Category: Scripture

“”So the next morning, Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so He sent the angle of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and the two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between the two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. so Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage, Balsam beat the animal again with his staff.

Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves you beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.

“You have made me look like a fool,” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”

“But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered “Have I ever done anything like this before?”

“No” Balaam admitted.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. “”(Numbers 22: ff. 21-31, NLT)

“Do not steal.
Do not deceive or cheat one another.
Do not bring shame on the name of your God by using it to swear falsely. I am the Lord.
Do not defraud your neighbor.
Do not make your hired workers wait until the next day to receive their pay.
Do not insult the deaf or cause the blind to stumble. You must fear your God. I am the Lord.
Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly.
Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people.
Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the Lord
Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
You must obey all My decrees.” (Leviticus 19: vv. 22-18, NLT)

“And don’t sin by letting your anger control you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger give a foothold to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27, NLT)

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.” (James 1:19, NLT)

“Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers. (Proverbs 11:14, NLT)

“Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.” (Proverbs 12:15, NLT)

“The Lord Himself will send you curses, confusion and frustration in everything you do, until at last you are completely destroyed for doing evil and abandoning Me.” (Deuteronomy 28:20, NLT)

“Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you. For God called you do do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.” (1 Peter 2:20-21, NLT)

“[Jesus said,]’And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak.” (Matthew 12:36, NLT)

“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.” (Romans 14:12-13, NLT)

“But as I looked at everything I had worked hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless – like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” (Eccelesiastes 2:11,NLT)

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT)

“People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Blessed are those who fear to do wrongs but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.” (Proverbs 28:13-14, NLT)

“Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear, for some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.” (1 Timothy 1:19, NLT)

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.” (Psalm 3: 5-6, NLT)

[Jesus said,]”If you do not carry your own cross and follow Me, you cannot be my disciple. But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” (Luke 14:27-28, NLT)

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.” (Isaiah 30:18, NLT)

“Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on them in their suffering” (Isaiah 49:13, NLT)