This is the fourth article highlighting our young writers' selection of their 7 most beautiful verses from the Bible. The idea came from an article highlighting the 50 most beautiful sentences of literature.
The remarkable thing about the first two articles – they were both on Christian Today's Most Popular articles for that week. The four selected for this article are:
Sarah Urmston
Bonnie Dowie
Tim Wilson
Emma McGeorge
Emma McGeorge - NZ MAF in Papua New Guinea
Hosea 11:1, 3, 8a When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son... It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them... How can I give you up, My son? How can I hand you over?
Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.
John 21:25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Bonnie Dowie - Adelaide
Isaiah 60: 1 'Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.'
Proverbs 31: 25 'She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.'
Ezekiel 36: 2 - 'And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.' –
Psalm 319: 11 'I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in the darkness I cannot hide from you.' – Psalm 139:11
Lamentations 3: 24 'I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!''
Isaiah 61: 3 'To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.'
Romans 8: 38 'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.'
Tim Wilson - Canada
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
Romans 8:3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh
1 John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go
Exodus 34:6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
Sarah Urmston - Toowoomba
Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Another of Mark Tronson's most beautiful verses is Judges 2 verse 10 "When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel". This demonstrates both an evangelical motif, but as citizens, looking to the next generation to ensure their future. This is the priory. As a grand father my interest lies in my grand children and social cohesion.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html