does it make a difference?

[IamWhoIam]

Matt 10

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Therefore be ye sagacious as serpents, and guileless as doves.

how many know these words, sagacious and guileless, maybe it's just me but I find these advance words are quite cool,

yea I had to look them up too, lol

 

[Miri]

does it mater what bible you have like NIV or KJV is there much of a difference than the wording ?
Thanks for you're answers guys

Andy the best bible is whichever one you are comfortable with and can
understand. Later as your knowledge grows you can experiment with other
bibles.

I use 3-4 different versions but right now just stick to one version and let it grow in
your heart.

I was brought up with the King James Version I found the wording to be very rich but also
very difficult at times.

Now I use the New King James which is similar but more simplified and with more up
to date understanding of the translation of the language at the time.
The New Living Translation, which is an easy read, especially if reading lengthy passages
without having to try to work it what they are saying.
The Amplified version which brings out the richness of the verses and meaning.
Occasionally the NIV although I’ve kind of gone off this a bit. But it’s still useful.
Occasionally others too.


Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, [4] just
as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and without blame before Him in love, [5] having predestined
us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good
pleasure of His will, [6] to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He
made us accepted in the Beloved.





Ephesians 1:3-6 AMPC
[3] May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with
every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!
[4] Even as in His love He chose us actually picked us out for Himself as
His own in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight,
even above reproach, before Him in love. [5] For He foreordained
us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as
His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of
His will because it pleased Him and was His kind intent-- [6] So that we
might be to the praise and the commendation of His glorious
grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.



Ephesians 1:3-6 NLT
[3] All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with
every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
[4] Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy
and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own
family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted
to do, and it gave him great pleasure. [6] So we praise God for the glorious
grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

 

[Miri]

One other thing Andy, there are different ways to read the bible, just find
something which works for you. It sounds like you already have.

One way i found beneficial but which is rarely mentioned, is to get an
easy read version and read whole books in one sitting ie read the whole of
Genesis in one go.

As you go make a note of passages or verses you want to look at more
closely. Then after get another more in-depth version and study the passages
you noted down. This way of reading sets up a good foundation for understanding the
whole bible as you are not just reading it in bits.

Also put yourself in the picture and imagine the sights, smells, sounds, what the characters
were thinking and feeling. They are real characters with thoughts feelings and emotions.

So for example this passage.

Luke 5:2-10 NLT
[2] He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had
left them and were washing their nets. [3] Stepping into one of the boats,
Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the
boat and taught the crowds from there.

[4] When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where
it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." [5] "Master," Simon
replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you
say so, I'll let the nets down again."

[6] And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! [7] A shout
for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were
filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. [8] When Simon Peter realized
what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please
leave me-I'm such a sinful man."

[9] For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the
others with him. [10] His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were
also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be
fishing for people!"



Can you imagine that, you’ve been working all night and are dog tired, just want to
finish washing the nets then go home, get food and sleep. Then up comes Jesus who
says let me borrow your boat! Maybe they did so gladly, maybe they did so reluctantly.

Then as if that wasn’t bad enough he tells them to go fishing again. What we are tired,
hungry, fed up and you want us to fish again; and... everyone knknows you can’t catch
fish in the day time as they all go to the bottom. You can only catch fish at night time.

But because of who was asking they did it. Then imagine the look on their faces as they
caught all that fish, the excitement, The amazement! Wow

Then ask yourself what would you have done in that same situation if a strange person
came up and asked you to do a night shift after you had just done a day shift or the other way
around. The difference is that it wasn’t just any person it was God the Son.