Verse of the Day

Category: Uncategorized

  • August 23, 2020

    PROPER POSITIONING

    Ecclesiastes 10:6

    The senseless man devotes himself to great heights,
    And rich men shall sit in a lowly place.

    Personal Challenge

    Once again we see a proverb that appears to be counter to what our culture tells us to do. We are encouraged and even rewarded, for fighting our way to the top, even if it means stepping on someone else to get there. The richness that this verse is referring to is not necessarily what we might expect it to be. It is not necessarily rich in wealth and money. Wealth in the scriptures often refers to that which we lay up in heaven rather than on earth. Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

  • August 22, 2020

    Saint of the Week

    St. John Chrysostom


  • August 21, 2020

    BE CAREFUL


    Ecclesiastes 7:16

    Do not be overly righteous,
    Nor be overly wise,
    Lest you be confounded.

    Personal Challenge

    Solomon warns us to be careful in our pursuit of righteousness and wisdom. It is one thing to pursue our Lord Jesus Christ and in that pursuit, be blessed with His righteousness and His wisdom. However, if we pursue these good things independent of Him, we will become haughty and pumped up. True righteousness and wisdom can only be found in Jesus Christ. Glory be to God!

  • August 20, 2020

    DON’T GO IT ALONE

    Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

    Two are better than one
    Because they have a good reward for their labor.
    For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
    But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
    For there is not a second one to help him up!
    If two lie down together, both stay warm,
    But how can one stay warm alone?
    If one is added strength, two will stand before him,
    And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

    Personal Challenge

    Another outcome of living in a culture that is built upon the worship of the self-made person is the belief that we don’t need anyone else in our lives. This has created a world filled with lonely people. We do need each other. Sometimes that other person just provides friendship, someone that we can share our successes and excitement with. Sometimes that person is a beacon in our lives showing us the right way to go. Sometimes they provide discipline and correction to shake us out of our error. We need each other and we need to stop going through life alone. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

  • August 19, 2020

    THERE IS A TIME

    Ecclesiastes 3:4-8, 11

    A time to weep
    And a time to laugh;
    A time to mourn
    And a time to dance.
    A time to throw stones
    And a time to gather stones;
    A time to embrace
    And a time to refrain from embracing.
    A time to seek
    And a time to lose;
    A time to keep
    And a time to throw away.
    A time to tear
    And a time to sew;
    A time to keep silent
    And a time to speak.
    A time to love
    And a time to hate;
    A time of war
    And a time of peace.
    …
    He made everything beautiful in its time, and He indeed put eternity in their hearts in such a way that man may not find out the work God made from the beginning to the end.

    Personal Challenge

    So many of us nowadays live in the moment, looking for instant gratification or recognition. We have become very short-sighted people by taking our eyes off of eternity. It is in eternity that our salvation will be worked out by our living God. This passage in Ecclesiastes is such a good reminder that life happens. Sometimes that life is exciting and wonderful. Sometimes it is hard and devastating. What stays wonderful through it all is that God still holds us in the palm of His hand and desires that we include Him in all aspects of our lives. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

  • August 18, 2020

    ARROGANCE OR HUMILITY


    Proverbs 29:23

    Arrogance humbles a man,
    But the Lord supports the humble-minded with glory.

    Personal challenge

    Living in the age of the self-made person has brought us to a place where arrogance is not only accepted but in many cases, it is revered. We are reminded in the Scriptures that God prefers that we be humble-minded. We cannot love Him and our neighbor without becoming humble in relation­ship to them. We must remember that if we choose to hold on to our arrogance and put ourselves first, then we are destined to be humbled by God or another person. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

  • August 17, 2020

    FRIENDSHIP

    Proverbs 27:17

    Iron sharpens iron,
    And a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

    Encouraging Words

    We need others in our lives in order to grow. No person can become a better person in a vacuum. People around us teach us how to see God and grow in His image. But in order to be truly sharpened in our walk with Christ, we need one or more close friends that can speak the truth into our lives and sharpen us. Sometimes this can be painful, but it is always worth the pain. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

  • August 15, 2020

    Saint of the Week

    St. John Maximovitch

  • August 14, 2020

    POUNDINGS OF LIFE

    Proverbs 25:4

    Beat drossy silver,
    And it will be made entirely clean.

    Personal Challenge

    One of the challenges that many people have when reading the scriptures is not understanding some of the images that are used to explain the lessons that are being taught. This lesson comes from the silversmith and the practice of making silver clean and pristine before it is made into its final form of artwork. As silver goes through its process of refinement and preparation the impurities of the silver will come to the surface. The process of bringing these impurities, or dross, to the surface is pounding it with a hammer, over and over. Why is this here? This is a reminder for us that God allows trials and tribulations in our lives to pound on us and remove the impurities of our lives. This process will cleanse us and make us more like Christ. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

  • August 13, 2020

    OUR HOPE

    Proverbs 23:18

    For if you keep these words, you shall have offspring,
    And your hope will not depart from you.

    Encouraging Words

    As Christians, we put our hope in Jesus Christ, the living God. He is not an idol made of wood or clay. He is the Son of God with no beginning and no end. He is also truly and fully a human being, conceived through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. He lived a life like every one of the rest of us, except He lived His life without committing sin. This is who we put our hope in. That hope is not in vain and it leads us to do good works for God and to keep His words, which then feeds our hope in Him. Glory be to God!