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Understanding the Bible

Digging Deep

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I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. (NIV) Luke 6:47-48

Jesus is telling the crowds a parable (a brief story to make a spiritual point) about a man who not only hears God’s Word, but also obeys it. He says: “I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (NIV) Luke 6:47-49

In verse 48 we are told that the man “dug down deep” and “laid a foundation on the rock” both of these activities are essential if the builders want a house that will last a long time. . . and both are not only time-consuming, but also hard work. But, the hard work pays off! When the storm hits, the house stands! On the flip-side, the man who doesn’t take the time, has his house destroyed when the torrent struck.

Comparing the parable to life, one man built his life on a solid foundation and weathered the difficulties that came his way. The other man built his life without a foundation and suffered the consequences. For us, we need to “work hard,” “digging deep” into the Bible so that we have lives that are laid on the unchanging foundation of God’s Word. It’s hard work and time-consuming, but when the storms hit, you will weather the storm if you have invested time and energy into learning how God wants you to live. . . and then obeyed what He’s told you to do!

Read through the Bible with us in a year! For more information.

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The Whole Story

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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NIV) 2 Timothy 3:16-17

When was the last time that you read through the entire Bible? Have you read the entire Word? . . . even those portions that you might think are boring or irrelevant to today? Notice that in the passage above, Paul says the “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful.” And in Romans 15:4 he writes: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Did you catch the word “everything”?

The purpose of reading the entire Bible is to understand passages within the context of the whole Word of God. If you haven’t read the entire Bible, you will be handicapped in understanding the whole counsel of God. Comparing it to reading a novel. . . if you chose to skip the first 100 pages, then read a few chapters, but skipped every other chapter thereafter. . . you would be limited in your understanding of the plot and of key events–even limited in your understanding of characters. The same is true with the Bible. If you’ve read the whole Bible, you will understand a passage better (or a book of the Bible) if you can read it within the context of the book as a whole. I would challenge you to read through the whole Bible and to make it a priority!

Join us as we read through the Bible! A unique reading format will take you all the way through God’s Word in a year. You’ll read about key events and people and gain a better understanding of how the Bible fits together. And don’t worry about falling behind, we’ve even figured in “Catch Up Days”!

For more information.

Written by Marji “Mike” Kruger

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Kids and the Bible

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These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (NIV) Deuteronomy 6:6-7

For 11 years I helped my sister and my parents raise my sister’s 6 children. Our family devotions were my responsibility. There have been many times I’ve wondered if the time spent trying to help the kids understand God’s Word and apply it to their lives would have any affect on them or not.

It has been exciting to watch the kids as they’ve grown into adulthood, take ownership of their own faith. Their relationships with God determine how they live their lives. I can say that one of my greatest joys is knowing that God has taken His Word and imprinted it on the kids’ hearts and minds.

The Bible tells us that we are to “impress” God’s Word on our children. . . we are to teach them diligently, talk of it constantly. . . we are to talk of God’s Word with our children when we’re in the car, when we’re working in the yard, when we’re at soccer or baseball games, before school, after school, at meal times, after church, before problems with peers arise, after problems with peers arise, when we’re watching TV, when we play, when we work. . . we are to talk of God’s Word with our children constantly! And why do we do that? It is the consistency of having the Word impressed upon their hearts that enables them to recall it in years to come. . . And as a result, they will live out God’s Word when we are not around.

We praise God for how He is working in my 6 nieces and nephews lives! Our family devotions did make a difference! How are your family devotions? How are you impressing God’s Word on your children’s hearts? When do you speak of the Bible with your children? When do you talk with your kids about your own devotional times with God? If you don’t do it, who will? It’s never too late to start!

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Good Job!

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What is your lifes purpose?His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ (NIV) Matthew 25:21

As a Christian do you long to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Don’t you hope to hear Christ say that to you when you see Him face to face in Heaven?

But, first we need to figure out what we should be doing. What is your job (or jobs) here on earth and how can you do them well? Not your income producing job, but your “Kingdom Expansion” job? Is it time spent in prayer or Bible study? or time spent helping out at church or in a local ministry? or giving to the poor? or talking to the neighbor next door and sharing the gospel with them? or using your spiritual gift? How can we be sure what the right thing is to do? If you’re not sure, spend time with God. . . ask Him what your unique roles are while you’re here on earth. . . and He’ll be pleased to tell you!

