We’re counting down the top ten Bible verses of all time, as determined by researchers with very large brains who analyze how often each verse is referenced.
Drum roll, please. Here’s the absolute #1 most popular Bible verse in the history of the universe.
You learned it in Sunday School. You’ve seen it on banners at sporting events. Maybe you’ve even got it tattooed on your biceps.
The Bible is packed with intriguing questions, many of them from God himself.
What was God’s first question? It came right after Satan’s first question (discussed here yesterday) and man’s first sin. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, realized they were naked and then tried to hide from God.
What did God do in response? He asked a simple question:
WHERE ARE YOU?
“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)
TRUST ME.
That’s basically what God was telling the Israelites in the above verse. They had been ripped away from their homeland and exiled to Babylon. Life was hard. Hope was dim.
But God had a plan. He always has a plan. And it’s a good one.
So, what’s God’s plan?
Prosperity. Hope. And a future better than anything we could imagine or create ourselves.
Here’s what God said next:
“Then you will call upon me
and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me
when you seek me with all your heart.
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord,
“and will bring you back from captivity.”
(Jeremiah 29:12-14a)
Feel like you’re in captivity? Getting desperate? Losing hope?
Seek God with all your heart. He’ll rescue you, restore your hope and give you a future full of love.
Don’t just get up with God today. Here are verses for every part of your day. Read ‘em. Pray through ‘em. Meditate on ‘em. LIVE ‘em.
MORNING
Because of the Lord’s great love
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:23)
DAY
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
(Psalm 118:24)
EVENING
At night his song is with me –
a prayer to the God of my life.
(Psalm 42:8)
BEDTIME
I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O Lord,
make me dwell in safety.
(Psalm 4:8)
Here’s this week’s question . . .
What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?
Great question.
As you can see here, I have a hard time answering this question — I have at least 100 “favorites.” But if I had to choose just one, it would probably be . . .
God is love.
(1 John 4:16)
Even though I’ve read that verse hundreds of times, for some reason my lame brain needs to be constantly reminded that no matter how bad things may seem, one thing is absolutely certain: GOD LOVES US.
That simple truth answers a lot of other questions . . .
Why did God create a world that gives Him so much grief? Because God is love and love is expressed in relationships (even messy ones).
Why did God give us free will? Love can’t be forced — a true love relationship involves the ability to choose love and to reject it.
Why does God save us? God doesn’t let us wallow in our sin without hope. Because He loves us, He gives us a loving way out: Jesus.
Why does God offer believers eternal life? Because He loves us and wants us to be with Him forever.
Can anything ever separate us from God’s love? You be the judge:
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.
(Romans 8:38-39)
(Got some favorite verses you’d like to share? Send ‘em to me at getupwithgod1@yahoo.com. I’d love to hear from you!)
Father,
I am seeking.
I am hesitant and uncertain.
But will you, O God,
watch over every step of mine
and guide me?
–Augustine
