Verse(s) of the Month - June 09

This month there are three verses that I'd like to share that have strong significance in our lives. The first relates to anyone who struggles with the ideas or principles of God, whether athiest, agnostic, lukewarm Christian or strong Christian, Buddhist, Jainist, or anyone else. It is for those who doubt, which is everyone at some point.

"Be merciful to those who doubt." - Jude 22

Jesus loved the sinners - the tax collecters - and the doubters - the Pharisees and His disciples - yet he rebuked them, and that is what God has called us to do, to love and provide accountability to doubters; to be merciful as God has been to us.

The next verse has been convicting in my life as I have seen - through past experiences and philosophical discussions - with athiests that our understandings of God vary much so. Even as Christians we tend to "box God" and limit his possibilities.

"Jesus replied, 'What is impossible with men is possible with God.'" - Luke 18:27

Now if we as philosophers and doubters and Christians and human beings in general, if we can get this through our head that God is limitless, now let's discuss His possibilities, shall we?

And the final verse comes from the King James Version Bible and deals with the fact that God provides.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." - Hebrews 13:5

God will never leave you, so in all doubt and struggle, why should we look to things less than God and make them bigger than they are? God is already so big, what more could we want - than a [merciful] and [limitless] and [omnipresent] being?

Verse of the Month - May 09

"Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible." - 3 John 5 MSG

Verse of the Month - April 09

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." - 1 Corinthians 16:13 NKJV

Verse of the Month - March 09

I have recently fallen in love with this Bible verse, simply because although in society today many call Christianity a practice of faith that is "condemning" to so called "sinners," this is all that the Bible has to say:

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Key word being "but," it changes everything. We are all sinners and betrayers like it or not - I personally hate the idea, but sadly enough, without further denial, it is true. So instead of looking at the aspect of the wrath of God - which is uncommon in faith to look at - look for the aspect of why God sent Jesus. He sent him because He truly wants us and desires us, despite our wicked past. This is even said in the Bible:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Verse of the Month - February 09

"Hearken unto this," we are challenged, "stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." - Job 37:14.

Verse of the Month - January 09

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,"
- Titus 2:11-12.

Verse of the Month - December 08

What I'll do from here is once a month there will be a verse posted just in relation to provoking thought. Things to consider are "what does the verse speak to you, or maybe what kind of message could it have not only on you but on other individuals too?"

"The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy from the ash heap, to seat them among princes, and to make them inherit a throne of honor: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them." - 1 Samuel 2:7-8 (King James Version)

So how does this verse resonate with you?