Reading the Bible

      One thing I have been learning lately is that I sometimes read the bible and hear it through the “filter” of my relatives or past abusers, sometimes its sharp and condemning, sometimes ridiculing, sometimes merciful, but more often fearful. When I was younger sometimes a member of my family would start talking to me about sin in my life, and the guy in my head that I pay to say “blah blah blah” would kick in. That is how it used to be and still is sometimes when I try to read the bible. But when I prayed for understanding and thought of Jesus when I read it, sometimes I could see Him smiling and it began to be a whole different book. “His” story instead of history.

There are instances in the gospels where Jesus was quite stern with people, but who I wondered, was He being stern with? Not the people like the woman caught in adultery, not the tax gatherers who had been cheating people but repented when they met Him, not the disciples that often made grievous mistakes. He always had mercy and forgiveness for those who knew they were sinners, He led them to repentance with great love and tenderness. How does He treat the other people who are not fighting against Him?

     There is conviction of sin with Jesus, but condemnation is from the devil, the accuser of the brethren. As you read the bible, it can seem overwhelming and hard to understand, remember, it is not a college test. I often read a bit and then put it aside until later. Like it says in the gospels:    “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.”  Mark 4:33
   

    Its good to remember who Jesus is and the great compassion He has~ I know that it was Jesus speaking through Jacob when he reconciled with his brother in the book of Genesis. His brother Esau met him on horses and said to him, “lets ride away on horses, lets make haste to go to my place” (my paraphrase) and Jacob replied:  “And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.” Gen 33:13-14

  Its good to be patient and not under pressure to understand everything right away. I didn’t learn any of the things I have written in one day or one week, it was a long time learning, by walking with Jesus who went only as fast as I could.

When I read the scriptures I try to keep in mind that the disciples that walked with Him every day often didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, and some things were hidden to them until Jesus was resurrected:

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,” Luke 24:44-45

also:  “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:25-27

   There is direct guidance and fellowship personally with Jesus, all can hear His voice when He speaks to them. Corrie Ten Boom said “I have never heard of a good shepherd that did not lead his sheep.”

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God does not mean memorizing some scriptures, Jesus is the Word of God. We get faith when we hear the voice of Jesus. All the faithful in the bible had their lives changed when they heard personally from the Lord. The Pharisees of Jesus day spent years learning and memorizing the written word, and yet they missed Jesus entirely. I pray that He will speak to your heart personally as you read this book and especially as you read the bible.

   Jesus was a prophet indeed, but so much more. Jesus is the Son of God and the Christ that God sent to save His people from their sins. His name was given for this very reason: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matt 1:21

Before Jesus came into the world people had only the old testament to know Gods will in the everyday things of life, except when they heard from Him personally as a few did on rare occasions in those days. Jesus came so that all could know Gods will and have fellowship with Him. “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:” Acts 17:27

    In this blog I address a lot of things that churches have been debating about for centuries and my final judgment about these issues, is “What did Jesus say about it?” It does not really matter my opinion, or another’s opinion of what God meant when He said this or that, it matters only what Jesus said about those things.

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”  Heb 1:1-3

When Jesus came into the world, God signified that no man would be justified before Him by the law or good works anymore. The only thing that will give a man justification and acceptance by God is the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and following Jesus.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10

“..and Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:  And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39

People cannot get holy by following a list of don’ts, they can however get holy by following Jesus and following a list of do’s. Doing what He asks us to do on a daily basis. If we are led of the Holy Spirit, He will lead us to follow Jesus.

    When we follow Jesus we find that He never leads us to worship other gods, He won’t lead us to take Gods name in vain, He will lead us to rest on the sabbath, not religiously, for He said, the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. He gives us rest. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt 11:28 (KJV) He will change our hearts to be able to honor our mother and father. If we feel like killing someone He will lead us away from that and take our stony heart out and give us a merciful heart like His, we won’t feel like we desire to commit adultery anymore and He won’t lead us to spend Friday nights at those bars that are built all around lust or the websites that are full of it. We won’t be led to or feel the need to lie and steal, we will have such contentment that we won’t covet our neighbour’s house, we won’t covet our neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is our neighbour’s. All those are from Exodus 20:1-17, the ten commandments given to Moses.

Where we fall short, He gives more grace.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3:20-26

He does not always lead us in ways that make sense to us, or lead us all to a seminary somewhere, or a formula of good ministries toward poor people, or to join a monastery, or a particular church.

Jesus will follow us and protect us in our lives often, but His perfect will is that we follow Him, that is where the signs and miracles and safety are. That is where the incredible Love of God is, and the grace and mercy and peace. I pray He will bless you richly in His love and mercy.