me today, my
Daily Bread, that I may find life in all its fullness.
Precious Lord, Jesus my brother and Savior, fill me and touch
me with your presence so that I can serve you by blessing those
around me with your grace. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said,"I am the light
of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."
--John 8:12
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Darkness is more than a symbol, it is a pervasive way of
living and viewing the world. Darkness is the place of
deception, evil, crime, predators, sin, and death. To follow
Jesus means to bring him our heart and let him cast everything
from the darkness that plagues us on the inside so we don't
have to be afraid of the darkness on the outside. In this way,
Jesus gives us light, but it is a light that does more than
fill a dark room. This is a light that illumines the heart.
MY PRAYER...
Holy God who lives in glorious and irrepressible light, I
praise you for sending Jesus to cast away the dark fears that
so easily envelope me. I pray for strength and courage to not
only live in the light, but show others their way to the light.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep;
whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and
go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have
it in full."
--John 10:7 and 9-10
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Jesus came to the world to give us life. He didn't come to
bring us rules, or judgment, or fear, or work. Jesus came to
give us life in its fullest form. While we know that this is
promised to us when we go to be with him for all eternity, John
wants us to clearly hear that Jesus' promise to give us life
begins right now! Not JUST life later, but also life NOW!
MY PRAYER...
Almighty God, I confess that sometimes I play life too
carefully, not risking failure and loss and not reaching for
your opportunities and your concerns. Give me a heart that
yearns to live life in all its fullness by seeking after your
will, Jesus' example, and the Holy Spirit's leading in my
decisions today and always. Through Jesus I ask this to your
glory. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
[Jesus said,] "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my
sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep."
--John 10:14-15
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The goal of our walk with Jesus is to come to know him as
our shepherd just as intimately as he knows the Father. A key
thing for us to remember: In a world where so many people want
to attract our attention and are willing to give us advice, we
can refuse their voice. We listen to Jesus because he has
shown his love for us by laying down his life for us. He is
not a hireling, he is the Good Shepherd.
MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, you are wonderful and generous beyond
description. You have shown your love by sending your Son to
be my Shepherd. Help me hear his voice through your Word.
Help me hear his voice through the wise counsel of spiritual
friends. Help me hear his voice through the words sung by my
brothers and sisters when we are assembled. Help me hear his
voice in the Holy Spirit's work on my conscience. Father, I
want to follow your Son as my Shepherd and Lord because I know
he, like you, is good! Through my Shepherd and Lord I pray.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
[Jesus said,] "I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever
lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
--John 11:25
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
This is the most important question you will ever answer.
Do you really believe this? Do you believe that when you died
with Christ in baptism through faith, that you died the most
significant death and that your physical death will not
separate you from Jesus? All of life, even all of eternity for
you, hangs on this one question.
MY PRAYER...
Almighty and Everlasting Father, I believe that because you
have adopted me into your family, death will never claim me.
Help me live with new vigor and confidence knowing that Satan
cannot have me and death cannot claim me because I am yours
through Jesus. In my precious Redeemer I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
[Jesus said,] "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my
sheep know me - just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father - and I lay down my life for the sheep."
--John 10:14-15
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The goal of our walk with Jesus is to come to know him as
our shepherd just as intimately as he knows the Father. A key
thing for us to remember: In a world where so many people want
to attract our attention and are willing to give us advice, we
can refuse their voice. We listen to Jesus because he has
shown his love for us by laying down his life for us. He is
not a hireling, he is the Good Shepherd.
MY PRAYER...
Holy Father, you are wonderful and generous beyond
description. You have shown your love by sending your Son to
be my Shepherd. Help me hear his voice through your Word.
Help me hear his voice through the wise counsel of spiritual
friends. Help me hear his voice through the words sung by my
brothers and sisters when we are assembled. Help me hear his
voice in the Holy Spirit's work on my conscience. Father, I
want to follow your Son as my Shepherd and Lord because I know
he, like you, is good! Through my Shepherd and Lord I pray.
Amen.
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=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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