Inspiring Scriptures
Posted by Moses on Feb 9, 2007
In a recent post, How to Give and Tithe Cheerfully, I identified one of my favorite inspiring scriptures. I thought it would be fun to go ahead and share some of the others that really touched me. Please feel free to share those that you enjoy as well. I will continue to update this post as my faith grows. The comments will always remain on for this post. God Bless.
I’m using the Life Application Study Bible: New International Version
First Entries - Feburary 9, 2007
The Book of Mark, was the first book of the bible that I read in its entirety. Because of that I am the most familiar with the verses in that Book. There are two verses that really touch me. The first is Mark 8:34-38, Jesus’s speech is in italics.
Mark 8:34 - 38, Life Application Study Bible
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” What good is it for a man to gain the whole worl, yet forfeit his soul? Or whast can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me an my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with holy angels.”
That passage always helps me to refocus when I’m unsure of how public I want to be with my faith. I understand that one of the responsibilies I have is to witness for others, but there are times when I think it will be easier or more acceptable to be a little more neutral when dealing with others. For example, this blog which is clearly inspired and directed by God, yet at one time I thought I would play down my faith so that I could reach a larger audience. We all know people who will be turned off as soon as you mention Christ, God or commitment. There was a time where I used to be like that. With that thinking in mind it seemed logical that I would write in a more secular manner in order to reach a larger audience and potentially help more people. Of course after revisiting this passage I’m convinced that denying my father and savior in any form is simply foolish and hurts my heart too much to even contemplate any longer.
Mark 10: 17 -31, Life Application Study Bible, Jesus Speaks to the Rich Man
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before hime. “Good Teacher,” he asked , “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good - except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he has great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle of than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“I tell you the truth,“Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children of fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields and with them, presecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
This passage always reminds me to check myself. In many ways I am like the rich man, for a long time I had my own plans about how my life would operate, but instead of my plan providing me fulfillment and happiness it I was left with an unsatisfied hunger that I could not fill. I wrote more about this in my How to Give and Tithe Cheerfully post. However, once I let go and let God order my steps everything changed. I had everything that I asked for and have come to a place where I am happy and fulfilled. This passage helps to remind me that even if the next phase seems like something I don’t want to do that all I need to do is give myself over to him and everything will be fine.
Hebrews 4:2, Life Application Study Bible
For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
Our pastor, Pastor Craig Oliver of Elizabeth Baptist Church, put a lot of emphasis on this verse. After hearing his sermon and studying the verse, it has become an important message for me. Essentially, it reminds us that faith and the Word go hand in hand. Your faith determines how much value you get from the Word. I have learned that faith is so important. It’s very easy to get trapped in the worry, tension and pain of this fast paced world. If your faith is strong you can believe that everything that occurs happens for a reason and that the challenges that you are facing can be overcome.
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