friday five: favorite verses

At RevGals Songbird writes: Twenty years ago, I was on a Pastoral Search Committee, and one of the questions we asked the ten candidates we interviewed in the first round was to tell us their three favorite passages of scripture. I loved hearing the variety of verses quoted and even learned some that I didn't know...

For today's Friday Five, list your five favorite passages/verses from the Bible and tell us something about why you love them.

Except for the first verse below, I really had to stop and think about these! Once I did I had a hard time narrowing down my selections. There are so many riches in scripture that offer inspiration, comfort, hope, challenge and peace.

1) He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) 

This has been a long-time favorite of mine. For me it summarizes who we are to be as people of God. I especially like that two of  the "requirements" touch on how we are to act on behalf of and toward others, and just one touches on ourselves. I also love the emphasis on justice.

2) Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

I don't usually have trouble settling into stillness, but I do err on the side of forgetting to turn to God in all things. This verse serves as my plumb line when life gets chaotic.

3) Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,  "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born I consecrated you... (Jeremiah 1:4-5a)

On the days that I despair that I am in the wrong place, missing God's message or misunderstanding his voice, this passage brings me peace.

4) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)

I don't know that I have a specific reason for liking this verse, I just do. It is especially meaningful to me, however, because it was the favorite verse of a very dear friend who died a few years ago.

5) How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation... (Isaiah 52:7)
This verse connects me to my Quaker roots with its reference to peace and the simplicity of the barefoot messenger. It also evokes landscape, which is a spiritual metaphor in my life.

image from Hope Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI