This One is Personal: A Few of My Favorite Verses, and Why.

Everybody has their favorite Bible verses. Whether a person has been raised in the church or is just beginning to explore their faith, certain verses can take on special meaning and significance. I have a few verses that I keep close to my heart. They have become part of the fabric of who I am and how I walk with God. From promises of strength and comfort to reminders of God’s unfailing love, these verses have sustained me through the good and bad times. I invite you to take a journey with me to discover what makes these verses special and why they have become my favorites.

Galatians 6:2

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way, obey the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 NLT

I remember reading this verse during a time when I was struggling. I remember asking, “Why isn’t anyone here to help me bear my burden?” Eventually, I realized from two messages I received from two men from my past telling me they had been led to pray for me that these men had done just that. They helped bear my burden in their prayers.   This verse reminds me that even when I don’t see it, God is answering my prayers through the love of others.

Psalm 18:2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
Psalm 18:2 NLT

This verse reminds me that no matter what I face, God will protect me. He will always be a strong foundation I can rely on and a refuge where I can find shelter. These words offer me strength and hope in times of difficulty and remind me that I am never alone.

Isaiah 41:13

For I hold you by your right hand— I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
Isaiah 41:13 NLT

This verse has been a source of comfort for me during times when life has felt overwhelming or uncertain.

Isaiah 44:22

I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.
Isaiah 44:22 NLT

This verse reminds me of God’s mercy and grace. No matter what I have done, He is always willing to forgive and redeem me. He has paid the price for my sins so I can be free. This verse reminds me of the power of His love and grace and encourages me to turn back to Him whenever I stumble. Even Hundreds of years before Jesus died for our sins, God had already made provision for our salvation. He is genuinely an extraordinary God! And spoke about how he had already paid (past tense) for our sins.

John 13:34-35. Jophn 15:12,17

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John  13:34-35 NLT

This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
John 15:12 NLT

This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:17 NLT

As I was coming back from my dark time, I turned my thoughts to the “One Anothers” I remembered “Bear one another’s burdens,” I knew about “Pray for one another.” Of course, there was “Love for one another” as I studied. I found 59 “One Anothers,” and for me, they all started with Jesus in the upper room for the Passover meal.

I could imagine the disciples looking to celebrate the passive, a time to remember the Israeli celebrating their freedom from Slavery. Yet Jesus knew by this time tomorrow, he would be placed in a tomb after giving his life on the cross.   And this had to weigh heavy on his heart. Jesus is trying to give his disciples instruction as he transitioned the Passover feast to what we now know as communion. So he introduces his new command. Then he brought it to what he knew he was about to do, and finally, he said emphatically, “This is my command: Love each other.”

So the command to love one another reminds us of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us, and that it was through his death on the cross that we can have a personal relationship with Him. Our job is to carry out this command and show love to each other as Jesus did for us. We must be willing to put others before ourselves and look out for their best interests. We must be kind, compassionate, and understanding toward each other. We should strive to forgive one another and serve each other in humility. This is how we can best honor the commandment of Jesus: Love one another.

Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows,
peace that subdues,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart, and
strength of spirit.
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
Galatians 5:22–23 (TPT)

I love the Passion Translation version of Galatians 5:22-23. Brian Simmons sought to reintroduce the reader to the Passion of scripture, and at times he added words implied in the original context of the original language. I want to point out that over 100 years ago when DL Moody published his book Notes from my Bible, his thoughts were close to the Brians Simmons translation.

The passion Translation emphasizes the love to be in all of us. And how the fruit of the spirit displays our love for each other and the world around us. We see that joy is love that should overflow, peace is love that should subdue, patience is love that should endure, and kindness is love in action. We understand that love is a life full of virtue, and love is a faith that prevails are a must-have for us to love one another. Love is also gentleness in our hearts with a strength of spirit when we seek to honor the commandment of Jesus: Love one another.

The Love of God is limitless, and we must embrace it, share it, and display it throughout our lives. We must be sure to reflect on how we show love and how we can be more intentional with the love we show in our lives. As we do this, we will begin to see that the fruit of the spirit is not only something that should be seen in others but also something that should be seen in ourselves.

