"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from allt sin."
This verse has long been my favorite verse in the Bible. While I was contemplating writing this particular blog, about favorite verses, I started to really think about this verse in detail. I asked myself why this was my favorite verse, and do you know what I came up with? I don't know. That surprised me, how does one have a favorite verse in the Bible and not know WHY said verse is their favorite? I believe I was 15 when I "chose" this verse to be my favorite. Our pastor at the time led our youth group in an in depth study of 1 John, and when we went over this verse, something struck me. I was "in love" with the imagery of fellowship (I still am, being the social person that I am!) and maybe that's what struck me, or maybe it was the simple fact that Jesus blood purifies me from all sin...ALL sin. Now I was only 15, so I didn't have a LOT of "horrible" sin's to be forgiven of, and I was already a Christian at that point, so I'd already been forgiven, but for some reason this verse spoke to me. I remember frantically taking notes on that "class" we did, and thinking; even at that time; how awesome it was that I was able to be a part of this class...in fact a friend of mine was unable to come so I was taking notes for two of us. I learned so much, but I remember so little of that class. But I'll always remember 1 John 1:7. As a teenager, I didn't know much about the Bible and what was going on in "religious talk" so I didn't know that a lot of people will use 1 John 1:9, " But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." as a verse that explains the whole gospel to non-believers. I remember going to a Christian college and hearing them repeat 1 John 1:9 over and over, and feeling a little jealous for my special verse. I still don't know why I favor this verse so much, but I know that I treasure it and it has gotten be through some tough times...it's almost as if Jesus and I share a gem, a secret that I have with Him and it's my special verse!
Now this isn't my ONLY favorite verse, when in that same Bible College I came across another verse or two to help me make it though, but one of those verses Esther 4:14, "The fact is, even if you remain silent now, someone else will help and rescue the Jews, but you and your relatives will die. And who knows, you may have gained your royal position for a time like this." The version I was reading in college (I THOUGHT it was NIV) said "and who can say you weren't placed in the palace for such a time as this", and the only reason I mention that is because, at the time, I was feeling lonely, depressed and missing my family 800 miles away. When I saw the verse, I mis-read it and thought it said "and who can say you weren't placed in this PLACE for such a time as this." Place had a lot more meaning to me then palace did! Who can say that God hadn't placed me in that College for a great reason? I wasn't at that school for long, but I met my husband there, and several friends, including my best friend; and I learned a LOT there. I learned a lot about my faith, and where it might take me. So I feel God did place me there...for such a time as that! I have learned a lot through my Bible, and I see patterns...patterns that point out trends in my life through my "special" verses. Here lately, my special verse has been Psalm 5:8 "Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn." This became a special verse when Michael and I were trying to decide what school to go to, while we finished our degrees, and has stayed that way as I journey through life. It held special meaning to me when I was ready to leave a job and felt like everyone was "against" me, and it holds special meaning today because I want to know CLEARLY which way to turn, before I start my turning. I have gotten ahead of God on several occasions and would prefer to stay within His will from this point on.
I say all of this, because I'm curious, curious about other people's verses and the reasons behind them. I had a dear friend and mentor at a Church we were serving at tell me his favorite verse was the first part of Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God..." He said he this verse was very powerful because it simply said God has been here since the beginning. I had another friend teach her son 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." because it taught him not to fear, but hold tight to God. That being said, what's YOUR favorite verse, and why?
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