The Big Question

This month’s question is: ‘What’s your favourite Bible verse and why?’

“This posed a dilemma for me when I started to think of what to single out.

“To tell you the truth I found it impossible to single out one verse.

“There are so many wonderful verses, with such a wealth of meaning and comfort that I can bring to mind, when I am faced with challenging situations in my life and in the the lives of those I know and care for.

“This is particularly true when I need to remember all that was sacrificed for me and for the world on that cross - done in utter obedience to God’s plan.

“How many times do we kick against these plans when they don’t suit us?

“As for some verses that stand out for me; just think the comfort of Romans 8:38- 39: ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’.

“And the challenge of 1 Corinthians 13:13: ‘And now faith, hope and love abide these three, and the greatest of these is love’. Do we live up to that?

“Then the whole of Psalm 8 that really sets us in our place in God’s creation.

“I suppose for me 1 John 4, especially verse 10, says it all in the clearest way:

‘In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins’.”

“My favourite Bible verse is Matthew 6:25–34. It is variously titled ‘God and possessions’ or ‘Do not worry’.

“In the King James Version it has given us one of the great sayings in the English language: ‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.’

“I discovered the true value of these words in the 1980s when I worked in industry. Over many years, my job was constantly under threat as the electronics industry went through boom and bust cycles.

“Having a young family, it was easy to become consumed by the constant worry of whether I would have a job next week or next month. However, none of this was in my control. It was only once I realised that, that I was able to let God to guide me in ways that offered us as a family greater hope for the future.

“Time and again, these words about the future have come back to mind and proved their worth. There are occasions when we must plan for the future and ask for God’s help, and there are times when we just have to let go and allow Him to take control.

“These simple words have stayed with me through all the ups and downs of life, and they continue to provide me with inspiration.”

“My favourite Bible verse changes frequently. This year, I have been drawn to Psalm 139, verse 14: ‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made’.

“Each time I read this, I ask myself whether I could own it and confidently say that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Most of the time, I could not.

“Living with daily imposter syndrome as a Minister, I rarely feel that I am good enough. I wonder if others might relate to that.

“Add in a little criticism, a few suggestions that I could be more X or less Y, and a few people who simply don’t like me (it is allowed!) and there are times when I question how much I value myself.

“At these times, I turn to words from Scripture that speak of God’s love for me.

I am assured that I was created to be ‘me,’ not a poor imitation of others.

I was, and continue to be, called to ministry just as I am, with room to grow and develop according to God’s leading.

“Instead of apologising for being me, I am challenged by this verse to love being me and I do! My wicked sense of humour, creativity, compassion, care and intellect are all gifts from God. God made me so I am indeed fearfully and wonderfully made. It is true of us all.

“Therefore, I praise God with every fibre of my being, as one of his precious, beloved children.”

“I can’t recall exactly when I heard it, but I remember the effect it had. I’m talking about C SLewis’ concept of ‘The Great Exchange’.

In otherwords, the Good News that, by faith, all our sins are laid on Christ and all his righteousness is laid on us instead.

“And this amazingly incomprehensible Good News is alluded to in my favourite Bible verse -Romans 5:8: ‘For God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’.

“All that was due to Jesus, I now obtain by grace and faith. All that I rightly deserved has been given to him on the cross.

“As the great song, In Christ Alone, declares:

Till on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied;

For ev’ry sin on Him was laid —

Here in the death of Christ, I live.

“At the Cross, immense horror meets unequalled beauty. The greatest justice meets the greatest mercy. And there, as Christ dies on the cross for my lifetime of sin against him, behind it all is God’s immeasurable and boundless love for a sinner like me.

“Years later, I still struggle to fully grasp the depth of this truth, and yet I know it shapes all that I am and do.

“I offer nothing, yet Jesus gives everything for me. All my sin is gone; his salvation obtained. This is the Good News that lifts my burdens, gives me joy, and strengthens my soul.”

“It’s tricky to narrow it down to just one favourite Bible verse, however when I look over the course of my journey so far it just has to be from Proverbs 3:6: ‘In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight’.

“I was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament last September, but before that I had never thought of becoming a Minister. It seemed a role so far out of reach. I’ve been a Christian all of my life but the role seemed so elevated to me and the stereotype so far from myself.

“So when I received my calling into Ministry (after a lot of nudging from the good Lord!), I really was stepping into unknown territory. I even remember calling the university I was looking to apply with and asking them if I needed to know every verse in the Bible to get in! (I had Dot Cotton in my mind).

“But what was an overwhelming certainty to me was that God would be with me with every step that I took in the direction that he was calling me towards; and nothing or no-one could convince me otherwise. It isn’t a blind trust that God ask for, it’s a wholehearted one, and stepping onto the path that he has prepared for each one of us (wherever it may be towards) is the best decision we can ever make. It certainly was for me!”