My Life Verse

You will often hear people refer to their “life verse.” A life verse is a passage of scripture that captures God’s call on their lives. It is the lens through which they view all scriptures. My life verse is Ezra 7:10. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of Yehovah, and to do it and to teach his statutes.” It describes the three components of the Christian’s walk – study, do and teach.

STUDY: 2 Timothy 2:15 instructs believers to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” We study scriptures to know God and to know how to love Him. Jesus said “If you love Me, you will keep My commandment” (John 14:15) He goes on to say “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (John 15:10)

We also study scripture to be prepared to share our faith with others “sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

DO: Knowing is not enough, we must practice what we learn “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:21). The verse continues with a blessing for obedience “and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

The epistle of James warns those who do not practice what they have learned “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22). Similarly, Jesus warned His followers “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them …is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. …But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation” (Luke 6:46-49). When the trials of life came like a flood, the house built on the rock of obedience stood. The house which was not, collapsed.

TEACH: Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs all believers “teach them (God’s instruction) diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.” Life is full of “teachable moments” to share God’s truth.

Similarly in the Great Commission Jesus said “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). This call is not limited to pastors and missionaries. It is for every believer to reach out to our families, neighbors, friends and coworkers.

Please diligently study, do and teach.