When I was a young boy enrolled in a private boarding school, one night I was asked to read from the Bible to the student body. I always remember thinking that night “What a special book this is!” The reason that this is noteworthy is that religion was never spoken of in my home. My only exposure to religion came from a relatively short period of time attending Sunday school at the local Episcopalian church, and on occasion, attending a church service conducted by a scholarly but distant Reverend.

The service was formal and cold, and Sunday school was not something I took particularly seriously. Anyhow, there was no support for what I was reading at home. In fact, no discussion ever took place. So, it seems that my feelings about the special nature of the Bible sort of came out of nowhere. As I look back, this seemingly insignificant moment was an early indication that the Bible would become important to me.

Fast forward to when I was 30 years old, a minister told me something I had never conceived of. Namely, that God loved me. I was incredulous. Although I did believe in God, he was a great, all-powerful distant being. And he certainly did not pay any attention to individuals walking on His planet, much less loving them. What was interesting was my reaction;

“Where in the Bible does it say that?”

The minister didn’t take long to point me to a verse which I believe was Galatians 2:20, where it said in part, “The life I live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave His life for me.” That did it for me. If it said it in the Bible, then that was all the evidence I needed to believe that what he said was true – that God loved me.

Now, as I have reflected on this, it had to be God’s spirit that convinced me of this. I had never studied the Bible, had no background at home or at the local church that had conveyed this to me. It sort of came out of nowhere.

Some 30 years later I look back at this experience as the beginning of my journey of faith. Having believed what was told to me, and myself looking for love and forgiveness, it wasn’t long after that I asked Jesus to be my Savior and said that the rest of my life was His.

My record regrettably has not matched my words – but my words were correct. If I had lived up to what I said, I would have had a much different life. I have had a wonderful life, with many, many blessings. But I have also experienced deep disappointment over my failures, which have cost me much.

However, the main part of these writing’s is not to recount either the blessings or the failures, but rather to draw attention to Bible verses that have “made a difference” to me over the years.

“Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:6)

“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you have eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (Jesus-John 5: 39 + 40)

“…whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (Jesus-John 6:45)

“Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgement” (Jesus-John 7:21)

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (Jesus-John 8:12)

“So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say” (Jesus-John 12:50)

“…for they loved praise from men more than praise from God” (Jesus-John 12:43)

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in Me (Jesus-John 14:1)

“You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (Jesus-John 14:14)

“He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him (Jesus-John 14:21)

Note: Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me” (Jesus-John 14:21)

“I do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (Jesus-John 14:31)

“Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jesus-John 15:4)

“If you obey my commands…my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (Jesus-John 15:13)

“You are my friends” (Jesus-John 15:14)

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jesus-John 16:33)

God gave Jesus authority to make known to His people that “You are the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (Jesus-John: 17: 2-3)

“May they (future believers) know that” You have loved them even as you have loved me. “That the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them (John 17: 23-26)