Why Read The Bible?

Why Read The Bible?

"I'm a busy person. I have a lot to do. Why should I spend my time reading the Bible? I don't have time to do all I need to do as it is."
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"I already believe in Jesus Christ, that He's the Son of God and my Savior. I've already heard the gospel."

"Why should I read the Bible?"

Please think about the following Scriptures. Then, you will  understand why you should read the Bible.

JOHN 8:31-32 RSV
31 Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

JOHN 14:23-24 RIEU
23 Jesus replied: 'If anyone loves me he will cherish my word; my Father will love him and we will come to him and make him our abode. 24 He that does not love me neglects my words. Yet the word you hear is not my own but that of the Father who sent me.

ACTS 20:32 NKJ
32 "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

SAY THIS: I will read and study the Bible.

Don't Resist Him

DON'T RESIST HIM

 

 

 "Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep." – Jonah 1:5 NASB.

 Jonah had made his plans. He knew what he wanted to do. And he certainly wasn't interested when he learned that God wanted him to travel to Nineveh, which was over land to the east. Instead, Jonah went the opposite direction, boarded a ship sailing for Tarshish, and headed west by sea.

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 Jonah must have thought he would find fulfillment going his own way. But God knew better. He intervened, sending a great storm and hurling hurricane-force winds with such power that the professional sailors thought the ship was about to break apart.

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 Jonah might have realized that God was trying to speak to him. Yet, instead, he escaped into sleep. After the captain woke him up, he joined the other travelers in casting lots. It soon became clear that their troubles were on account of Jonah trying to flee from God. After he was thrown overboard, "the sea stopped its raging."

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 All of us should sympathize with Jonah. We all have had our own plans and dreams at times. There are things we haven't wanted to do. It can be easy to want to run away from God's call and be governed by our own ideas—to be like Jonah and try to escape and go our own way.

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 Yes, it can be difficult to trust in God and obey Him unconditionally, trusting
 that He knows best. It even can be difficult to recognize when He tries to get our attention—through storms or feelings of restlessness. But God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows that we never will find true peace apart from serving Him.

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Today, remember that God has prepared rich blessings for you. He has a great plan for your life. Don't resist Him. Commit your life anew to Him. Listen to His voice. Seek to obey and follow Him.

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Prayer: Our Loving Heavenly Father, I surrender my life to You. Help me to know Your plan for my life. I commit my time, talent, and treasure to You. Use me to bless others. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."

Cry from depth of sheol

CRY FROM DEPTH OF SHEOL

 "I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of sheol ; You heard my voice…You have brought up my life from the pit…I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD." – Jonah

 2:2-9 NASB.

"Jonah finally found the right perspective on life. He began to understand God's plans and his personal destiny. But this revelation only came when he was completely helpless and vulnerable."

" Prior to this point, Jonah had his own ideas, and he'd determined not to obey God's command to go to Nineveh. But, in the belly of a fish, he realized just how helpless he was in his own strength and wisdom. He was in "distress" and in "the depth of Sheol." By all rights, he should have been dead".

 Yet in "the deep," in "the heart of the seas" (v.3), God spoke to him. In a place with no way of escape, he realized he needed God. When he cried out, God gave him clearer perspective. He saw that "those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness" (v.8). He no longer would seek his own way, but was ready to obey God, regardless of the cost. He realized that all of our efforts are futile unless they're inspired by the Lord and done for His Kingdom. There is no hope or fulfillment apart from Him.

Often God needs to bring us to this point in order to help us turn to Him. We find ourselves in places where we're forced to seek Him. We then realize how much we need Him, and we become willing to put aside everything else and surrender to Him.
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 Today, surrender your life anew to God. Don't run away, but commit your life to serving Him fully and completely, freely and without reservation.
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 Prayer: Our Loving Heavenly Father, I realize how much I must depend on You. I trust You with my life. Guide me. Use me. Lead me. I surrender my life to You. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, In Jesus Loving Name I Pray, Amen."
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