What Is Your Verse?

Over the past few weeks I have been thinking about the way particular Bible verses are meaningful to different people. This has happened in some pretty diverse places.

In the course of preparing to officiate at a funeral I always ask family members if there is a particular passage of scripture that is meaningful to the deceased or to them. More often than not, the twenty third Psalm is mentioned, but there are also other choices. During the walking tour of North Cemetery led by The Gravestone Girls, I noticed for the first time that a verse we traditionally think of as part of the Christmas story is engraved on the the gravestone of the Rev. Charles Backus, our third pastor.

At the recent Board of Christian Education meeting we talked a bit about favorite Bible stories and our favorites among Jesus' parables. At different points in our lives, we are likely to find comfort for challenge in various passages that would not speak so clearly in other times.

Finally, in reading Lettie Russell's book, Church in the Round, I was intrigued by individual verses or passages chosen by congregations as guiding verses. A church that chose Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." as a guiding verse is certainly making a clear commitment and a clear statement about the direction of their ministry.

In the April 2010 edition of Highlights, our church newsletter, I have challenged members and friends of the church to offer suggestions for a guiding verse for our church. I hope to receive some good suggestions, and will make those public as I receive them. In addition to a guiding verse for a church, though, it is also interesting to think about what the guiding verse for an individual life might be.

Those looking for comfort and assurance would find a wealth of possible verses throughout Psalms, in the letters of Paul and in the teaching of Jesus. Inspiration to action can be found in the preaching of Jesus, the letters of Paul and throughout the books of the Prophets.

Most of us need to be reminded of God's love for us now and then, can benefit from reassurance about God's grace and may find it useful to be spurred to action in light of our faith.

Do you have a verse that you find yourself turning to over and over? Is there a story or parable that you remember as particular poignant to you? Think about it.

Blessings,
Barry