Blaire Brown: Romans 8:28 (NIV) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Kelsey Colvin: Psalms 61:8 (NIV) Then will I ever sing praise to your name and fulfill my vows day after day.

Ryan Gribble: 1 Tim 4:12 (NIV) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Karin Higgs : Romans 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ashley Janczewski : James 1:2-4 (NIV) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Bruce Julian: Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Candace Kessler: Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Abby Morris: Jer 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Abby Morris: Psalms 18:30 (NIV) As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.

Brittani Reichard: Psalms 37:4 (NIV) Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Kelsey Reichard: Jeremiah 1:8 (NIV) Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Alex Shively: Psalms 33:3 (NIV) Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Benjamin Yeh: Titus 2:11-13 (NIV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rebecca Freeman: Romans 8:35-39 (NLT) 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep. )37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Kelly Reed: Joshua 1:9 (NLT) 9 This is my command be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Renee Thorward: Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) 1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

Deborah Wright: Matt. 7:7 (NLT) Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Patrick Walsh: Rev. 21 (NLT) The New Jerusalem
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.5 And the one sitting on the throne said, Look, I am making everything new! And then he said to me, Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.6 And he also said, It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life.7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
8 But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.
9 Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls containing the seven last plagues came and said to me, Come with me! I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.
10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal.12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates.13 There were three gates on each side east, north, south, and west.14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 The angel who talked to me held in his hand a gold measuring stick to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.16 When he measured it, he found it was a square, as wide as it was long. In fact, its length and width and height were each 1,400 miles. 17 Then he measured the walls and found them to be 216 feet thick (according to the human standard used by the angel). 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass.19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light.24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory.25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there.26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city.27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

(more…)

I’ve always wondered about this. Here’s an explanation of the 613 Laws that the Jews have written:

From the book entitled “Simple Church” by Tom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN.

“The religious leaders had developed a religious system with 613 Laws. They chose the number 613 because that was how many separate letters were in the text containing the Ten Commandments. Then they found 613 commandments in the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament). They divided the list into affirmative commands (do this) and negative command (don’t do this).

There were 248 affirmative commands, one for every part of the human body, as they understood it. There were 365 negative commands, one for each day of the year. They further divided the list into binding commands and nonbinding commands. Then they spent their days debating whether the divisions were accurate and ranking the commands within each division.”

What Are the 613 Laws?

• The number 613 comes from Jewish tradition, particularly from a 3rd-century rabbi named Rabbi Simlai, who stated that the Torah contains 248 positive commandments (things to do) and 365 negative commandments (things not to do).

• These are not laws added to the Bible, but rather a count of all the commands already found in the Torah, compiled and systematized.

Categories of the Laws

1. Positive Mitzvot (248) – These are commands to do something, like:

   • Honor your father and mother.

   • Observe the Sabbath.

   • Give to the poor.

2. Negative Mitzvot (365) – These are prohibitions, like:

   • Do not steal.

   • Do not murder.

   • Do not eat unclean animals.

These laws cover every area of life, including:

• Worship and the Temple

• Civil justice and government

• Family and marriage

• Dietary restrictions (kosher laws)

• Ritual purity

• Ethical behavior

• Festivals and holy days

Where Did the List Come From?

The most well-known list of the 613 commandments was compiled by Maimonides (Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, also known as the Rambam) in the 12th century. He organized them into a comprehensive system in his work Sefer HaMitzvot (Book of the Commandments).

Why Are They Important in Judaism?

• For observant Jews, these commandments are a way of expressing covenant faithfulness to God.

• Keeping the mitzvot is not about earning salvation but about living a holy life, in obedience to the God of Israel.

• Some laws (like sacrifices) are no longer practiced because the Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands.

How Does Christianity View the 613 Laws?

• Christians believe (KNOW!) that Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17).

• Many Christian theologians view the 613 laws as divided into:

  • Moral laws (still relevant—e.g., love your neighbor)

  • Ceremonial laws (fulfilled in Christ—e.g., sacrifices, festivals)

  • Civil laws (specific to ancient Israel’s society)

• Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews discuss how the Law points to Christ and how salvation is by grace through faith, not by law-keeping.

A Few Famous Examples from the 613

• Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments (part of the 613)

• Leviticus 19:18 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Deuteronomy 6:5 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” (This is the Shema, one of the most central commandments)

Last edited on 04.27.2025