Tag: Read the Bible

Who Do You Follow?

On By CarmenIn Christian LivingLeave a comment

I have been moved to write this post for some time and have recently been prompted to do so even more due to many posts I read on social media promoting the agenda of specific people in government. 

There is nothing more adverse to me than to see people ruthlessly deride, take advantage of, lie, and mistreat others to gain fame, power, and wealth.  

And it’s disheartening when I see others who support these people as if waving a banner proudly to attach their identity to them.

So, I ask who do you follow?

Who is the person you put your name and your soul on the line for?

A Call for Discernment

We are told by God to be discerning and to examine others’ actions—not just their words.

This is exactly what the Bereans did when they listened to the apostle Paul preach to them in their small town in Greece.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” 

Acts 17:11

Before going to Berea, Paul was preaching in Thessalonica when a group of people got together and began to speak against Paul and his followers which caused a riot that was unnecessary and ungodly.

However, the Bereans took what Paul said and compared it to the scriptures to see if there was truth in his message.

The Bereans were commended for their good judgment and actions in searching out truth.

This is how we all should be when it comes to discerning right from wrong in our society.

We are not supposed to sing praises of those who do not follow all of God’s ways.

We are to speak out against the wrong, no matter who is doing it.

We are to have discernment which we gain from communing with God and reading His word to know what is right and what is wrong.

God is the only one we should follow and praise.

Don’t Conform to this World

Sometimes I think people overlook offenses and conform to what they know is wrong because they want to be part of a certain group so they can be accepted by others, whether it be family, friends, or community.

I have seen this wherever I have lived.

Perhaps this is because they don’t search God’s word or they’re just afraid to stand out and be rejected if they go against the community’s belief system.  

However, we are told by God in His word to not conform to the belief system or ways of this world.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

The renewing of our minds comes by reading the word of God—daily.

How can we know truth if we don’t read the Bible?

God’s word is truth and it teaches us right from wrong and shows us how we are to conduct our lives. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Align Your Thoughts and Actions with Jesus

As I recall all the backbiting during the last presidential election held in the U.S., it was saddening to see our nation so divided based on the wrongdoings of the candidates and parties they represent.  

God has blessed us in the United States of America; if only we had government leaders who would follow God’s ways so we could continue to be blessed.

Our division is due to the fact that we chose (as a nation) a path for so many years that is not of God.  

I wish we could go back and retrace our steps to be in line with God’s will, so we could live in peace and harmony with one another as opposed to bashing each other through social media.

It would be great if we would be mindful to ask before we speak or post, “What would Jesus do?”

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” 

Colossians 3:17

If we really considered what Jesus would do, and if we truly wanted to represent Him, we would be careful of our words and actions.

Jesus would

-pray

-be truthful

-show mercy for true repentance

-help the unfortunate

-expect us to follow Him and His ways

-lead us out of our sinful ways

I was so happy to see a sign in the yard of one of our neighbors that said “I vote for Jesus” during the 2024 presidential election. Those were my exact thoughts!

Jesus is coming back again, and I believe very soon. (Revelation 22:12-15)

We should all be expectant which means that we should be living as if He were coming back today.

When He comes, He will come as THE RULER who will defeat the ways of this world and its prince that has caused so much division and devastation.

As for me, I choose to follow Jesus Christ.

He died on the cross for all of us to pay for our sins.

He defeated death and the grave.

He will return to be our beloved King and reign righteously for ever and ever.

Come LORD Jesus, come!

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Why Read the Bible?

On By CarmenIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

With our busy schedules and fast-paced world, it’s vital that we prioritize God and make time to read His message to us through the Bible.

Why?

Because the Bible is God’s inerrant word, His testimony of love for us, His book of promises that hold true, and our guide to living life victoriously.

The Bible unfolds God’s great love for us despite our sin by providing us with redemption through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The following Scripture verses tell us this.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also celebrate in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned— Romans 5:8-12

This one man from whom we inherited sin is Adam, God’s first creation of mankind. As descendants of Adam, we all have his sin nature because we live in a fallen world.

Just like Adam, we all are deceived by Satan.

