In the opening of one of my favorite all-time movies, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, Jimmy Durante both literally and figuratively "kicks the bucket." After a terrible car crash, his body all broken to pieces, he has just enough strength left to tell a huge cast of comedians all about a treasure he's buried "under the BIG W"-and then "he kicks the bucket," literally an old bucket he kicks and then he dies, "kicking the bucket" being a common euphemism for death. That figure of speech, I think, is where Hollywood got the idea for the movie Bucketlist, a list of things you want to do (for yourself) before you "kick the bucket." From the spirit of Hollywood, the "bucketlist" people prepare for themselves is indeed quite a self-centered, if not selfish, enterprise, but I would like to tell you about another kind of bucketlist, the Bible Bucketlist. In fact, the Bible is filled with bucketlists most worthy of your careful attention, lists of things that you need to do or allow to happen to you-before you die. I encourage you to study God's Word and come up with a working list of your own (one day soon you may hear a sermon on this!), but for now here is my list of passages in Scripture that will help you in the development of your spiritual life, as you seek to "draw near to God" (James 4:8).
· The Book of James-too many things to list here: The more you memorize James the better off you will be!
· Micah 6:8-to build your life around the practice of justice, the love of kindness, and the humble walk with your God.
· Isaiah 61:1-3-Jesus completed all of this when He died; so take your best shot at His bucketlist (Luke 4:17-21)!
· Proverbs 3:1-12-Trust the Lord with all your heart: Leaning on your own understanding will not prepare you for death.
· Matthew 28:18-20-Before you die, surrender to His authority and win at least one soul to Him!
· Matthew 11:28-30-Let Jesus be your Teacher!
· Galatians 5:22-23-the Holy Spirit's bucketlist just for you, as you let Him fill you!
· Ephesians 6:10-18-Find your strength in the Lord and know the insignificance of Satan's weapons.
· Philippians 4:4-9-Practice these things every day and your heart and mind will be fortresses, impervious to every enemy attack.
· Colossians 3:1-17-Now that's a bucketlist to change your life, to "hide your life with Christ in God."
· 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23-a bucketlist for total sanctification!
· 1 Timothy 3:1-13 / Titus 1:6-9-Every disciple of Jesus (NOT JUST ELDERS AND DEACONS) must aim at these TARGETS!
· 2 Peter 1:2-11-This compelling text contains a bucketlist that will keep you from ever falling away from Jesus!
Eric C. Whelchel