A Book of God Reminders in Scriptures
American communities are in need of healing. A few months ago I wrote a book titled God Reminders. God Reminders is filled with Scripture reminders for believers as we struggle through some of the most interesting and unbelievable days of late. The short book is designed to offer words of goodness while things seem to be just the opposite.
God Reminders opens with me describing to readers of the future what we are currently facing in our world and society, Among those is the most interesting Presidential election anyone has ever seen. In addition, world and cultural changes along with violence is happening swiftly. It makes one wonder if we were meant to have so much information and rapid changes to absorb at one time.
Some might view the book as just another book of the Scriptures and brush it away. I beg to differ. While I will admit that anyone can go to the Bible to for a daily Word, I seriously doubt that many are. According to the American Bible Society’s 1216 findings, the majority of Americans hold the Bible in high regard, but just one-third of Americans profess to have read the Bible at least once per week. It was encouraging to find that 60 percent of Americans have expressed a desire to read the Bible more often.
The Mission of Millennials
Most surprisingly, however, is the discovery of the Millennial’s view of the Bible. This group of amazing people who have been labeled as privileged, are also wonderfully positioned to make serious positive changes to our world, cultures, and society. You see, the research shows that Millennials who are practicing Christians have a high regard for the Bible. They consider it their top source of moral truth and they believe it is the actual word of God. Read the entire State of the Bible report to see the full results here.
We can all agree the last few days and months have been difficult in our society. Not only have we faced yet another terror attack on our homeland, two more men have been shot and killed by law enforcement. Couple those with natural disasters and other world hardships and huge holes are left in our souls, consciences, and hearts.
The life of Millennials changed at 9/11. Many were elementary school age or younger. This event jolted their serene, structured existence and since then, their outlook has been doing what they could to make the world a better place. To heal our communities will be a wonderful task.
World peace and justice became their causes and they have set out to accomplish these goals. One of the best tools they can have is the Bible and the ability to use it effectively in their mission. Another is to understand that they can live life AND serve God. I describe the balance in the series Living the Whole Life. Check it out here.
7 Powerful Scriptures that can Heal Our Communities
Embedded in Bible Scriptures are many directives by God to heal our land and how to emit love and respect for our fellow brothers and sisters. This blog will focus on 7 powerful Scriptures that can heal communities. Some you will recognize, others you may not. Reading and following the example of the Scriptures are not designed to push anyone into over exuberance, or impose on others. Rather, they are designed for the reader to reflect on, meditate on, and decide to use for the good of society.
These Scriptures will show the intent God has for mankind’s co-existence. (NIV and ESV)
1). Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Widows and the fatherless are left defenseless. Anyone who is oppressed can never rise above their situations until we all help and seek justice for them. We are required to do good unto all.
2) Proverbs: 31:9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Some who are poor and needy cannot speak for themselves, for various reasons. Judgement of all situations should be fair and honest. Do not stay silent, speak for those who cannot.
3) Malachi 2:10 Do we not have one Father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal with treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of the fathers?”
There is only one God and He created all of us. As difficult as it is to accept, we are all brothers and sisters because of this.
4) Deuteronomy 10:17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.”
God is the God of all. He does not love any one more than the other. Some were chosen, but we are all treated and loved the same.
5) Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall.
We can surmise that God does not like barriers between his children. We are to look to Him for peace as we try to live with each other. Anything that divides us and causes strife, we are to remove it and find ways to live together.
6) Romans 12:15-18 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil with evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Too often people are categorized into groups which causes some to feel superior to others. This is not God’s plan. The goal is to care for one another, hurt for each other, and treat all the same. All of the plans and plots to destroy others unfairly will fail eventually. Treat everyone well.
7) 1 John 3:17-18 But if anyone has the worlds’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.
Taking action against injustice to those who are innocent or defenseless makes God delight in us. If we have the skills and other talents and goods to help those who do not have, we find favor in His sight. Keep an open heart and mind to the plight of fellow brothers and sisters.
These reminders and lessons are just the right prescriptions we need help heal our communities.
From Hardships to Softships
Some of the current global situations should be enough to drive us to our knees in prayer. Turning to God is the only thing that will strengthen us to function and move forward into another day. Another hour, Another minute. We can carry that down to seconds, and by doing so the thought of the comfort we get from reading uplifting scriptures may not be such a hardship after all.
Practicing powerful Scriptures like the ones above will cause a major shift in our communities and lives. Taking the lead and stepping up for each other is the right thing to do if injustice is occurring. It never fails to make the heart feel good and light when we stand for something right and Godly, especially if it helps someone else.
You see, the newness and reminders we find there will satisfy our souls, enrich our days, and make us hungry for more. Reading scripture empowers, encourages, and adds to our mental capabilities to face hardships as well as softships. Softships are just the opposite of hardships. They are the easy times. You know, laughter, joy, peace, fun, good day at work, or home, etc. Softships.
The book, God Reminders might be just another book of scriptures, but based upon the above findings, many of the scriptures it highlights might not ever be read by some. Bible reading should be refreshing each time because there are new revelations, or increased faith, even though the words have been read countless times.
These seven scriptures will add value to our lives as we live for God and with each other. They are lemon, honey and ginger-natural remedies God’s Way. Do you add value to your life daily by reading, meditating, and putting the Scriptures in action? We might disagree on what each of the Scriptures mean, but one thing cannot be disputed and that is God is not a God of few, or some. He is the God of all. We cannot divide Him up and hand out portions and then become greedy with our own. Come on Millennials, and everyone else, move with me from the hardships to softships by applying scripture to life and begin the road to healing commumities we love.
