There are a number of verses that would serve us well to memorize and/or meditate upon – verses that either encourage, exhort and/or comfort.
In no particular order, here are some of them:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
There are times in our life where it seems there is constant struggle and we wonder, “Where is God?”, and, “Why isn’t He answering my prayers?” Instead, we probably should be asking, “Is there something in my life that is affecting my relationship with God?” Not always, but perhaps there is sin that is separating us in our walk with the Lord and we are not walking in the Spirit.
These verses in Psalm 139 are ones that we might consider praying often, if not, every day. Let us allow God to search us to see if there is any “offensive” (NIV translation) or “grievous” (JND translation) “way in us” – that which is contrary to His will for us. Then, once confessed, He will lead us “in the way everlasting” – the way of “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
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“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
In previous verses in Colossians 3, Paul addressed wives, husbands, children and fathers. He continues by addressing servants. May I suggest that we apply this to our employment, which is to say, when we serve our employer, we are serving the Lord.
It certainly puts what we do in a different light and perspective when we are to “do it heartily, as to the Lord,” does it not? That should motivate us to do our very best because we are doing it unto Him!
In addition, we read, “… whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
We are children of God and servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. As servants, then, when we do our job heartily, unto the Lord, we glorify God, which ultimately results in the promised blessing of receiving “the reward of the inheritance.”
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“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24)
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Romans 6:6-13)
Much can be said about these and similar verses. We need to remind ourselves that we have been crucified with Christ; “the old man is dead.” A dead person should not be responsive to anything. The flesh with its affections and lusts was crucified. We no longer serve sin, but are freed from it and have been given the liberty to be servants of righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ dwells in us and we live by faith in Him. It follows then that we should desire to live a life serving and pleasing our Lord.
More verses of “encouragement, exhortation and comfort” to follow…