The Holy Scriptures

 2 Tim 3:15,16
 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

As a child, the Bible sat in a special place in our home, a sacred decoration that indicated that we were a home that believed in God, an emblem of faith in the church I attended for most of my early childhood. It contained the teachings that were held sacred to the church. Personally, I had very little knowledge of the words that were written between the cover of that book. I was taught the doctrine of the church through the catechism of classes I attended, and not by the investigation of holy scripture. I was ignorant of scripture and had no idea of the deep truths that this book contained. I was 15 years old when I came to the knowledge that this Bible contained the life-giving words of God. From Genesis to Revelation, God revealed the holy scriptures to me. I was like a little bird with my mouth wide open, taking in everything that the Bible contained. It was amazing to learn that Jesus Christ was revealed in both the New and Old Testament. The word became my spiritual life source. Over the 50-plus years of my spiritual journey, I have read it from the beginning to the end several times, not only becoming a student of the word, but a Bible teacher. Teaching others what scripture says about Christ, and how we should be living as Christians. The word is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing the hearts of men, revealing man’s sin and his redemption through Christ. I don’t claim to know all the answers, but I have experience that God’s word will guide us to truth if we have an open heart to the light He sheds in our path. Like Timothy, I want to study, to do my best to learn the holy scriptures, that I may be approved of by God, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim 2:15)

Written in Our Hearts

 Jer. 31:33
, ..I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The new covenant of grace is given to the Jews here. There will come a day that God’s word will dwell in our hearts. The Word will be in us and work through us. The law will no longer be a taskmaster that drives us to do what is right, but His word would be a natural flow that springs from our heart. A new day was promised to the Jews. There will come a day where everyone will be accountable for their own actions. For the law of sowing and reaping will not be applied to the seed of those who come after. No doubt, choices people make may have a far reaching influence on generations to come, but God’s judgment now falls on he who sows. The coming of Christ and the promise of the Father to send the Holy Spirit, fulfilled the law of the Old Testament. An “eye for an eye”, change to “Turn to the other cheek.” God’s word has become a love letter to those that read it. We follow his word and commandments because we love Him and desire to please Him. The Old covenant is not entirely eliminated, but it does reveal to us that God is good and faithful, and His word can now live in our hearts.

Two Edged Sword

Hebrew 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The two edged sword cuts through with precision, such is God’s word that is able to reveal the nature of the heart and the deep need of the soul. Able to search the heart and expose the intend of people’s motives. The sword, the word of God is powerful enough to change the lives of people. With precision, it can discern what the heart’s needs are in order to be what God desires. His word is the person of Jesus. It is Jesus who looks into the heart of man and sees the condition of sinful man. Jesus who reveals His love to man is powerful enough to take a broken heart and make it whole again. He breaks open the heart and then makes it new. Jesus, the Word of God is the sword we need to change lives.

Follower of the Lord

1 Thess 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

I became a follower of the Lord on this day 43 years ago. This is my story. I grew up in a religious home. Went to church every Sunday, taught to respect the sacred things of God. The church was my religion. I had a sense of security knowing I went to a church that promised that as long as I kept the tenants of the church and was faithful to its teaching, that I would have a place in heaven when I died. I never recalled anyone telling me that I could have a personal relationship with God and know Him through Christ. Yes, there was a lot of symbolic rituals that pointed toward having communion with Christ, but I was never told that I could go personally to Christ and asked for forgiveness and that the Bible taught that He and He alone is able to forgive. I never was encouraged to read the Bible for myself. We had a large  Bible in our home, but it was never opened and read in our home. We were sent to church school to learn about the teachings of the church, but I never recalled ever opening a Bible. So at the age of 15, I began my quest to learn what the Bible taught. A whole new world was opened up to me. I thought I knew a lot about God and His love, but His Word opened my heart to truths that went far beyond the teaching of the church. It was in the Word that I learned about the life of Jesus, how He lived and how He wanted me to live. Reading the writings of Paul opened my eyes about human nature and how we overcome the flesh and the temptations of life. I found that stories in the OT held truths and life applications that were invaluable. Being a follow of the Lord was more that going to church on Sunday, it was a life style that I would seek to live to this very day. I don’t claim to be perfect, and I have made my share of mistakes in life, but this one thing I know, once I was blind, but now I see. Thank God, I became a follower of the Lord and received His Word in much affliction, but with joy in the Holy Spirit. 

The Breath of Life

Gen 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Made from the dust of the earth, man’s form was created. Creation is a Biblical truth that modern science refuses to accept. Christians who believe God’s Word is inerrant and inspired by the Holy Spirit accept by faith that God is the Creator of life. Life did not evolve from some protein amino acid molecules and over billions of years is now manifested in the likeness of mankind. Jesus, the Son of God, validated the truths given to us in the OT on many occasions as He opened the Scripture to teach and show others the way to find God and live for Him. The evidence given to us in science how the life began is suspect and comes from those who refuse to believe that God chose to give life to man by breathing on man. The breath of life comes from Him, He is the source of all that is good and all that lives. In Him and through Him the world is held together. As we take in air to breath. let us not forget who gave us the air to breath. God and God alone is the giving of life. praise Him for all that He provides.

This World

John 17:14,15 “ I have given them Thy Word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”

This world is no friend of grace. The world stands in opposition to all that is godly, holy, right, and despises those who declare an absolute truth. The world is driven to please the pleasure of the flesh, it has no regard to the commandments of God. Christian’s world view comes from the teaching of Christ and the Holy Spirit that leads the believer into all truth. The Bible is the final word of what is morally right and wrong, and the world does not like what it has to say. It goes against their own fleshly desires to satisfy self. Therefore, the world rejects God’s Word as absolute truth. We are not to behave as the world does, even though we live in this world we are to remain from the world’s inclination to satisfy the base desires of the sinful flesh. It was the prayer of Jesus that we be kept from the love of the flesh. This world will pass away, but the Word of God will remain and every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord of all.  

Understanding God's Word

Nehemiah 8:8 “So they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly, and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading.”-

Understanding the Word of God. When I 1st got saved at the age of 15, I was told to start reading the Bible. I was given a New Testament and started to read the book of John. I began to soak in the Word. God began to open His word to my heart and I began to understand what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. There were many times I would read without understanding, but in due time God would reveal His Word to me and show me what it meant to be a Christian. That was over 42 years ago, and still today His Word is renewed day by day in my life. As I read selected portions of the Bible, I ask God to show me something new that will help me draw closer to Him. I have obtained a lot of head knowledge over the years reading His Word, but I long for more than just head knowledge, I long to live in His Word, to be graphed in and become one with Him. Understanding the Word of God is more than memorizing, knowing all the stories and what will happen in the end times. It is about knowing Him, understanding the mind of Christ, living out my faith and loving His Word, for He is the Word. 

Desire the Word

(1 Peter 2:2) “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” -

 Growing in the things of God does not come without effort and purpose. As it was in the day of Ezra, the people hungered for more of the word of God. It was their life substance to feast of the commandments of God. As Christians, we must not be satisfied with just a morsel or crumbs from the master’s table. If we want to grow strong in Christ we must consume His word and make it a vital part of our lives. Every day we should be like babies who cry out to fill the appetite and longing of our heart to have more of Him. If we are going to be able to stand in the test of time, we must be strong in God, and this comes by learning more about Him and putting into practice the things we learn in our daily lives. Let us not go a day without spiritual nourishment we need.