“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

My guess is that you do not need the address or bible version to recognize this quote is John 3:16 KJV. Even those who do not read the bible have seen this enough times to know the quote. I have seen fans at football games holding up sings with just the reference John 3:16.

Yesterday I intentionally gave quotes without the attached addresses. According to charlesasullivan.com the Old Testament scrolls did not contain references to chapters and verses. Our modern day bibles do contain those helpful quotation locations.

Any writer with any degree of respect for the author will give reference to the source of the quote for two reasons. One to have the quote read in its entirety by any reader that wants to assure themselves that the quote is used in context properly. The second reason is perhaps even more important, to see for yourself what God might have to say in the surrounding scriptures.

“Walk with Me” LPV was used yesterday and no one should be familiar with a quote from the LPV. I said it and I am quoting myself. Interpret the LPV anyway you like, it is nothing more than me offering my opinion. How much weight that carries is up to you. I am not important enough to quote but how I came to that conclusion might be. God speaks to me through the bible and He speaks to you in the same manner.

Where I quoted the KJV without addresses, do you recognize the quotes? Would you know where to go to validate my assertions? Would it matter if in the quotes the Lord spoke to you because those verses are written on your heart? That is old school. That is how the ancient scrolls were rehearsed.

Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

Check it out.

Leviticus 26:13-14 I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright. But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;

While exhortation is a New Testament word, I understand that God examples for us in the Old Testament His understanding. Here in the opening verse I have found what I consider a better understanding of exhortation by God.

“Walk with Me.” LPV

Vine’s definition of exhort G3870 is primarily, “to call to a person” (para, “to the side,” kaleo, “to call”), denotes (a) “to call on, entreat;”

Examples of exhortations were often accompanied with behavioral intent.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.”

“Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.”

“Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.”

“Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

For the essence of exhortation is walking with God and understanding that in His presence there is an expectation of faithful performance. Without that fearful understanding, how can we call another to our side to walk with us in doing good?