Colossians 3:13

Put up with each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:13

I replaced the would “Bear” with put up, as that is what we need to be doing with each other. None of us is perfect, and we should not expect each other to live our lives perfectly. We need to be patient and loving with each other and be willing to forgive when we are wrong. Above all, we should clothe ourselves in love, which binds us together in perfect harmony.

Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, just as God, through Christ, has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 NLT

As Christ-Follows, we often need to reinforce the idea that we need to be kind and forgiving to each other. We must be willing to show love and kindness, even when difficult. We must always be tenderhearted and understand that we may not always see eye-to-eye but still show respect for the other person’s point of view. We must also be willing to forgive one another, just as God, through Christ, has forgiven us.

The Epistles of John: 1 John 4:7-8, 11-12, I John 3:11.23 2 John 5:-6

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
1 John 3:11 NLT

And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.
1 John 3:23 NLT

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7–8 NLT

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.
1 John 4:11–12 NLT

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
2 John 5–6 NLT

I love these passages by John. They remind us of two great things. First, God is Love, and Second, loving each other is not a new command. It is something that has been commanded from the beginning. When I often talk about loving each other, people look at me like I am trying to preach a different gospel. John reminds us that this is not a new teaching. It is something that has been commanded from the beginning. We need to remember that loving each other is essential to being a child of God.

James 5:19-20, Galatians 6:1

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
James 5:19-20 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
Galatians 6:1 NLT

These two passages talk about a Christ-Followers obligation to help those that stumble around them on their walk. I wish I had had brothers around me when I struggled,  but I’m thankful that God has provided me with brothers and sisters in Christ now. We must be willing to help one another, being gentle and humble while helping our fellow believers back on the right path. We must also take extra care to avoid succumbing to the same temptation.

1 Peter 4:8

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NLT

This by Peter has become part of my Signature. The deep love between us covers our sins amongst each other. We must strive to show love and kindness to each other, even when it is not easy or comfortable. We must be patient and understanding and willing to forgive one another. We should never take our love for each other for granted, but instead, always strive to strengthen our bond of love and friendship.

Remember when you had a new love with someone? That new, deep love allowed you to overlook the wrongs they did to you, but as your love grew old and cold, the littlest of things could set you off. We must maintain that deep love for each other, showing God’s love to those in our circle and beyond. Forgiving each other and being patient with one another. That way, we can maintain our relationships in the long run.

Conclusion:

As you look over this list, you will hopefully notice a pattern. The word “love” is used repeatedly in these little nuggets of wisdom and truth. When we read them, they remind us of God’s great and unfailing love for us. And how it is to be demonstrated in our relationships with each other and the world around us. However, there is one word that is not used at all. That is going to surprise many of you. That word is “thankful.” We should always be thankful for our relationships and the people in our lives. So take a moment to thank God and those around you for the love they give and show you each day.

It seems odd. For the past few years, I have been going through a difficult season in my life. And it has been incredibly challenging. Stress, depression, and anxiety have taken a toll on my health. I have been taking medications to help me. Still, when I read these verses, I was reminded how important it is to be thankful for everything we have. It is easy to become overwhelmed with negative feelings when things are down. We may even begin to think there is no reason to be thankful. But when we can look outside ourselves and see not just the things that make us happy but also the things that make us sad, we can hope that this perspective will help us find strength. To keep going and turn our negative emotions into positive ones.

When we take the time to be thankful for the blessings in our lives, it can help us to recognize that even though we may be going through a tough season, God is still with us. There is always something to be grateful for. Being thankful can also help us to appreciate what we have and not take things for granted. It can remind us that even though life may not always be perfect, there are still so many reasons to be thankful and that we are loved by God no matter what our circumstances may look like.

Being thankful is a powerful habit that has the potential to change our outlook on life and how we interact with others. We can choose to focus on the positive. Rather than the negative and start each day with an attitude of gratitude. When we do this, it helps us remember that even in difficult times, God is still present in our lives and has given us many reasons to be thankful.

 

Bruce Mitchell is a speaker, writer, and Bible teacher who loves to share God’s Word in everyday life. He has studied at Biola University and Dallas Theological Seminary. His blog (Allelon.us) is all about the principles of Agapao Allelon (Loving One Another) and God’s Mercy, Grace, Love, and Forgiveness and how it applies to our daily lives as Christ-Followers. (1 Peter 4:8)