Other Bible Readers

 When we talk about reading the Bible, we really mean the Holy Bible. It should contain both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is fulll of different books, divided into chapters and verses for easily locatable use. No - it was not originally written in that form. 

When I was a child, a boy not much older than I was at the time discovered an entire cave holding scrolls that matched specific books of the Old Testament. So we know that what we have of the book of Isaiah matches what people over two thousand years ago were reading, and copied hundreds of years after they were originally written. These are eye witness acounts of actions taken by people interested in what their God had to say about what was happening at specific times.

My Bible reading is semi-scheduled, but I also listen every evening to YourVersion Bible plans. There are a multitude to choose from. I've gone through specific books, and I've gone through the entire Bible as laid out, plus as it occurs chronologically. That made for some interesting reading, especially through Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets. It was very helpful in the Gospels.

By the time one reads the Bible several times, when you read it again you do think "How did I miss that?" Sometimes it is a specific name, or a story. Other times the words are exactly the same and I  remember reading them, but they seem to have a specific meaning in this time of my life. This last week I read two devotional postings that focused on events I knew, names that were familiar, but the focus was a bit different.

Elijah was the first one. You find him to be an absolutely fascinating prophet. He raised the dead, healed a leper, killed Baal priests, hid from God, was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Oh, yes, his life was extremely active and dedicated to the God who created the earth and set Israel on its path. 

When he challenged Baal's priests, it was after God withheld rain. By 1 Kings 18, the country was desparate for rain. Elijah had King Ahab summon Baal's priests and the citizens to choose:

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. (1 Kings 18:20-22)

The challenge wasn't about rain. It was about whose God would accept their sacrifice. Baal did not respond. God did:

Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (1 Kings 18:37-38)

No rain. Fire took the sacrifice, but no rain. Elijah knelt - the Bible doesn't say he prayed, but that is a prayful position. He sent his servant to look for a cloud. Seven times. That seventh time there was a small cloud. Elijah's faith lasted and at that point he told Ahab to leave the mountain, or the rain could stop him:

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (1 Kings 18:44)

I tend to neglect that continued prayer for what is needed. Just as I forgot Abigail's name, and how she stopped a slaughter. We meet Abigail in 1 Samiuel 25, the wife of a very wealthy man, not long after Samuel's death. David was still hiding from King Saul, who was determined that David should die. While hiding, David sent a group to ask Nabal for food for his men:

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. (1 Samuel 25:10-12)

David prepared his men for battle. While he did not want to attack his King, a wealthy opponent was no match. Abigail knew that, and when she learned both sides of the story:

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. (1 Samuel 25:18-20)

By her actions, Abigail saved her husband's life, their home, their wealth, and lives on both sides of the battle. Eventually, her husband died, and David took her to be his own wife. He had lived through her example of strategy and planning that kept her family from harm as well as gaining the friendship of their future king.

God's hand is seen in both of these stories - not in these specific verses. There are no praises, no commitments, no promises, no prayers that were answered except those given within God's will. Most of the biblical stories are just that - examples of what happens in - and without - God's will in the lives of ordinary people who become very extraordinary while living in God's will.

Reading and studying the Bible gives historical insight, too. These people lived thousands of years ago - but experienced many of the same political, economical, personal, and religious elements of life we face today. We should be learning from them.

Sing Praises

Images of People Singing Praises (screen capture)

When I was in High School (yes, over half a century ago) we sang a song that went:

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises to our King

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises,

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises 

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises  

I know, it seems repetitious, it was, but the music and rythm changed and we sang it with meaning, so it was truly praises, just as the angels before His throne say "Holy, holy, holy" and we sing it from a hymnal:

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8)

But - we are not a repetitious people. We sing praises in a number of ways, though Psalms alone show 15 verses with that phrase, a couple of them repeat it:

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (Psalms 47:6)

That looks rather familiar, doesn't it?

While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. (Psalms 146:2)

While not my life verse, that one is just about my favorite. While this one reminds us why we praise:

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalms 106:1)

Another way of praising Him is in modern song. One of my favorites, "Satisfied," includes:

Oh Hallelujah! I have found Him, Whom my soul so long has craved!

That song begins: 

All my lifelong I have panted For a drink from some cool spring

That I hoped would quench the burning Of the thirst I felt within

That thirst is what Jesus answered the woman at the well:

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (John 4:13-15)

How appropriate that following John 3, the conversation Jesus held with Nicodemus is followed by His explanation of living water. That His ability to discuss theology with a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin (and remind him of things he should have known) is just as important to discuss where and when to worship with a woman living without marriage, but who needs God just as much as Nicodemus. God truly is no respecter of persons.

