We all have our favorites: favorite colors, favorite foods, favorite sports teams, favorite desserts.
Though chocolate is not my favorite, I do love Oreos. Trademarked on March 14, 1912, it is the best-selling cookie in the United States, according to Wikipedia. In fact, yesterday was National Oreo Cookie Day.
Another favorite many of us have is a Bible verse. Maybe it’s a verse we learned as a child or in Bible study, and its meaning touched us at that precious moment.
One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:31: “What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
This verse tells me that God is with me always. It tells me God sent Jesus to free me, to show me love and forgiveness. It tells me God justifies me, and so no one should condemn me. It also says to me that God has faith in me, in my dreams and goals. God is for me; God has my back.
[bctt tweet=”God is for me; God has my back.”]
At my computer, I have two framed photos: one of my son labeled “Baby’s first Christmas,” and another with him—a freshman—in his marching band uniform. Our son was a blessing, an answer to a prayer. When we discovered we were expecting, Isaiah 44:24 came to mind, “Thus says the Lord…who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, who made all things…”
God had formed that miracle in my womb.
Many Bible verses touch us during different stages of our lives. The verses remain constant, but we might respond to them in different ways. God opens us to these new interpretations.
In 1921, the Oreo Biscuit was renamed to Oreo Sandwich. In 1948, it was renamed the Oreo Crème Sandwich, and in 1974, its named changed again to the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie. (All according to Wikipedia.) Despite the various names, it is the same cookie, and remains of favorite of millions.
Just as the Bible has many translations and paraphrases, it offers the same Word.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse that has stayed with you throughout the years?
Gwen Edwards is serving a second term on the Women of the ELCA executive board and lives in Bellevue, Nebraska. She attends Lord of Love Lutheran Church in Omaha.
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Photo by mihoda, used with permission, Creative Commons
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