The most popular Bible verse

I was interested to see a story on the internet today about the most popular Bible verse downloaded this past year. Bible App claims it was accessed over 162 million times in 2014. What was the most popular verse? What might you have chosen?

Romans 12:2.  "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

The New Living Translation says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you  into a new person by changing the way you think."

Renew your mind. Take time to examine what you are thinking, what you are accepting as true. The subject of our Bible Lesson this week is God and each section of the Lesson expands on the Lord's Prayer and its spiritual interpretation given in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

I remember the first time I attended a Christian Science Sunday service. Almost nothing made any sense to me. They even said the Lord's Prayer differently! The congregation spoke a line together and then one of the readers at the podium gave an interpretation of that line. I was put off at first but then interested in that idea. I had been searching for a religion that honored God as I believed Him to be and this version of that prayer called Him Father-Mother. Now that was a new idea for me. And thinking of myself as His beloved offspring would require some 'renewing' of my mind.

By the way, the second most popular verse was also among Paul's letters to the recently formed Christian churches.

Philippians 4:8. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

This would also have caused me to reconsider how I was thinking about God, about myself and the world around me. It seems like the media would compete for our attention by focusing it on the sensational, the disastrous, the violent, the dishonest, the impure. Paul is turning worshippers to a new way to honor God, a Christian life that focuses on what Jesus taught and lived and asked his followers to express.

As we approach the new year, it might be revealing to take an honest look at where our mind is these days. How much have we conformed to worldly thinking and how often have we turned instead to prayer, connecting with God, the divine Mind? What do we have to gain? We can prove what God's will is for us. We can tune in to truth, justice, purity, loveliness and be grateful for good reports of healing and acts of kindness.

Renew your mind and your commitment to seeing and expressing good. I imagine there is an App for that.