What Is Your Life Verse?

Hebrews 4:12 -For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

Many of us have read verses with a special meaning.  Sometimes it comes from a place of hurt and sometimes it comes from a place of joy.  It may have come from reading the bible during a time or season in our life where you are seeking to understand something like a fear or doubt.   The scripture talks to us in many ways and in fact when you read a verse multiple times over your lifetime, it will likely speak to you in a different way each time.  The writer of the book of Hebrews, said that the word of God pierces to the bone and can separate soul and spirit teaching us to discern our very thoughts and intentions. What an amazing statement.

The scripture is written for all of mankind and reveals to us the God that loves us.  2 Timothy 3:15-16 states, “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” 

The Bible’s purpose is clear.  It is intended to:

1.      Teach salvation.

2.      Instruct and train us in ways to live a Godly life.

3.      Give wisdom.

4.      And, inspire us in our daily life.

If you don’t have a life verse, I encourage you to look again and again.  See what God reveals to you in His word and then read that same passage multiple times through the next year.  I bet you will find it speaks to you a little different every time.

There are passages that quote God.  There are passages spoken by Jesus and there are passages from men and women of God intended to move us closer.  The bible has 757,000 words in the ESV version and takes on average 70-80 hours to read.  That breaks down to about 12 minutes per day over the course of a year. The average person, based on a daily average of a year,  sleeps 8-9 hours, spends 4.5-5 hours doing leisure and social activities, 2.6-3.5 hours commuting or working.  2.5 hours in food prep and eating, 1.1 hours in hygiene and grooming and .8 to 1.9 hours in household chores. Unfortunately there isn’t a separate category that covers, “figuring out what to wear and determining which jewlery best matches the outfit.  A simple 12 minutes would be .83% of your day.  That isn’t very much time is it, especially when we are able to gain something that ultimately could change our life.  If a salesman said, "you will get $1 million dollars for 12 minutes of your time, your would listen to them trying to sell just about anything. The bible is the most bought book in history having sold approximately 5 billion copies and hands down is the most translated book in history as well.  You will be in good company with all those people that have read it, loved it and learned from it. 

My father’s favorite verses were John 3:16-17, “God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!”  He said it spoke to his heart. 

For those that are interested I have two verses.  One that guides what I belief is part of my calling in Christ.  John 15:13 which says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  The CEV states it even more plainly, “The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.” 

The second verse is one I rely on when things are difficult.   2 Chronicle 20:17(CEV) which says, “You won't even have to fight. Just take your positions and watch the LORD rescue you from your enemy. Don't be afraid. Just do as you're told. And as you march out tomorrow, the LORD will be there with you.”

What is your life verse?  What speaks to you at the heart and soul level when you read the scripture.  It may be an actual verse or may be a deep theological question answered in the Bible, but I guarantee when you read that verse regularly, you will be changed.

Much love,

Preach