For my first post, I wanted to examine what the Bible says about itself and in a wider context, the things God speaks into our hearts:
"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
Perhaps it is fitting I quote that scripture in the first week of Lent (at church we looked at the Temptation of Jesus, and this was the first scripture he used in his defence). One of the things I am passionate is our need to be reliant on God... I think it is supposed to be our natural state, but we lost it when we became sinful... and instead try to do everything in our own strength.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
There is so much we can learn from the Bible. The old corny cliche is that BIBLE stood for "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth", but that doesn't nearly do it justice. Beautiful Inspiration for Beneficiaries of Life Eternal? No... even that doesn't really cut it. The essential thing is that the Bible is full of inspirational words, teachings and stories that apply to our daily lives... I'd never call it an instruction book though, because I don't think it is supposed to work that way.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. "
Hebrews 4:12
An instruction book speaks to our minds, but the Bible speaks to our hearts... even to our very souls. We don't need to analyse it clinically to benefit from it. God always speaks to those who are willing to listen.
An instruction book speaks to our minds, but the Bible speaks to our hearts... even to our very souls. We don't need to analyse it clinically to benefit from it. God always speaks to those who are willing to listen.
You will notice to the side of the website, a quote by Mahatma Gandhi:
"You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down, and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature."
Gandhi was speaking of the Bible... and was using the word dynamite metaphorically, to describe the wonder and the power that he recognised in the words of the Bible... irrespective of his personal religion or beliefs.
Finally, I stumbled across the following verse... and my wish is that anyone reading this will understand from it, the reason we write.
"You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilisation to pieces, turn the world upside down, and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature."
Gandhi was speaking of the Bible... and was using the word dynamite metaphorically, to describe the wonder and the power that he recognised in the words of the Bible... irrespective of his personal religion or beliefs.
Finally, I stumbled across the following verse... and my wish is that anyone reading this will understand from it, the reason we write.
"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."
2 Corinthians 2:17
We wish to be passionate and sincere to you about God.
No comments:
Post a Comment