If you're reading this, this may not be an inspiring read full of quotable quotes. It may not lift your spirits, and make you feel better about yourself. This isn't designed that way. It's designed to inspire us all to seek the deeper things of God, even as we're suffering, and hurting. All too often, I've seen well intended people use the verse of the day or quotable church quotes to try and help people out of their funk, counsel, and encourage others, only to fail miserably. Heck, I've done this before too (and, unfortunately, my stubborn pride, which I war against daily, may cause me to do it again). Yet here it is: we're not called to be inspiring, we're called to follow Jesus. And following Jesus is messy.
It's not the "Verse of the Day," which many Christian ministries use on their platforms to be inspiring; the problem with this approach to God's word is it doesn't draw us in to the deeper things of Christ. A single verse with no context may have some value (God's word does not return void), but it is like pouring a single drop of cool water on a thirsty plant. Just as we can't live without the Holy Spirit, we need God's word to sustain us.
The verse of the day doesn't replace our need for the implanted Word of God. We need the word of God to grow, and the Holy Spirit, who resides within us, will provide the interpretation we need as we seek God's word! We need to draw near to God, and, as the book of James promises, He will draw near to us. We don't need "just enough God to feel inspired," we need His whole council, each and every word of the Bible. And, at each reading, He will grow us, mature us, and prune us, a process that isn't a one and done, but one that takes our entire lives, until we meet with Him face to face. Then, and only then, will we be fully mature, growing in Him by His light forever more. But the Word of God is what will draw us to that maturity and closeness to God in this life. 1 Peter 1:13-25 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for
“All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
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