Jeremy Bailey, Port Talbot

For a Pastor, the thought of being castaway on a desert island is at one and the same time attractive and appalling: attractive because the desire for solitude to read and pray is at times just a dream; appalling because there is an inner desire to be amongst people sharing the word of God and sharing their joys and sorrows.

A similar dilemma faces me as I try to choose just a few verses to take with me. These verses mean a lot to me, so they are very personal, yet they form part of the revealed word of God to all of us, so they are to be shared. I hope that they may encourage those who read this as they have encouraged, and continue to encourage me.

Which verses would you take to the desert island?

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

This is the verse I adopted at my baptism as a life verse. Although I came to know the Lord when I was very young, around 8 years old, it was in my teenage years that I came to clear assurance. I was concerned to discover whether I had faith independent of my parents, or whether I was simply following their teaching. To discover this, I set myself the task of studying the NT letters. Starting in Romans, by the time I got to the end of 2 Corinthians, I was filled with a sense of the greatness of Christ and His work of salvation for me. I was baptised shortly after my 17^th birthday. This verse has been a guide and a warning against sin throughout my life.

But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. Romans 6:17

Dr Martin Lloyd Jones’ preaching and writing helped me to come to a realisation that I am a Calvinistic Methodist! His exposition of this verse brought me to an understanding of what conversion really is. We are slaves to sin. The truth of the gospel addresses our mind (“the form of teaching”), that truth is then embraced in the heart (“wholehearted” acceptance). Then it moves the will (“obeyed”). From the mind, to the heart to the will is always the way conversion happens.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:3

Part of one of the servant songs in Isaiah, this speaks of the Lord Jesus’ tender care of his children. We meet many bruised reeds in life, many people who are like a low flame ready to go out. But the Lord Jesus will never break that bruised reed. He will strengthen it and care for it. He will never snuff out that low burning flame; he will cup his hands around it and bring it to full burning light again. How precious the Lord Jesus is to the believer.

I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Very early in my ministry, whilst I was still in a small Essex village, I realised that I was in danger of being afraid of what people thought of me. If that fear of people was not dealt with, I would not be able to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. This verse freed me from the fear of people. We must not care what people think, even when they pass judgement on us. The important thing is to keep a clear conscience. Yet even that does not mean we will always be right. We must leave judgement to God.

When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the King delights to honour?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honour than me?” Esther 6:6

I love the book of Esther. When I was called to my current Church, it was the first Old Testament book I preached through. One young member of the congregation said she didn’t realise it was ok to laugh in church! We did laugh, many times. Every time I read this verse I laugh at the pride of Haman and the way God is able to raise up the humble and bring down the proud. Also, it reminds me that God delights to honour us by clothing us with the righteousness of Christ.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

I have to have one of the “I am” statements of Jesus to remind me of all the others. This is the greatest of all. It gives me confidence in life and in death. Jesus is the resurrection; that means we will be resurrected one day after we have died. He is also the life; that means we have eternal life in him by faith. That eternal life will never be extinguished. Do you believe this? I do with all my heart.

Which Christian from the past would you like to find on the island for company?

C.S. Lewis. One of my favourite memories from childhood is lying on my parents’ bed with my older sister and younger brother listening to Dad read the Narnia Chronicles. Since then, I have loved these books and they led me to read nearly all of Lewis’s work. I especially love his story telling and his autobiographical novel “The Pilgrim’s Regress”. It would be great to have him with me to discuss Narnia and hear some more stories from that amazing Christian mind. It would also be important to have someone there who does not share my non-conformist, Calvinist beliefs but who is clearly a believer.

Which song would you take to the island?

O Sacred Head! Sore Wounded by Paul Gerhardt. This reminds me of the Lord’s suffering and death. It also contains the wonderful words that express an important personal desire of mine “Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee!” It remains my favourite Easter Hymn, and Easter remains my favourite time of year.

O sacred head! Sore wounded,
With grief and shame bowed down,
How scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thy only crown!
How pale art Thou with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
Which once was bright as morn!

Thy grief and bitter passion
Were all for sinners’ gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain:
Lo! Here I fall, my Saviour;
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favour,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to Thee!

Be near me when I’m dying;
O show Thy cross to me;
Thy death, my hope supplying,
From death shall set me free.
These eyes, new faith receiving,
From Jesus shall not move;
For he who dies believing
Dies safely through Thy love.