Have you ever read the Bible and felt like you were reading it for the first time? That is how I have been feeling lately.
I remember when I began reading my first "real" Bible (not the school assigned one that sat in the desk at my private school). I owned it for at least 5 years before I actually decided to read it. It was a blue/brown genuine leather NKJV study Bible (Thanks, Grandma!) and I LOVED it. I sooo desired to know what God wrote that I carried my Bible in my hands around school, should I get a spare moment before the dismissal bell rang, I could read without wasting time taking it out of my backpack.
I wanted to know the very words He spoke.
I remember struggling to understand how my Bible was designed and I would spend hours in my room studying the study notes and in-depth word highlights themselves. I didn't know it explained the book's design in the beginning pages. The fine print turned me off.
I wanted to know as much as I could on the history and the context beyond lies and confusion, masked by "interpretation." I wanted to know Truth.
I wanted so bad to have it memorized; I began writing verses on Post-Its and lining my bathroom mirror with them. Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw the verses and recited them. Every morning while I was washing my face I would test myself on how much I had memorized.
I wanted the Word in me.
Then I would spend so much time with my Christian friends. References would be made in coversation and I became zealous to know more. I wanted my mind to contain it and help me live it, but I could hardly process it.
I longed to live what the Word said and my efforts were not in vain. My spirit was still receiving what my flesh was not understanding and changes were taking place in my heart - changes I didn't identify.
There was another lie.
If the Bible is difficult to read,
it must be difficult to live.
Not having a practical example of a true, Biblical lifestyle (without church-based lies), I devoted myself instead to teachings. I had read through the entire New Testament (maybe more than once); I figured the best way to learn more was to learn from others.
I downloaded teachings from IHOP, Fire and Fragrance, Bethel...the "major" ministries. I knew I could trust them in their doctrine and hear what these people had to say; they had been with the Lord longer than anyone else I knew.
Then I came to a point where I was very confused. Many of the friends I had spoke as though times with the Lord were strictly praying. The conclusion: since I spent so much time reading, I needed to put some of that on hold to spend more time praying.
Then there were days where I wasn't sure what to pray. When I didn't know what to pray, my default was to read.
"But I'm still not spending time with God..." I found myself thinking time after time after time.
I still wanted to learn.
Then it grew to the point where I stopped reading.
No. Sometimes we are afraid to make choices because we think, "What if that is my desire and not God's?" "What if it isn't God's will for my life?"
Well, God gave you the desires of your heart. Sometimes it is okay to make decisions (even life changing decisions!) based on your likes or practicality because it is all part of trusting God in who He says He is. He is good. We don't need to walk on eggshells with Him. He is a good Father, a good Shepherd. Therefore, we trust that if we are making a decision outside of His will for our life in His sovereignty He will redirect us to the right path. He will lead us. He wants us. He will leave the 99 to chase after the 1. It is okay.
So I was even under the impression that God needed to tell me where to read because He was supposed to tell me everything I needed to do now, right? Wrong. But surely there must be something specific He wants me to read because there is something there I need to know...
Here in DTS, we have been reading at least 1 book of the New Testament a week (we started combining multiple books into single weeks after we finished Romans). Each time I have read, it was like I was reading each book for the first time. The Lord has been highlighting so many pieces that I never noticed before. I even read pieces that reminded me of different teachings I had listened to.
Reading the Bible and actually comprehending what it is saying in its simple form, I am finding many sermons (and the examples used!) almost word-for-word in some cases. Now obviously teachers had focal points and points of elaboration...but in general it was all copied from Jesus, Peter, John, James, and Jude. Thanks, fellas.
Yet, how many times had I read over the Gospels and the teachings of the apostles and not understood? I had been clouded. The lie that it was too simple, it has to be difficult to live like Jesus. To love like Jesus. Often because the part of grace has been forgotten...Or maybe grace is remembered, but the people remembering it don't truly have a revelation of it... Or somewhere along the lines, they themselves were clouded too. We can never know and it is okay.
difficult (adj.)
--hard to do, make, or carry out
hard (adj.)
--not easily penetrated : not easily yielding to pressure
It is not difficult to live like Jesus. It is hard only because we are naturally resistant.
We are naturally resistant to allowing the Truth of God's Word to penetrate our hearts. We naturally do not want to yield to the pressure (or conviction) that maybe our lives should be different. Maybe our lives should reflect our love for Jesus....or maybe they already do.
If Jesus could only measure your love for Him by your day-to-day lifestyle, how loved would He really feel?
Of course, that does not mean every person is like this...some versions of the Bible are truly more difficult to read than others. Even so, the Bible is still worth reading.
It is so important that we get the very words God spoke into our hearts. The very words that flow from Jesus. We must know and apply them.
If we are called to be like Jesus and Jesus came into the world with the purpose of bearing witness (testifying) to the truth, then we too need to testify to the truth. In doing so we are listening to His voice.
Interestingly enough, I began writing this blog late Tuesday night. Wednesday morning in class, the speaker was talking about how important it is to know the Word --- I will share more about that this weekend.
I have to get going!
**Read Your Bibles** :-)
--- until this weekend!
Xoxo,
Cheryl
I remember when I began reading my first "real" Bible (not the school assigned one that sat in the desk at my private school). I owned it for at least 5 years before I actually decided to read it. It was a blue/brown genuine leather NKJV study Bible (Thanks, Grandma!) and I LOVED it. I sooo desired to know what God wrote that I carried my Bible in my hands around school, should I get a spare moment before the dismissal bell rang, I could read without wasting time taking it out of my backpack.
I wanted to know the very words He spoke.
So Jesus said to the Jews who has believed him,
"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."
John 8:32
I remember struggling to understand how my Bible was designed and I would spend hours in my room studying the study notes and in-depth word highlights themselves. I didn't know it explained the book's design in the beginning pages. The fine print turned me off.
I wanted to know as much as I could on the history and the context beyond lies and confusion, masked by "interpretation." I wanted to know Truth.
I wanted so bad to have it memorized; I began writing verses on Post-Its and lining my bathroom mirror with them. Every time I looked in the mirror, I saw the verses and recited them. Every morning while I was washing my face I would test myself on how much I had memorized.
I wanted the Word in me.
Then I would spend so much time with my Christian friends. References would be made in coversation and I became zealous to know more. I wanted my mind to contain it and help me live it, but I could hardly process it.
There is a lie that the Bible is difficult to read.
It isn't.
I longed to live what the Word said and my efforts were not in vain. My spirit was still receiving what my flesh was not understanding and changes were taking place in my heart - changes I didn't identify.
There was another lie.
If the Bible is difficult to read,
it must be difficult to live.
Not having a practical example of a true, Biblical lifestyle (without church-based lies), I devoted myself instead to teachings. I had read through the entire New Testament (maybe more than once); I figured the best way to learn more was to learn from others.
I downloaded teachings from IHOP, Fire and Fragrance, Bethel...the "major" ministries. I knew I could trust them in their doctrine and hear what these people had to say; they had been with the Lord longer than anyone else I knew.
Then I came to a point where I was very confused. Many of the friends I had spoke as though times with the Lord were strictly praying. The conclusion: since I spent so much time reading, I needed to put some of that on hold to spend more time praying.
Then there were days where I wasn't sure what to pray. When I didn't know what to pray, my default was to read.
"But I'm still not spending time with God..." I found myself thinking time after time after time.
I still wanted to learn.
Then it grew to the point where I stopped reading.
Another lie:
Everything you do in life
has to be spoken by God.
No. Sometimes we are afraid to make choices because we think, "What if that is my desire and not God's?" "What if it isn't God's will for my life?"
Well, God gave you the desires of your heart. Sometimes it is okay to make decisions (even life changing decisions!) based on your likes or practicality because it is all part of trusting God in who He says He is. He is good. We don't need to walk on eggshells with Him. He is a good Father, a good Shepherd. Therefore, we trust that if we are making a decision outside of His will for our life in His sovereignty He will redirect us to the right path. He will lead us. He wants us. He will leave the 99 to chase after the 1. It is okay.
So I was even under the impression that God needed to tell me where to read because He was supposed to tell me everything I needed to do now, right? Wrong. But surely there must be something specific He wants me to read because there is something there I need to know...
Well, the Bible is 66 books full of things
God wants me to know.
I really could have just taken my pick.
Here in DTS, we have been reading at least 1 book of the New Testament a week (we started combining multiple books into single weeks after we finished Romans). Each time I have read, it was like I was reading each book for the first time. The Lord has been highlighting so many pieces that I never noticed before. I even read pieces that reminded me of different teachings I had listened to.
Reading the Bible and actually comprehending what it is saying in its simple form, I am finding many sermons (and the examples used!) almost word-for-word in some cases. Now obviously teachers had focal points and points of elaboration...but in general it was all copied from Jesus, Peter, John, James, and Jude. Thanks, fellas.
Yet, how many times had I read over the Gospels and the teachings of the apostles and not understood? I had been clouded. The lie that it was too simple, it has to be difficult to live like Jesus. To love like Jesus. Often because the part of grace has been forgotten...Or maybe grace is remembered, but the people remembering it don't truly have a revelation of it... Or somewhere along the lines, they themselves were clouded too. We can never know and it is okay.
difficult (adj.)
--hard to do, make, or carry out
hard (adj.)
--not easily penetrated : not easily yielding to pressure
It is not difficult to live like Jesus. It is hard only because we are naturally resistant.
We are naturally resistant to allowing the Truth of God's Word to penetrate our hearts. We naturally do not want to yield to the pressure (or conviction) that maybe our lives should be different. Maybe our lives should reflect our love for Jesus....or maybe they already do.
If Jesus could only measure your love for Him by your day-to-day lifestyle, how loved would He really feel?
The Bible is not hard.
Our hearts are.
The Bible is simple.
Basic.
Black and white.
We often complicate simplicity or claim laziness to justify passivity.
Of course, that does not mean every person is like this...some versions of the Bible are truly more difficult to read than others. Even so, the Bible is still worth reading.
It is so important that we get the very words God spoke into our hearts. The very words that flow from Jesus. We must know and apply them.
Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.
For this purpose I was born and
for this purpose I have come into the world
-- to bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
John 18:37
Interestingly enough, I began writing this blog late Tuesday night. Wednesday morning in class, the speaker was talking about how important it is to know the Word --- I will share more about that this weekend.
I have to get going!
**Read Your Bibles** :-)
--- until this weekend!
Xoxo,
Cheryl
1 comment:
Beautiful Sweetie! Blessings to you as you continue faithfully to crack the Book!
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