Knowing and Loving the Bible

Has the BIble become like an old bike to you? Like the desire of a young child to have a new bike when they eye it in the store, they walk around and around it looking at it from all angles. They touch it and admire it, imagine themselves whizzing down the street on it. When they get it for their birthday it’s a tremendous joy! They can’t wait to ride it! They jump on it and ride and ride. But over time it loses its luster. It becomes just a means of transportation. They whiz home, jump off it, carelessly lay it down in the front yard and run in the house.

Is this how your Bible is to you? Did you devour it, write notes in it, underline meaningful verses, even memorize it at one time? But now it’s not that important. Other things take more of your attention. This study can help you refresh your perspective, remind you of the great value the Bible is, remind you it not only has a place in your life but a supreme place in your life. How powerful it is, how meaningful it is. It is the very word of God speaking to you.

Catherine says in her book “Knowing and Loving the BIble” that God desires fellowship with us and “heart-to-heart with God means God speaking from His heart straight to your heart-an intimate romance joining your heart to the heart of God. It is a radical intimacy with the God who created you, loves you, and wants you for all eternity. How does God communicate with you so that you may hear Him speak? God’s Word is filled with His words. If you want to know what God has to say to you and fellowship with the One who loves you more than life itself, open the pages of your Bible.”

I had a few more chapters of the Old Testament to finish reading last month on the Old Testament BIble reading plan we started last Fall at Woodcrest in conjunction with our survey of the Old Testament BIble study. I decided to try Catherine’s devotional BIble study method as I was reading these chapters in Ezekiel, Daniel and Zechariah. I didn’t think I would get much meaning out of these old books of prophecy. Using the devotional method really surprised me! I actually was able to find significant thoughts and personal application from even these books! I was amazed! God spoke to me with encouragement for my own life!

What Catherine says is true! “Knowing and loving the BIble are as essential to spiritual life as breathing is to physical life.” We need the Bible. And as we read it and study it, it can change us, and teach us and make us grow.

I am thrilled to be joining with you on this six week adventure as we learn how to delve into the Bible and get to know God better!