The favorites list is back! I hope you enjoyed the Favorite Men of the Bible and the Favorite Women of the Bible. This week I will be going over my Top Ten Scriptures of the Bible and explaining why. Keep in mind that there are so many scriptures in the Bible and its almost impossible to select a top ten that will please everyone. These ten are mine and yours are certain to be different.
Favorite scriptures then to be the ones derived from events in our lives. Some of mine are just that, favorite because they were needed at some point in my life. Others made the list because they are truly inspirational to me. Okay, now with the prelim stuff out the way, let’s go.
10. Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Reason: This scripture is on my list for two reasons. First, it says “Let us…” Those two simple words demonstrate the existence of the trinity before Earth was formed. Second, “…make mankind in our image…” Wow, to know that God chose to make us in his image is powerful to me!
9. Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Reason: This scripture makes the list because it helped me understand to be patience and wait for God. I have learned in my life that being thankful to God for prayers that are going to be answered gives me a true inner peace.
8. Matthew 5:38-42: 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Reason: If you were to ask my brother about me as a child he would tell you I had a hard time with this one! Let someone slap me… Okay, I digress, what I have learned is to turn the other cheek when someone does you wrong, love them even if they bring evil against you, and give (even though it hurts), when they need it. The last part I’m still struggling with but know that I’m a work in progress.
My co-workers at my job know that I follow this scripture all the time. But that’s mostly because they see me now that I am saved and walking in the name of Jesus Christ. They even get on me for letting others “walk over” me. I don’t see it that way. I see me following the words of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Turning the other cheek is difficult for us because we are human but God said it, so we have to do it.
7. Romans 8:37: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Reason: The verses before this particular scripture talks about present suffering and future glory. Then it leads to verse 37, specifically, “…we are more than conquerors…” To know that no matter what suffering you are going through now will be conquered is inspirational to say the least.
Back in late 90s, I went through some issues. One day I was rolling down the road and the song Conquerors by Kirk Franklin came on the radio. It was a beautiful moment. I felt God was telling me it was going to be okay. That song also turned out to be the first song I played as a musican in church.
6. Romans 2:1: God’s Righteous Judgment You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Reason: Oh my! In my younger days I felt like I was being judge (unfairly) and then I turned into one who judged others. Not good. When I first read this scripture it was a slap to my spirit. I try hard not judge others now.
5. Luke 6:37-38: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Reason: No its not the same as number 6. This one is on the list primarily because of the “forgive, and you will be forgiven”, part. I still struggle with this one daily. There are still parts of my life that I haven’t fully forgiven those who I feel wronged me. Remember 5 and 6 say don’t jugde.
4. James 5:16: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Reason: Yes Lord, we must confess our sins and pray for each other. This scripture came to me through a song by Donald Lawrence called Never Seen the Righteous. If you’ve heard this song you know it talks about this scripture. I heard it at a time when I was coming out of the miliary and was looking for a job. Knowing that the prayers of the righteous would not be forsaken soothed my soul and I had a job before I retired. Praise the Lord!
3. John 8:7: When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her.”
Reason: Let’s stop judging because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of the Lord.
2. Romans 10:9-10: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Reason: Clear and conise instructions on how to be saved! This scripture screamed to be high on the list. If anyone wants to know how to be saved, Romans 10:9-10 tells you how.
1. John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Reason: Knowing that God gave his only son to save a sinner like me has to make this my number one scripture. Such a sacifice truly shows how much God loves us all. If you have children think how hard it would be for you to sacrifice them. I couldn’t even imagine it. Thank you Lord!
There it is, my top ten scriptures of all time. Keep in mind that this list is subject to change as God changes me. Please feel free to comment with your favorite scripture(s). I would love to hear from you.
Have a blessed day!
The Pastor’s Messsage
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people — 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world —just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,[a] who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[b] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[c] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
