my third blog: some favorite scriptures

Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed
to this age, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may
discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God (Romans 12:1-2)
I like these verses because it points you on the path toward right worship by showing how right living is intertwined with it. We can not enter fully into true worship, the kind pleasing to God, until our lifestyle is one of worship. Paul tells us in this verse that worship, like most things i find, is holistic, involving your whole being.
We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present
everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28).
I like this verse because I think it speaks first to those who are specifically called to ministry and also to all believers as far as their duty to non-believers. Paul is hardcore here, though it's hard to tell in the English. Paul speaks of warning people that they are headed to hell (dare we say it!?). He speaks also of teaching the scriptures; this is a solemn and sacred trust that should not be entered into lightly. The goal of this work is to present a person mature, or complete, in Christ. What happens if we enter into this job and fail?
Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
or with ten thousand streams of oil?
Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the child of my body for my own sin?

He has told you men what is good
and what it is the LORD requires of you:
Only to act justly,
to love compassion,
and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:7-8).
I like this verse because one, it knocks down the way most people try to become right with God (works, sacrifices) and then shows how very simple it is (if only we weren't so very depraved) to please God, simply do what is right. Do what is fair and just without showing favoritism (that's hard!); to love (strong word) compassion, kindness, mercy-that's all encompassed in the Hebrew word, and to be humble before God. Acknowledge our position and his position. He is creator, we are created. He is eternal, we are finite. He is all powerful, we do nothing but by his good will. He is holy, we are fallen. He has it all, we are in need. I do take exception to one thing, not in the verse of course but in the translation. Every translation I know of does this except for the Jerusalem Bible, which is a Catholic bible. The name of God is Yahweh, not LORD. How many people in the church do not even know the name of the god they worship?!

More later.