Devotional - December 17th, 2020

Today's writing will be a bit different than some of the others. As we move closer to the end of this year and the beginning of the next, I want to share our family journey for the year 2021. Beginning January 1,2021, we will be reading the Bible all the way through, one day at a time. From Genesis to Revelation we will journey, beginning to the end. Our Sunday morning preaching/teaching will be based on the reading from the previous week. So, on the first Sunday in January, the third, we will preach from the readings on January 1 and 2. This Sunday we will have several study Bibles available for purchase if you need a study Bible. And for those of you who want to use your current Bible, we will attach the reading plan to several of the daily writings. Having said that let me share some things about the book that is always on the best seller list.
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The Bible is a book of books. It is the Word of God. It is comprised of 66 books divided into the Old and New Testaments. There are 39 books in the Old and 27 in the New. It was written over a period of 1,500 years by 40 different authors, in three languages...Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. The Bible was written in the wilderness, in dungeons and prisons, palaces, on the battlefield and while traveling. David wrote during war and Solomon during peace. Some of the Bible was written amid great joy and others of it during deep sorrow, despair, and pain.

Moses was a political leader trained in the universities of Egypt. Peter was a fisherman. Amos was a herdsman. Joshua was a general and Nehemiah a cup bearer for the king. Paul was a rabbi and Daniel a prime minister. Luke was a doctor and Solomon a king. And God used all of them. Everything in the Old Testament points forward to the coming of the Messiah. Everything in the New Testament points backwards at what Jesus did for us on the cross. Everything in scripture points towards Jesus. Over 100 million Bibles are sold every year and 20 million are sold in the U.S. every year. The full Bible has been translated into 700 languages and the New Testament into another 1,548 additional languages. It was copied by hand for centuries, first onto highly perishable papyrus.

We read in 1 Peter 3:15, ”But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” We have great hope in our faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. And that is for us to share with those who do not know. But in order to be able to share our hope, we need to know Jesus. Reading scripture is most often where we meet Him. We also read in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, for reproof, correction and for training in righteousness.” When we read scripture, we can find all manner of things. We find hope, peace, grace and love. Sometimes we find ourselves convicted of something we need to work out.

Reading the Bible helps ground us in faith and helps us to grow in spiritual maturity. Reading the Bible through requires discipline. When we read it is helpful to begin our reading by asking God to open our hearts and minds to what He has for us that day. And it is helpful to read at the same time every day. Not only that but it helps to find a quiet place to read. If you have questions as you read It is helpful to keep a notebook or notepad next to you as you read. If you have questions, feel free to ask. You can text, call or email me.

This is going to be an amazing journey. In fact, it will be the journey of a lifetime. I can't wait to join you as we journey through the Bible.

In His Grip
Pastor Matt W