Today’s devotional is from Larry Burkett’s book, Great Is Thy Faithfulness.
God’s Word
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as
a workman who does not need to be ashamed,
handling accurately the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
I read the Bible in my private devotion time. I don’t actually study during those times. Rather, I’m looking to see if God might reveal something to me out of a passage of Scripture that I might have already read many times but had missed. Often you’ll do that, because at different stages of your life you’re more open to specific things.
Sometimes when I study the Bible I am looking for something – a particular word – and I’ll look up all the verses that deal with that word or subject.
I use different translations: the New International Version in my private devotions or when I’m just reading the Bible. If I’m studying, I use the New American Standard version, and that’s primarily because I grew up using it. Once you’ve used one translation that long, it’s hard to change.
If I ever find what I think is a discrepancy in one translation, I’ll look that up in several translations or I’ll get out a lexicon and see if that determines for me the root meaning of a word.
If that doesn’t work, I’ll go to someone who knows the root languages of Greek and Hebrew. Whatever they say pretty well settles it for me.
Unless we read God’s Word, we cannot know what God is saying to us. When we pray we talk to Him. When we read the Bible, He is talking to us. His Word is full of rich history, exciting events, instructions for daily living, encouragement, and strength.
_____________________________________________________________
My two favorite lines of this where first when Larry talks about getting new learning from sections he has re-read many times, simply because it is a different stage of our life. I think we forget this, God told us in the Bible that he commonly hide meaning from His children until the appointed time. The end times prophecy and Christ’s parables are good examples.
The second is the last paragraph, where he talks about God talking to us through His Word, the Bible. In this fast paced society that we have created, I think this is one of the things we have lost. Reading God’s word every day.
May Peace Be With You!
myBlessedHope 