Word for Today, Tue, 14 Sep 2004: Your Word Remains
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's devotional message comes from Phil Ware's compiled
collection of daily scripture verses, a brief set of thoughts and
comments on the verses, and a short prayer. I frequently share
these with readers, especially those who are looking for
something to either supplement their own Bible reading and study,
and for those who have not yet established regular study, to
provide one initial resource.
As I often do, I encourage each one of you to make a regular
habit out of reading the Bible each day. You know, sometimes I
get a lot of online Email and I read it, but other times I
collect it in my Inbox or even filter it into my junk. The Bible
is something far more valuable than that. These messages are
never intended to be a replacement for reading the Bible, my only
prayer is that in seeing these messages, we are prompted to read
the Word for ourselves.
In Phil's messages, he shows only one or two verses in each
passage. Don't you wonder what the entire chapter, or even the
entire book is about?
The Bible is God's spoken Word to us. What's incredible about
the Bible is that the basic accuracy of the Word has been
preserved throughout history, dating over 2000 years since the
recorded events of the life of Jesus Christ, but dating back far
longer than that in Old Testament history. The Old Testament
ought to be read in the context of Jesus' coming. Read even the
creation story from the context of what it tells us about Jesus
Christ, and even those long, drawn out passages will take on new,
fresh life and meaning. The New Testament records the life of
Jesus in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the
remainder of the New Testament contains letters of encouragement,
chastisement, direction, and explanation of what Jesus has done,
how the Old Testament prophesy has been fulfilled in Christ, and
what prophesies we may yet look forward to, both today and as we
see the time of Christ return.
The Bible is an exciting book. NO other book is as timeless as
the Bible. No other book as faithfully records the very Word and
heart of God. Make sure you know what God says in His Word.
Dear God, Thank you for preserving the truth of Your Word. I
think of Don Moen's song, "God Will Make A Way", where Don says,
"Heaven and earth will fade, but Your Word will still remain..."
How that truth brings hope to me, especially when my own faith
weakens. How precious it is to remember that Your Word is true.
When my faith falters, I can go to Your Word, be strengthened and
encouraged in it, for Your Word is the One constant, for You
never change. How I love You, Lord!
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.26269.1.293748
September 13, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.26269.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.
But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father
in our defense -- Jesus Christ the Righteous One.
--1 John 2:1
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God hates sin. Don't you? I know I do. But isn't it
amazing how we'll fall back into the same old traps again and
again. This is where John, the tender Shepherd that he was,
hits the nail on the head. The goal is to not commit even one
sin. But, knowing our struggle against the flesh, John also
gives assurance to those of us trying to live faithful and pure
lives that when we do sin, the sacrifice for our sins, God's
Son, is also our defense attorney.
MY PRAYER...
God, no one and nothing is like you. I did not have to
provide a sacrifice for my sins, which broke your heart. You
provided that sacrifice. Please use me today as I try to give
myself, my life, and my future back to you as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you. Through Jesus I pray.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
We know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and
again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
--Hebrews 10:30-31
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God hates injustice, unfairness, brutality and abuse. In a
world where the greedy, the murderous, the thieves, the
rapists, the muggers... get away with their shameless and
despicable behavior, God is the ultimate assurance that justice
will be done and the wicked will not triumph. While those who
love and expect Jesus' return do so with anticipation and joy,
those who are evil and vile will find out what a dreadful thing
it is to fall into God's hands.
MY PRAYER...
Holy and Righteous God, my Heavenly Father, I am both
uncomfortable and comforted to know that you will bring justice
on those who have violently abused the innocent, weak,
helpless, underprivileged, and infirm. Give me the courage to
stand between the evil of my world and those on whom it preys.
By the grace and victory of Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well.
--Matthew 6:33
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Seek -- pursue relentlessly -- God's Lordship over your life
and the righteousness it demands in your daily life. What you
pursue is all temporary; only God and his Kingdom remain. In
the process, you will find that the God who gives you his
Kingdom and righteousness also will bless you with the things
that you need in this life
MY PRAYER...
Holy Lord, only in you do I find what satisfies my soul's
desires. The things that have captured my eye are boring after
only a short while. The artificial things I have pursued, all
of my addictive pursuits, have left me empty and enslaved. I
find hope and help only in you. Please be near to love,
correct, discipline, lead, and mold me to your glory. In Jesus'
name I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come
from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he
cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
--1 Corinthians 2:14
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
The Holy Spirit is God's abiding gift, God's seal and
promise. The Spirit is our assurance that what he began with
Jesus' sacrificial death and our participation in it through
faith and baptism, he will bring to completion. But the world
cannot understand this great promise, just like it cannot
understand much of Scripture, because without the Spirit, their
eyes see only what they can touch with their fingers and not
what is true in God's heart.
MY PRAYER...
Father, I thank you for sending Jesus. Jesus, I thank you
for sending the Spirit. Spirit, I thank you for never leaving
me alone. As I am filled with the Spirit, O Lord, so fill me
more until my will and my life more nearly reflect your
desires. Use me to bless others just as your presence now
blesses me. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into
the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever
lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen
plainly that what he has done has been done through God.
--John 3:20-21
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Truth is seen in what it does and whom it seeks.
MY PRAYER...
Father of every heavenly light, I ask you to correct me
gently as I place myself, my imperfections, failures and sins
in your presence. Forgive and cleanse me by the blood of Jesus
so that I might be spotless, holy, and blameless in your
sights. O Lord, I don't want just to be forgiven, I want to be
useful to you and your church. Please help me find my way to
usefulness. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in
knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to
discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the
day of Christ.
--Philippians 1:9-10
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
I don't know about you, but my most difficult decisions are
not about choosing between good and bad. I usually know what
is good and what is bad, especially when bad involves evil. My
toughest choices are when I have to choose between good,
better, and best. My love for God usually overcomes my
weakness and I choose good over bad. But unless I've placed
myself before God's word and surrendered my heart to him in
prayer, I have a very tough time choosing between good and
best. Yet I'm convinced that much of what God would love to do
through us today does not happen because we've settled for good
when he longs to lead us to best!
MY PRAYER...
Gracious and Almighty God, teach me your ways and give me
your heart as I strive to love you, know your will, and have
insight into your ways. Help me to know the best things to do
today and to use my time in the best way in my work, my family,
among my friends, and especially before those who do not know
Christ as their Savior. Through him I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.
--Matthew 5:11-12
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
For most who can read this Internet message, the sentiments
of this verse seem foreign. But among those who closely study
persecution, believers in Christ are enduring perhaps the
greatest amount of persecution in the history of Christianity.
For those of us who live in cozy places where belief is
tolerated and Christians are just considered "unhip" or a bit
out of touch, we need to be thankful that our lives make enough
of a distinction from our culture to be noticed, even if it's a
bit unfavorably. But at the same time, we need to pray for
other believers throughout the world who are undergoing the
wrath of hell for the faith.
MY PRAYER...
Great Deliverer, we have many who call on your name with
faith in Jesus who face persecution and hardship every day. I
pray that they will not lose heart and give up their
confidence. I pray that you will bring deliverance from this
time of persecution. I pray that their sufferings will be the
source of powerful witness so others will come to see the great
value of Jesus and our allegiance to him. This I pray in his
precious and holy name. Amen.
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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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