Knowing God’s will

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When Life Looks Impossible

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Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. . . (NIV) Romans 4:18

Abraham is 100 years old. His wife, Sarah, is 90. God has told Abraham, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars– if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5). Not a big deal if Abraham is already a great grandfather. The problem with the scenario from a human perspective, is that Abraham and Sarah are childless.

If you were Abraham would you have given up hope decades ago? Not Abraham. . .”Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. . .Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead– since he was about a hundred years old– and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:18-21). Did you catch that? Abraham was totally convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised!

Are you convinced of God’s power? Do you believe that God will be faithful to His promises found in the Bible? The truth is that God will be faithful to His Word because God’s character is unchanging.

So what’s your impossible situation? Do you believe that God has the power to turn it around? Or have you given up hope? Are you losing patience in the midst of your impossibility?

Imitate Abraham’s faith. . . even though all logic said, no way could Sarah get pregnant. . . trust in God, allow Him to strengthen your faith. . . and in the end you will see He is faithful to His promises! By the way, Abraham and Sarah were the oldest at the maternity ward, but were proud of their son, Isaac, who was the first of their countless offspring who became the Jewish people.

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Give Me a Passion to Know God!

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Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (NIV) Psalm 119:18

Oh Father, I see the passion that the author of Psalm 119 had for You as he writes. . .

I Seek You with all my heart. . .I have hidden Your word in my heart. . .I delight in Your decrees. . .I have set my heart on Your laws. . .I run in the path of Your commands. . .turn my heart, my eyes toward Your statutes. . .I have put my hope in Your laws. . .Your decrees are the theme of my song. . .You are my portion. . .I have sought your face with all my heart. . . at midnight I rise to give you thanks. . .I keep Your precepts with all my heart. . .I have put my hope in Your Word. . .My soul faints with longing for your salvation.

I have sought out Your precepts. . .I will ponder Your statutes. . .I meditate on it all day long. . .Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. . .my heart is set on keeping Your decrees. . .I stand in awe of Your laws. . . I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commands. . .streams of tears flow from my eyes for Your law is not obeyed. . .my zeal wears me out.

I call with all my heart. . .I rise before dawn and cry out to You. . .my eyes stay open through the watches of the night. . . I love Your precepts. . .my heart trembles at Your word. . .I love Your law. . .7 times a day I praise You. . .I wait for Your salvation, I follow Your commands, I obey Your statutes, for I love them greatly. . .may my lips overflow, my tongue sing. . . I long for Your salvation. . .Your law is my delight. . .I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commands.

A prayer to pray:
Oh Lord, I long to have a passion for You and Your Word like that. I want an unquenchable passion to know You and Your Word. And yet the author is very honest. Even he strayed from You, “like a lost sheep.” He knows that only You can seek Him out, find him, deliver him. Father, I want that passion. Forgive me for turning away from You and pursuing other things. . .forgive me for when I choose to dwell on impure thoughts. . .there is no good thing in me. I want to echo Psalm 16:2: I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” (NIV) There is no good in me, only You. The incredible thing is that that is enough. Amen

Read through the Bible with us in a year! For more information.

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Do You Want to Get Closer to God?

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Start the New Year off right by reading through the Bible in a 2010!

Do you want to . . .

. . . grow in your relationship with God?
. . . know God’s will for your life?
. . . experience God’s presence in a fuller way?
. . . understand the Bible better?
. . . pray more effectively?
. . . have more prayers answered?
. . . be more confident of who God is?

In a unique reading format you will read all the way through God’s Word in a year. You’ll read about key events and people and gain a better understanding of how the Bible fits together. And don’t worry about falling behind; we’ve even figured in “Catch Up Days”!

Read through the Bible with us in a year! For more information.

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Going Deeper into His Word

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“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (NIV) John 5:24

This week I am reading 3 chapters of John each day. I’m marking it up but, not stopping to study anything indepth…but rather getting an overview of each chapter. I encourage you to do the same thing. As you read look for repeated themes and words. Keep a list of them so that you’ll be more attentive to them in the future. Here are some of the words or themes that I’ve seen in John:

  • Believe
  • “I tell you the truth”
  • Eternal life
  • “Father (or One) who sent me”
  • Testify or witness
  • Will of the Father
  • Miraculous signs

I’d love to hear what God is  showing you in your study of John. Drop me an email at: mk@anchoryourlife.com. God bless you. I’m praying that God deepens your faith in Him as you plunge deeper into His Word!

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