Many people do not experience the intimacy and engagement with God that is made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is mostly due to ignoring the words of God that requires action or change on our side. Embracing God’s grace of salvation, but not embracing His Lordship.
The following verses are often ignored, skipped over or discarded by believers. Salvation is just the beginning of our relationship with God. Building a relationship is a process and requires obedience and sacrifice, which leads to revelation, favor and direction.
Neglected verses or portions of verses highlighted in bold:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:37
She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” – John 8:11
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” – John 14:15
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. – John 15:23
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, – Titus 2:11
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit – Ephesians 5:18
Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes – Mark 9:23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Mathew 7:21
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? – Matthew 16:24-26
The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. – Proverbs 12:22
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. – Ephesians 5:25
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” – Luke 6:38
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in Him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. – John 15:5
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and He delivers them. – Psalm 34:7
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. – Isaiah 64:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. – James 1:6
( *** the list is incomplete. I will add more in the next week)
Thankfully we are saved by grace, but we have a life to live in this age. It is our choice to live it with God by our side or in the distance.
Have a blessed day.