Final instalment of Through the Alphabet Scriptures

Yes, you're correct. I know it doesn't start with a "z" but it's a great verse with a "z" in it. Hope that's OK. 😊

How precious to be redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

No other offering could have paid the price required to purchase our pardon. 

He gave Himself for us. 

Here's the challenge :

Have we truly given ourselves to Him?

Have we determined to live for Him? 

If so, we ought to be zealous for good works, because as Ephesians 2:10 tells us, 

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Now He has redeemed us and is purifying us, we have become special to Him. 

I think that's an amazing thought! 

Thanks for following along on my journey through the Alphabet Scriptures. 

Have you memorised any or all of them? 

Your throne...

When things don't seem to be going the way you hoped they would, or problems have come, and there's distress and uncertainty within and without, this verse is a comforting one to hang on to. 

Nothing can ever take the Lord by surprise. 

He knows exactly what He's doing. 

Whether it feels like it or not, 

His plan for your life is the best possible!

(yes I'm preaching to myself again!) 

He only always does what is right. 

It's so good to remember He will reign forever. Nothing will ever change Him. 

He will always be faithful. 

X... (almost)

I think this is the nearest I'm going to get in finding a verse beginning with x. 

It's another great reminder. 

I think it would be worth studying exactly how many of these great and precious promises He has given to us and what they all mean. 

Now I'm pondering what it means to be partakers of the divine nature. 

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Who is like You, O Lord?

There's a short answer to these questions: no one!

There is only One who is glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders.

Do you know Him as your God? 

This is the way Moses knew Him as he had seen many amazing instances of the Lord's provision and deliverances out of some very difficult circumstances.

Can you look back on the years of your life and see how He has led and guided? 

What a privilege!

"Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen."

Psalm 72:18-19

Verily...

You might ask yourself, "Can it really be so simple?" According to this verse, yes, it can. 

Have you heard His Word? And put your trust in Jesus alone?

Here we have another beautiful promise of Jesus that He saves those who trust Him. 

I repeatedly come back to this verse. 

I'm so glad God included it!

So often I fail to live and think as a Christian ought to live and think, but my salvation is not based on my performance! 

I'm very glad about that! 

My perfecly sinless Saviour was willing to suffer agony on the cross to bring us sinners back to Himself.

He loved us so much that He endured torture to restore us to a right standing relationship. 

He paid my debt. 

I owe Him my life!

Unto the upright...

I keep coming back to this verse. 

I find great encouragement here . 

When I am guilty and need His grace and mercy, I have His promise here in His Word: He is gracious. 

When sad news abounds, He is full of compassion. 

Though I have been unrighteous, His work on the Cross paid my debt and He imputes His righteousness to me when I confess and forsake my sins. 

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

In Him there is no darkness at all. 

When we come to Him, He shines His light. We can either walk in it, 

or choose to reject Him. 

Why would anyone choose eternal darkness and misery

 over eternal light and joy and glory? 

Thank You Lord for Your light, Your grace, 

Your compassions which never fail, and Your righteousness.

Please help me always

 to choose to walk in Your light. 

Trust...

We really can trust Him at all times. He knows the end from the beginning, He is intimately aware of every detail about us and He has prepared good works for us to walk in. 

How amazing it is that the Lord God Almighty invites us to pour out our hearts to Him. He knows how wicked and deceitful our hearts have been and He has cleansed us from sin when we confess and forsake them.

I think this may be another of my favourite verses. Whenever my heart is getting full, I need to remember to pour it out to the Lord. He understands the way I feel (and what is more amazing to me, He loves me anyway) 

He is utterly trustworthy. 

He is my refuge. 

Is He your refuge too??

Sing praise

I'm not aware of any actual statistics but I think most people enjoy hearing the birds sing. I'm sure God loves hearing all His creatures praise Him in joyful song. 

We have so much for which to give Him thanks, He has blessed us so richly in calling us His children.

So let's get singing His praise! 

Those He has redeemed have a very special song to sing!

Return to your rest

I think this may be one of my favourite verses. Time and again I find great comfort in it. It's a great reminder for me that the Lord is so gracious and delights in dealing bountifully with His people.

This is the only way to find true rest. 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Thank You Lord for dealing bountifully with me!

Quench not...

I don't know about you, but I would say that was a rather important statement.

The Holy Spirit gives life so if we quench Him we quench our life. 

Because He is holy, any unholiness on our part will quench Him.

"what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness," 2 Peter 3:11

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age," Titus 2:11-12

Scripture teaches that we need to choose to die to our own old selfish nature (yes, easier said than done) and let Him live His life in and through us.

"Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;"

1 Thessalonians 4:1

Is your armour in place?

It looks to me like this is an

 imperative command, not just a 

good idea or casual suggestion.

I guess he knew that in order to stand,

 we need to be wearing the armour God provided for us.

As it says in John 10, the enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy. 

Don't let him win!

Open

How we need the Lord to open our eyes! Without His Holy Spirit quickening the Word to our hearts we miss so much!

If we will diligently study the Bible, He will reveal so much more of Himself. Passages we have read many times can come alive with special importance to us. 

The enemy of our souls makes many people blind, but as Jesus did when He walked on the earth, He delights in causing the blind to see. 

What wondrous things have you seen lately?