Once a year I like to ask our visitors here on GUWG this simple little question …
What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?
Give it some deeeeep thought and then leave a comment below, tweet me @getupwithgod or email me at getupwithgod@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.
I completely acknowledge that choosing only 1 of the 31,202 verses in the most fantabulous book in the history of the universe is a completely unfair request, but I’m always fascinated by the words of God that peeps have reverberating in their hearts at any given moment.
As for myself, if I had to choose just one right now, it would be:
God is love.
(1 John 4:16)
Even though I’ve read that verse hundreds of times, for some reason my lame-o 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.
One final question …
Can anything ever separate us from God’s love?
Here’s the breathtakingly beautiful answer:
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)
GOD IS LOVE!
Thought I’d share some of the tweets so far:
@RuGood2go: Most definitely, Philippians 4:13 “Can Do through Christ alone!”
@DavidRosenthal7: Romans 9:15 (“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy …”)
@mumikhaghe: Psalm 48:14 (“God is our God 4ever & ever; He will be our guide even to the end.”)
@Tedjumusic: “His love endures forever.” Psalm 136
@Aliyebobea: hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Thanks for sharing. Keep ‘em coming!
Margaret D shared this awesome verse via email: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for human masters.” (Col 3:23)
Thought I’d also share her rather deep comments:
I do not have this verse memorized – I am afraid that it will become words that I can easily recite, but not mean.
I post it at my desk and read it daily.
Sometimes work gets frustrating and I have to remember that the job I have is only for my earthly benefit, but the real job that I am being paid for is for the LORD. That is the job that if I do it right my co workers are easier to tolerate, my bosses demands easier to accomplish and my family needs easier to fulfill. In addition, my working for the LORD allows me to use His name at work in honesty – to show others that there is more than the desk, walls and customers. It allows me to see my bosses as individuals and lets my actions show them that I am not controlled by their moods and pressures, but by the solid encouragement of One. The One whose glory I will share by my cooperation and achievement. It makes family troubles lessen, family joys grow and family peace thrive in my home.
Here’s another email submission, from Jeanne B: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9)
Jeanne offered some reallllly insightful comments that hit me right in the heart:
That is a verse I just keep saying over and over. It is specifically helpful when we get down on ourselves for continually disappointing him and sinning.
He is faithful and will PURIFY us. If we continue to feel guilt or excessively lament over our sins, we are not believing His word!
1. Sin
2. Genuinely Repent
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help us and try harder
4. Repeat
The goal is to not keep sinning, but the reality of being human is that we are going to fall short….remember 1 John 1:9 and start over.
Awaiting the arrival of TS Isaac…… Isaiah 26:3…”He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him because they trust in Him.” He is more than able………I believe it.
Thanks for sharing, Judi. Praying for y’all down there!