I've always had a favorite verse, but recently I've been reminded of its importance to me.  When I was younger, I had a strong craving to have a relationship with God. None of my family is saved or knows much about God or the Bible.  My father grew up in a Mormon household, but due to the inconsistencies and oddities in their belief system, he came to resent the denomination.  Instead, he had a general idea that there is a God and that we need to follow the commandments in order to go to heaven.  Really, whenever my father brought up his beliefs, it was only brief and for the purpose of getting us kids to behave.  Other than that, there was no sign of religion in my house as I grew up.  My parents had given each of us a Bible though.

I remember being the most curious, and I'd stay up late at night reading my Bible or writing about it.  I wanted to know God, but I felt so lost.  My Bible had a page which contained the beatitudes all on their own, and Matthew 5:6 always jumped out at me.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

I would always run my fingers over those words and wonder why God wasn't filling me with that promise.  I wanted -sooo- desperately to be good; I wanted so badly to know Him and live my life for Him, but I was lost.  I didn't understand most of what I read, and I had no mentors.  I didn't understand why I messed up over and over again, and I held so much doubt that it was possible to be forgiven so unconditionally.  I remember copying that verse down in my journal time and time again, asking God when I would be filled.

Anyways, as I grew older, God continued to throw signs at me and people continued to plant seeds.  It was through my husband that I eventually became saved and developed a strong relationship with Christ.   If it hadn't been for that verse constantly crying out to me though, I'm not so sure I would have been receptive of what I heard and saw.

I'm hoping to get it framed and hung in my house. The verse just means so much to me, as simple as it might be.

So what are your favorite verses, and what do they mean to you?

I can't remember them, but there are 2 verses where when you read the first letter of each line down, they say a word. One of them is about friendship and kindness, and when read down says, "SMILE." The other one talks about mountains and when read down says, "UTAH." It's hard to tell if the 2nd one is just a strong coincidence or was changed a tiny bit when translated.

TheFadedWarrior : If you ever find out what your acrostic Bible verses were, let us know. I am interested in seeing them. It stands to reason that both of those verses only work like that after some translation, since none of the Bible was originally in English. In fact, most of the books in the Bible didn't use the same letters we do.

As for the topic at hand... I'm not religious, but there are a few verses I'm genuinely fond of, so I might as well address the 'prompt' with one of them.

Ecclesiastes 3 "(19)For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. (20)All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again."

Some people find that thought disturbing, but I no longer take issue with it.

Morsalbus : That's your favorite Bible verse???

Look at it in the NKJV:

For what happens to the sons of men also happens to animals; one thing befalls them: as one dies, so dies the other. Surely, they all have one breath; man has no advantage over animals, for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place: all are from the dust, and all return to dust.

There, that makes a little more sense now.

I think you misunderstand the meaning of Solomon in these verses.

If I'm wrong then explain why you like those 2.

It's amazing how versions differ, isn't it?  I agree about the note on the acrostic verses though.  That has to be just coincidence, or purposefully done by someone mistranslating the Bible or playing with the words to get that affect.  In my opinion, playing with verses is a very dangerous thing.

I am actually interested in the -reasons- these verses are your favorite, and if they hold any special meaning to you.  You don't have to be a believer to answer the question.  Many non-believers enjoy reading the Bible.

Next time you see someone shoot a church up, blow up a building, go on a mass killing spree or go to war think about this quote:

"Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." - James 4:4

More importantly, think about this quote when people bash christians and god... they deserve it for it is what is taught in the bible.

That is my opinion and you must hate it if you want to be a friend of god.

JigSaw :

The verse in the KJV reads as such:  You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

I know the last bit is the same as you posted, but I think it's just as important to have he first part.  In fact, if you read the verses -around- James 4:4, you get a much better picture of what this verse is actually discussing.  Always, always take a verse in its context, and never by its lonesome self.  That's how many non-believers get so lost and come up with so many wrong ideas.  Many people who hate God will purposefully do this just so that they can get the desired affect they want by twisting God's Word.

The verse you quoted is not saying you should neglect to befriend and help out people in trouble.  When the Bible discusses being friends with the world, it is referring to the secular lifestyle.  Being friends with the world, in the Bible, insinuates people dabbling in nefarious deeds that God would not be pleased with.  For example, directly exemplified is adultery in the beginning of this verse.  Other references in the verses preceding and following James 4:4 are lust (verse 1), murder and covetous nature (verse 2), greediness (verse 3), pride (verse 6), not resisting the devil (verse 7), and the list goes on....

Being friends with the world means not living a Godly lifestyle.

Thus, this verse is saying that if you do not live a Godly lifestyle, you are sinning against God and treating Him as your enemy.

I do not mean to offend, but just to tell you where I believe you are misinterpreting.  I do not hate your opinion..I merely disagree with it.  

JigSaw : Anyone can read the Bible - maybe Charles Manson did - but you are reading from a human perspective unless you've surrendered your life to God... here's a scripture that I'm basing this on:

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).

So that means if you want to contradict it, well there it is.

