Favourite passages

Over at RGBP Songbird writes:

Twenty years ago, I was on a Pastoral Search Committee, and one of the questions we asked the ten candidates we interviewed in the first round was to tell us their three favorite passages of scripture. I loved hearing the variety of verses quoted and even learned some that I didn't know, such as the last line of one of this week's lectionary passages:

He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) 

For today's Friday Five, list your five favorite passages/verses from the Bible and tell us something about why you love them.

 

Before I start let me say that I am SO glad that wasn't an interview question I was asked. ANd this is a real challenge, so many passages that don't make today's cut.  All the passages below can be read here

1. Deuteronomy 30:15-20 "I have set before you today a choice..." I once used this passage when writing a sermon for Ethics in seminary.  It is just such a great way to remind us that our choices matter.
2. Matthew 25:31-46 The Sheep and the Goats Is there a better answer to "why do good things?" than this passage, this is what love of neighbour means.  Besides I always love that way of telling people to go to Hell in verse 41
3. 1 COrinthians 13 Paul at his finest, the hymn to love need I say more?  OVer used and misunderstood perhaps.  But still the poetry and the vision rings out.
4. Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 a passage I always love to use for weddings especially verses 9-12.  They speak so well of the ideal of mutual support, and the reminder of the third strand in the cord in verse 12 speaks so well of the ideal of Christian partnership
5. Amos 5:21-24 let justice roll down like water I had to have something from the prophets and can you do better than Amos?

ANd of course there are sooooooooooo many others.  Depending on mood and circumstance of course.