Daily Reflection Verses

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Saturday – 30 November 2013

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Verses:           

Romans 10:9-18

Psalm 19:8-11

Matthew 4:18-22

Romans 10:9-18

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

¹⁶ But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” ¹⁷ Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. ¹⁸ But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:

“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.”

Psalm 19:8-11

⁸ The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
¹¹ By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

Matthew 4:18-22

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

PROCLAIM THE WORD

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” – Romans 10:18

Prague was as they said it would be – breathtakingly beautiful and postcard perfect. My husband and I, and our son were excited to be in this ancient city which was a part of the Roman Empire, its old world grandeur preserved despite the ravages of two world wars.

As a student of the Word and a servant in the missions, what interested me most were the many cathedrals that magnificently marked each passing era. To me, they served as a glorious tribute to the missionary zeal of the apostles who spread the faith to the Gentile world. Every time I see these magnificent, old churches  in the places I have been blessed to visit, I am reminded of the courageous faith of the early proclaimers of the Word that inspired the artistic and cultural pursuits of generations past, each lofty spire and buttress heralding the work of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 10:15 says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!” Let us continue that work of these holy men and women, and proclaim the Good News to the ends of the world. – Cindy 

Prayer:

Lord, may I faithfully obey Your divine commission to spread the Gospel wherever You send me. Amen.

Wise Words:

“We are not to be a terminus point for the gospel, but rather a way station in its progress to the ends of the earth. God intends that everyone who has embraced the gospel become a part of the great enterprise of spreading the gospel.” – Jerry Bridges

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Friday – 29 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 7:2-14

Daniel 3:75-81

Luke 21:29-33

Daniel 7:2-14

² Daniel said: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. ³ Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

⁴ “The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

⁵ “And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and eat your fill of flesh!’

⁶ “After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

⁷ “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

⁸ “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

⁹ “As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
    the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels were all ablaze.
¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing,
    coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books were opened.

¹¹ “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. ¹² (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 3:75-81

Mountains and hills, praise and exalt him for ever. Everything that sprouts on the earth, praise and exalt him for ever. Springs of water, praise and exalt him for ever. Seas and rivers, praise and exalt him for ever. Whales and fishes, praise and exalt him for ever. All the birds of heaven, praise and exalt him for ever. Animals wild and tame, praise and exalt him for ever.

Luke 21:29-33

²⁹ He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. ³¹ Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

³² “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

LET’S GO

“You know that the kingdom of God is near.” – Luke 21:31

Whenever I ask people what first comes to mind about heaven, the number one answer is peace. The next is joy. Then love. And all want to go to heaven.

Heaven is defined as the abode of God and where God resides. So how do we get to heaven? We don't have to look far. Luke 17:21 (Douay Rheims translation) tells us in that “the kingdom of God is within you.” And despite all our sins, which the first chapter of John describes as darkness, “the light shines. . .and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:15)

How then do we penetrate that darkness to get to the light? Jesus said, we must be “born from above” (John 3:3). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (782) describe this as being “born anew,” “a birth of water and the Spirit” and having Jesus as our “head.”

The Holy Spirit convicts us all our sins and gives us the grace of life-giving repentance. Through the Holy Spirit, we penetrate the darkness of sin and come to the light within us. Are you ready to go to heaven? Let’s go! – Ad

Prayer:

Abba, I want to experience heaven and be with You. I ask for Your Holy Spirit to dwell in me. Amen!

Wise Words:

“Men full of the Spirit can look right into heaven.” – Dwight L Moody

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Christian Community Bible (CCB)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Thursday – 28 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 6:12-28

Daniel 3:68-74

Luke 21:20-28

Daniel 6:12-28

¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. ²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

²⁶ “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.
²⁷ He rescues and he saves;
    he performs signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrusthe Persian.

Daniel 3:68-74

Dew and frost, praise and exalt him for ever. Ice and cold, praise and exalt him for ever. Frost and snow, praise and exalt him for ever. Days and nights, praise and exalt him for ever. Light and darkness, praise and exalt him for ever. Lightnings and clouds, praise and exalt him for ever. Earth, praise and exalt him for ever.

Luke 21:20-28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁰ “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²² For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

SOLID FAITH

“Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” – Luke 21:28

An earthquake shook the Visayan region early 2012 and I experienced it. With the ground trembling, my initial reaction was to run. But instantly, I realized that running didn't guarantee my safety. Instead, I sat down and prayed. I prayed for Him to give me peace and make me prepared to meet Him if ever He was coming down for the second time at that very moment. After I prayed, peace and joy engulfed me and the fear quickly vanished!

Typhoons, floods and earthquakes happen in many places. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

It is faith, not feelings, that matters. Real faith believes God to the end. It is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Let us continue to fight this good fight of faith and not be swayed by what is happening in our midst. Remember that in His resurrection, Jesus clearly conveyed that in God, nothing perishes! – Danny

Prayer:

You are my refuge, Lord. I put my faith in You. Amen.

Wise Words:

“We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, and He packs our life with surprises all the time… leave that whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come.” Oswald Chambers

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Christian Community Bible (CCB)

Living Water 2013

Daily Reflection Verses

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Wednesday – 27 November 2013

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Verses:           

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

Daniel 3:62-67

Luke 21:12-19

Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28

King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. ² While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. ³ So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.

⁵ Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. ⁶ His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his legs became weak and his knees were knocking.

¹³ So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? ¹⁴ I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. ¹⁶ Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways. ²⁴ Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription.

²⁵ “This is the inscription that was written:

mene, mene, tekel, parsin

²⁶ “Here is what these words mean:

Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

²⁷ Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.

²⁸ Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Daniel 3:62-67

⁶² O ye sun and moon, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶³ O ye stars of heaven, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁴ O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁵ O all ye spirits of God, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁶ O ye fire and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

⁶⁷ O ye cold and heat, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Luke 21:12-19

¹² But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.

¹³ And it shall happen unto you for a testimony.

¹⁴ Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:

¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.

¹⁶ And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death.

¹⁷ And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake.

¹⁸ But a hair of your head shall not perish.

¹⁹ In your patience you shall possess your souls.

INSIGHTFUL WISDOM

TAKE A STAND

“By your endurance you will gain your souls.” – Luke 21:19

We had to pass through a dark street. From out of nowhere, three traffic enforcers hailed our car and charged us for entering a lane which they said was meant for public utility vehicles. As it was late in the evening, we didn't see the sign. We immediately apologized and asked if we could just go back. Refusing, they called two more men. One of them eventually told us that we wouldn't be charged if we would only give them some money for snacks. We explained to them that we were missionaries and would accept a charge ticket instead. They finally relented and let us go without a charge.

Bribery is a common practice. People say it provides the easiest way out. However, we are called to be light of the world (Matthew 5:14). We may be able to breeze through some difficulties through it, but is the momentary relief really worth losing our souls? Even if circumstances are oppressive, we are to pray and take a stand. We must not be weary in doing what is right, for God promises in Galatians 6:9 that “we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.” – Dondon

Prayer:

In a world filled with darkness, may Your light shine all the brighter, Lord! Amen.

Wise Words:

“He said not: thou shalt not be troubled – thou shalt not be tempted – thou shalt not be distressed. But He said: thou shalt not be overcome.” – St Julian of Norwich

Source:

New International Version (NIV)

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)

Living Water 2013