And that is simply another reason for praising Him as our Father in Heaven, where we will live eternally, through His grace and our faith.

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:5-9)

Read The Bible

e-Sword Screen (Capture)

I used to have a lovely graphic of an open Bible - but it's on my old computer, which still holds a bunch of stuff I have yet to transfer. There is a possibility it will live beyond me and either be trashed, erased, or completely ignored. The more digital material this world gains, the greater the loss because we don't get it shared.

Why do I mention this? Because I want you to read the Bible. I really do not care if it is printed or digital. I use e-Sword on both my phone and my personal computer because I got used to it, and it's been around for decades. Well written, every free translation is available free of charge, and lots of purchasable translations are also available. There is a copy of the Strong's Hebrew and Greek available - I use it with my King James Version. Yes - I still use the old KJV, but not the first KJV, and I'm not against using the NKJV or even other translations. I do suggest doing parallel Bibles to find out what is "missing" from the Textus Receptus used for the original KJV (that is very hard to read! I had a copy.)

Reading aloud from the same version during a lesson is helpful for a class situation, and I suggest that first for brand new readers of the Bible. Some people find any version difficult. Often because they find something there that means their life will change.

I promise you, it will. It will change because you know more than you did before and you will be required to make a decision: Is the Bible accurate?

Is it? No - you don't have to send me a note with your answer. Just be aware that I know there will be two different answers reached: 1) No, this cannot possibly be right; or, 2) Yes! this is is what I've been seeking.

In fact, if you have e-Sword you can do a search in the free KJV for "seek the Lord" and you'll see that phrase in 27 different verses. First one is:

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

But that single verse means nothing if you don't know where "But if from thence thou shalt" means. So now you know that verses do not stand alone. They are in context. However, if from thence you seek the Lord thy God, you are told thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all the heart and with all thy soul. In this one verse, there are conditions. God has conditions. If you seek Him, He will be found.

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. (2 Chronicles 12:14)

Who decided not to find out if God existed? You'll have to read this one in context, too. That twelfth chapter of 2 Chronicles pretty much lays out what happens when someone decides to ignore God completely. You have that capability. Everyone does. It is possible to leave this world without believing God exists. And that is why I have spent decades encouraging Bible reading. 

Know what you are giving up. Learn things outside of the Bible. Look up Pascal's Wager, and read people who laughed at it. Then read the Bible to find out what they turned down:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:14-18)

When first reading that third chapter of John, you are introduced to Nicodemus, who has come to Jesus asking questions. Those who come to the Bible for the first time have plenty of questions - and those of us who read it are ready to answer questions. We've been prepared for some time only because we've continiued to read, study, and pray over what is in the Bible. Took thousands of years to write down what was there - and although there have been tons of books written sense, there is no need for more information than what is written there. The Bible is filled with complete fulfilled prophecy - and with some that is yet to be fulfilled. But it should not be added to, nor subtracted from:

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (Revelation 22:17-18)

I have read about the plagues. I will not add anything to the book. I send people to do their own reading. I suggest they read with prayer and a spirit of seeking God. The last verse to use the "seek the Lord" phrase is the only one in the New Testament:

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)

The words of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, Savior of mankind, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, can be found in red in many of the printed and digital Bibles. Take them seriously when you consider:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

 

Funerals - Three in a Week

 Source unknown

I've used this graphic before - first on Baptist Funerals, and again writing of funerals. They happen. People die. Expectedly. And, extremely unexpectedly.

Friday we attended the funeral of a friend from church. That same day another friend from church died. His funeral will be this Thursday. Saturday morning the daughter of a church friend experienced a ruptured aneurysm. Her death Sunday morning was still a shock. Three deaths within a week's time of people we knew.

The first thing we are able lto do is to pray, and my first thoughts in those prayers take me to a verse I've used on this blog many times for a variety of occasions:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)

Those verses are not a prayer - they are an explanation about prayer. We've been given instructions about prayers by the very person who is our intecessor in Heaven. He began by explaning how NOT to pray:

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)

Did you get the part "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him"? Reminds me of "And he that searacheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit." God knows exactly what just happened in our lives - every single moment in our lives. There are no surprises to Him as there are to us. From the last breath of a loved one in hospice to the staggering shock of an unexpected loss, God knew it was coming and He knows what we need.

