Our Journey
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L
I agree about the abbreviations. Lol.
My take on the journey is as follows. Last year I engaged in a Bible reading effort. I read it completely thru in 85 days, reading an average of chapters a day. I did not do this as a study but as a personal challenge. This was the first time in my life that I had ever read the Bible as a book. I found it to be exciting as I read stories in context that I had been told and had taught many times before. I would challenge everybody to do this at least once.
I also found that It renewed a hunger in me to go deeper into God's word to seek deeper truth. I have found that the Bible is like an onion. To get to the best part of the onion, you have to peel many layers. In doing this, we get into the meat of the word and quit being satisfied with the milk. This is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. The journey will always be ongoing.
My take on the journey is as follows. Last year I engaged in a Bible reading effort. I read it completely thru in 85 days, reading an average of chapters a day. I did not do this as a study but as a personal challenge. This was the first time in my life that I had ever read the Bible as a book. I found it to be exciting as I read stories in context that I had been told and had taught many times before. I would challenge everybody to do this at least once.
I also found that It renewed a hunger in me to go deeper into God's word to seek deeper truth. I have found that the Bible is like an onion. To get to the best part of the onion, you have to peel many layers. In doing this, we get into the meat of the word and quit being satisfied with the milk. This is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. The journey will always be ongoing.
I think in answer it woud be just beginning the journey.
But for me it is just getting introduced. I now see the scriptures as being introduced to God Our Father, Jesus and his Holy Spirit.
Id compare it to just learning his name and becoming familiar with what God looks like.
Now I can spend the rest of my life here and eternity not only getting to know God but discovering who he is as well through Jesus.
God bless, pickles
But for me it is just getting introduced. I now see the scriptures as being introduced to God Our Father, Jesus and his Holy Spirit.
Id compare it to just learning his name and becoming familiar with what God looks like.
Now I can spend the rest of my life here and eternity not only getting to know God but discovering who he is as well through Jesus.
God bless, pickles
C
personally, when i first read the bible i was shocked that even though i believed God existed, wow did i fall short, journey was just beginning, realised that to simply know someone is vastly different to having a relationship with them. changed how i related to God first and foremost, and people too
Hi lighthousejohn,
Golly! The entire Bible in 85 days! My goodness...what a herculean effort. I don't know if I'm capable of ever accomplishing that. My progress has been very slow and is limited to those weekly chapters perused by my Bible Studies Group, following our Sunday morning Church service.
I like some parts more than others because they are especially meaningful to me. And more often than not, these just happen to be the more obscure (to me, that is) chapters that I've never read before, like 1 and 2 Peter which I've found to be absolutely stunning - not only as truly inspired but also as sublimely exquisite literature.
I supplement my Bible reading by seeking out the opinions of the great commentaries like those of Thomas Adams, the 16th Century English clergyman and theologian, as well as those of John MacArthur, whose interpretive skills have guided me along the way. My MacArthur commentaries are embedded within the NASB Study Bible (1995 Updated). I use the MacArthur Study Bible so often that I have come to refer to it as my "Johnny Mac." I heartily recommend this book as a help to others who, like myself, are slow learners and who are proceeding along at a more leisurely pace.
KayCee
Golly! The entire Bible in 85 days! My goodness...what a herculean effort. I don't know if I'm capable of ever accomplishing that. My progress has been very slow and is limited to those weekly chapters perused by my Bible Studies Group, following our Sunday morning Church service.
I like some parts more than others because they are especially meaningful to me. And more often than not, these just happen to be the more obscure (to me, that is) chapters that I've never read before, like 1 and 2 Peter which I've found to be absolutely stunning - not only as truly inspired but also as sublimely exquisite literature.
I supplement my Bible reading by seeking out the opinions of the great commentaries like those of Thomas Adams, the 16th Century English clergyman and theologian, as well as those of John MacArthur, whose interpretive skills have guided me along the way. My MacArthur commentaries are embedded within the NASB Study Bible (1995 Updated). I use the MacArthur Study Bible so often that I have come to refer to it as my "Johnny Mac." I heartily recommend this book as a help to others who, like myself, are slow learners and who are proceeding along at a more leisurely pace.
