I am hard pressed between the two [living and dying], having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ~Philippians 1:23-24
Category: Inspirational Verses
You May be Tempted…Some~
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. ~1 Corinthians 10:13
Jews Request a Sign, and Greeks Seek after Wisdom~
For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom, therefore Christ crucified is to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, Christ is the power and wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. ~1 Corinthians 1:22-25
Prayer for the Power to Heal
Now, Lord, grant to Your servants that with all boldness we may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant, Jesus. ~Acts 4: 29-30
Seeking the One~
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you servants of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the LORD, all His works, in all places of His dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Blessed are you…
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ~Mattew 5:11-12
The Aroma of God, and Other Favorite Pauline Scriptures
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” ~2 Corinthians 2:14
Judge Nothing
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts; and then each one’s praise will come from God.” ~1 Corinthians 4:5
The Lord’s Freedman and the Lord’s Slave
“For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” ~1 Corinthians 7:22-23
Be Pure
“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” ~1 Corinthians 9:27
There is Liberty
“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” ~2 Corinthians 3:17
A New Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new….Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” ~2 Corinthians 5:17, 20
Marks of the Ministry of God
“We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
By purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere [unhypocritical] love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report, and good report;
As deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” ~2 Corinthians 6:3-10
Do Not be Unequally Yoked
“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
‘I will dwell in them and walk among them.
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.’
Therefore
‘Come out from among them and be separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’
‘I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.'” ~2 Corinthians 6:14-18
“Then came Peter…
“Then came Peter to Him, and said, ‘Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?’ Jesus saith unto him, ‘I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.'” ~Matthew 18:21-22
This beautiful exhortation regarding forgiveness is made even more divine when we realize that Jesus Christ was speaking out against the ancient practice of the Tribe of the Lamechites to diabolically take revenge seventy-sevenfold, including upon the families of those who would so much as wound them; making modern day gang fighting appear almost like a daily tea.
“Then Lamech [great great great grandson of Cain] said to his wives: ‘…I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-seven fold.'” ~Genesis 4:23-24
Jesus used his short time here as rabbi teaching especially contentious subjects which had either been long standing ancient practice, as seen here, or reasserting God’s Will where it digressed from Mosaic Law, as regarding divorce. Sometimes he clarified word meanings, as when he told a story describing what a ‘neighbor’ was. Almost all of what he chose to discuss with his followers, that we can see in the pages of scripture at least, made some important new point, in direct opposition to what had been the interpreted belief or status quo of that time.
He rocked the ancient world and conservative Jews so much in these ways. Even though He was speaking mostly of love and compassion and forgiveness, and healed incessantly, it was impossible for the Pharisees to equate this message with God’s direct Word and Will. They were so used to assuming God’s Will by reliance on their increasingly tortuous interpretation of the Law.
Not that the Law isn’t important! It is. We are commanded by God, by Jesus, and by the Apostles to keep the Law. But not at the cost of the two greatest commandments.
Psalm 19, a Psalm of David~
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. ~Psalm 19:7-13
God said, “Ask!…
God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” And Solomon said: “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted.
Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.
And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” ~I Kings 3:5-14
God lavishes us with more abundance than we can imagine if we but draw close to him with a humble heart~
~Song of Mary~ 