Read The Word, Heed The Word

Good Morning, and Happy Friday!! People seem to have a lot of excuses  for not reading the Bible, unbelief, indifference, busyness, and,...laziness. But I believe the real reason, is that It forces us to see the bad choices we've made,...and deal with them. Gamaliel Bradford, a renowned American biographer who explored the lives and motives of famous individuals, candidly admitted, "I do not read the New Testament for fear of its awakening a storm of anxiety, and self-reproach, and doubt, and dread, of having taken the wrong path, of having been traitor to the plain and simple God." Fear of facing up to failure, guilt, and sin is not a very reasonable reason to avoid reading the Bible! It's about as irrational as refusing to see a doctor because there's a suspicion that cancer has started to develop in one's body.

For the word of God is alive 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 (NIV)

Yes, the Bible does compel us to face ourselves. It is like an x-ray machine that penetrates below the facade of goodness,...and shows up any spiritual malignancy. It enables us to see how God views all the worst diseases of the soul. But the Bible does more than expose a fatal condition. It introduces us to the Great Physician, who can cure our sin and bring spiritual healing. If you read the Bible with a willingness to obey the truth, you will find life's greatest cure.

Many people criticize the Bible,...because the Bible criticizes their behavior.

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Instill within our hearts, dear Lord,
A deep desire to know Your voice;
We need to learn to hear Your Word
That we may make Your will our choice.

 

"Focus on the Kingdom of God,...don't give up, and don't give in."