Expo Gist

I’ve been talking about blogging a top-ten list of Bible verses for a few years, but hadn’t – until now. After loving responses to Mandisa's Facebook post asking people to share their theme or "life" verses, I was inspired to finally share my list. Yes, I even ranked them – and, in some cases, that was no small feat! There are countless others that I love, but these are the ones that currently are most central in my life. At some point I have memorized each, and they run through my head periodically, in various situations. Let's count down to number one.

10. 2 Cor. 1: 3-7

This is a newer one for me. God really spoke to me about this passage late last year while listening to this message from one my favorite pastors, Miles McPherson from the Rock Church. Through the passage God convicted me about more intentionally using the comfort He has given me in my experiences to then comfort others. This was a different call to me than just being an encouraging person, which is comfortable for me. Instead, it was going a step further by taking the time to pointedly - but genuinely - ask people God places around me how they are doing, and then share how God is working in my life in ways that comfort them in their situations. Until we die, we will always be going through some struggle! It’s been amazing how, in living with these verses in mind, God has opened my eyes to so many spiritual needs around me that I had previously overlooked.

These verses also have been such a reminder that, as Christians, comforting others through Him is a big part of why God puts us here! In a culture where self-promotion has been ingratiated in our lives through outlets such as social media, we can easily get caught up in making our lives about our individual pursuits and seeking praise from others, but God calls us to be more concerned with others than ourselves. We shouldn’t waste the experiences and comfort God gives us to navigate life’s challenges by keeping it all to ourselves and just sharing our high points. Let’s let God get the glory in all circumstances! As I contemplate this verse, I’m encouraged to keep at the “comfort” pursuit for the rest of my life!

9. Philippians 1:6

This whole section of Philippians 1 is my favorite passage for the Body of Christ, especially for close friends who are believers. I also love verse 6 for the perspective it gives me for my own life. That God is doing a work in each believer that He will ultimately finish when we get to heaven gives me hope about our present and our future, and puts relationship issues in particular – squabbles, disagreements, personality clashes, hurts, fears, the list goes on – in the perspective of eternity. Knowing God is working on each of us gives me the grace to forgive, seek forgiveness – and grow!

8. Colossians 1:17

If you’ve gotten an email from me, you’ve probably seen this verse in my signature line. I got this one in Fall 2007 from one of the girls in a college small group I was leading then. She shared how it gets her through life. Her testimony – and the verse – really resonated with me at that point in my life. I was in my last year of law school, trying to finish my classes strong and prepare for graduation and taking the bar exam. I also was anxious about what the future held for my career and other aspects of my life, at times being overwhelmed by all the possibilities! And that year the financial crisis hit. There was so much talk about not being able to find a job – I wondered whether the job offer I had would be rescinded. Yet whenever I remembered Colossians 1:17 – that He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together – all the chaos did not even matter, because I could rest in the fact that God is in complete control. The verse has continued to comfort me, especially in everyday situations – I may feel that I have so many things to do in one day and not enough time to do them, but I’m reminded that in Christ, I have everything I need. It encourages me to take a moment to seek His wisdom even in the most busy situations, knowing that He is my source and enables me to do my best in all situations. The whole section of the chapter, on the supremacy of Christ, is good for that, too! I thank God for holding it all together so I don’t have to try – and fail – to!

7. 2 Corinthians 9:7

Now we’re getting into my lifers – the verses that have shaped me since childhood. This one’s from second grade. I’ve blogged about this verse in a couple entries on giving, so I won’t say too much about it. Knowing that my Heavenly Father loves a cheerful giver has made me give without reluctance or compulsion, because giving is not about pleasing people, but Him. And He so loved us that He gave The Indescribable Gift - His only Son! I have found the promises from the whole passage to be true: when you give with a cheerful heart, God really does take care of you, and He gets the glory for your giving – what it’s all about! While true, godly giving doesn’t give to get, God makes promises to those who sow generously as compared to those who sow sparingly. There’s nothing better than giving to the praise of the most generous, loving Father, who can never be “out-given!”

6. 1 Timothy 4:12

I believe I first learned this verse as a song in elementary school that still plays in my head when I think about it, lol. I’ve shared that I’ve had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ since I was three or four years old and truly remember knowing then that my life would be different because I had met Him. I’ve had the privilege of walking with Him since. Growing up – and to this day – this verse has really helped me navigate my faith as a young person. Through hearing this verse repeated in my context by parents, teachers and youth leaders, I got the message that I don’t have to be a “grown up” to follow Jesus – I can do it right where I am, and in every aspect of my life: speech, life (or conduct), love, faith and purity. In doing so, I am setting an example for others - the young, old, and somewhere in between. I won’t be young forever, but I will always be who I am in Christ because of God saving and shaping me first in my youth. It also encourages me to invest in the next generation, knowing that they too can commit to serving Christ today.

5. Hebrews 4:12 / Psalm 19:7-14

Okay, so I know these are two different passages, but, “what had happened was..." I have these passages that I call “tandem verses”, lol: in my mind, one verse or passage on one topic is inextricably linked to the other. Memorizing these verses as a kid helped shape my understanding of the preeminent power of God’s Word. That it’s living and active and has the might to shape my every decision – and, in turn, my entire life – never ceases to amaze me. That means the more I interact with it – read it, meditate on it, memorize it – I can’t help but be changed.

One of my mottos (which I came up with long before “there’s an app for that”, lol) is “there’s a verse for that,” meaning there is literally a Scripture for every situation in life (which is different from saying that every life situation is directly addressed in Scripture - what I'm saying is that there is a principle for approaching every life situation, even if the situation itself is not directly addressed. I have never had a life situation where I have not been able to apply Scripture, either directly or indirectly). I began memorizing Scripture regularly when I was three or four. As I continued to memorize Scripture as I grew up, I had no idea how much it would shape my life. When you allow the Word of God to be written on your heart, through its amazing power, you find that you can only be different. Yet I believe we sleep on its power so much! God’s Word really is all that He says it is, and these verses are a wonderful reminder of how we are transformed by it. It’s awesome!

4. Jeremiah 29:11 / 1 Corinthians 2:9

Okay, another tandem set. In response to Mandisa’s post requesting people share their life verses, Jeremiah 29:11 was the number one response, and for good reason. I too am on the Jeremiah 29:11 – and 1 Corinthians 2: 9 – train, and I believe every Christian should be on it! Of all the verses on my top ten(ish) list - with the exception of one, these two verses have meant the most to me over the last few years. I also memorized them as a child and they resonated with me then, but even more so now. As the years pass, more of life happens: things unexpected; some seemingly great, others seemingly not. Yet when I remember that God’s plans for me are always good – plans to prosper me and not to harm me, and to give us a hope and a future – and that no eye has seen, ear heard or mind conceived what God has in store for those who love Him – whew, and Amen!– I (and we) can trust that my Heavenly Father knows what He’s doing and loves me, even when I don’t understand it. And, further, 1 Corinthians 2:9 reminds me that His plans for me are not only for this life, but also for heaven, which will be unimaginably spectacular!

3. Psalm 139:14

Yahoo has listed Nollywood Superstar Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde aka “Omosexy” as one of ‘Highest-Grossing Movie Stars in the world.

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

The list titled “The Highest-Grossing Movie Stars You’ve Probably Never Heard Of” consists of the 10 highest grossing movie stars from the Hollywood, Nollywood and Bollywood movie industry, who have achieved great success during their career but have not received the recognition they deserve for their work.

Yahoo writes about Omosexy thus:
We’ll wager not only have you not heard of Omotola Jalade Ekeinde – or ‘Omosexy’ as her fans call her – but we reckon you probably haven’t even heard of the industry she spearheads: Nollywood.
Yes, that’s Nigeria’s version Hollywood, in which Omosexy dominates – she has over 300 film credits to her name (although most go straight to video). In her homeland she’s like a cross between Oprah Winfrey and Kim Kardashian, with her own reality TV series following her and her family.

Though it’s nigh on impossible to determine what her box-office total is, given that the Nigerian film industry is mostly one that distributes through market stalls and street corners, it is estimated to be worth upwards of £320 million a year – and Omosexy is a Nollywood cornerstone.
Recently, Omosexy marked her 20th year anniversary in the showbiz industry by giving gift items for the less privileged in a act of charity.