Last year for my devotions I read through the Bible and for each chapter I underlined one, and only one, verse. That was a very difficult assignment because many times there were several verses in the chapter that I would have underlined. I am planning to start that same devotional plan again this year with a different version of the Bible, but first I am putting some finishing touches on last year’s study.
I have been going back and looking at all of my underlines for each chapter and picking one verse, and only one verse, from each book of the Bible. If I thought that one verse per chapter was tough, this is ridiculous. How do you decide between several verses that are worth underlining? It becomes a very subjective experience that is also dependent upon where I am at spiritually, mentally and emotionally at the time as well.
But be that as it may, it has been a very interesting undertaking. For instance, for the book of Genesis, I chose Genesis 15:6, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” I could have gone with something signifying God as Creator, like, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” I could have gone with a verse that focuses on the downfall of man and the essence of sin, like Genesis 4:7, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Or I could have focused on a verse displaying God’s sovereignty like, Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
But instead I chose Genesis 15:6, “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Why? Simply because of Abram’s example of faith. He believed the Lord. He had faith in God for the present and the future. In Hebrews 11, which is sometimes referred to as the “Faith Hall of Fame” we see that Abraham is credited for this. He was a man of faith. And his example stood the test of time.
Obviously it could be argued as to whether or not this is the best or most important verse in Genesis. Maybe you would have a different choice? But this is my blog and this is the verse I chose. In the weeks ahead I will unveil some of my other choices for best verses as well.