WINTER READS
It’s the doldrums of an Arctic-like winter here in Wisconsin this week in January. Time for me to curl up with a good book. What do I like to read? Well, suspense holds my interest the best, science fiction is a new, attractive genre for me, and non-fiction of any kind feeds my mind’s thirst for knowledge.
The book I chose today is the Bible. I somehow neglect it at times but am always drawn back to it. Why? It contains knowledge, wisdom, and guidance far above human writers’ abilities to create on their own. The Bible is God-inspired and contains truth for all humanity throughout the ages. But the Bible is not entertaining, you may counter. Actually, the Bible is chalked full of heroes and heroines whose lives are recorded not only for our spiritual development, but to show their colorful lives, linking them to our own human tendencies, thereby showing relevance to us. Look at King David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the ensuing events. The whole story reads like a soap opera. Maybe we should turn off our TVs and open the Bible for something better than entertainment — enrichment. David’s life is recorded in 1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 2.
Many people I’ve spoken with see nothing relevant to our lives recorded in the Old Testament. They see only the Jews whose customs are distinctly different from our own. Since God does not change, His character recorded in His handling of the Israelites in the Old Testament is the same character He has today. Knowledge of God’s character displaying mercy, justice, love, compassion, abhorrence of sin, among other attributes, is integral to our being able to come to God without fear and to abide in Christ. That trusting, loving bond with Christ is our ticket to eternity with Him. There is no other way.
Do you have thoughts on a character in the Bible you’d like to share with others? Perhaps reading about that Biblical person has affected your life in some way. Feel free to comment.
betsyborchardt 
Hi Betsy! Funny how you mentioned how some Bible stories read like a soap opera. We were just talking about that in my Sunday School class today! We are reading the book, “Twelve Extraordinary Women” by John Macarthur.
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Hi Ellen, I’m happy you came by my blog today and read my newest post. I think most people don’t realize how Biblical women deal with many of the same issues we deal with today. If people would only read their Bibles they would receive much guidance from God. I’ll have to check out that book you mention. I am rusty on women of the Bible.
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Hi Betsy,
I am reading through The Chronological Life Application Study Bible this year. I hope to read all 1923 pages. And I am enjoying it a lot.
Anyone who doubts that the OT stories can apply to our lives today should read this Bible and its commentary–reams of excellent application, very pertinent.
My version is in the New Living Translation, with is very reader friendly. For study, I prefer the NASB.
With Madeleine L’Engle’s A wrinkle in Time, you get Sci-fi + Christian + suspense and a great story. But I think I mentioned this author to you before(!).
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Hi Bill,
I’m happy to hear you are reading a Bible with commentary. Sounds like a good one. The chronological unveiling of Biblical events is an improvement over the traditonal Bible and Life Application views are a real plus for anyone reading the Bible. For study I use the New King James Bible and, like you, gravitate to the NLT. I continue to study both the Old and New Testaments.
A Wrinkle In Time is a book you had indeed mentioned before. Sounds like a book I would really enjoy.
Knowing you are reading the Bible on a consistent basis gives me encouragement to do the same.
Betsy
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Betsy, Have you every came right out and told God NO, I am not going there and I am not telling those people that? I have boy Jonah got off light with only 3 days of being inside of living fish guts. I may write about that some time! You Have Written A Here Great Post! Blessings james
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Hi James,
I’ve never received a command from God of great importance like Jonah received from God to tell the Ninevites to repent. It sounds like you have a great story to put into writing sometime. Thank you for the comment and the compliment.
Betsy
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Oh Betsy, but you have one is writing this post the other is work you put into this blog. It builds up, feeds the saints and is also telling the world we all love Jesus and Jesus loves them too. What could be more important than that? May His love spill over you as it spills out into the world, Amen
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James,
You have brought to me a different perspective on my blog. I can see now how God called me to write of His wondrous works. I accepted the call without thinking. Yes, this was a call. I’m happy I carried through. People have been very accepting of the messages from my blog. I am truly blessed by this.
Betsy
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