I thought today I would share a few of the first Bible verses I ever heard or learned, and some of the circumstances surrounding them. I also made a video earlier, on "Black Friday Testimony" where I also describe part of who I was before I met Christ and accepted Him as my Savior and Lord.
When I was young, one of the first Scriptures I ever saw and memorized was John 14:6, which says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me." My uncle created a wooden plaque as a gift to my parents which hung on the wall in the kitchen and I saw it every day.
Later, in high school, one of the kids from campus Bible study mentioned John 3:16, which says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life."
When I was a very young child, maybe around 10 years of age, I participated in a youth Bible correspondence by mail study. In that study, a few verses come to mind, that I remember learning for the 1st time. One of the verses I learned at this time was "God's Word does not return to Him void" (I'll have to look up the Scripture location for I don't recall off the top of my head just now.)
I also learned the gospel message, which says "as far as the east is from the west, that's how far He (God) has removed our transgressions (sin) from us." Yes, I learned those two verses as a young girl through that mail-correspondence youth Bible study.
In high school I was challenged to read the Bible, so I did, beginning with the New Testament. I remember "devouring" the Word of God. When I got to James, it says to be a do-er of the Word. When I got to 1 John 1:9 it says, "if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I began to apply (to do) God's Word in my life, confessing my sin, and learning the Bible, God's Holy Word.
All of God's Word is good; useful for teaching, correcting, and guiding our lives. Later on, as I began my college years, I became interested in reading and learning the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is a mainstay of my current Bible reading. Since most months have 30 or 31 days, I read one chapter of Proverbs a day. Proverbs is a book with 31 chapters, so it's easy to read through it in a month's time. Then, I can read it again, each month if I want to or if I choose to (yes, it's my habit).
Where are you from? What are you reading (in the Word of God)? Do you know God loves you? Do you know God wants to have a personal relationship with you? Today, right now, He is thinking of you, loving thoughts to give you a future and a hope. Thank God today for his amazing gift of love found in the gift of his son Jesus Christ, who gave his life for you and for me, that we could live forever with Him.
