The Lord will perfect that which concerns me

As we begin to close out the merry month of June, the Verse of the Day for June 29, 2018 makes known something God will do:

Psalm 138:8 (NKJV):
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

This verse uses the term “perfect” as a verb and brings to mind a series of blog posts entitled “A Five-fold Prayer.” Pastor Rick Warren described what God is doing in perplexing situations that challenge our faith. In such instances, God specializes in bringing good out of bad, using problems to: “direct us; inspect us; correct us; protect us; perfect us.”

After hearing his comments, I took those five verbs and formed them into a request, a petition, a prayer to God for me. I asked God to become the initiator of the action, and I would become the object of his action. I also examined each of the verbs with scriptural illustrations from the Old Testament and New Testament and composed a prayer/psalm inspired by each verb at the end of each section related to each of the five verbs. In writing out my personal application of the scriptures, I also incorporated music related to the verbs as well. In Part 5 I ask God to “Perfect Me,” in the same way the Psalmist expects God to “perfect that which concerns me.”

Perfect:

In the Old Testament, as a verb the term means “to complete, to make full, perfect or entire; to finish.” Note the following verses:

II Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Psalm 37:37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

II Chronicles 16:9 and Psalm 37:37 comprise the lyrics to this song:

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,
Throughout the whole earth
To show Himself strong, to show Himself strong,
To show Himself strong in behalf of them
Whose heart is perfect toward Him.
The man with a perfect heart is whole and complete:
Mark the perfect man and behold the upright,
For the end of that man is peace.

In the New Testament, “perfect” is translated from the Greek word teleios—[adjective]–describing what has reached its end; complete, perfect, full, fully grown, wanting nothing, with special reference to the end for which it was intended. As a verb teleioo means—to complete, make perfect, so as to be full, wanting nothing, to bring to a full end. See how the term is used in following verses:

Hebrews 13:20-21:

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

James 1:2-4 (NLT):

2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing

1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV):

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

2 Corinthians 13:11:

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Perfect me

What I lack fulfill, that I may not come up short.
Bring to maturity any deficiency
That I may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Make me perfect in every good work to do Your will.
May the inner spaces of my heart catch Your eye.
As you scan the vast landscape of this green planet,
May You see the perfect man You designed me to be.

We close with a musical rendering of Psalm 138:7-8: The Lord will perfect:

Encourage and build each other up

Many times the “Verse of the Day” is the perfect way to jumpstart the day, particularly on a Monday, as is the case today on June 5, 2017 where I Thessalonians 5:11 in the Message Bible provides great exhortation:

God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

The Amplified Classic Bible says this:

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

Simply put, the New Living Translation states:

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Without question, as believers we encounter countless situations where we need to be encouraged and to encourage others. Hebrews 10: 25 (NLT) reminds us of the importance of coming together to fellowship with one another and to encourage each other:

²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Furthermore, we are to encourage one another every day:

Hebrews 3:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception.

As I went over the Verse of the Day and compared the scripture in a couple of other versions, I was inspired to write a few words of admonish, urge and encourage one another, expressed in this poem:

Encourage

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

 

Don’t stop now—keep on pursuing

Keep seeking His face

Don’t get weary in well doing

You must keep the pace

Seek and you shall find

The strength to be transformed–

Renewed in the spirit of your mind

Encourage yourself

And encourage one another

Build each other up

Every sister and brother

Speaking the truth, we grow up

Therefore, encourage one another.

Other scriptures also continue with similar words of encouragement:

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT):

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians opens with these words:

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more

The chapter ends by focusing on the hope of the resurrection, with this final word of encouragement which we discussed in a recent blog post:

¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these word

The accompanying video “Encourage one another” is a compilation of the same verse from I Thessalonians 5:11 and other scriptures and words of encouragement from Kimberly Culpen. May we all be strengthened and encouraged.

 

 

 

 

Like-minded: of the same mind

On May 20, 2017, The Verse of the Day can be found in Romans 15:5-6 (AMP):

Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage is an expression of God’s desire for unity or oneness, not only for the Church at Rome but throughout the Body of Christ. This call for being unified and of the same mind is to be according to Christ Jesus, whose final prayer on earth was that those who followed him would be one, even as he and the Father were one.

Throughout the Church Epistles, we find that believers are called to be “like-minded” or “of the same mind.” We note a similar exhortation expressed in the phrase “with one mind” used in Philippians 2:2:

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Philippians 2:5 in the Amplified Bible offers another reminder:

⁵ Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

In these two instances the expression is derived from a compound word in the Greek: “autophroneo,” a verb meaning to think “to be minded in the same way, attitude, or disposition of mind.” The Jubilee Bible translates the phrase “to be unanimous among yourselves.”

