Theo 1 – Understanding the Scriptures

Special Verses

Even those chapters of Scripture that seem most obscure or pointless to us after
all our efforts will most often contain a verse or group of verses that do have special
meaning for us. we may be reading along, doing our best to understand what we read,
when a verse will leap out at us, or at least strike us as significant. We may have the
sense that this particular verse was written with us in mind; we may have the sense that
this verse particularly addresses something in our life today.

We should be grateful for such special verses and pay particular attention to
them. I usually mark them in the margin with pencil as I am done reading, and then
return to these verses when I am done reading, to reflect on them and make them a part
of my payer that day. In my experience, almost every chapter of the Bible contains
something that speaks God’s particular word to me today, if I am about but attentive to
it.

Reading the Bible for its overall meaning is important, but so is reading it for its
particular meaning is important, but so is reading it for its particular meaning for us
today. Those verses that strike us in a special way each day can convey God’s word to
us, as the message we need to hear and treasure that day. Pay attention to them!

There is even an advantage to memorizing these special verses as we find them.

Many Christians have committed entire blocks of the Bible to memory – a feat that is
beyond me. But I believe it is worthwhile to selectively memorize some verses from
Scripture. The most important verses to memorize will be those that seem to speak to
us directly, that seem to convey God’s word addressed specifically to us.

I have always had a hard time memorizing anything, but find that there are
certain Scripture verses that stick in my memory. They are lodged there because they
have special meaning for me and have served as guideposts in my life. I did not make a
special effort to memorize them, but I read and pondered on their meaning often
enough that their words are a part of me. They now come to mind as I am letting my
mind wander. They remind me of the truths on which I have tried to base my life.
 Whatever systems of formal or informal memorization we use, the goal should be
the same: to have available in our minds those verses of Scripture that are the truths we
live by, so that they can spontaneously be a part of our thoughts and prayers. One
advantage of memorizing certain verses from the Bible is that we can use these verses
of scripture to counter temptation. There is a certain sameness to our temptations. We
usually battle the same old sins and weaknesses year after year, making progress on
some fronts while barely holding our own on others. We may prone to fears and anxiety,
and consequently find it difficult to really trust in God’s care for us. We may be moody
and irritable, and make life unpleasant for those who live with us. We may have a
stubborn streak of selfishness in us that taints our attitudes and actions.

We need to employ all the weapons we can in our battle against our ingrained
failings: prayer, unceasing effort, prayer for healing, penance. One weapon that we can
add to our arsenal is Scripture – verses from the Bible that address our specific sins and
strengthen us against our chronic temptations. There are often Scripture verses that
match up with our specific situation and speak the precise word of God we need to
hear. For example, if our temptation is to sacrifice everything on to the altar of our jobs,
Jesus’ words, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of
his soul?” (Mt 16:26) may be the message we need to reflect on. If we are anxious
perhaps a verse from Romans 8 might be the encouraging word for us. if we are proud
about our accomplishments as a Christian, Jesus’s words, “You did not Choose me, no.
I chose you “(Jn 15:16), might help us gain perspective. At one point in my life, when a
particular Christian service threatened to be more of a burden than I could bear, I used
a verse from 1 Peter as a weapon against despair: “For to this you have been called,
just as Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his
steps” (1 Pt 2:21).

Sometimes verses that have special meaning for us will jump out us as we go
about our Bible reading. Sometimes we can find them by searching for them. However
we discover them, we need to remember them so that we can call them to mind when
we are in the midst of battle.