IF YOU’RE A WINDOWS® USER you get to store your “favorites” where you can get to them. If you have cell phone service with T-Mobile™ you get to have fast access to your “faves.” Favorites of course are those websites, or programs you access often, or on your cell phone those numbers you call most frequently. Even if you’re not on the web, or have determined never to be slave to the cell phone master, you most likely have favorites.
Maybe your favorites are certain relatives in your family, or recipes mom used to make. Maybe you have a list of favorite television shows, or board games. Maybe it’s authors or books, actors or movies. May be it’s a list of friends at school or people at church. Well, whatever it may be, we all have favorites.
I have lots of favorites. Ice cream flavors, books, television shows, friends. Favorites are things or people I return to often because of the comfort they bring. Be it person, place or thing, when I am enjoying my favorites I feel at home, at peace.
I suppose that it’s why I have certain favorite Bible verses and stories. When I return to these favorites, it’s like returning home, their truth brings me peace. So, what are some of those “faves” on my list? Well, there’s 1 Kings 18 and 19, the story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal. It’s a fave because I identify with Elijah’s highs and lows. Then there’s Psalm 51, oh how I return to that great Psalm of confession and brokenness. I must include the verse I believe God laid upon my heart when I responded to His call, Isaiah 61:1-3. I desire to see a people who become oaks of righteousness, whom God chooses to use for the rebuilding of the ancient ruins. And lastly, at least for the purpose of this Shepherd’s Staff, there is Galatians 2:20, most likely my favorite verse, not because I live by its truth, but because I desire it so. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Amen and amen.