KayCee
Glad to see you like the MacArthur commentaries. He has a An ESV Mac Arthur study bible coming out soon, I use the ESV already, so can't wait.
Regarding the post, we can all read more of the scripture than we realize. Mark will only take you 45 mins, most of the letter in 20 minutes or so. I think it is important to get the overall view of redemptive history, then when you read individual books, things will be a lot more clearer to you.
you could just start in Genesis even just a couple of chapters a day, do that in the morning say, then do a chapter or verse study at night on whatever you are lead to.
It sounds daunting yet it is the very food for our souls. I use to spend more time watching TV, reading Guitarist magazines than I did the bible.. what a waste of time.
I love how the Psalmist refers to the word of God (Psalm 119)
but each to their own.
I have started doing the plan that shanaynay has posted, not so much for real study but to put back in my mind the whole story of redemption, and I know when reading the living word God will always reveal something new that you have never noticed before.. I also do my own personal study. It really does not take that long.
Its a bit like reading Leviticus, people really can't be bothered, yet this is a gem of a book. this will bring alive The atoning work of Christ and why it was necessary, and bring alive the book of Hebrews which has often been called a NT commentary of Leviticus.
Thomas Adams, I bet they are a gem of information, the oldest set I have is Matthew Henry, well I bought them brand new lol.
anyhow have a blessed evening all.
Phil
You can read the Bible from cover to cover and it will not lead you to heaven but only if you believe and obey what you have read.
If you read the Bible for the first time cover to cover and you do it again and again you will find meanings that you did not see the first time you read the Bible.
The good thing about reading the Bible cover to cover is you see the bigger picture of the Bible and you see how a scripture in the Bible can go along with another scripture in another part of the Bible and give you a better understanding of that meaning.
Not only that but a scripture you thought you knew the interpretation another scripture in another part of the Bible will show you that you were wrong in that interpretation and make the interpretation clear.
There are a lot of people who have been fooled by other people by a scripture and a wrong interpretation when if the people only knew the scriptures that another scripture contradicts it then they would know that the meaning of the scripture was wrong.I am talking about how cults deceive people by wrong interpretations of scriptures but if the people knew the scriptures they would not of been deceived.
Matt
If you read the Bible for the first time cover to cover and you do it again and again you will find meanings that you did not see the first time you read the Bible.
The good thing about reading the Bible cover to cover is you see the bigger picture of the Bible and you see how a scripture in the Bible can go along with another scripture in another part of the Bible and give you a better understanding of that meaning.
Not only that but a scripture you thought you knew the interpretation another scripture in another part of the Bible will show you that you were wrong in that interpretation and make the interpretation clear.
There are a lot of people who have been fooled by other people by a scripture and a wrong interpretation when if the people only knew the scriptures that another scripture contradicts it then they would know that the meaning of the scripture was wrong.I am talking about how cults deceive people by wrong interpretations of scriptures but if the people knew the scriptures they would not of been deceived.
Matt
Thats a very good conclusion Matt. And it is true this is how people can be easily led, by not knowing the truth, and not know the Meta - Story of the Bible.
Even a s imple question like what was Samuel s roles and functions? How did they prefigure Christ?
If have read the Meta Story we would have a better understanding of What God has revealed to us.
Anyhow, good conclusion on how the cults can fool people.
Phil
S
I think the moment you pick up the Bible and read, with intent, the very first word... a personal journey begins!
I have been literally lost into the Bible for a little over a month now, sometimes reading chapters and entire books at a time. Some unfold like a beautiful story and you cannot help but end up lost for hours. Have you ever looked up a particular scripture, and before you know it, you have read three chapters? I read the Bible cover to cover as a child (a requirement in our home) but it was just a bunch of words. For the first time in my life those words have true meaning!
I have been literally lost into the Bible for a little over a month now, sometimes reading chapters and entire books at a time. Some unfold like a beautiful story and you cannot help but end up lost for hours. Have you ever looked up a particular scripture, and before you know it, you have read three chapters? I read the Bible cover to cover as a child (a requirement in our home) but it was just a bunch of words. For the first time in my life those words have true meaning!