Category — TV Quotes

We have read in the Bible that “you reap what you sow” and have even written about it in a post about God and karma, i.e., what comes around goes around. Or in other words, we should expect to receive according to what and how we give. Today’s quote goes along with these lines, but has a slightly different twist – it’s about expectation.

“She who plants weeds cannot expect to pick flowers.” – NCIS  TV Show, 2011

Often times in life we see people unhappy and even angry about their circumstances, and yet when we see their behavior it’s no mystery as to how they got to where they are. If you treat people badly, then why should you expect to have friends? If you eat and drink all of the wrong foods, then why be surprised if you have health problems?

And then there’s the more spiritual side of life – yes we want to be blessed, but if we want to receive blessing, then we should BE a blessing to those around us. And so if we plant righteousness and blessing where ever we go, then we should not be surprised if we are blessed. But if we plant sin, indifference and selfishness, then we should not be surprised if we have no joy in our lives.

If you want flowers, then you must plant flowers. And how do we plant “flowers”? Try this simple exercise: for every person you meet, see how their life could be even just a little bit better because they knew you. And if you’re not planting flowers then don’t be surprised if you end up picking weeds.

There are a lot of crime-oriented programs on TV these days and they tend to use inspirational quotes. Today’s quote was actually found on the wall of a woman’s prison according to information about the NCIS episode.

Forgiveness is powerful. For the offender, being forgiven of an offense removes the burden of wanting to undo the wrong we have done. For the offended, when we are able to forgive someone who has wronged us, that removes the heavy burden of retribution we carry. For those who have been on the giving or receiving end of forgiveness, you understand this.

“Absolution is the most powerful form of forgiveness.” – Revenge, 2012

Every so often I’ll hear a quote from the pop culture of TV that is absolutely true. Yes, it may be said in the context of fictional entertainment, but fiction needs to have elements of truth in order to capture the audience. Today’s quote is from the TV show Revenge, and although you could argue that there is not much value that can come out of Hollywood, this quote about absolution and forgiveness has the ring of Biblical truth to it.

The word absolution means: 1. A formal release from guilt, obligation, or punishment; 2.In the Bible and in Christian practice, it is the forgiveness of sins afforded to one who has repented.

In the Old Testament God pardoned Israel of their sin at the request of Moses, releasing them from their burden of guilt, thus allowing them to progress to the promised land.

“Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. Then the Lord said: ‘I have pardoned, according to your word’.” – Numbers 14:19-20 NKJV

In the New Testament the Apostle Paul uses the word Justified to define an even deeper meaning to the absolution that comes from Christ. Surely if someone goes to jail we say they are paying their debt to society for the offense they have committed. When someone is pardoned of a crime, they are absolved of the wrong doing, and the requirement for payment or restitution is dropped. To be justified however means that the sinner is absolved as if the sin was not committed, but the payment is made nonetheless.

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” – Romans 5:9 NKJV

The absolution we get from Christ is for sure the most powerful form of forgiveness available to mankind, since Jesus Himself paid the price with His own blood.

Just saw this quote, do you know if it from the Bible, or not?

“There is no peace without hope, no hope without liberty, no liberty without integrity, no integrity without virtue.” – Bible or Not?

It reminds me a little of this Bible verse:

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” - 2 Peter 1:5-7

So, Bible or not? If so, where? If not who?