Articles

How Often Should I Read the Bible

How Often Should I Read the Bible?

By Mary Dole

The B.I.B.L.E. Remember that song? Growing up, we sang it a lot. Amazingly, it’s still around. Listener Kids on YouTube has added to it. The B.I.B.L.E.

B - Read it backwards. Read it forwards.

I - For your insides and outsides.

B - Makes you brave, makes you bold

L - Means love forever

E - Ever and ever!

Maybe your growing-up world didn’t include going to church or learning about God. Whether you are a new Christian or old or even thinking about giving your life to Christ, please continue reading.

There is power, hope and healing in the Bible. It is a life changer. It brings us closer to God. It opens our hearts and minds to focus on the glory of God and the majesty of God.

If you aren’t reading the Word daily, please prioritize making it a habit… even if only for a few minutes each day.

If you have doubts about being able to understand the Bible or if you have even tried reading it and were unable to make sense of what you read…take a step back and try again. Pray before you begin again and ask God to give you understanding of His Word. In Psalm 119:105 it reads – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Faithfully reading God’s Word will make your path straight and bring you closer to Him.

God’s Word is often described as a source of healing and strength, providing spiritual nourishment and comfort. It is believed to have the power to bring restoration and health to both the body and soul.

God’s Word is medicine – without negative side effects! Proverbs 4:22 “For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”

What we focus on gets bigger. Reading the Word, holding it in our hearts and our minds transforms our lives and changes our perspective. It shows us that we serve a big God – a God who never fails, a God who loves us unconditionally. Reading God’s Word daily leads to a deeper relationship with Him. It will strengthen your faith and trust in your heavenly Father. You will be amazed how God will carry you through the storms you encounter in life. God will become bigger and life’s trials, tragedies and temptations will get smaller.

I hope you will accept the challenge!

The Words of My Mouth

Why I Read the Bible

By Joyce V.

I read the Bible because it is God's Word, His Love letter to us. There are so many other reasons, but I will just touch up upon three.

First, I need-really want-to know God. God's Word Is living and active and can help me understand who He is and what He wants to do in my life. I am going to spend eternity with Him so I would like to know Him better.

I am able to do that as I read my Bible. I learn about how He Created the world and what has happened since then. I learn about His great love for me and all of mankind.

Second, I learn about God through the history, the law, The major and minor prophets and so much wisdom through the wisdom books of the Old Testament. The books of the law tell me the story of creation and how God deals with His chosen people. It also gives me the Ten Commandments and how to treat others. The history books continue the story of love between God and His people. The wisdom literature teaches me about the knowledge and wisdom God gave to His people, which is passed on to me. The major and minor profits let us against see how God deals with His people.

Third, the New Testament has Jesus coming to earth to fulfill the law. I see how Jesus interacts with the people of His time and that teaches me how to do so also. The writings of Paul and other disciples who wrote the letters teach me about God, Jesus, and how to live my life. Finally, the book of Revelation shows me a glimpse of heaven and Jesus coming back for His family of believers.

Even Them? Loving the Hard-to-Love

Why Is the Bible Important?

By Marjorie M.

The Bible is still the best-selling and most widely distributed book in history! It's circulation copies are worldwide, in thousands of languages and in printed and digital formats. God intended it to be that way because He Wants the whole world to know Him And have a relationship with Him!

The Bible is important because it is how God reveals Himself to man. It is the message from God to man. Before we had a completed Bible, God communicated with prophets, kings, and others. He also used dreams, angels, a donkey, and even a burning bush! His word tells us that ALL Scripture is God-inspired, meaning it is God-breathed. The Holy Spirit used men of God to write the Word of God (2 Pet. 1: 20-21). They were:

Forty different men...

From different cultures

Who lived at different times...(Over 1400 years)

And wrote in three different languages:

Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek

Their own natural characteristics, writing styles, and words were used. The Holy Spirit guided each man, which guaranteed that what they wrote was accurate and true. Both the Old and New Testaments point to Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the one central figure, who came to earth to redeem (buy back) sinful man when He died died on the cross, and rose again on the third day.

Because the Bible is from God, we know we can trust it. Just as God is true (Deuteronomy 32:4), so is:

His Word. (John 17:17)

Jesus, His Son (John 14:6)

The Holy Spirit (I John 5:6)

Because we trust the Bible, we believe Scripture reveals our need for salvation (II Timothy 3:15) through Christ; and that the Word can and will convict and expose men's inner hearts. (Hebrews 4:12). We will look at this point a little more in the next edition. Until next time, I pray that you continue to read God's love letter to you, The Bible. And if you haven't done so, I pray that you receive His gift eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ! If you are ready, the three basic steps are below. Blessings!

The ABCs of Salvation

A- Admit: Acknowledge you are a sinner who has fallen short of God's standards and that you need forgiveness.

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (A)

B- Believe: Trust that Jesus Christ the Son of God, died for your sins and rose again.

(John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (B).

C- Confess/Commit: confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, invite Him into your life, and repent of your sins.

Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved" (C).

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."