Our Favorite Passages by Mark Mitchell

If you are like me, you have some favorite passages in the bible. Sometimes I love to hear what everyone is.

I know that 1 Corinthians 13 is somebodies favorite. And don’t forget John 3:16. A few may have Isaiah 40:31 (but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint). A dear friend of mine’s favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 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. It seems we have at least one if not multiple passages in the bible that make us feel better.

But I hardly ever find anyone’s favorite passage deal with something in their life that they need to deal with.

Take 1 Peter 4: ¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

This would not likely make our favorite. The question is why not? We need this one, along with the reassurance verses we love. I need to know that my faith will bring hard times to me. If I don’t then I will be totally unprepared for understanding them when they happen.

2 Corinthians 12: Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

I don’t remember ever celebrating that I was weak. In fact, most of my pursuits in faith are directed toward becoming stronger, because weakness is bad. But Paul says something totally different here. This idea of God using my weakness is transforming. Imagine the next time someone asks you to do something and you think I can’t do that because I am not good at that. Then remember this verse.

We were never intended to find verses we like and use them to direct our paths in life. Scripture was given to help us in all aspects of our life. Let us all start letting all the passages speak to us. So, we can grow in our faith not necessarily in our own abilities. That way God displays his power in our lives instead of us displaying our own power and agendas.