One day on a whim while I was keeping my grandchildren I played the VeggieTales version of a kids' Sunday school song on Spotify for them. I had no idea it would be such a big hit. I was singing the tune in my sleep that night.
Baby's ears just tend to harmonize with a catchy beat and a spunky rhyme. I'm guessing that's why these type of songs are good learning tools with a number of subjects. Maybe I'll try it with the Farmer. lol Plus the VeggieTales were a bit after my boys, so like the grandkids, I was new to and enamored with Larry the Cucumber. Along with the present day Paw Patrol pack, of course. Those pups are so stinkin' adorable. We each have our favorite.
I had intended before the New Year to blog about the best book I read in 2024, but then just now realized, duh, that would have to be "The B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E."
As we turn the corner into another year and also as people of "the Book" I've seen many friends posting their intended Bible reading plans for 2025 and encouraging others to read along together. I love this. So I just want to add to the conversation a few, ( actually just one today ), hopefully helpful suggestions that have served me well in the past few years, nothing groundbreaking, simply reminders.
I believe most of us aspire to be better and more consistent readers of the Bible. It seems to be a perpetual goal, doesn't it? That's a good thing.
It's difficult to come at the Bible with a fresh set of eyes. In America, most of us have been raised with some "knowledge" of the Bible, in a particular faith tradition with our cultural blinders firmly set on the end of our noses and our background beliefs seated straight and tight in the upright and locked position.
How do we see the truth through such dusty, doctrinal spectacles? Maybe by simply being aware of them in the first place. For some stepping outside of these beliefs to examine how their denomination's claims stand up against God's Holy Word doesn't just feel scary, but sacrilegious, and that perhaps is another clue that we might be more at home with our theology than our Bibles. We have to let the Bible correct and shape our eyesight, ( 2 Timothy 3:16 &17 ) which leads to point one:
Let the text stick.
Don't try to soften it up or read your meaning into it. And as we read and study remember!! the three most important rules for sound biblical exegesis: Context, context, and context. Read the entire chapter surrounding the text. I can't tell you how many times over the years that I've hijacked verses to fit my messed up doctrinal beliefs only to find out later as I read them contextually that they did not resemble a hint of the meaning I had assigned to them. Many times I was believing promises that God never promised and at the same time, not realizing my true blessings in Christ nor understanding the Gospel of God's grace. Nor sadly, knowing Christ himself.
As I began to study my Bible better and learn to allow the tension to stand, I've found freedom. God's meaning is always better than ours.
Jesus told us that when we know the truth it would set us free, and it does just that. Even if it's a hard truth; nonetheless, it supernaturally and amazingly brings us out of bondage and into liberty. The Bible is powerful in this way, if we will simply let the text stand, then savor and work through the hard layers like a green apple Jolly Rancher, slowly, not crunching down breaking our teeth and demolishing the sweetness.
We've been trained in the American church at times that we are being helped if we feel good about something or ourselves, and have a positive experience attached to it, but the Bible doesn't teach this. I'll give an example as I close.
"For his anger is but for a moment, but his favor ( one of the Hebrew meanings is 'acceptance' ) is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." ( Psalm 30:5 )
I don't want to make this too long, so I'll share the rest of the points next time because I want to close with a prayer for reading our Bibles this year. There is nothing we can pray to God better than praying his Word back to him. In John 17, we have an entire chapter devoted to a prayer Jesus prayed to his Heavenly Father. It's known as "The High Priestly Prayer."
Now, I believe that God hears all of our prayers, even if the answers aren't always what we were looking for, so how much more does he hear the prayers of Jesus and answer them!? Even Jesus's most difficult prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane of God's will being done was answered. Praise God!
Jesus's prayers being answered is something I think I have more than just a little mustard seed size faith to believe in.
When we feel we don't have the integrity or courage to read God's Word properly, allowing it to shine through all of the spiritual, theological, and traditional darkness we have set in place, refusing to confront them, for whatever reasons, may we pray the prayer of Christ our Lord and High Priest in John 17:
"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth." ( John 17:15-19 )
"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." This is my prayer everyday, that God would please sanctify me and my family in the truth, your word is truth. I know he will. I also know it will not come without weeping and at times grieving, but it will always and forever end in freedom and joy.
That's the power of God's Word.
Peter, who, by the way, didn't get everything wrong, told Jesus that he wouldn't leave him like so many other disciples because of the string of hard truths Jesus taught them in John 6. Why? Because he said that Jesus had the words of eternal life.
If Jesus has the words of eternal life, and he most certainly does, why in the world wouldn't we let those eternal words stand and devote ourselves to wrestling with the text? Why wouldn't we allow them to pierce our hearts and divide the truth from the error?
What have we got to lose? Our false beliefs, that's what. I'm convinced to the marrow of my bones that if we pray earnestly this year that God will sanctify us in his Word, in the truth, he absolutely will do it. So join me and my friends this year in reading our Bibles and also praying this prayer before we read and study. I'm willing and determined to read the Bible better this year.
Because "that's the Book for me."
Happy New Year!
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| Happy New Year! |
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