Word for Today, Tue, 30 Nov 2004: Weekly Verses
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Today's devotional message comes from the writings of Phil Ware,
who has a collection of Daily Verses that are compiled into this
weekly edition, along with a brief thought and prayer for each
verse. In this week's edition, Phil shares several of the
scripture passages that describe the events leading up to the
birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior and risen Lord.
Yes, Christ is supreme, and here are just a few of the reasons
why.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
Weekly Verses
from Crosswalk.com
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.28944.1.293748
November 29, 2004
These verses are taken from Heartlight Daily Verse, by Phil Ware
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.23.28944.2.293748
~~~~~~~~~
MONDAY
When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of
sons.
--Galatians 4:4-5
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
God waited untill history reached his appointed time and
sent Jesus. Just the right time -- Roman rule, Jewish
subordination, good roads, freedom, a degree of safety, a
common trading language, cruel and barbaric punishment
accompanied by religious infighting. In times such as these,
he sent his Son to be a woman's son. He emptied his home so he
could send a redeemer to our home. He did it so we could be
his children -- not pretend children, but real children, with
full rights. So he could not only be God, but so he could be
Abba.
MY PRAYER...
Abba Father, even your name is precious to me. I gasp at how
much it cost you to let me call you Abba. I don't understand
such extravagant love, but I thank you for it. I know I don't
deserve to call you Abba, but it sounds so right. Something
inside resonates at the sound of Abba -- Holy, Righteous,
Almighty, Abba! While I know that I will never be a perfect
child, I rest today in the confidence that I am your child and
that you claim me. Thank you in Jesus. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
TUESDAY
When King Herod had called together all the people's chief
priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ
was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for
this is what the prophet has written: 'But you, Bethlehem, in
the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers
of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the
shepherd of my people Israel.'"
--Matthew 2:4-6
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
"The first will be last and the last will be first." That's
one of Jesus' favorite sayings. Isn't it interesting that God
said it long before he was born. Isn't it interesting that
those who knew the Scriptures, but didn't know Jesus, said it
too! Isn't it interesting that Herod and Jesus lived it thirty
years before Jesus would teach it? Isn't it interesting that
Jesus gave us the Lord's Supper to remember that while Jesus
died and shed his blood, on the first day of the week, Sunday,
he rose. When it matters most, Jesus and his people will
finish first!
MY PRAYER...
You, O Lord, are marvelous. You are God Almighty, the holy
and majestic Creator. Yet you became the least so I can share
in your glory. Please help me, O God, never to look down on
someone else because they look like the least. I know, Father,
that as I serve and love them, I'm serving and loving you. In
Jesusu2019 name I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
WEDNESDAY
God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a
virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a
descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel
went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored!
The Lord is with you."
--Luke 1:26-28
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Wow! Such a familiar sentence packed with emotion. An
angel comes to Nazareth to visit and speak with a young woman
engaged to be married. Before the history-shattering news is
announced, she is given one key reminder that will be truer
than she could imagine, "The Lord is with you."
MY PRAYER...
My request, O God, I've sung many times: "Be with me Lord,
I cannot live without Thee. I cannot bear to take one step
alone." Father, I need your abiding presence to face the
challenges of life. As you have upheld your children through
the ages, I am thankful to greet each day knowing that I will
not face it alone. In Jesus' name. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
THURSDAY
The angel said to [Mary], "Do not be afraid, you have found
favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a
son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great
and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over
the house of Jacob forever."
--Luke 1:30-33
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Jesus is identified by many names stated or implied in the
four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Notice how Jesus is
identified in just this one passage: child, son, Jesus, great,
Son of the Most High, King, son of David, and leader of Israel
(Jacob). Jesus exhausts all descriptions, and yet chose to be
limited to imperfect descriptions by becoming human. But this
flood of names and descriptions helps us find Jesus a Savior in
every trial and blessing of life. Jesus is Savior for all
seasons.
MY PRAYER...
Holy and Almighty Father, I thank you for all the ways Jesus
is described and all the names he is given. They help me see
the breadth of his nature and the depth of his character.
Please bless me so I may always find a dimension of Jesus'
ministry or a name or description of Jesus to help sustain me,
when I walk through the shadows of doubt caused by the evil
one. Help me, O Father, to see Jesus and not my preoccupations
and biases so that when he comes again, I will know him, and he
me. Through the glorious name of the Savior I pray. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
FRIDAY
Mary said, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior.... The Mighty One has done great things for
me - holy is his name."
--Luke 1:46
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
While Mary's submission to God's will costs her in ways we
can never imagine, for Jesus to come to life in the hearts of
people today our attitude must be the same as her attitude was
on this night of miracle and mystery. We too, must be willing
to be the Lord's servant and offer him the praise of our lives
and of our lips. In Jesus, the Lord has done great things for
us!
MY PRAYER...
Majestic Father, Almighty God, you have done wonderful
things for me. You have saved me from sin, you have paid the
price for my rebellion, and you have given me the promise of
heaven and the Holy Spirit to empower me there. You are
greater than I can imagine and your glory is without
comparison, yet you have stooped so low as to reach me and then
raised me back up with you by your grace. I can never fully
thank you, for you are more wonderful to me than my words can
declare or a thousand years of life could repay. Through Jesus
I give you all glory and praise. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SATURDAY
An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as
your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy
Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him
the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their
sins."
--Matthew 1:20-21
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Jesus first had to become the sins of the people before he
could save them (us) from those sins (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John
4:10). His own people rejected him before his forgiveness
could be received. Jesus' gift of salvation was incredibly
costly to him. It is a reminder of two great truths: God
loves us incredibly and salvation is a precious gift.
MY PRAYER...
Almighty God and Savior, thank you for bearing the cost of
my sin in Jesus. Thank you precious Lord, for taking on human
flesh, bearing its difficulties, facing rejection so I could be
saved. My salvation makes all other names pale in comparison to
Jesus, through whom I offer all thanks and praise. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~
SUNDAY
[Zechariah said,] "Praise be to the Lord, God of Israel,
because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised
up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant
David, as he said through his holy prophets long ago."
--Luke 1:68-70
New International Version
THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
What God does in Jesus is not a surprise. Yes, it was
unexpected, but the "hints" and prophecies of his coming are
found all over the Old Testament. The holy prophets had spoken
about it "long ago." But more than the prophets, Jesus coming
is God keeping his word. Jesus' coming is God's answer to his
promises. That's why Paul can say that all God's promises find
their "yes" in Jesus and it is through Jesus that the "amen" is
spoken (2 Cor. 1). In Jesus, God comes, God ministers, God
cares, God saves, God redeems, and God keeps his promises.
MY PRAYER...
I thank you, Holy Father, that you keep your promises. I
know I don't have to wonrder if you will keep your word to me;
because of your love, character, and kindness, I know you will.
So please help me be more faithful to you as I seek to honor
my commitments and pledges to you. I know this is important to
you not only because I need to learn obedience, but I also need
to develop a character more consistent with your own. Thank
you for hearing my heart. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
>>>>>> Share the good news <<<
Please forward this message to a friend!
____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________
* Copyright 2004 Salem Web Network and its Content
Providers. All rights reserved.
=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do?
my.yahoo.com