Was Psalm 69:9 Jesus’ Life Verse? - Crosswalk the Devotional - June 20

Truths observed at the intersection of faith and life by Crosswalk.com editors [Crosswalk.com Logo]( Crosswalk: The Devotional [Devotionals]( [Newsletters]( [e-Cards]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Was [Psalm 69:9]( Jesus' Life Verse? by Alex Crain “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” ([Romans 15:4]( There’s a good chance you won’t find the term “life verse” in a theological dictionary. For anyone who hasn’t heard the phrase before, “life verse” has become a semi-popular term used by Christians to describe the fact that a certain part of the [Bible]( can be a long-term, recurring source of encouragement… perhaps, throughout one’s entire life. I’ve heard some Christians say that the act of singling out a life verse can lower a person’s view of the rest of Scripture. In other words, a life verse can be a bad thing. That seems a little picky though. Really, how bad can it be for a Christian to recognize the good effect that a certain Bible verse has on his attitude toward God, life, and whatever problems he’s facing? Besides, doesn’t it sound a little pompous to say, “My life verse is the BIBLE?” To be honest, I’ve never given much thought about the merits or demerits of life verses. More than once I’ve had to stop and ask myself why I am even writing a devotional about them. But here’s what sparked my interest in the subject. Recently, I saw a phrase in [Romans 15:1]( that made me curious if Jesus, perhaps, had a life verse during His time on earth. Paul quotes an Old Testament phrase in [Romans 15:3]( that Jesus (apparently) had the habit of thinking on as He walked the earth. If this is so, I’m not sure how Paul would have known this. We can speculate that perhaps other people who were close to Jesus during His earthly life may have observed Him quoting it on a fairly regular basis. Maybe Paul overheard something about it during the days he spent visiting the other apostles. Or, possibly, it was revealed to Paul directly during his three-year period of discipleship before he ever met any of the early church leaders in Jerusalem (cf. [Galatians 1:15](. Whatever helped Paul to learn about the mental habits of Jesus, what is clear is that the Lord Jesus Christ characteristically overcame temptation for any and all self-indulgence. “Christ did not please Himself,” is the near context of the Old Testament quote that Paul cites next. The way that the rest of the verse strikes me is that Paul seems to imply that Jesus overcame temptation while meditating on a phrase from [Psalms 69:9]( which says: “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” This passage from [Psalm 69]( would have been a clear reminder to Jesus that the scorn He received on earth was actually the scorn that people bear in their hearts for God. Such a verse would align His expectations about this life and reinforce Him in His earthly mission. Now, notice what Paul tells the Romans immediately after his quotation from [Psalm 69](. See especially verse 4… [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( You May Also Like: [9 Important Things I Learned from My Dad]( Chris Bolinger While my dad never will be famous, his words — and more importantly, his actions — taught me a great deal. From partnering to problem-solving and more, here are nine important things I learned from my dad. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [7 Signs Satan Is Messing with Your Mindset]( Clarence L. Haynes Jr. Satan uses questions to deceive. Here are seven he'll ask to mess with your mindset and go after your relationships and your calling. Being aware can help you overcome his lies and keep a healthy, positive mindset. [CONTINUE READING →]( [Crosswalk.com Logo]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Unsubscribe From This Email]( [Email Preference Center]( | [View in Browser]( © 2020 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk.com - The Devotional. [Link](