From Sampler to Sower

Recently my friend and colleague, Matt Todd asked this question on Twitter:

If you had to pick just 6 Scriptures that every Christian should know by heart, which ones would you pick?

Here’s my take. Taking a cue from the awesome folks at YouVersion, in honor of the 400 anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, all of the quotes in this post will be from the New International Version. (By the way, did you know that between February 12 and March 1 you can download the NIV to your iPhone, iPad or Android phone so that you can use it with the YouVersion app even when you’re offline or in a place you can’t connect to the internet? Check it out here.)

John 14:12

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

If 1 Samuel 5:9 hadn’t already claimed the place as my life verse, this one would be in the running. It is, without a doubt, my favorite verse in the entire Bible, and a truth that informs my life and my ministry.  It’s easy to get so busy doing the stuff of Christianity, going to church services and Bible studies, board meetings and lock ins, that I’m so pressed for time that I hesitate to commit myself to real ministry.  But according to Jesus, the measure of my faith in him isn’t doing the work the church pays me to do.  The measure of my faith is doing the works He did.

And what did Jesus do? “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor (Matthew 11:4).”  That’s the work Jesus was doing! And just as I am tempted to beg off saying “But I’m not Jesus; I can’t do those things,” Jesus adds, “And you will do even greater things than these.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

This was the first verse my mother had me memorize as a child, and it still has a special place in my heart and mind.  What’s more, it offers some of the most practical, helpful advice in all of scripture.  In a theological world where failure to resist temptation seems increasingly inevitable, Paul says we are not condemned to failure.  As a Spirit-empowered follower of Jesus Christ, in every temptation we have the opportunity to make the right choice.  He has set me free from the necessity of sin.  And what’s more, in every temptation he provides a way out.  If only we will seize the opportunity where and when he provides it rather than rationalizing our actions and continuing to flirt with temptation.

Isaiah 58:9-10

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

Jesus tells us that we are supposed to be the light of the world. Paul (and the Newsboys) tell us that we’re supposed to shine like stars in a dark world.  But how are we supposed to shine to the glory of God?  Isaiah has the answer: call on the Lord, put an end to oppression, stop playing the blame game and spend yourself on behalf of the poor.  Then, when we start doing the work Jesus did, our light will rise.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Is this the Bible’s version of it’s not what you know but who you know?  Perhaps.  But one thing is clear, all the knowledge in the world won’t do a bit of good if we don’t know the One that really matters.

1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

I almost feel like a cheater for including this one, as it is the theme verse for Nazarene Youth International and one that has been driven into my head from an early age.  But there’s a reason for that.  This is a great admonition, from Paul to his trusted disciple, not to sink to the expectations of those around him, but instead to lead the way in all aspects of life.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

This verse has several things to commend it.  First it answers some of the most fundamental questions of the Christian life.  What is my purpose as a Christian? How can I really be transformed; not just forgiven, but really changed? How do I know what God’s will for my life is?

And it also provides a pretty clear blueprint for the pursuit of holiness: experience God’s mercy, offer yourself as a living sacrifice, stop conforming to the world’s pattern, allow God to transform you from the inside out.

What did I miss?

Remember, six wasn’t my criteria, it was the number I was told to work with.  I know there are plenty of other important passages out there.  So you won’t hurt my feelings at all if you have other suggestions.

What should have been in this list that isn’t?