October 3, 2022 - Bro. David's under the weather today, so we're reprinting a devotional that originally went out in April of 2021...
Today's devotion is all about 3:16. There are 49 "3:16" verses in the Bible. Why aren't there 66 - one for every Bible book? Well, some books, like Psalms, have a 3rd chapter with less than 16 verses, and other books, like Jude, don't have a 3rd chapter at all.
Here are a few notable "3:16s"...
- Matthew - When Jesus had been baptized, as He came up from the water, suddenly the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and alighted on Him.
- I Corinthians - Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
- Colossians - Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
- 2 Timothy - All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
- I John - We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
Having shared these random, single verses today, I must admit that I prefer to study God's Word "in context." Looking at each verse in the context of the verses that come before and after, in the context of the entire book - its writer, it's intended readers, the time and history and culture of its writing.
But, then again, there are some verses that seem to... stand alone.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