Singelli : By godly lifestyle you mean bowing down to an entity in power? Much like Hitler or Google or the president of the united states. The laws may be different between them but the fact remains the same, following orders from a God gets people in trouble and they eventually corrupt within themselves to fit the mold of their leader. Some would say breaking away from the leader would be evil but its not, its the best thing one can do to cleanse themselves from greed and powerful mass manipulators who pull people by strings.

The quote should not be whoever is a friend of the world is an enemy of god, it should be those who are a friend of god are an enemy to the world. God being those in power over the masses. The queen, the president, the congress, the corporations even your own boss and even god himself.

You have to become the devil if you want to defeat the devil. Or you can become godly and shun the devil and pretend life is handy dandy. People who live godly are assets to the devil as they contribute to its power and greed. That is how Hitler rose to power, that is how presidents pretend to control nations, and that is how countries start wars with others simply by living godly and doing what is told and what is right from wrong.

It's like if you whistleblow about a secret government project, while trying to become a friend of the world by doing it you become an enemy of god (government or whoever is the one in power) and he will have you killed and send you to hell for it as it might ruin his agenda.

I wouldn't call it misinterpretation, I'd call it perception

tRIUNE : I must glitching my spirit then. Think of me as the sam wheat or the guy on the train in the movie ghost. Stuck between heaven and hell and living in reality spiritually. Charles Manson probably did the same with his spirit as well which explains why he thinks he is free but lives in a prison.

JigSaw : Dude, you're that heckler in the crowd... I would say more to you face to face, so there's no point going back and forth in posts like I've done for nearly 2 years.

I'm not talking about YOUR spirit, I said the Spirit of God.

Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

It's my favorite because we have a lot of people who are proclaiming Christ with their mouths but not with their deeds.  They play games, read books, and watch movies that contain and center around things that the Bible clearly tells us we are to hate, abhor, and refrain from.  They use unclean words, which the Bible commands us not to do.  Those that do these things...those that violate God's commands and make excuses instead of repentance think they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven but they will not.  This verse is my favorite because it acts as a reminder to me that God loves me so much He desires to have a relationship with me.  It also acts as a reminder to me that often those who speak as if their saved are not...and their soul needs the gospel just as much as anyone who does not proclaim Him Lord.

tRIUNE : I agree that sometimes translations change the meanings of verses, but I'm afraid I fail to see a significant difference between our two versions of Ecclesiastes 3:19-20. It seems to me that in both cases the idea is that man is destined to die and decompose at the end of his time, no differently from any other creatures.
You could argue that isn't what it means because other parts of the Bible contradict it, but I fear we would be entering a very long thread if we decided to try and pretend there aren't contradictions in there. It's a very old and oft-translated book, whose pieces have been continually altered and occasionally removed by men who do so because they thought they could better express the will of God.

I did not post this thread so that people would argue about verses and their meanings, or call people names.  Please be respectful to everyone here.  I might be wrong, but I sense a few tensions in some of the posts above.  I also don't want to deviate from my question.  I don't want to debate or argue.  I just wanted to see why certain verses mean something to other people.  If I'm wrong about the tensions and tones here, you can just ignore this post and carry on.    I'm enjoying seeing what everyone's favorite verses are.

Well, this verse has always been a comfort to me while I have gone through rough times.

If my people, which are
called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land.- 2 Chronicles 7:14

and another that really speaks to me is:

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.- Proverbs 3: 5-6

Awesome verses Stockton90

I agree!  I especially like the last one you posted, stockton.

I've always enjoyed Proverbs 31, as well.  Proverbs 31 gives a good idea of how a wife should treat her husband.  There are a few others that I've always liked in conjunction with this chapter, but I can't think of them off the top of my head. This post is mostly serving as a place holder so that I remember to go back and find them.  I have to head out the door to work right now, but when I get home, I'll get those up for you all.  

I dont know

jasonkelli :

Singelli :

Glad to see you also liked those verses. The book of Proverbs in general is chock-full of so much wisdom, and the 31 chapters is actually quite convenient because with many months, you can read a chapter a day chronologically.

Yes that is very convenient   Proverbs is an incredible book for anyone wise enough to study it.

I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten about my promise!  I just have been very....VERY busy for the last week and a half.  The first month of school is usually quite crazy and hectic.  We have a new principal this year, a new book, a new course of study, and practically new board of education.....so things are even more hectic than usual!  However, they are certainly hectic in a good way.  

Proverbs 31:10-31 is a great source of inspiration for me because it shows me how my manner should be as a wife. However, it is not the only set of verses that discusses the topic.  Therefore, I'd like to share some less commonly referenced verses on the topic.

Ephesians 5:
21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
unto the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so
let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it;
26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of water by the word,
27That he might present it to himself a glorious
church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be
holy and without blemish.
28So ought men to love their wives as their own
bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but
nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of
his bones.
31For this cause shall a man leave his father and
mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning
Christ and the church.
33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so
love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.


Colossians 3:
18Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is
fit in the Lord.
19Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against
them.


1 Timothy 2:
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp
authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived
was in the transgression.
15Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing,
if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.