Verse of the Day

Author: David Short

  • January 31, 2014

    Staying close to the shelter…

    Psalm 17:1-9 (16:1-9 LXX) specifically v. 8

    Listen, O Lord of my righteousness;
    Attend to my supplication;
    Give ear to my prayer that is not with deceitful lips.

    From Your face let my judgment come;
    Let my eyes behold uprightness.
    You tested my heart, when You visited me in the night;
    You tried me in the fire, and found nothing unjust in me.
    That my mouth might not speak of the works of men,
    I held to hard ways because of the words of Your lips.
    Restore my steps in Your paths,
    That my footsteps may not slip.
    I cried out, because You listened to me, O God;
    Incline Your ear to me, and hear my words.
    Magnify Your mercies,
    O You who save those who hope in You
    From those who rise up against Your right hand.
    Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
    In the shelter of Your wings, You will shelter me
    From the face of the ungodly who trouble me.
    My enemies surrounded my soul.

    Encouraging Words…

    We can call out to our Lord to keep us and to protect us. He promises to do this throughout the scriptures. But, just as if I am caught out in a storm, with rain pouring down heavily, the further away from the shelter that I am, the wetter I will get as I run back to the shelter. Verses 1-7 remind us that we must be living our lives in such a way that we are walking close to our Lord, doing what He wants us to do. By doing this, when storms of life come our way we are able to quickly hide under His wings of protection.

  • January 30, 2014

    Do we really believe?

    James 3:13-15

    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self- seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

    Encouraging Words…

    We believe that our God is never changing. We believe that He is all powerful and the supreme Healer of mankind. We believe that Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, and passed this ability on to His apostles. Then why do we not see much healing in the church today? Could it be that it is because we lack one key element…FAITH! We live in the modern world, the age of enlightenment, and have mastered the art of reasoning. But all of this denies our God who transcends modern times because He is eternal. He transcends enlightenment because He is the source of all light, truth, and wisdom. He crushes reasoning because He holds the mysteries of everything within Himself. We can pull together all of the elements listed in this passage to perform healing acts (the presbyter or priest, prayer, the work of Christ, the Holy Spirit manifested in the oil, and confession of our sins) and yet we are not healed. What is missing? The prayer must be that of faith. We must defy reason, ignore what our enlightened minds argues with us, and seek God’s hand of healing as promised. And yes, sometimes He will choose not to heal, for reasons that only He knows. However, it seems very likely that we do not see the awesome hand of God moving in our world today as it did in the first century church because we really do not believe. My prayer is as the father who asked Jesus to heal his son, “I believe, help me in my unbelief!”

  • January 29, 2014

    Counting it all joy…

    James 1:2-4

    My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

    Encouraging Words…

    Life is not possible without trials. But what we do with our trials that makes all of the difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. We can walk through these trials with joy knowing that they will produce in us fruit that glorifies God. Glory be to Him!

  • January 27, 2014

    Beacons of light.

    1 Corinthians 1:18

    For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

    Encouraging Words…

    The scriptures teach that if we are saved, redeemed by the blood of Christ, the Cross makes sense and that we can grow in Him and He will reveal His mysteries to us. However, for those who have rejected Him and are perishing they thinking the message of the cross is foolish. For those of us who are saved, our responsibility is to be beacons of light into the lives of those who are perishing so that they too might be saved. It is not right to hoard the truths of God and therefore be responsible for those in our lives who do not accept God’s truths.

  • January 26, 2014

    Hope in God opens doors.

    Psalm 42:11 (41:12 LXX)

    Why are you so sad, O my soul? And why do you trouble me?
    Hope in God, for I will give thanks to Him.
    My God is the salvation of my countenance.

    Encouraging Words…

    Once again the psalmist reminds us that we have everything that we need and that He is not only the salvation of our souls but even of our countenance. When we feel down, sad, or troubled we can turn to Him for comfort.

  • January 25, 2014

    In the world, but no longer of it…

    John 17:14-17

    I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

    Encouraging Words…

    When we receive Christ and are baptized and chrismated int His Church we are no longer members of this temporal kingdom. We are immediately adopted into God’s spiritual family. Even though we still dwell in the midst of the temporal and physical world we are now ambassadors here. We are sanctified by God’s truth and now able to be His witnesses to those around us whose eyes and ears are still shut to God and His kingdom. The temporal and spiritual coexist and by God’s power we can live for Him in both.

  • January 24, 2014

    Our God doesn’t play hide and seek…

    Jeremiah 29:11-13 (36:11-13 LXX)

    For I shall consider a plan of peace for you, to give you good things and not calamities. Therefore, pray to Me, and I will hear you. Seek Me, and you will find Me, because you seek Me with all your heart.

    Encouraging Words.

    So many religions in our world are based on the need for us to do things in order to achieve a certain state. And even then there is no guarantee that the end state can ever be achieved. We who follow Christ, however, are promised that He will hear us when we pray to Him and we will find Him when we seek Him. His desire for us is a life of peace, joy, and freedom. Glory be to God!

  • January 23, 2014

    We are in good hands.

    Isaiah 43:1-2

    And now, thus says the Lord God who made you, O Jacob, and who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I redeemed you. I called you by your name, for you are Mine. If you pass through water, I am with you; and the rivers shall not overflow you. If you pass through fire, you shall not be burned up, nor shall the flame consume you.”

    Encouraging Words…

    God’s promises are eternal. We, His people, are in good hands at all times. He has redeemed us, His precious offspring of Jacob, His Israel, and will never let us go nor let us be harmed. What more is needed to push through each trial and tribulation?

  • January 22, 2014

    Living lives of compassion and mercy.


    Proverbs 13:10

    Deceitful souls are led astray in sins,
    But the righteous have compassion and are merciful.

    Personal Challenge…

    Do we desire to live lives that pour out compassion and mercy to those around us? If this is our desire then we must work on our own lives first. We must pursue righteousness, for it is through righteous living that the natural fruit blossom. We must flee sin for it is what clouds our view of life, and even our view of righteousness and leads us astray. We must choose to yield our lives, our desires, our wisdom to God and follow His path of love.

  • January 21, 2014

    Falling on our faces before our God.

    Psalm 31:23-24 (30:24-25 LXX)

    Love the Lord, all you His saints,
    For the Lord seeks out truth,
    And He repays those who act with great arrogance.
    Be courageous, and let your heart be strengthened,
    All who hope in the Lord.

    Encouraging Words…

    Our Lord will strengthen the hearts of those who hope in Him. He deserves our worship. He deserves our submission. He deserves our all because we receive our all from Him. He is the God of truth and knows our every action, thought, and desire…and yet He still loves us. How can we do anything but fall on our faces before Him in humble worship?