There are 31,174 total verses in the Bible. Psalm 118:8-9 are the 15,587th and 15,588th verses. The very middle of the Bible. It’s probably just random chance, or maybe it’s God’s way of winking at us, but these two verses in the very middle of the entire Bible seem to capture well the bottom line to our fight of faith. Where the rubber-meets-the-road of whether or not we’ll live in God’s bigger story. To whom or where will you turn in your anxieties and insecurities? We all turn somewhere. These verses paint a powerful poetic image of why your choice really matters. Psalm 118:8–9 ESV 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. Psalm 40:4 NIV Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. John 5:44 NIV How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? John 5:42 NIV But I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. Psalm 146:3–6 ESV 3 Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. 4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, 6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever. Psalm 37:3 NIV Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Isaiah 57:11–13 NIV 11 Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me nor taken this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? 12 I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you. 13 When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain. Isaiah 2:22 NIV Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? Psalm 5:11 ESV But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. Psalm 9:10 ESV And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.
view more