Posted on 04/17/2006 7:33:05 AM PDT by Knitting A Conundrum
Something different today:
Favorite Bible Passages and Why
I know I have favorite passages I keep coming back to, over and over. My tagline, for one, is a summary of one of my favorite verses, because I think it sums up how we should respond to God:
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
and then there is Jesus' wonderful invitation:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
The reality of Emmanuel, God-With-Us:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1:14
And this declaration:
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart."
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1 Corinthians 1: 18-25
This, of course, is just a sample. And I suspect all of us who follow God have favorite verses and passages and stories that give us hope, comfort, strength and determination to continue.
What moves you?
Prayer and Meditation ping!
As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:34
"Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious..." - 1 Peter 2
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
"Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
Luke 6: 32-38
(This is a passage deeply dear to my heart. I especially like to ponder, "For the measure you give will be the measure you get back," knowing how much I fall short of what I really could give. Sigh.)
Now there was at Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. In those days she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him entreating him, "Please come to us without delay." So Peter rose and went with them. And when he had come, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping, and showing tunics and other garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.
But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, rise."
And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. And he gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then calling the saints and widows he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.
Acts 9:36-42
I always liked this story. The miracle is wonderful, but it's not the miracle that focuses me. It's the woman.
Tabitha is evidently a woman of means, at least to some degree, and kind. In an era where the cloak of a Roman soldier was worth a year's pay, she made clothing for those who were too poor to be able to afford more than rags. She probably didn't spin and weave the cloth herself; a lot of that was done professionally, although if her household was substantial enough, it may have been made in house.
Even if you're using bought cloth, it still takes time and effort to make a garment by hand. Long seams take hours. But Tabitha, either by her own hand, or by the hands of her staff, or more likely, both, made sure the local widows were clothed.
This took effort, and care and money. And in an age where clothing is cheap and even the poorest in our country dress well, we cannot imagine the gracious need this filled in the lives of those who did not have enough.
She had gone out of her way to demonstrate that care we see asked of us in Luke 6. And although her contribution was local, and perhaps small in the scale of the world, it made a real difference, and her loss was something worth grieving, because she had touched the lives of others, not for her own gain, but for love of God.
It makes me think, when I am gone, will people remember me for what I was willing to give, or for what I had during life? Am I only going to be remembered (at least in Heaven)for the toys I collected during my time on earth, or the good I tried to do for the Lord?
Time passes, and this age's notables will soon become a footnote in a history text, and later, mostly forgotten. Where then, should my treasure be? In passing things, or doing the work of him who never dies or forgets the cup of water offered?
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
How I wish I could teach a certain teenager, that funny of cool is not a reason for surrounding oneself with bad, immoral or wrong things, because it colors your heart....but he's at the point in life he needs to connect the dots himself.
But it is advice we all need to think about - what should fill our minds?
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."
And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."
And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son."
Revelations 21:3-7
Glory!
Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear. Isaiah 59:1
Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a man to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am.
If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
Isaiah 58:4-12
Going through the motions doesn't cut it. You have to walk the walk.
This passage really dovetails in well with the passage in Matthew 25:
Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?'
And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'
Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
Isaiah 1:18
The word of a God who doesn't see us as puppets, but longs for our growth.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me round among them; and behold, there were very many upon the valley; and lo, they were very dry.
And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
And I answered, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest."
Again he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."
So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host.
Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, `Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD."
Ezekiel 37: 1-14
Can these bones live? If God gives the Spirit!
1 CORINTHIANS12:7-13 KJV
7"Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Revelation 21
"1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
oopppss! ... forgot the why ...
We live in a culture that has many who want to be told what they want to hear. Many churches are going to the 'seeker friendly' ... 'soft gospel' teaching.
All of the Word of God is for our instruction, teaching guidance, telling us about Him and His Plan of mercy, love, salvation, redemption, judgement, eternal life, and our part in it: for us to turn to His Son and receive Him as our Lord and Savior ...in love, service, and obeying His commands.
Some live just like the world in all aspects of life ... this is not what God says to do. We need to read the whole message of His Word.
As he says, "Be holy for I am holy." The sense of what is holy and the sense of what is sin need to be remembered...
Amen. I love those verses, too.
I think in the coming months and years, the love issue will trump all others in terms of intimacy with God and hearing and obeying His guidance in our individual and collective lives.
Certainly loving our enemies is a supreme test of Christ-like Love. There can still be consequences for the enemies, imho. I don't believe that loving our enemies means we are totally and always to roll over and play dead and allow them to ravish our families or our country.
But there is serious spiritual truth in those verses that I think the church has not come very close to grasping, much less demonstrating--in virtually any era. Would love to be proven wrong.
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