Why Read the Bible?

Photo by: Ken Horn:   https://www.flickr.com/photos/hornkl/3024796815

“In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and was God.” Genesis 1:1

Two definitions for “word:”

“The expressed or manifested mind and will of God.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“A speech sound, or series of speech sounds, that symbolizes and communicates a meaning...” Merriam-Webster Dictionary

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” Psalm 33:6

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  Hebrews 11:3

“For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”  Psalm 33:9

This is what makes God be God. No one else in heaven or earth can speak a word and create something.

“Remember what happened long ago,

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like Me.

I declare the end from the beginning,

and ancient times from what is still to come.”   Isaiah 46:9,10

 

“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

God’s word is alive and active: His words in the Bible are alive because as we read them the Holy Spirit takes the words and imbues them with energy or life itself. Then puts these words in our minds. He makes the words meaningful and relevant to our lives. We can sometimes think, “This is beautiful. This is interesting. This is something I always want to remember.” Later on, God will remind us of these words which will help us in our lives.

This was how John saw Jesus in a vision, “He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.”

God's Word judges our thoughts and attitudes.

This is a marvelous work of the Word of God. When we read the Bible, we can become convicted of what we are doing wrong. But not only doing, what we are thinking! If the Bible says we are to love our enemies and we know we don’t, then the words of God convict us we are in the wrong.

Our attitudes can be destructive. If we have an attitude of pride for ourselves and contempt for others, we don’t even have to say a word, that attitude can be seen through our body language. We can sneer, roll our eyes, turn and walk away etc. There are so many ways our attitudes can hurt people and God doesn’t miss a trick.

 Our Words have power too:

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  Matthew 12:34

Solomon wrote, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”   Proverbs 18:21

This has been shown to be true in this world of sorrow. People lie on the witness stand, they bully people online, they gossip or spread lies either online or to other people.

These kinds of words have caused people to die for a crime they didn’t commit. They have caused people to commit suicide. They have caused people to become depressed, angry, and vengeful.

Jesus said to the religious rulers of his day, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. (God’s words are like a treasure you store in your mind.) But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”   Matthew 12:33-37

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers says:

(36) Every idle word that men shall speak.—The teaching, though general in form, still looks back to the hard, bitter words of the Pharisees which had been the starting-point of the discourse. Our Lord does not speak, as we might have expected, of “every evil word,” but of “every idle—i.e., useless and purposeless—word,” the random utterances which, as being more spontaneous, betray character more than deliberate speech. Such an “idle word” had been the passing taunt, “He casts out devils by Beelzebub.” It is not said, however, that for every such random speech a man shall be condemned, but that he shall give an account for it. It will enter into that great total which determines the divine estimate of his character, and, therefore, the issues of the great “day of judgment.”

On the other hand, our words can help heal a person who is going through a difficult time. We can bring happiness, gratitude, love and all the good things to others with our words.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.  Psalm 19:4

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.  Proverbs 15:1

The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.   Ecclesiastes 10:12

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply-- and how good is a timely word!   Proverbs 15:23

Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.   Proverbs 25:11

God’s words are always life. He himself embodies life and love. We can trust his words.

‘Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”   Psalm 119:105

The Knowledge of Evil.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”   Philippians 4:8


I’ve thought about this verse a lot lately. When I have negative thoughts, I usually praise and thank God out loud and the thoughts go away. I don’t let myself dwell on sad or bad thoughts.


Last week, I came across a review on a new book about the Circus and the arenas in ancient Rome. I’m interested in history, so I began reading the review. They quoted the author on some of the different games and contests that were celebrated. The games became so popular that there was pressure on the administrator to show the people something new and more spectacular each time.


As I read about the contests and killings, I thought, “I should stop reading this. It is going to get worse.” But no, I did not stop reading until I came upon something so horrible, so unspeakable, that it took my breath away that men would do such things to each other. And these things took place a hundred years before Jesus was born. The games were corrupt almost immediately.


The humans they used in these games were prisoners, slaves or captives of war. Their lives meant nothing to the ones who put on the games and probably little to the common Roman who went to the games. Their suffering and humiliation was sport. 


The Romans got the idea for having games after a victory from the Greeks. But I’m pretty sure the Greeks did not torture and slaughter people and animals in their games. Reading those few paragraphs made me realize why Rome’s enemies hated her.


But the moral of my story isn’t about the Romans, it is about me. I was curious and so I read on and on. Afterwards, I felt sick and had images in my mind that will always be there. I was like Eve, who wanted to know if the fruit would maker her smarter. The Knowledge of Good and Evil. That was the name of the tree. She had no knowledge of evil, and I guess she felt if God had the knowledge then she should have it too.


But the knowledge of the evil going on in this world is depressing and incredibly heavy. We aren’t meant to carry that heavy load. I do think though, that we should fight against evil, like human trafficking. If we didn’t know it was going on, how could we help those who are caught in slavery?


I have heard about ministries that help the children who are kidnapped into the sex trade. Joyce Meyer Ministries helps those children and there are many other Christians in this work. What a blessing they are!


There are things I have seen in newspapers I wish I had never seen. There are movies and TV shows I wish I had never seen. The depths to which sin goes is as deep as the ocean. These horrors of evil we have to give to God to carry. We haven’t got the strength. 


And there is that Bible verse in Philippians. God wants us to think on that which is good and lovely. It is the best way to live, to have peace and love in our hearts. The more we think on God, read the Bible and pray, the more we will see the beauty of goodness. As we see that, we will admire God, who is goodness himself. When we contrast what he is like with evil deeds, we will worship him even more.


I used to like to read about politics and world events, but I noticed it made me feel angry and sad. I rarely read anything on those subjects now. There is nothing I can do about corrupt politicians, except vote for someone I think is good. I just want enough information to do that.


David wrote, “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”   Psalm 101:3      Good advice.