THE REST OF THE PASSAGE

Paul Harvey had the famous “Rest of the Story” segment on radio for a number of years, in which he would share a well-known tale about something or someone and then enlighten his audience with unknown related facts. It was both informative and entertaining.

We sometimes do this with Bible verses. Someone may quote a verse of encouragement or help without the “rest of the passage” that help us understand the context of the scripture being quoted. A few examples follow here.

 "Eye has not seen.” “The Truth will make you free.” “If my people.” “I know the plans I have for you”; also translated “I know the thoughts I think toward you.”

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NKJV) “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Sadly, it can take God’s loving actions in our lives before we humble ourselves and pray, but the promise is still there that He forgives and heals. It’s also sad that not everyone who experiences these events will turn to God.

John 8:30-32 (NKJV) “As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Where do we find this freeing truth? It’s found only in the Bible. Without God’s Word one doesn’t have the truth that will make them free.

1 Corinthians 2:9-12 (NKJV) “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

Some say we cannot know what wonderful things God has prepared for us, which is an Old Testament belief. But Paul clarifies that the Holy Spirit reveals this and so much more to his children.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

The purpose of God’s plans and thoughts toward us is for us to pray, and seek Him and search for Him with all our heart. Thus we will have peace and hope, and we’ll know the future He has for us, revealed by the Spirit.

It’s great that Bible verses are very encouraging and helpful and comforting, but be sure to include the rest of the passage.