ONE TO GROW ON

Over the past few years I've encountered several people who have mentioned a specific verse or passage of the Bible which they consider to be their life verse.  This was a new thing for me.  Even having gone to church most of my life, being involved in worship (adult and youth) for several years, and having attended a Christian college, I had never heard anyone mention that they had a life verse. I wasn't sure if it was some new "trend" in Christianity, or Southern Baptists just don't talk about them. 

So what exactly is a life verse?  My informal research into this question has come back with the basic result that a life verse is a verse you choose that really speaks to you (as if it was written for you alone) and represents your spiritual walk.  It is one which either represents what you are striving for in your walk, or how you define your walk.  Many Christians with a life verse choose one for themselves.  Some even choose one for their family. 

The thought of such a verse was interesting, to say the least. But it wasn't something that I felt I would ever want.  Why?  Because the whole Bible is important.  Think about it: how many verses are in the Bible?  Over 31,000! How do you choose one to define your whole existence?  And, if you do find one, how do you know it is the right one?   

Then it hit me: choosing a life verse is not the right idea at all.  Why?  Because the nature of our relationship with God, as well as our life circumstances, change as we grow.  If I choose a life verse that speaks to me in my current situation, will it still apply in the same way in 20 years?  Probably not.  Think about this:  What might really speak to me as a teen would be different from what would speak to me as an adult, a husband, a parent, a grandparent, and perhaps a patriarch in the church.

So what should we do instead?

I decided a better option would be a growth verse.  A growth verse is a verse or passage that should represent what you are working toward in your personal walk with the Lord.  In other words, where do you need to grow?  What scripture is speaking to you right now that will lead you to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the Lord? 

Yesterday, I read a blog which had a passage of scripture that caught my eye:

1 Peter 4:10-12 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.  To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.  

This passage stood out because they pretty much sum up my perception of where I am right now in my walk with the Lord.  You see, I have struggled over the past couple of years in making my opinion known on Facebook...not by speaking as God would speak, but by being every bit as loud and obnoxious as those whose opinions I was trying to correct.  However, a couple of verses come to mind when acting in this manner.  

Clanging Cymbals

What first comes to mind when acting in this manner is 1 Corinthians 13:1 which says:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  

The whole purpose of my facebook posts had been to express what I know and believe to be absolute truth.  This, however, does not work very well when posting for an aduience which does not believe as I do.  All it does is come out as an opionated post with no basis in reality.  Moreover, it is not done out of love.  With no love, it is contentious, controversial, and leads to lots of debate.  If spoken instead of typed, it would come across as blaringly loud and obnoxious.  To this end, it serves no purpose.  For all that comes is an endless argument and foolishness that causes anger.  Paul gave Timothy a warning on this issue in 2 Timothy 2:23-25a. 

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.  And the Lord's servant must no be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.  

Instead of following this wise advise I, along with many vocal Christians, have been very quarrelsome in order to prove that we are right.  But this is not the way.  Please do not mistake what I am saying here: I am NOT saying that we cannot enter the public discourse on these topics.  I am NOT saying that we are not allowed to speak what we believe to be true.  However, we must go about it in love.  

Growth Verse

I have spent much time dwelling on those verses this past year.  I have found myself trying to avoid entering into senseless debate online.  I have reduced the number of opinionated posts that I have made in hopes of spreading love, not division.  I have not been perfect in this.  After all, I am human.  I may go weeks without posting something with this whole "I'm right and you're wrong" attitude and then turn around and post five such things in one day!  It is a constant battle.  

This is where the passage above comes in.  It is a growth verse for me.  It is one that I believe needs to be applied in my life right now, especially as I spend time on social media.  Particularly, the part about speaking as one who speaks oracles of God, and serving as one who serves by the strength that God supplies.  It is a reminder to let God do the talking while my old self fades into the background.  If I wish to be a light to the world, it will only happen if I speak with love.  

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, let's adopt growth verses which fit our current situations in life.  Listen to what the Spirit is telling you and, when you feel that verse laid on your heart, pray about it.  Apply it to your life.  Share it with your brothers and sisters in Christ so that they may help to hold you accountable.  Be sure to share your growth with each other as well!