They, Me, and Thee?

http://Bible.com/app

Feel free to click on the graphic to reach YouVersion.com, which will explain their products, planning, or click on Bible.com to see sign in (or create an account) to learn much, much more.

I belong to a variety of groups that pray, and a couple of them read Bible lessons in the YouVersion app. There are literally hundreds of subjects, most include a devotional, specific verses that apply to the devotional, and some that allows notes shared with other readers.

That’s one of the things I’ve come to enjoy – reading the same things the same day as a number of other people, then reading their thoughts on the theme and verses they’ve just finished.  Nope – I won’t share what we did with you now. But, if you wish to become friends in the YouVersion app, I’d be happy to share thoughts with you and read yours.

Right now, I have more than one reading plan I’m doing daily. One is long term, 89 days looking at doctrines specific to Christianity and where they are found in the Bible. It’s a good study and we have Jesus as our example:

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:16-21 KJV) (Bolding is my way of calling attention)

Jesus was accustomed to being in the synagogue hearing scripture read on the sabbath. He was also accustomed to reading the scriptures before the congregation. He closed the book after reading, took His seat – then told them what was read was prophecy and it was fulfilled right then. Wow, wouldn’t it have been wonderful to hear that? Guess not so much, for the neighbors.

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. (Luke 4:22-24 KJV)

They were no more interested in hearing Scripture than they were to hear it was fulfilled. What they wanted were the miracles that were done in Capernaum, not listening to scriptures. How did the people in Capernaum feel about this:

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. (Matthew 11:23-24 KJV)

Yep – they wanted the miracles, too, not the scriptures, not the fulfillment of prophecy. So what does that have to do with how I started this blog? The same thing – are we willing to read the scriptures, learn about Jesus, see what God has in mind – or are we looking for the miracles without reading God’s word about the Word of God?

We have the ability to share the scriptures with friends – literally – around the world. Within a short period of time, people I know in America, Britain, China, Demark, Ecuador – anywhere – can read exactly the same scripture I’m reading and we can all share a comment on what we’ve read.

They – my friends on YouVersion – and me – since I’ve opened a link to them – do this on a regular basis. Will Thee join us?