I Don't Think That Verse Means What You Think It Means

A young and nervous bride planning her wedding was increasingly terrified about her upcoming marriage. To calm her nerves, she decided to have a Bible verse which had always brought her comfort (1st John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; for perfect love casts out fear") engraved on her wedding cake. So she called the caterer and all arrangements were made.

About a week before the wedding, she received a call from the catering company. "Is this really the verse you want on your cake?" they asked. Yes, she confirmed, it was the one she wanted, and after a few more questions they said they would decorate the cake as requested. The wedding day came, and everything was beautiful...until the reception, when the bride walked in to find the cake emblazoned with John 4:18: "For you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband."

Well, that wasn't the right verse but we can see how the mistake was made. Most people however are not mistaken in finding the right verse but in applying the verse rightly. The verse is taken out of it context. A modern meaning is given to a word rather that the meaning it had originally. The verse is applied to a different audience than it was written to. Limiting the concept to one verse rather than seeing how the idea is expressed thought the Bible. They may quote it, but the true meaning is far from them.

Consider what Jesus said in Mark 12:24 "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?” Rather than try to force a verse into our own preconceived idea, it is much better to allow the verse to shape our thinking. Take out the meaning rather than trying to put a meaning into it. So many false teaching today come when we try to justify our ideas with the Bible rather than letting our ideas come from the Bible.

God's Word is an amazing and perfect tool to improve our lives if we use it correctly. Make sure you have the right verse and make sure the verse makes you right as well!

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