Mostly it is important to recognize that plucking a short passage of Scripture from its context is hazardous. For example, I might grab a verse that indicates that the Lord will guide and protect me, and yet a contextual study will reveal that this promise is conditional: The Lord will guide and protect me only as I live by obedient faith. Therefore, simply passing around a small “byte” of Scripture can be quite misleading, and should never be used as a talisman to ward off evil. In fact, if you do latch onto a verse that really strikes you, your first step should be to read the verse in context to be sure its assurances or advice are what they appear to be.
Nevertheless, the Bible is full of “one-liners” that can be used appropriately to guard our lips, lift our hearts, or protect our minds if we carry them with us through the day, keeping them at the ready. Sound Bytes will suggest verses you might enjoy as well as topics from which you may want to start your own “collections”.
Sound Bytes From the Word: Topic 1: Be Pleasing To the Lord
The Lord expects us to continually examine ourselves: our attitudes, thoughts, behaviors. Paul says: Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Co 13:5 James elaborates on where to find the standard to use in measuring ourselves—not the world’s standards, but the Lord’s standard: But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:25
I use an electronic Bible on my telephone. With it I can easily “collect” verses under various subheadings. I currently have over 70 verses under my “Be Pleasing to the Lord” heading. Here’s five “sound bytes” you may wish to carry with you this week as you continue growing in the Lord. Quotes are taken from the ESV.
2Chronicles 17:6a His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. Is your heart courageous in the ways of the Lord, or do you fret over and complain about things you can’t control while not doing all you can for the Lord and for your neighbor?
2Chronicles 27:6 So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. Ordering your way before the Lord requires a time and priority commitment. It also requires you know the will of the Lord—and that comes only through studying His Word. (Do not rely on your own opinions of what the Lord wants! We have His Word so we may be sure.)
Ecclesiastes 5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be aware that we can worship in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord our Almighty God, offering the sacrifice of fools! (Matthew 7:21, Matthew 15:7-9, Acts 23:1 demonstrate how people can be religious—some sincere, some not–and can still be wrong.) Be sure you draw near to listen, and be sure to worship God not only in spirit but also in (God’s) truth. John 4:23-24
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Is having a pure heart important to you? Important enough to walk away from a dirty joke or a TV show that teaches you more about sin than you ever wanted to know?
Numbers 11:1 And the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, and when the LORD heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. …And we complain about such minor slights and “hardships” compared to the trials of a nation in the wilderness with no discernible source of food or water. To be pleasing to the Lord, we must stop complaining!
As you study God’s Word, start your own collection of verses that will help you be pleasing to the Lord. Then when you fall out of bed each morning, pick one to carry with you through your busy day.
