Rudy Carrasco has a meme up: Scriptures that are central to my faith. He’s made some good choices, so suitably inspired, I’ll pick six of my own favorites.
John 16:12-14. This is the vital reminder that even Scripture is not the final word — the Holy Spirit is still moving, God is still speaking, and I darned well better still be listening.
Philippians 4:4-7. It includes one of those lines I always try to remember (even though it’s a bit at odds with my post this morning): Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near…
Psalm 102. I love the psalms, but for at least the last five years, this has been my hands-down favorite. When times are tough, I go here.
Romans 8:38-39. As more than one theologian has said, this is the high point of the New Testament.
James 1:27. Easier said than done.
Micah 6:8. You knew I wouldn’t leave that one out, right?
Had to look up my favorite.
Corinthians 1: 7-12+
Our large clan looks like the UN body.
Romans 7:18-19 — The verse that converted me. Seriously facing my moral inadequacies for the first time, remembered this verse, realized Paul knew what I was going through so maybe he had a solution: Romans 8:1.
1 Corinthians 2:2 — “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Reminds me to keep my eyes and my heart on Jesus and not get bogged down in theological divisions.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 — “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”. This one helps me keep the faith to see a project through, even when I worry that I’ve misunderstood God’s mission for me. God will not constantly reassure me that this iproject is the correct use of my limited lifespan. Letting go of worries that I made the “wrong” choice is one way I try to live by grace instead of under the Law.
Matthew 11:28-30 — Another corrective to legalism, also the most sublime passage in Handel’s “Messiah”. “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Philippians 1:6 — “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”. I WILL finish my novel :)
Hugo, I love that you posted on this. I am always very interested in what people’s favorite verses are. I don’t know what this says about me, but my favorite verses change all the time. Here are my current faves:
1. Matthew 7:7-8. This is one that reminds me that everybody needs help at times and that it’s not shameful or bad to ask for help in a proactive or assertive way.
2. Matthew 7:25. This helps me with my unbelief.
3. Psalm 98.
4. Luke 18:10-14. Partly because these verses have been set to a particularly beautiful baritone solo, but partly because I need the parable to remind me that I don’t need to keep score of my good deeds to make me a good person.
5. Psalm 121.
6. Isaiah 40. I always hear the Messiah in my head when I read this chapter.
7. Romans 5:1-11. I find this passage very reassuring at times.
8. Micah 6:8.