My second thought about preparing to speak to someone who has experienced a loss is II Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter Jesus spoke of in John 14, and among those verses is:

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. (John 14:26)

Remember Pentecost? When the Holy Spirit first came upon Jesus followers? From then on, believers' baptism included the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the comforter who was to teach us and help us remember all that Jesus taught. How do you get that education Jesus taught? Bible reading. 

Reading God's word with prayer brings us closer to understanding where we are, why we are where we are, where we need to be next, and trust God's presence in placing us where He wants us to be doing His will.

I knew two of the three people who died this week, and the mother who lost her daughter. Three families with multiple generations are missing someone who meant life to them. They need comfort. It is available in a number of ways.

First is contact at home, letting them know there is help with transportation, planning, and guests. Food is needed, and they have little attention left for meals. That is easily provided. The funeral can be attended as a sign of caring support - and in our church, a meal afterward is available with a variety of simply awesome comfort food. Key word remains "comfort." Never forgetting there is a Comforter provided by God through Jesus Christ for every event in our life, good, bad, or deadly.

Each of these people made a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, based on biblical beliefs that go beyond John 3:16:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

It also encompasses:

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

Obedience to walk with God goes beyond public words. I'll be adding a small prayer for my readers:

Oh, Lord, my strength in all that is around me, I pray for those that stop and read your words here that they will reach for the full, so very Holy, Bible. Your messages to us over millennia carry history and hope for every living person. I pray it is opened and read, read and prayed over, understood and carried out that your will is done in our lives. Comfort us, Lord, in our losses, and restore joy in our blessings. Guide and directd our lives as we seek Thy will in our daily lives. Amen.

Come With Prayerfulness

 

Every time I pray for help in writing this blog, words flow. When I try to do it on my own, I have writers block like a train tunnel bricked up at both ends. There is no light at all in that particular tunnel.

From the beginning of the Bible to the very last chapter, there are examples of people - all kinds of people, rich, poor, smart, dumb, old young, Jew, and gentile - all prayed directly to God. Priests were available, not required until the Mosaid law, and I only found one instance where I have questions about that:

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:6-8)

In this, and a couple of other instances, I'd like to have the answer. But, I know I have to "know as also I am known", as Paul wrote. So I will wait upon that particular answer and stick to ones not ambiguous.

Best examples are the good things done in the Bible that worked well - and talking with God is outstanding. Priests handled sacrifices, prophets spoke to the people, but everyone had the opportunity to speak to God, and answers were available. Why do we often ignore that today?

Be careful when you start studying pray/prayer(s)/prayerfulness - there are over 450 matches in the King James Version. ESV has 321 (Hmmm. How about that?) ASV has 515. DRB has 505. No matter which version of the Bible you choose to study (I personally use more than one), it will take time to reach a personal conclusion regarding your own prayer life.

Jesus taught us a prayer - but we do not have to follow each and every word to reach Him. Matthew's (6:9-13) is longer and more familiar, given as part of the Sermon on the Mount. It includes phrases like "on earth as it is in heaven" and concludes with deliverance from the evil one. Luke's (11:2-4) is shorter and more concise, given in response to a follower's request. It uses the word "sins" instead of "debts".

Never in the Old or New Testaments is there a reason given to pray to a person here on earth in order to have our prayers reach God. Often, when someone asks for prayers in support, I will send them this:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)

Or:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

God Himself hears our prayers. We are saints (do not doubt that) and our prayers are sweet to Him:

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)

In his letters to churches, Paul asks for prayer:

Romans 15:30-32, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, and Hebrews 13:18 (Yes, I am one of those who thinks Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, perhaps with Luke writing it down and getting it out of prison. No, I do not want to argue about it. Research on your own and reach your own conclusion.)

Of course, our own best example is Jesus, in the Garden, with sleeping disciples, alone with His father, knowing exactly what was approaching down the road. Once, twice, and the third time, He prayed: 

Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; and Mark 14:36.

He also prayed for His disciples, then for you, me, and all the others who believe Him:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:20-22)

Please take a moment to pray to our Father in remembrance of His unspeakable gift of eternal life to all who believe His promise:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

It really is that simple.

What Comes To Mind

 

Copyright - not for reproduction

That light colored mass is behind my right eye, pressing into my right temporal lobe. Has been for over a decade, and for a variety of reasons, is considered inoperable - unless it reaches out to touch my optic nerve, which it hasn't. I decided to call it Henry - much more easily pronounced than meningioma, which fortunately usually represeents a benign tumor. We use annual MRIs to track Henry, who has grown in millimeters, not centimeters, which is fortunate. I just set up my annual appointment, so Henry is back on my mind.

