Carol J German

God gives us everything we need to live full, abundant lives. Not only do we have the Holy Spirit to lead us, we also have the Bible, His inspired words. What makes His Word different from all other books? “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” – Hebrews 4:12

Once we finish reading a book, we tend to not reread it. This doesn’t include children’s books. Little ones love the repetition, don’t they? With the Bible, this isn’t the case. We can read through any of the 66 books and gain wisdom. Later on, we can reread those same pages and see something different; each time being pertinent to what we are going through. Maybe little ones know something that we forget as we age.

Whatever genre you enjoy reading, you will find it within the pages of scripture. Want some romance, read Hosea or Song of Solomon. Like war stories, read through the Old Testament. Do you enjoy poetry, read Psalms. There are a 150 of them. Adventure and suspense are found throughout both the Old and New Testaments. There were three brothers who were thrown into a fire; read Daniel 3 to see what happened to them. Continue reading until you reach Daniel 6 and read how Daniel survived a night in a lion’s den. In 1 Samuel 17, a teenage boy was able to kill a giant with just a sling and a stone. His older brothers were too wimpy to stand up to Goliath.

While we can be entertained, the Bible needs to be more than that. God gave us His very words so we can learn of Him and why we need a savior. 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.”

In the book of Hebrews, God gives insight in how we are to live daily. I have paraphrased Hebrews 12:28 – 13:8. I encourage you to read the actual passage for yourself. What is God telling you?

“God tells us that we receive a Kingdom that is unshakable. There is nothing on earth that remains constant. It is uncertain and unstable. Since He gave us Himself, aka His only Son, we are to be thankful and live our lives by pleasing God through worshipping Him with holy fear and awe. It says God is a devouring fire. There is no one greater than He. Read 1 John 4:4-6.

Because of who God is, we are to love each other as family. In Christ, we are brothers and sisters. We are to show hospitality to strangers. Christ’s love crosses all borders. We all are on the same journey with the same experiences. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, ‘The temptations in your life are no different from what other’s experience.‘

We are to remember those who are imprisoned or mistreated. In marriage, we are to honor one another and remain faithful. God is faithful as well as just. God will judge people who live indecently or commit infidelity. He shields those who are obedient but for those who ignore His calling, it will be much different.

This next one may be hard for many, do not love money. God calls us to be satisfied. The love of money is the root of evil; read 1 Timothy 6:10. We tend to think money is our security, our road to freedom. For some, it’s the road to Easy Street yet it’s enslaving, time-consuming and the killer of the heart. ‘Heart disease is the number one killer for both males and females.’ (didyouknow.org/the-worlds-number-1-killer/) The love of money not only kills physically but causes relationships to be disheveled.

But the love of God in His tender mercy and grace tells us how He will never fail us nor will He ever abandon us! This should put a pep in our step as we focus on who we are because of Jesus Christ. We have confidence in knowing that God is our helper. We don’t need to be fearful. How others treat us pales in comparison to who God is. He will take care of us.

If you are fortunate to have people in your life who know truth and have taught you scripture, thank God for them! Look to them, as well as Jesus, and see what is good in their life and follow their faithful example.

Why should we believe and follow scripture? The final verse says, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.’” He is dependable, reliable, trustworthy and He kicked death’s door down! Earth and its inhabitants are destined to die. Jesus and His children will not.

American Express has a slogan, “Don’t leave home without it”. The credit card company wants you to believe that you can’t live without ___________. God wants you to believe that you can’t live without His Word! Jesus relied fully on His Father. The Bible is our wi-fi to God so we can fully believe Jesus as we fully trust His words.

I have told many women in Bible studies, if the only thing you get done in your day is a quiet time with God and His Word, you have had a productive and successful day! All else pales in importance. From there, God will lead you in your work and with your family and friends. Life will be balanced with healthy margins so you can breathe and rest. Look at Jesus, He never hurried or stressed. Let’s learn all we can from the One who has all the answers.