As a Christian for 40 years, I am not ashamed to say that I have developed a love affair with the Bible. This morning I was thinking, of the many verses I have memorized, which ones have meant the most to me. As I reviewed many of them in my mind I have selected five of my personal favorites that have really ministered to me down through the years. Below are these five amazing verses with my commentary.
(Genesis 50:20)
“And for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
In the book of Genesis, we read how Joseph’s brothers, out of jealousy, sold him into slavery. Only many years later did his brothers come face to face with Joseph, who was now basically the Prime Minister of Egypt. Joseph’s brothers meant evil for him, but God turned the tables and used Joseph to save many people during the great famine in Egypt. In God’s sovereignty He decrees to regulate and control the results of our sinful self-determined choice. So, while God permitted His free creatures to sin, He also purposed to overrule it and the evil that results from it. I love this verse because it shows how God can work all things for ultimate good in my life even when I make poor choices.
(Psalm 119:18)
“Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.”
The first thing that excites me in reading this verse, several times, is that as I get deeper into the Bible, I am guaranteed to find wonderful things to ponder and experience. A second thing I notice is that we need to request God to open up the Scriptures for us so He can illuminate the written word to our hearts. The third thing I find here is that the law of God is precious. And finally, this verse is just one verse of the 176 verses of Psalm 119; which is full of nuggets of incomparable bliss and delight. Thus, meditating on this one verse can begin to unlock a treasure-trove of verses that are all designed to help us fall more in love with the Word and its author – Jesus Christ.
(Psalm 119:72)
“The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.”
In Psalm 119 the psalmist uses many different words to refer to the Word of God – the Bible. For example, some of the words used are His commandments, precepts, statutes, testimonies, ordinances, word(s), and in our verse above law. What the psalmist here is saying is that the Bible is more precious to him than much gold and silver. Gold and silver are great to have because they can get you “things,” but the Bible is far greater because it can give you wisdom, peace, joy, and eternal life. I for one like “things” but they can’t compare with the true riches that come from the Holy Bible.
(2 Corinthians 4:17)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
We are told in (2 Corinthians 4:17) when we endure the momentary light afflictions in our lives, by being obedient to God’s Word, we will see this investment in the Lord’s work producing for us, “…an eternal weight of glory…” Imagine having a bank account which has as its value, “an eternal weight of glory.” God has a wonderful plan for each of us and He is using our afflictions and trials for eternal purposes. We need not analyze everything God does but instead just trust Him in everything. As we do this we will learn to love Jesus more and this world less.
(Hebrews 12:2)
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Can joy and suffering coexist? The Bible tells us not only can they, but they should, in the life of any Christian that is walking in the will of the Lord. In this verse we see that we are the joy that gave Jesus the strength to go to the cross because He knew by doing so we could be reconciled to Himself; and what joy that must have brought Him. In this verse Jesus, rather than look at the cross as an instrument of ultimate pain, torture, and suffering, chose to look at it as an instrument of ultimate glorification to the Father. We, likewise, when we suffer for the gospel, can experience great joy because we know we are doing something that is pleasing to the Lord. Knowing that by enduring suffering, I can bring glory to God, at least for me, gives me great joy.
If we were to use the standard of most quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament, then based on that standard we could ask the question “What is God’s favorite verse?” Of course, this would be no way to know the mind of God but it has to say something about an emphasis He wanted to us to notice.
It is quoted more than three times the next oft quoted verse. Does this verse contain the word “fear,” “love,” or “grace?” It doesn’t! This verse is quoted or alluded to 23 times in the NT. It is quoted in 11 out of 27 NT books, and by 7 of the 9 NT authors.
The apostolic emphasis on this verse deserves more attention than it has so far received. In the New Testament references to this passage we find the determinant keys to Eschatology, or the doctrine of the future. The resulting ideas we glean from how Peter, Paul, and others apply it overturn much of the popular understanding of prophecy and “end times” teaching. A more consistent understanding will help modern Christians see through popular doom and gloom, through maniacal apocalyptic hysteria, and instead apprehend an optimism and goal-oriented Christian life many have not even yet considered.
If this has peaked your curiosity, you will want to research what verse I’m referring to. I will leave you to that task.
Dave, I don’t often reply to anyone and please don’t be offended. Everyone in Christ is on a different stages of understanding. Nevertheless, I’m encouraged by Ephesians 2:7-10, which “to me” is but a backdrop of the gospel.