All Scripture Is A Gift From God
Have you ever experienced Scripture as a gift? Isn’t God amazing? If I only had space and time to tell you all the things I’ve seen and the way God has moved! To this very day, I am stirred to my core and am overwhelmingly grateful for the gift of Scripture. Sharing the stories is a great way to give thanks.
All Scripture is a gift from God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 explains, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
God being a personal God, gives gifts through the Holy Spirit, of Biblical application and understanding for the particular use of every believer. He uses these gifts in such a way to teach, lead, and train His people. The gifts are to be used to serve Him in all that He calls us to do.
Some folks call gifts of specifically understood and applied Scripture, “Life Verses.” You could undoubtedly describe mine as such. And I am happy to share them with you here. But I can hardly wait to hear about Scripture God has used in your life! Especially your favorites. I hope you will consider sharing them!
I considered typing out each passage for you here and even typed out most of 1 Corinthians 13 when I realized, this will be one HUGE post if I followed through with all that. So, I encourage you to use the links by touching the Scripture addresses, or get out your Bible and enjoy the passages as the Lord gives you time. May they bless you as they have blessed me.
And with that I’ll warn you, grab ahold of your socks and get ready for a ride!!
1 Corinthians 13
Sometime in my late grade school years, my dad became convicted to lead our family in Bible devotions and memorizing large portions of Scripture. This would have been a fantastic project for all except that Dad’s only free time with us school aged kids was very early in the morning before the sun came up.
The poor man was met with a surge of whining and outright rebellion. Frankly, the only reason he had my support with this chapter was that I had romantic notions of being the “Best Lover” known to mankind and I knew 1 Corinthians 13 was going to teach me how! (I kid you not! My silly-girl self, was hardly eleven years old, -if that!)
Regardless of the negative attitudes that greeted him each morning, I can say God used Dad’s faithfulness to give me one of the most used, life-altering gifts God has given me.
1 Corinthians 13 is known as the “Love Chapter.” In it, God teaches the definition of true love; it describes how He loves us and how Christians are called to love each other and the world. Genuine Love changes everything! Gifted to me in the early 1970’s, God continues to teach, admonish and direct me through this passage.
Romans 8 &Romans 12
Also gifted to me in the early 1970’s. Two more chapters taught by Dad, memorized in the wee hours of the morning before school. I have to say, these chapters didn’t stay with me long in my memory. No romantic notions to keep me on track.
However, as one who has often struggled with assurance of my salvation in Christ, I know God sent this gift to me early in my years to comfort and teach me. I had the opportunity to suffer less doubt if I had applied myself and kept it tightly in my spirit.
God gave Dad wisdom I didn’t acknowledge in my youth. I would have done well to honor him when I was young. Unfortunately, I didn’t. Bless God, I do today because of Jesus and His great grace in my life.
Colossians 3
Yep! Again, the whole chapter. First drawn to my attention at the age of seventeen. Following my dad’s earlier example, I began memorizing the entire chapter with Handsome Guy, -a kind fellow at church that I was completely enamored with. Together we worked and quizzed each other after school until the whole chapter was committed to memory for the both of us.
I’ll admit it, I had ulterior motives for all that memory work. Funny how God brings about His purposes regardless of our misguided intent. God’s confidence astounds me (though I don’t know why. He is God after all!). I suppose it isn’t confidence, really. It is grace.
Handsome Guy was never intended to be in my life for long but oh, how the Lord has used this portion of Scripture throughout my adulthood! Nearly ten years later, a dear friend and I re-memorized the chapter together. What a treasure this chapter has been for me! I’ll tell you, in the last fifteen years or so, there’s rarely a night that I go to sleep without reciting the first three verses of this chapter, silently in my head.
Psalm 27:1
There was a time early in my mothering that I became consumed with fear. Particular fears and general fear, they were my constant companions. Scripture makes it clear that fear is not of the Lord.
My extended family became concerned and prayed over me for healing and freedom. God gave me this gift of Psalm 27:1 for comfort and direction. Today, though I still have sudden moments of fear, when fear washes over me in a consuming wave, I have this gift of Scripture that I speak out loud if possible or recite through my mind in the night, when life is too quiet to talk.
The funny thing about this gifted verse is that I usually cannot remember it unless I am gripped in a moment of fear. Sure enough though, in those moments of need, it comes rushing back to memory, changes my focus and suddenly I find myself free, comforted and resting in the Lord.
Psalm 27:13-14
I should be clear. The stories I describe, both here and above, are not made of fluffy stuff. The comfort and healing I mention, has miraculously come after the grit of brokenness and often, sin.
Back about 15-20 years ago or so, I was going through an exceptionally tough season of heartbreak. Though it is from the same book and chapter of when I dealt with consuming fear earlier in my life (surely, I had read this before!?), I didn’t discover this gift as “mine” until I needed it for healing.
Psalm 27:13-14 were shared with me by a dearly loved friend, a gift given to her in a similar season of her life. Since that time, the Lord has used this not only for my continued healing in times of need, but it has been a gift I can readily share with other broken hearts that God has sent my way. Bless God for his tender care of the broken-hearted!
And the list goes on! These Scriptures listed are foundational to my walk of faith. Often I find that newly understood Scripture gets filtered through these previously learned truths. I’ll share more as the Lord leads, but before I wrap up for tonight, I must clearly state gratefulness to my Father above, who knew me before I did. He has loved me and has provided for me beyond comprehension.
Ultimately, I hope you can totally relate. I hope these stories remind you of your own stories, -of how God miraculously used Scripture and circumstances to bring you a clearer understanding of Himself. Consider sharing your testimonies of Gods’ faithfulness. I’d love to chat and rejoice in the Lord with you!!
PS. Don’t forget you can reach me to chat as well at, renee@grammiechats.com
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