Possible Life Verses

A while ago on this blog I shared my “life verse”, my favourite Bible verse by which I try to live my life…

But [the Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9

I brought up the subject of life verses in my Theology On Tap talk. I told those attending that I wanted my talk to inspire those present to read the Bible, to be the kind of person who has a favourite book of the Bible and to be the kind of person who has a “life verse”.

I invited those without a life verse to keep their ears open for their life verse during future times of Bible study and during the Liturgy of the Word. Otherwise, what would they say if they got cornered at a party by some enthusiastic Christians, who asked for their life verse?!

Life Verse Lottery

I made the point that picking a life verse at random is a risky strategy since, if one decided to play it safe and pick psalm, one might end up choosing Psalm 38…

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh
– Psalm 38:7

If your new friends know their Bible well, or if they look up your “life verse” on the spot…then things will get awwwkward! As they leave the party, don’t expect them to shake your hand…or even touch you in any way whatsoever!

Youth Minister Life Verse

When I was a catechist in England I worked with teenagers, preparing them for the Sacrament of Confirmation. During that time I seriously considered switching my life verse to one which referred to a particular episode in the life of Elisha the Prophet…

Then [Elisha] went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths – 2 Kings 2:23-24

Those of you who work with teenagers will understand.

Dating Life Verses

Ladies, if you’re ever on a date and a guy asks you for your favourite Bible verse, I’d suggest saying Judges 4:17-21. It’s a passage in which a woman named Ja’el hammers a tent peg through some poor chap’s skull while he’s asleep….

…Ja′el came out to meet Sis′era, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear.” So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug… Ja′el…took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, till it went down into the ground, as he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. – Judges 4:18-21

It’s a great life verse for a date! It’ll let the guy know that you are not a woman with whom to be trifled! If he doesn’t pick up the check at the end of the night… 😉

And speaking of dating, guys, don’t try and be cute and say that your favourite Bible verse is from the Song of Songs. Now, saying that your favourite Bible verse comes from the Bible’s book of romantic poetry might seem like a good idea, but it doesn’t work….trust me! No lady today likes to hear her hair compared to goats, her neck to a tower or her teeth to sheep.

So, when in doubt, if someone asks you for your favourite Bible verse and you don’t have one, just say John 3:16… 😉