New Believer's Bible Sample - Flipbook - Page 21
page A23
CO R N E R S T O N E S
God will grow. The Bible correctly recognizes that our love for God comes as a
result of his loving us first (1 John 4:19). These Scripture passages explore some
different facets of the love we should have for God and for others.
• God should be the greatest love of our lives see Deuteronomy 6:4-5, page 176
• Our salvation is based on God’s love see Hosea 11:8-9, page 827
• Our love for God prepares us for service see John 21:15-17, page 1024
• Love surpasses all spiritual gifts see 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, page 1105
• Our love for others mirrors the condition of our hearts see 1 John 2:6-11, page 1211
Peace
Peace of mind—it seems elusive in a day when anxiety is at an all-time high.
This only increases with the information on demand that pops up on our
smartphones and tablets. Yet Jesus has promised that we can experience true
peace: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I
give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).
The problem is that many are still searching for something God has already
given us as a gift. They have simply left that gift unopened. And we cannot
find peace outside the parameters God has given us. As Augustine said in a
prayer many years ago, “Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in
you.” Begin to “unwrap” this precious gift by examining what God’s Word has
to say about it.
• A love for God’s Word brings peace of mind see Psalm 119:165-168, page 566
• Perfect peace builds upon total trust see Isaiah 26:3-4, page 645
• Peace begins when we let God take control see Matthew 11:28-30, page 907
• Our peace continues as we follow the Holy Spirit see Romans 8:5-8, page 1075
• God’s peace needs to rule in our hearts see Colossians 3:15, page 1147
Perseverance
There will be times in your Christian walk when you will feel emotionally
down. You may think that God has forgotten about you. Or you might become
discouraged as you see others who have professed faith in Jesus Christ lose
interest in remaining faithful and fall away. You may begin to wonder whether
you are next on the devil’s hit list. But God will not allow you to be hit with
more than you can handle spiritually. In fact, it is during times of trouble that
you will actually be strengthened, not weakened.
As you read your Bible, you will come across words like endurance and perseverance. These words are often used when the Bible compares the Christian
life to a race. The race referred to is a marathon, not a fifty-yard dash. Because
