Tag: scripture

• Unity in Christ

  Unity in Christ as we are the body of Christ.

  Ephesians 5:30 (NIV)
  ³⁰ for we are members of his body.
  Romans 6:5 (NIV)
  ⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

  “We have become united with Christ. This union is the great doctrine of union with Him. Jesus, in the likeness of sinners, like us, we died with Him. We, in the likeness of righteousness, like Jesus, we are resurrected with Him. He died as a perfect sin bearer and the perfect offering in our likeness of sinful flesh. Like us, but not. We no longer live for flesh, but for the likeness of Jesus. Pray: Oh God, I bless you and I thank you for uniting me with your son.” (Transcribed from John Piper sermon “United to Christ” Light and Truth podcast. Oct 8, 2000 Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  

  Romans 6:2,4,1,2 (NIV)
  ² …We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
  ⁴ …just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
  ¹ What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ² By no means! …
  Romans 8:11 (NIV), Romans 8:13 (NKJV)
  ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
  1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV)
  ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption —

  “Unity in Christ means that all believers are in a relationship with Christ and, by extension, to every other believer. All believers are united with each other whether they know it or not, like it or not, or feel like it or not. The challenge of Christian unity is to live up to the truth of that reality. Since we are all members of one body, we need to live like it. This means subordinating our individual needs to the needs of the body at large and using our individual gifts for the good of the whole body.” (this text is an excerpt from a larger article)

  Philippians 2:1–4 (NIV)
  ¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
  
  1 Corinthians 12:12–21

  Acts 15:11 (NIV)
  ¹¹ “No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.” (Peter said)

  December 13, 2024

  scripture

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• Second Corinthians

  While reading this book in the Bible, Second Corinthians, I let each chapter tell me what stands out. I’m sure this would change at a different time and different season. Just curious to see, and I’ll look back at this in the future.

  Beginning, Selah

  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
  ³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

  2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV)
  ¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. ¹⁶ To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

  2 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV)
  ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

  Quarter, Selah

  2 Corinthians 4:6,17-18 (NIV)
  ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

  2 Corinthians 5:10,15,18,19 (NIV)
  ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

  Halftime, Selah

  2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)
  ² For he says,
  “In the time of my favor I heard you,
  and in the day of salvation I helped you.” [Isaiah 49:8]
  I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

  2 Corinthians 7:10 (NIV)
  ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

  2 Corinthians 8:11-12 (NIV)
  ¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

  2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
  ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

  Quarter, Selah

  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
  ³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

  2 Corinthians 11:13-14 (NIV)
  ¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
  ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

  2 Corinthians 13:5,8,14 (NIV)
  ⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

  Final, Selah

  1 Corinthians 6:11 (NLT)
  ¹¹ ..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 Thessalonians 5:21 (NLT)
  ²¹ But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.
  Romans 8:3 (NIV)
  ³ …God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering…
  James 4:8 (NIV)
  ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands…
  Psalm 147:11 (NIV)
  the Lord delights in those who fear him,
  who put their hope in his unfailing love.

   

  December 11, 2024

  scripture

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• Passover Lamb

  You shall say to the master of the house (Luke 22:11 NKJV)
  So you may eat and drink at my table (Luke 22:30)
  Covenant is His blood, poured out for us. (Luke 22:20)
  I love you, I am willing and able.

  I hold these blessings of Joy as I should,
  I take thine body and blood, it blesses.
  I will taste and see that the Lord is good, (Psalm 34:8).
  I do this in remembrance of Jesus. (Luke 22:19)

  Overwhelming presence, His Holy light,
  It shines on my heart, for I glow outward.
  You redeemed by your great strength and your might, (Nehemiah 1:10)
  Who have tasted the goodness of the Word? (Hebrews 6:5)

  Exalt thine glory and truth, I can see,
  Love chooses to be emptied into me.

  (A Sonnet to the Lord, of Scott 11/25/2024)

  November 25, 2024

  poetry, scripture

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• Roots by the River

  Yesterday, I was given a word for me, thank you Tina: “By the river of God there is very fertile land. The spring of living water.” And she followed with these scriptures:

  Jeremiah 17:8 NKJV
  ⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
  Which spreads out its roots by the river,
  And will not fear when heat comes;
  But its leaf will be green,
  And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
  Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

  Proverbs 12:3 NKJV
  ³ A man is not established by wickedness,
  but the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

  That word led me to more words, thank you Lord:

  Jeremiah 17:7 NKJV
  Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
  And whose hope is the Lord.

  Psalm 1:3 NIV
  ³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
  which yields its fruit in season
  and whose leaf does not wither—
  whatever they do prospers.”

  Psalm 23:4 KJV, Joshua 23:14 NIV, John 15:5,8-9 NIV, Proverbs 13:12 NKJV
  ⁴ “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” ¹⁴ “…You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed…” ⁵ “’I am the vine; you are the branches…’” ⁸ “‘This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”‘ ^{9 “‘}As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.’ ¹² “…But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

  I believe I am seated in heavenly places. I believe I’m standing in earthly places as a tree by the river. I believe that God has a plan for each of us. I trust God.

  My roots grow deeper with deep dives into Scripture like this. I shall go forward to bear much fruit. I shall walk in love. I am a branch. Thank you Jesus.

  Psalm 118:24 NKJV
  ²⁴ This is the day the Lord has made;
  We will rejoice and be glad in it.

  November 9, 2024

  scripture

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