(Genesis 1:1) “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Humanity, made in His image, fell, but a promise of redemption was whispered. (Exodus 14:14) “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” He called a people, setting them apart with laws, from Leviticus 19:2, “Be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Through wilderness journeys, His presence sustained them, and He blessed them. (Numbers 6:24) “‘May the LORD bless you and protect you.” He taught them to love and obey, for Deuteronomy 6:5 commanded, “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”
Then, they entered a promised land, led by courage. (Joshua 1:9) “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Yet, in days of wandering, (Judges 21:25) “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” But loyalty and redemption shone through hard times, like Ruth 1:16 “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to abandon you and leave you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.’”
Prophets spoke of a coming king, (Isaiah 9:6) “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” And a future of hope, for Jeremiah 29:11 prophesied “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” Even in lament, His mercies renewed, (Lamentations 3:22) “The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease.” A new spirit promised, (Ezekiel 36:26) “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”
Then, the promised Messiah arrived, (Matthew 1:21) “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” He came to serve and give His life, (Mark 10:45) “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” To seek and save the lost, Luke 19:10 recounted, “for the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (John 3:16) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” His Spirit came, empowering witnesses, (Acts 1:8) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
And He will return, (1 Thessalonians 4:16) “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.” So stand firm, (2 Thessalonians 3:3) “But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” Pursuing godliness, (1 Timothy 4:8) “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” And always, hold on to truth, (2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
Finally, a new heaven and new earth, a revelation: (Revelation 21:4) “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s holy people this Pentecost as we all commit ourselves to give a verse, or even a *chapter.
(*Average number of verses in a chapter: 44)