Knowing the Bible

“For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

“All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];” 2 Timothy 3:16

I believe many people undervalue the Bible. It’s creation alone is a great miracle, with about 40 authors over more than 2,000 years. That is all one connected story with no contradiction. Furthermore, countless people have given their entire lives to the mission of furthering the spread of the Bible. The reason I say all that is because the story in the Bible is vital to everyone. From beginning to end it is one continuous story of what God has done for His people. With over 60,000 cross-references in it, the writing of the Bible is a great feat of God’s ability of creating and sustaining. It would be impossible for man alone to do that. The God that authored the Bible is the same God that it is about, not you. The reason for God authoring the Bible is that He may reveal Himself and how He can save us. Mankind has never been the main focus of the Bible. I heard it said that the gospel, and the Bible as a whole, is a message that it’s not about what you do, but what God has done for you in Christ. Within the over-arching story of God saving His people through His Son, there are many stories that we can relate to and cling to when we face similar circumstances.

Reading the Bible

“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

When starting to read the Bible, it can be overwhelming. When I see my reading list of 5-6 books, I get overwhelmed, so I understand that starting to read a book composed of 66 books, can be daunting. I often suggest John, Matthew, or a proverb a day. Those are great, but the best thing to read is whatever gets you to read. If you want to know Jesus more, then I would say read John. If you want to know creation more, then I would suggest Genesis. And if you like poetry, then I would suggest Psalms or Proverbs. The important thing is to read it. There are some parts that may seem boring on a first read, but there is not a single bad passage in the Bible, as it is the Word of God. 

Understanding the Bible

“The unfolding of Your [glorious] words give light; Their unfolding gives understanding to the simple (childlike).” Psalms 119:130

One of my favorites abilities of the Bible is that it can be read by all demographics. What other book can be read to children, have them grasp the ideas, and be dissected by brilliant scholars who can’t even reach the heights of it? Often times, it is one or the other. For example, there are people that if I attempt to listen to, it would be out of my range and I would not understand it. On the other hand, I can read and understand a children’s book, but not learn anything new. That ability is great because it means that as we grow, our knowledge of the Bible can be growing too. We will never know many aspects, as they are too high for man to grasp, but we will have a much larger knowledge than when we began.

Trusting the Bible

“Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35

The world has changed drastically since the Bible was written, yet the Bible still has the answers. Lately I have been discovering more and more how this is true. In writing these posts, I have found countless new verses to go along with points I am making. God has the awesome power to reveal new verses and passages to make a point and convey what He wants heard. God promises that those who seek His words will hear Him. That promise still holds true. If you need answers for a specific circumstance, I would suggest praying to God and asking Him to reveal what you need and read the Bible. I believe that if it is genuine, then God will reveal exactly what you need. Often times, it will not be what we would expect, but God is always right in what He reveals. So be sure to go to His word first and foremost whenever you need answers.