Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December.
Event Alert: My friend Rabbi Aaron Allsbrook is hosting a Messianic Jewish Passover Seder on April 6 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. The keynote speaker is Dr. Michael Brown – well known to Townhall readers. Buy tickets early!
Thanks for joining us. Today I have the privilege of announcing the “silver medal” second place winner of the Top 10 Favorite Verses “contest” cited on January 15 in Vol. 148. The original plan called for one winner, but after reading the entries, I decided to award a runner-up, and the first-place “gold medal” winner will be announced next Sunday.
Furthermore, many thanks to readers who submitted only one verse and explained why it was meaningful to them. As I wrote in Vol. 148:
“Anyone who attends a weekly small group Bible study knows that close and lasting friendships develop among members who share the Word of God and pray for each other's requests.”
Therefore, I felt blessed when Rick Tyler from Clarkston, Michigan, today’s silver medalist winner, wrote, “Your writings have been an inspiration shared with the small group I attend.” Thank you, Rick, and I pray that sharing God’s Word fosters a closer relationship with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now, let’s be inspired by and learn from Rick Tyler’s biblical knowledge and interpretations. First is his selected verse, and then its meaning.
1. “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21.)
As it was in the beginning, the present, and the future, despite our sinful condition, God always will care for us when we turn to Him instead of hiding.
2. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).
Abraham, the Father of the world’s three great religions, receives a promise and a mission, which is our inheritance, blessed to be a blessing.
3. “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him” (I Kings 19:18).
We are never alone in His Kingdom. God will always reserve a remnant that love Him and serve Him alone.
4. “I will not carry out my fierce anger nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man, the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath” (Hosea 11:9).
Though our sinfulness drives God towards judgment, He decides on mercy because He loves beyond our understanding and capacity. As a father, I try to emulate as best as I can.
5. “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8).
Myra’s note: I added Jesus’s response, “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people’ ” (Luke 5:10).
Rick wrote: Peter’s declaration is where also our relationship with God begins. Jesus responds by not agreeing with Peter or listing his sins but instead telling Him what his role in the kingdom will be. Jesus defines the situation, not us.
6. “‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers’” (Luke 22:31-32).
Reminiscent of the Job story. Not only are Satan’s actions limited, but Jesus is praying for Simon and giving him a command to follow. This is not a one-time occurrence. Satan’s actions are limited, and Jesus does pray for us.
7. “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
I take comfort in this eternal truth, darkness and evil never have the last Word, and no matter how dark it can be, the Light can be found.
8. Myra’s note: Rick selected John 8:11, but for context, I added the previous verses:
“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.”
“Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’ (John 8: 7-11).
Rick wrote: The order that Jesus says these words are important. They illustrate that salvation comes from His grace, not our works.
9. Myra’s note: Rick selected John:18:6, but again for context, I included the two previous verses:
“Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. (And Judas, the traitor, was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground” (John 18:4-6).
Rick wrote: This verse (John 18:6) shows that Jesus had the power to stop His walk to the cross at any time. He chose not to stop because He loves God and us so much.
10. “But he [Jesus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
We may think that if our weaknesses could be removed, we would serve the Lord that much better, so much more efficiently. God knows our nature and He knows what is best for us in serving His Kingdom.
Myra says: On behalf of Townhall readers, I thank Rick Tyler for writing and submitting his Top 10 favorite verses (not an easy task) and congratulate him for winning the “silver medal.” Be sure to stop by next week for the gold medal-winning list.
Our winning lesson of the day: Writing your Top 10 favorite verses and what they mean to you is a godly exercise that can strengthen your faith, especially when you share your list with others who love the Word of God.
Amen to that!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with the same title, reprints Vols. 57-113. Order it here.
Myra is also the Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are donor-supported ministries dedicated to Shroud of Turin education. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com and Twitter @MyraKAdams.
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