The Shortest Verse

50. The Shortest Verse

In my childhood, very often in Sunday school or in some like-meeting, we were asked to

memorize and recite a Bible verse. More than a few lazy smart Alex would recite the

Bible's Shortest Verse, John 1135, Jesus Wept. The Elts in charge quickly forbade the use

of this verse to fulfill the memorization requirements.

I think many of those lazy ones are still in church, filling pew after pew and still

guilty of the same offense, how to get by with a minimum effort. They provide warm bodies

for the church, but not much more. They can be depended on to give as little money as

possible for any cause and to complain about any mention of tithing. The pastor can

count in them to be critical while always expecting much of them. They are dependable as members

with a minimum commitment and with maximum judgment to pass in everyone.

I can remember the battle teachers and leaders finally sang sharply enough to those boys

who thought it was smart to say, Jesus Wept as our Bible verse.

Now God's patience is greater than man's, but so too is his wrath and judgments.

Examine yourself. Are you one of those Jesus Wept class members trying to get by with a smart

attitude? Isn't it time to grow up?