It is important when reading about inspirational bible verses for the reader to remember each bible verse will be interpreted differently according to one’s own experiences. It is also important to keep in mind that the reader doesn’t know what the writer’s history and experience is. With that in mind, here are my most inspirational bible verses:
Matthew 7: 13 – 14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few
Life is not an easy journey, and the road to everlasting life is even harder. There are two ways you can take in life, the easy way as signified by the wide gate, and the hard way which is the narrow gate. There are many who take the easy road, and because the road is so much wider it will lead to destruction. There are more chances for one to be tempted to sin against God. This fits in with my next inspirational verse.
Proverbs 4: 25 – 27 : Let your eyes look directly forward and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Similar to my first verse, this also urges one to stay on the right path and to not let temptation cause you to stray to the left or to the right. Both of these passages apply to me in that when I was young I did not enter the narrow gate, nor did I keep my eyes ahead. I allowed myself to be led astray by temptation and to commit sin. This has had a negative effect on my life and it was only another life changing experience which has allowed me to see where I went wrong, and I have found myself back on the right path. Whether it is too late to be saved remains to be seen, but I now know I cannot let myself be led astray.
Ecclesiastes 9: 17 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
This verse has guided me through most of my life. My father used to tell me a version of this when I worked for him, of course in those days I didn’t always listen, but as I got older I found my father to have become a lot smarter. This verse simply means it is not the one who shouts who will be heard the most, but the one who speaks quietly and who is wise will be. In all things you must show you are wiser than the others, whether it is in business or in Christian living. This is especially true when you are a leader of others. Think back to bosses you may have had in your careers, which were the most effective? Was it the one who yelled and carried on, who ruled by threats and intimidation or was it the one who was quiet but who knew what he spoke of and showed the confidence of being right?
Matthew 6: 1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”
Similar to the prior verse, this one has guided me in the past few months along my journey back to Jesus. I keep my thoughts to myself, I don’t preach to others; however I show them I am a Christian by my actions. Unlike many others, I don’t need to talk about how good I am at my job, or talk about what I may have as far as possessions, I am happy within myself, knowing I live according to the teaching of God and His son, Jesus. This verse warns of showing off to others your righteousness just to be seen by others as being righteous, especially if you don’t mean it. God knows when you are a hypocrite and He knows if you are righteous.
Galatians 6: 8 – 10 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Once I returned to Christianity, or more accurately, really believing in it, reading this passage had a profound effect on me. You reap what you sow, how true this is. In your life if you spread good, good will come to you. If you spread evil, evil will come back to you. It is human nature to “return in kind”, you will get back what you give. This is true whether it is for religious reasons or not. There was a time when I did not practice this, I was not the nicest person in the world, I didn’t always treat people with kindness and charity, and in return I received very little in return. Living a good Christian life is rewarding in that you know you are doing good deeds which will help your chances of getting into Heaven, but more than that, it makes you feel good about yourself.
Matthew 7: 7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
Finally, this has been the verse which has truly guided me in the last few months as I have struggled through difficult times. You have to believe in the Lord, you have to ask Him to guide you and help you, if you do this, He will. The answers I was looking for came to me once I asked the right questions. I began to read the Bible, I prayed and my prayers are being answered. I have found the guidance and direction I needed to turn my life around and make progress. I don’t have all the answers, I am not sure anyone ever can, but I continue to seek and I continue to find.
All Bible quotations are from Crossway Bibles (2011-02-09). The Holy Bible English Standard Version (ESV) Kindle Edition.