The phrase “like-minded,” however, is used as an adjective where Paul describes his relationship with his “spiritual son,” Timothy:

Philippians 2:20

For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state.

Here the term is translated from another compound word: “isopsuchos” with the prefix “isos” meaning “the same” and “psuchos” meaning “soul.” In other words, Paul is saying that both Timothy and he are “equal-souled.”

Verse 6 of Romans 15 exhorts the followers of Christ to be unified with “one mind and with one mouth glorify God. . . .” The one mind that Christians should have is “the mind of Christ” referred to by Paul who provides these words of encouragement:

Philippians 1:27 (AMP):

Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.

In a similar manner to the closing comments leading to a benediction in Romans 15:5-6, we find this final reminder in 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV):

 [Greetings and Benediction] Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Likewise, take a look at the this statement from 1 Peter 3:8 (New Living Translation):

[All Christians] Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

In reflecting upon the concept of being like-minded or unified with one mind, the words of Jesus Christ also come to mind when he spoke of what can occur when two believers come into agreement or “are of one mind.” His words inspired these comments in poetry:

The Power of Agreement

Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind,

in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God],

it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:19 (AMP)

 

If only we completely understood that

when we come into full agreement with God’s will

and His Word, He actually breathes life into us,

as well as our situations.

Sandie Freed

 

Boundless power lies in the hands of those who agree.

As touching anything that two of them shall ask,

God hastens to perform, to fulfill their decree,

No matter how small or how great the task.

Those who ask shall receive, and those who seek shall find.

To those who knock, it shall be opened unto;

Those who become one in heart and soul and in mind

Scale the mountain of faith to gain a grander view,

To know the transforming power of the spoken word,

Far beyond the bounds that finite minds encompass.

Nothing shall be withheld from those in one accord,

Who declare that their words have already come to pass.

Once agreed upon, the deed is already done

For those whose heart and soul have been fused into one.

David Haas provides a moving musical offering that captures the essence of today’s entry: “One Heart, One Mind.”

 

 

 

 

With one mind

On May 20, 2016, The Verse of the Day can be found in Romans 15:5-6 (AMP):

Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage is an expression of God’s desire for unity or oneness, not only for the Church at Rome but throughout the Body of Christ. This call for being unified and of the same mind is to be according to Christ Jesus, whose final prayer on earth was that those who followed him would be one, even as he and the Father were one.

Throughout the Church Epistles, we find that believers are called to be “likeminded” or “of the same mind.” In Philippians we also note two similar exhortations expressed in the phrase “with one mind”:

Philippians 1:27 (AMP):

Only [be sure to] lead your lives in a manner [that will be] worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I do come and see you or remain absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit [and one purpose], with one mind striving side by side [as if in combat] for the faith of the gospel.

Philippians 2:2 (NLT)

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

In a similar manner to the closing comments leading to a benediction in Romans 15:5-6, we find this final reminder in 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NKJV):

 [Greetings and Benediction] Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Likewise, take a look at the this statement from 1 Peter 3:8 (NLT)

[All Christians] Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

In reflecting upon the concept of being likeminded or unified with one mind, I thought of the words of Jesus Christ who spoke of what can occur when two believers come into agreement or “are of one mind.” His words inspired these comments in poetry:

The Power of Agreement

Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind,

in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God],

it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:19 (AMP)

 

If only we completely understood that

when we come into full agreement with God’s will

and His Word, He actually breathes life into us,

as well as our situations.

Sandie Freed

Boundless power lies in the hands of those who agree.

As touching anything that two of them shall ask,

God hastens to perform, to fulfill their decree,

No matter how small or how great the task.

Those who ask shall receive, and those who seek shall find.

To those who knock, it shall be opened unto;

Those who become one in heart and soul and in mind

Scale the mountain of faith to gain a grander view,

To know the transforming power of the spoken word,

Far beyond the bounds that finite minds encompass.

Nothing shall be withheld from those in one accord,

Who declare that their words have already come to pass.

Once agreed upon, the deed is already done

For those whose heart and soul have been fused into one.

David Haas provides a moving musical offering that captures the essence of today’s entry: “One Heart, One Mind.”

Jumpstart the day: Encourage one another

Many times the “Verse of the Day” is the perfect way to jumpstart the day, as is the case today, June 5, 2015, where I Thessalonians 5:11 provides great exhortation:

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Without question, as believers we encounter countless situations where we need to be encouraged. Hebrews 10: 25 (NLT) reminds us of the importance of coming together to fellowship with one another and to encourage each other:

²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Furthermore, we are to encourage one another every day:

Hebrews 3:13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible):

But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception:

As I went over the Verse of the Day and compared the same scripture in a couple of other versions, I was inspired to write a few words to admonish, urge and encourage one another, expressed in this poem:

Encourage

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

.

