Promises to Live By - Introduction

My intention is to blog some additional material in the way of scriptural verses. The list will be by no means comprehensive (and there are more verses that should be added) but these are verses that I think are worth committing to memory. Strictly speaking not all of the verses will be promises but they will contain principles or concepts that affect belief, life and practise. Some of the verses that we are familiar with are taken out of context and applied in ways that were never intended e.g. Read 1 Co 2:9 and then read 1 Co 2:10. Other verses that we consider as promises are not absolute or universal in their application because personal choices or difficult circumstances emerge that are not of God’s will or making. Yes God is sovereign but He gives man the gift of free will and choice, and sometimes what we want is not always for the best. There are some things we cannot or will not understand. You cannot for example look at Jesus or the disciples and apply to their lives the promises of safety, prosperity and longevity. Some things are more important than our own lives or individual priorities. God’s promises are all made good in His eternal kingdom but it is unrealistic to think that God is like Father Christmas (Lewis, 1952).

Jesus said:

‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt 4:4)

If you are looking for a technological tool to assist in memorising scripture I would recommend Memverse.

References
Lewis, C. (1952). Mere Christianity. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers