New Believer Devotional – Part 1 – The Bible
The Bible is a book made up of 66 smaller books, with over 40 different authors, and was written over a period of 1500 years. God inspired every word written. This book of scripture is one way that we can hear from God; one way that we can interact with him.
As you read the Bible it is normal to have questions. It is an ancient library of books and yet timeless in the core truths weaved through its entirety. Isaiah 40:8 puts it this way, “The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” Here are some good questions you can ask yourself as you read the Bible:
-What does this passage say?
Let the passage produce questions in your mind you are curious about.
-What is the backstory for this passage?
In other words, what is the context of this passage of Scripture.
-What does the passage mean?
To begin to answer this question we need to understand what other passages of Scriptures are related to this one. If a passage seems unclear to you, let the clearer passages on the subject help clarify the ones seeming to be unclear.
-What does this passage mean for me?
This last question is deeply important. In this question we are asking the Holy Spirit how to apply this passage to our everyday life.
What we can know is this: the Bible is unlike any other book out there. It’s a sacred, powerful text that has the power to change lives. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit…[exposing] our innermost thoughts and desires.” But it takes faith to trust that what you’re reading is true. Just like it was an act of faith to commit your life to Jesus, it’s the same to trust God’s Word.
However, God’s Word also teaches faith opens our eyes to understand God’s truths. 2 Corinthians 3:14 puts it this way, “But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.” In other words, our faith in Jesus helps us understand God’s Word.
Ultimately, The Bible is a story of redemption, with Jesus as the central focus telling us the Bible is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16); our source of wisdom (Proverbs 1:23), and our anchor in life, helping us understand how to live and become more like Christ (Galatians 4:19).
Regularly reading the Bible is how we grow and change. It’s where we learn about God’s character, his faithfulness, and his love; it’s the place we learn what he promises and that his promises can be trusted; it’s the place that shows us the dark parts of our heart that need to be healed by Jesus; it’s the place we learn who we are, and it’s the source of truth. Our minds are our greatest battlefield, and the truth of scripture is our best weapon.
With the Bible as our foundation, we can stand firm and steady in a very unpredictable world. When we feel alone, we read God is always with us (Psalm 46:1). When we are overwhelmed, we read God wants to carry our burdens for us (Isaiah 43:2). When we want revenge, we read we are to pray for our enemies (Luke 6:27). When we wonder if we are off course, we read God directs our steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).
The Bible is a light in our dark world. It will change your life when you read it and apply it to your real-life circumstances. If you’re not sure where to start, the book of John, 1 John, and Romans are great options for learning why Jesus is such great news.
If you need a Bible, please contact Worship Center and will be happy to supply you with a new Bible (717-656-4271).
ACTION STEPS:
To explore more about how to read the Bible, go here.
Check out Mere Christianity
Join our Online Community – Worship Center 167
Sign up for our Faith Essentials course online or during one of the group seasons.