Don’t stop now—keep on pursuing

Keep seeking His face

Don’t get weary in well doing

You must keep the pace

Seek and you shall find

The strength to be transformed–

Renewed in the spirit of your mind

Encourage yourself

And encourage one another

Build each other up

Every sister and brother

Speaking the truth, we grow up

Therefore, encourage one another.

Other scriptures also continue with similar words of encouragement:

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Chapter 4 of 1 Thessalonians opens with these words:

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more

The chapter ends by focusing on the hope of the resurrection, with this final word of encouragement:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

¹³ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.¹⁵ We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.^g]”>16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. ¹⁷ Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

The accompanying video “Encourage one another” is a compilation of the same verse from I Thessalonians 5:11 and other scriptures and words of encouragement from Kimberly Culpen. May we all be strengthened and encouraged.

A Five-fold Prayer: Perfect Me

The Verse of the Day for June 29, 2014 is found in Psalm 138:8 (King James Version):

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

This particular verse with its use of the verb “perfect” also brings to mind a previous blog entry which was part of a series entitled a “Five-fold Prayer.” I am re-posting the entry “A Five-fold Prayer: Perfect Me,” the final devotional which is posted below:

This blog entry is the final part of “A Five-fold Prayer,” a series of commentaries based on a statement regarding the ways of God when we find ourselves in perplexing situations that challenge our faith. In such instances, God is endeavoring to do one or a combination of five things: “Direct you; Inspect you; Correct you; Protect you; Perfect you.” After hearing those words, I took those five verbs and formed them into a request, a petition, a prayer to God for me.  I asked God to become the initiator of the action, and I would become the object of his action. I also examined each of the verbs with scriptural illustrations from the Old Testament and New Testament and composed a prayer/psalm inspired by each verb at the end of each section related to each of the five verbs. In writing out my personal application of the scriptures, I also incorporated music related to the verbs as well. In Part 5 I ask God to “Perfect Me.”

“Perfect” can be used as an adjective or a verb in various places in the Bible.

In the Bible the word “perfect” can be used as an adjective or as a verb, as defined in the following manner, with some of the verses where the term is used:

Perfect:

In the Old Testament, as an adjective, “perfect” means: “blameless, upright, righteous; the proper action of simplicity, sincerity, absence from guile or evil intention.”

As a verb the term means “to complete, to make full, perfect or entire; to finish.”

II Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…

Psalm 37:37

Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

 

II Chronicles 16:9 and Psalm 37:37 comprise the lyrics to a this song:

 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,

Throughout the whole earth

To show Himself strong, to show Himself strong,

To show Himself strong in behalf of them

Whose heart is perfect toward Him.

The man with a perfect heart is whole and complete:

Mark the perfect man and behold the upright,

For the end of that man is peace.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro,

Throughout the whole earth

 

In the New Testament, “perfect” is translated from the Greek word teleios. As an adjective it means–“describing what has reached its end; complete, perfect, full, fully grown, wanting nothing, with special reference to the end for which it was intended.” 

As a verb teleioo means—”to complete, make perfect, so as to be full, wanting nothing, to bring to a full end.”

Hebrews 13:20-21:

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

James 1:2-4:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

I Peter 5:10:

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

II Corinthians 13:11:

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

 Perfect me

What I lack fulfill, that I may not come up short.

Bring to maturity any deficiency

That I may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Make me perfect in every good work to do your will.

May the inner spaces of my heart catch your eye.

As you scan the vast landscape of this green planet,

May you see the perfect man you asked me to be.

“Change My Heart, O God” (Hillsong) is an appropriate song for this final section of my “Five-fold Prayer”:

“Something Beautiful,” written and performed by Bill and Gloria Gaither, expresses musically my ultimate desire which is also God’s desire for transformation.

“Have Thine Own Way” is another hymn that I learned as a child and continued to draw strength from as I grew into adulthood.

 

Conclusion

To conclude expounding upon the verbs that encompass my “Five-fold Prayer, I have formed a new compound verb—a neologism—as I make one final request, “Dir-ins-cor-pro-per” me, Lord:

Lord, I pray that you

direct me,

inspect me,

correct me,

protect me,

perfect me

That I may know you and the fullness of your grace.

This I pray in the name above all names, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I combine all five verbs to form a new compound verb used to conclude my Five-fold Prayer.