We have the same nature that steers us to do our own thing which we think benefits us opposed to following God and His ways.

Think about this:  Holy God sees and knows our sin against Him; but He because He is love, He provides us a way to be forgiven.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17

This truly is amazing grace!

I wonder how many of us freely and quickly forgive and restore those who have committed sins against us.

I will admit that this is probably the hardest thing for me to do. My sin nature wants to hold a grudge and reminisce the hurt others have caused me. But God does not want me to do this; so, I must surrender to His will and change my way of thinking and acting for my own good.  

Why?

Because God has forgiven me—over and over again.

We should all thank God for His love and grace toward us.

The Bible is factual history and inerrant prophecy.

It is His story—God’s story of His creation which includes Earth and mankind.

God is the author of history since the very beginning and He tells us not only about the past, but also the future.

‘Remember the former things, those of long ago;
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
    from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
    and I will do all that I please.’ Isaiah 46:9-10

Through His word, God gives us a foundation and principles on which to base our lives.

We read about real-life stories of those who lived before us who followed Him and those who did not. We read about their actions and consequences, both good and bad.

None are without sin, but when we repent, God guides His children to overcome any adversity, wrong attitude, and poor decision.

And there is no fooling God for He knows the hearts minds of us all!

God is so good that He shares what the future holds for mankind on Earth, as well as during Christ’s Millennial Kingdom, and into eternity.

Even though life will change on Earth as we know it (becoming gruesome for a period of time), those of us who are God’s children will make it into eternity to live forever with our Creator and Savior. We will finally live as God originally intended in Adam and Eve’s time in the Garden of Eden—in perfect peace and complete joy, without sorrow and physical pain or physical restrictions.  

We can only gain knowledge and truth if we read God’s word and we are told that we will be blessed if we read it.

God wants only the best for us and wants us to be overcomers.

As stated previously, our heavenly Father knows that we live in a world tainted by Satan’s wiles and temptations.

This is why He gives us a glance into the lives of the many whose names are in the Bible. We learn from them as we read about their trials, their failures, and their victories. And these victories were given to His followers by God Himself!

Our heavenly Father does not change, and He does not show partiality. What He did for His children in the past, He will do for His children today.

God is our provider, protector, and best friend.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:1-4

I believe that God’s word is His book of love written to us. It has stood the test of time over thousands of years and has been proven to be true over and over again.

It is a wealth of knowledge made just for us so that we can

  • believe and understand His love for us
  • receive the gift of eternal life and be restored to Him through His Son Jesus Christ
  • draw near to our Creator and commune with Him
  • believe in and witness His supernatural power
  • know what pleases God and follow His ways
  • hold onto His promises despite the trials we face
  • be encouraged in our daily walk with our Savior Jesus Christ
  • learn from the mistakes of others’ past
  • be thankful for the good in our lives and praise Him
  • know that our struggles never last
  • help others in their time of need

I want to share with you a few tips that have helped me read and better understand the Bible over the years.

Choose a translation (there are many) that you can understand and are comfortable reading. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) and English Standard Version (ESV) are good ones to start with. You may also want to invest in a study Bible which expounds on the text.

Pray and ask God to help you understand what He wants you to learn each day as you read His word.

Set aside a specific time each day or evening just to study God’s word. We are told to meditate on His word day and night. (Joshua 1:8) This means to think about what you read each day for retention.

Keep reading even though you may not understand everything, it’s okay. This is why it’s good to have a study Bible.

Make it a lifelong habit to read the Bible. When you finish one translation, pick up a different one and continue seeking. I’ve read many translations of the Bible over the years, and I learn something new every day.

Apply what you read daily to your thoughts and actions. We should be “doers” of His word for which we are promised to be blessed. (James 1:22-25)

Attend a Bible study with others at church or in a group setting. When we share our understanding and compare notes, we gain even more understanding.   

Use godly resources online to help you and don’t forget to ask God to help you discern which resources to use.

May you be blessed as you dive into the truth of God’s word and may it transform us all to be just like Jesus!

I would like to share one of my all-time favorite songs that praises God. I hope it will warm your heart and move you to praise God also. 

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.