Unlocking the Bible's Power

When I started following Christ the Bible was really confusing to me.

I would hear Christians say all the time, " Just study the Bible and God will give you answers".

I thought...sure!!!!!!! (major sarcasm)

The Bible was full of confusing stories that really didn't have much to do with me.

I mean seriously...Jonah and the whale... (rolling my eyes here)

Beyond the crazy stories I just didn't get how I could hear from God and how He could direct me concerning the things I was facing in my life.

I would try over and over to read Scripture...but I would find myself lost. (just being honest here)

One day I happened to read an article on study/commentary Bibles and how they help you to read and understand the Bible better.

I decided to purchase one to see if it would help offer me some guidance.

A commentary Bible offers commentary at the bottom of each page in the Bible to help you understand and break down the verses you are reading.

For example...
Did you know that the book of Romans was written by Paul when he was probably on his 3rd missionary trip to Corinth...
Romans is actually a letter that Paul wrote to the Christians churches in Rome.
Paul actually delivered the letter to a woman(Go Women!!!), by the name of Phoebe, and commends her for her help. (Romans 16:1-2)

The commentary part is on the bottom

These are just three examples of how a commentary can help you to unlock some of the history and background of the Bible.

For me, that was really helpful in understanding the Bible better.

As I began to study with the commentary I found myself glued to the pages of Scripture just digging for more and more about what God did and how He wanted to reveal Himself to me.

I spent time researching what words meant. You know...those words like "propitiation" and "intercessor" and "transgression". I know I rehearsed those words for years as a child in memory verses...but I never really knew what they meant or how they applied to me!

As I did this the Bible and it's meaning started to leap off the pages.

I read verses like, " Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. I Corinthians 12:9-10

I would refer to this verse for strength and a reminder at how I needed to act when I was struggling with a difficult person at work. I would be reminded of the fact that as a follower of Christ we are held to a standard and to show others Christ's love!

So God was using the words of Paul to remind me how I should live and love now!

I know this might seem like a simple thing to some people...but I have heard so many people say that they struggle with knowing how to hear from God in the Bible.

There are so many different ways you can study, but I thought I would just write about what works for me in hopes that it helps someone to find a way to better connect to the Creator of this Universe!

His Word is so full of promises for our future...
It covers how we should live and walk and...how we should love others!

I encourage you to get a commentary Bible and see if it helps you to dive deeper!

He has so much He wants to tell you!

Oh how He loves you and me!

My thoughts on the Jenner topic...(fyi..long blog)

I rarely post anything on a controversial topic in the media because so much of my heart can’t truly be expressed in a post or blog…and I don’t want to confuse or distort anything on important topics. Especially when it has to do with someone’s life.

But…I have been so torn up about the Jenner topic for so many different reason that I felt I had to do my best to share.

Yesterday when I saw the Jenner photo for the first time…the first feeling I felt was sadness. Not just for what Jenner is facing, but for what I knew was to come from people in the Christian community. I knew that the hearts of so many would be affected. People who follow Christ and people who don’t.

I knew that there would be a lot of people in the religious world who would be coming at Jenner with love and peace and prayer…but I also know and saw people’s anger, hate and disgust towards Jenner.  My biggest fear was that people would focus so much on attacking Jenner instead of sharing their views and opinions (in a way that is respectful) on the topic… and they would allow their anger to negatively affect the way that God has called us to love.

I truly believe with all my heart that we can represent the message of Christ by walking and speaking in love!

Now...don’t hear me wrong!!!  I will stand up for my faith and stand firm on what is true based on the Word of God...but that does not mean I have to attack another person to prove God’s truth is right and sovereign. God has done that already.

We should share our beliefs!

We shouldn’t just agree with everyone.

We don’t have to go with the flow of society.

But I do believe we have to present the message of God’s Word with love, boldness, tact, strength, courage and hope without attacking someone.

We can use this opportunity to show the world God’s love by speaking in love and kindness about the situation.

After all, as followers of Christ we believe that kindness leads to repentance right? (Romans 2:4)

You might be angry. You might be experiencing a number of things, but the last thing the world needs is for people who call themselves Christians to speak out in hate, anger and disgust towards a person.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12 that, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Attacking Jenner is not the answer.

Speaking out boldly about God’s Truth and Love and getting on your knees in prayer is the answer!

 We can speak out all we want, but how much time are we devoting in our own personal prayer time for the healing and restoration of God’s people?

Are you praying about it as much as you are speaking about it?

Also, remember that we have all fallen short and need God’s grace, love and mercy!

I know personally that there was a time in my life that I was living in a way that did not represent what I confessed I believed.

So many people came at me. They said hateful things to me. Told me I was disgusting. (I could go on and on)

When people came at me like that it shut me down. I didn’t want to have any part of a faith that made me feel like I was dirty and sinful and bad. When they talked to me that way all I could think was, “well they are making feel awful…how could that be a loving God…”

It wasn’t until I lived with my little sister who walked in the true love of Christ that my life changed.

My sister prayed for me on her own.

She never forced me to believe or made me feel ugly or dirty.

She would share with me at times that she thought for my own well-being that I should think about making some changes...but she never made me feel bad for not making them.

She poured her life into me and built a relationship with me so she could start sharing with me what God was teaching her and showing her.

Because of that authentic love and faith my heart began to see something different in her. I didn’t see religion…I saw Christ.

Her loving and gentle approach didn’t change her bold stance and her standards…

What it did change was my heart and how I viewed Christ.

I began to see that Christ loved me for who I had been and who I was...and He ultimately wanted me to have a changed life for my good!

I believe this is what the world needs to see more of!

Of course there will be people that read this that will think by not getting angry and protesting and speaking out in hateful remarks that we are just condoning things of the world.

That is not the case at all. Be angry, be vocal, be strong and do not waiver…but spread the message of God’s love that will lead others to Him!

I Corinthians 13:1-2 says, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Speak out in love and be devoted to pray for our world.

God has the rest under control!

“Behold I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the end. “ Revelation 22:12-13

 

Oh how He loves you and me!