God's Word For Us Today!
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth... Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. Psalm 78:1, 3 & 4
The Bible is God's Word to every generation. From the beginning of time, throughout the centuries, and now to us, the people of the 21st century, God's message is relevant. True purpose, true happiness, true wisdom, true knowledge, true guidance, true LOVE, is waiting for discovery in God's Word for us today.
How do I start?
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
God has promised that His book, the Bible, will come alive to us, but first there must be a change that takes place in our hearts. Listen to this story that Jesus tells of a religious leader of the day; a man who you and I would have approached in that time to ask our questions about religious concerns:
The Gospel of John Chapter 3 verses 1 - 21
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
If we read the Bible like it is just a novel, history book, or ancient mystical book of sayings, we will soon become weary, confused or even disenchanted. Jesus told Nicodemus right off (Vs.3): "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot SEE the kingdom of God."
How do I change?
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 29:18-19
If we truly want to know God and the treasures of His Word, we must first believe that there is a God, and that HE is able to change us. This is often referred to as being born again. God is the only One who can perform this transformation, a rebirth of our soul. It is God who changes us through the Lord Jesus, and gives us faith to believe on Him. This is the first and most important Truth that can be revealed to us as we begin reading God's Word, honestly desiring to become a changed and fulfilled person in life:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
What do I change?
Before we are changed of God, we're described in the Bible in such ugly terms as being:
Evil: "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34).
Wicked: "the wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts" (Psalms 10:4).
Workers of iniquity: "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? Who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God" (Psalms 53:4).
Fools: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools" (Romans 1:22).
Sinners: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD" (Psalms 104:35).
In fact, everyone is looked at by God before they are transformed as being unrighteous. All of mankind is described in the following language:
Romans Chapter 3 verses 10 - 18
There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
There is HOPE!
The nature of man is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and if it weren't for God's restraining power, we would all destroy one another. In fact, the Bible teaches that all who are wicked in the sight of God when they die, at the end of the world will be raised from the dead and will come under eternal punishment in a place called hell. Now, no matter how abstract or frightening this might sound, when God begins to open our spiritual eyes, we see not only that this is real, but that there is hope. God in His unmatchable love for us provides a way of escape; a path of total harmony with Him. His message of hope and salvation take on a new meaning -- an eternal meaning that is so beautiful. We are given eyes to see and ears to hear as we begin to understand His Word (Deuteronomy 29:4, Matthew 13:16). It becomes a Book of Life. He is the one that will lead us into all truth as His messages are revealed to us:
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
God's ultimate provision through Jesus Christ:
One of Jesus' followers, the Apostle Peter, when brought before the High Priest and the religious leaders in Jerusalem for teaching the people about Jesus, was asked by them, "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" Filled with the Spirit, Peter declared God's provision for salvation from damnation and hell:
Acts Chapter 4, verses 10 - 12
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
God the Father has provided a propitiation for our sins through His Son, Jesus Christ, for those who believe. Once we have become right with God, we will realize that Christ Jesus is the gateway to peace and harmony with God, and to a fulfilled life with meaning. His Word, the Bible, will take on a whole new meaning. It will become a source book for daily living -- God's Word for us, today and every day!
Begin reading God's Word, the Bible, with a true and honest desire to know Him. Open your heart to God, and He will open to you the treasures of His magnificent Glory and Power!
Suggestions to begin:
New Testament
- John - learn who Jesus is
- Romans - God's gift of salvation
Old Testament
- Genesis - The beginning of man
Explore the Bible! In the Old Testament, God gives us an accounting of the history of man before Jesus was born, and God's movement in the world and communication with mankind, including His foretelling of the coming of Jesus. In the New Testament, God gives us 4 accounts of Jesus's life in the first 4 books; an accounting of the period following Jesus's crucifixion in Acts; and instruction and direction and general Truths, through the writings of His followers.
"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:15-17)
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May God bless you, and draw you ever closer to Himself, as you explore His life-giving Word!