Old Grammar School
The 5 verses
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Robert Smyth experienced God's blessing. He went to London with nothing and got a job as an accounting apprentice. He was 'fortunate' to then work for a man who was in a very good position and who helped teach and develop him. When that man died he was promoted to his position as Comptroller of the City of London, a very important role.
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He had seen God bless him and he wanted to record the verses that declared what he had found to be true in his own life so that others could be blessed by them. He also paid for someone to share with townsfolk how these truths can work in our lives. Here are the verses and a brief explanation.
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1 Samuel 16:7
For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORDlooketh on the heart.
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God is not worried about what we look like on the outside. He looks on the inside. He sees our wishes and motivations, how we try to do the right thing. He sees our struggles and our joys. He wants us to know him and be in a heart relationship with him, not doing things just out of duty or for appearance sake.
So this verse is saying ‘God doesn’t look at people like we do, judging from an outside view. Instead he looks at the heart inside us’.
Psalm 122:1
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
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When we understand how much God loves us and how much we mean to him, we start to really appreciate his love. We start to pray and see answered prayer; we recognise when he has helped us. Going to church becomes a joy, giving us the opportunity to thank God for what he has done in our week, telling him through songs and prayer how much we appreciate him. It’s also an opportunity to meet with others and hear what God has been doing in their lives and enjoy a time of friendship.
So this verse is saying ‘When someone said "See you at church on Sunday" I found I was really looking forward to it!’
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast".
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When God looks at us he sees people he loves but who get stuff wrong. He can't ignore that and Jesus died so that we can be forgiven for the stuff we get wrong.
When we ask him to forgive us, he wipes away our wrongdoing and we can enter a relationship with him. That is a step of faith. Forgiveness is completely free. We don't have to be 'good' people to come to him and we can't 'earn' God's favour by doing good things - he just loves us because he made us.
So this verses says 'It's all about grace; we receive forgiveness by believing not by trying to be good so none of us can be proud about ourselves'
Psalm 127:1
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Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.
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God wants to work with us in life, to support and help us. He has great wisdom and can help us make the most of every situation if we will take time to listen to him and learn from him. He knows the right time for everything. The great thing is that he promises to bless the work of our hands if we work with him. We can just do it on our own but it will never be as fruitful as if we work with him.
So this verse is saying ‘If we leave God out and try to do it all on our own it will be a lot of work for little reward’
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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Jesus has been talking about worry, about food and clothing and our daily needs and how we can be consumed by them. He then makes a promise to the disciples ‘If you focus on doing the things I am asking to do as you walk in a relationship with me, I will provide everything else that you need on a daily basis so you don’t have to worry about it’. God has more important and valuable things to do with our lives than just ending up being consumed by worries and material things.
So this verse is saying ‘If you connect with me and focus on the purposes I have for your life and the right way of living, I will provide everything else that you need’
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