It is a blessing to discover how the Bible is so divinely authored through human hands that the verses, as it were, “network within themselves”, producing a “The Bible explains the Bible” phenomenon.
When I find a passage that speaks strongly to me, I like to dig for other passages of the Bible that run parallel to it. This is one method to further discover the wealth within the riches of the Scriptures. For example, note how that by examining the following “Line (1)” references together gives a growing and deeper elucidation of what God is saying to us as to our devotion to Him.
Similarly, we can see how the “Line (2)” references run tangent to and complement each other in emphasizing the believer’s own role and responsibility within a personal relationship with God:
John 15:7
(1) If you live in me and what I say lives in you,
(2) then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours.
Hebrews 11:6
(1) Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists
(2) and that he rewards those who seek him.
James 1:27
(1) Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father,
(2) is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.
Luke 10:27
(1) …Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.
(2) And love your neighbor as you love yourself
One way of summarizing, based on the above, would be to incorporate the
complementary lines into one string. For instance: if we abide in God by living out what he says, believing he exists, setting ourselves apart for his service, and loving him with our entire being, then these things follow: we can confidently pray to receive from him--while we demonstrate his compassion for others by caring for the desperately needy, mindful that we must treat others with the measure we wish to be appreciated.
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Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®. © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. Used by permission.
When I find a passage that speaks strongly to me, I like to dig for other passages of the Bible that run parallel to it. This is one method to further discover the wealth within the riches of the Scriptures. For example, note how that by examining the following “Line (1)” references together gives a growing and deeper elucidation of what God is saying to us as to our devotion to Him.
Similarly, we can see how the “Line (2)” references run tangent to and complement each other in emphasizing the believer’s own role and responsibility within a personal relationship with God:
John 15:7
(1) If you live in me and what I say lives in you,
(2) then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours.
Hebrews 11:6
(1) Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists
(2) and that he rewards those who seek him.
James 1:27
(1) Pure, unstained religion, according to God our Father,
(2) is to take care of orphans and widows when they suffer and to remain uncorrupted by this world.
Luke 10:27
(1) …Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.
(2) And love your neighbor as you love yourself
One way of summarizing, based on the above, would be to incorporate the
complementary lines into one string. For instance: if we abide in God by living out what he says, believing he exists, setting ourselves apart for his service, and loving him with our entire being, then these things follow: we can confidently pray to receive from him--while we demonstrate his compassion for others by caring for the desperately needy, mindful that we must treat others with the measure we wish to be appreciated.
__________
Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®. © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. Used by permission.