What comes to mind when you have something growing in your body that you cannot see, and is measured in ways you don't understand? Odd thoughts. 

Henry was discovered when I took my headaches to my primary care physician and he requested the first MRI. The results sent me to a neurologist who sent me to a neurosurgeon. That's when I learned a complication meant the only removal option was cyberknife. Since Henry was slow growing, we all decided to remain on watch-and-wait. Frankly, as a septuagenarian there would most likely me something else that ended the watch. Fortunately, wait continues. My "time" has not come.

"Wait" has a lot of religious connotations for Christians. Jews waited for a Messiah. We think He came, but Christians have been waiting a very long time for His promised return. We continue to hope - to expect - 

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:30-36)

The single "hope" in this example Jesus gives is the only time the word is used in the four gospels. However, the word is used another 60 times in the remainder of the New Testament. Mostly in verses similar to:

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: (Acts 26:6)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

That "hope" is faith that God has given us instructions to follow, and when we do, we reach Him. Simple, isn't it? Then why are there so many different denominations, undenominational churches, and disputes within denominations who all claim to be the right path to God?

My personal opinon is too many people deciding they know what is right over what is biblically correct. Add that error to a personal falibility in mankind - to chose what is liked over what is necessary.

Wasn't that how the world saw Jesus? How many in the world see Him today? Too many of us do not like a specific area Jesus taught, so we change what was said to fit our current view of the world view. Very famous world leaders have done that, and so has a neighbor down your street. It began with Eve. Adam and Eve were given simple instructions:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Of course God knew - Peter knew:

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:19-20)

Nothing surprises God, but His interference does not occur as expected, and has usually been foretold. Best to keep it simple, as He has put before us. If we think something spiritual comes to mind, test it!

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:1-2)

Witnesses Testify Truthfully

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7, KJV)

The other day I posted verses. Today a new thought came from them. That happens a lot when we read Scripture with prayers to see what God has to tell us. Earlier I was thinking of the Holy Spirit and about both the just and the unjust who can have the same experiences of good and bad. 

Today I was struck by:  or if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; 

Jesus had a choice. He has the same human choice all people face - faith that God can do what He promised and follow instructions, or do as you please. 

We think of Jesus as being tempted once and coming through a test. That is not humanly possible. We are tempted daily. You and I both know that. Simple things, like bread. That's what Satan used first with Jesus:

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:1-4)

How simple that would have been for the man who fed thousands with a few loves and fish to have bread in an instant. But He used what we should when we are tempted - scripture. That "every word of God" should be very important to us, but do not take things out of context. God will never ask that we break His commandments in order to follow His words. Question what we read, prayerfully and keeping in mind that God has given us a Comforter.

How can you - or I - use scripture if we don't know it? How do we get to know it? By reading it every day and memorizing when we can. The more time we spend with scripture, the more we read, question, prayer about, and eventually understand what God has in there that we've missed before.

I use e-Sword on my phone and on my computer more than I do a printed Bible. I find it extremely handy and helps me search for scripture when I am only certain about a word or two. It allows me to highlight and take notes, just as the printed Bible does, but it is easier to search in for specific words or phrases.

For example - where Jesus gives the most important law. I love those verses and can remember one phrase used there "second like unto" so I search for all three of those words, which only occur in one verse. But it takes four verses to get the gist, and it takes knowing the Ten Commandments to know why those two are the most important. The Bible is always more important than a single verse. Context is absolutely necessary in seeing beyond tradition and teaching errors.

It takes the whole Bible - from Genesis to Revelation to see why Jesus had to die - God has given His life story through prophets from Genesis forward. If Jesus took Satan's offer, what would happen? Frankly, heaven only knows. "If" truly is an illusion that never does occur when God's plan is followed. 

Who better to follow it then the human God created specifically for the purpose, in whom the Holy Spirit dwelled. Where was the Spirit between calvary and Pentecost? We can't know, and it makes no difference in our instructions. 

Until His return, His disciples were told what to do:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8, KJV)

When we believe on Him we make a public profession of faith. At Pentecost, believers were given the Holy Spirit for the first time. It no longer comes with "tongues of fire," but we are still to be witnesses unto Jesus both at home and into the uttermost. 

How is your witnessing?