Aaron Leong

Swearing on God's name

Deuteronomy 6:13 (MSG)
Deeply respect god, your God. Serve and worship him exclusively. Back up your promises with his name only. Don't fool around with other gods, the gods of your neighbors, because god, your God, who is alive among you is a jealous God. Don't provoke him, igniting his hot anger that would burn you right off the face of the Earth. Don't push god, your God, to the wall as you did that day at Massah, the Testing-Place. Carefully keep the commands of god, your God, all the requirements and regulations he gave you. Do what is right; do what is good in god's sight so you'll live a good life and be able to march in and take this pleasant land that god so solemnly promised through your ancestors, throwing out your enemies left and right—exactly as god said.

CR of parable of the talents

Colossians 3:22 (MSG)
Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you'll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you're serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn't cover up bad work.

Relationships - how to value...

Ephesians 4:2-6 (MSG)
And mark that you do this with humility and discipline-not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love,

Be gracious to an undeserving person, even your spouse.

Luke 6:35 (MSG)
"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

1 Corinthians 7:16

1 Corinthians 7:16 (MSG)
You never know, wife: The way you handle this might bring your husband not only back to you but to God. You never know, husband: The way you handle this might bring your wife not only back to you but to God.

Luke 6:34

Luke 6:34 (MSG)
If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

Luke 6:31

Luke 6:31 (MSG)
"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.