Do you have endurance in reading or learning the Bible?

Do you ever remember picking up the Bible and saying to yourself “this is hard to read”? 

 Did you know that God provided all the rules of living a long, healthy life in the Bible?  There are also many stories to help you know you are loved and protected by His Holy Spirit.   

Keep reading this message (or listening if you’re hearing this message on podcast) to find out more.

For the new Bible reader, it is true that the Bible is hard to read.  Just looking at a book of mostly words and over 1500 pages is quite intimidating.   I believe everyone has been there.  I was blessed to be given a children’s story book with lots of pictures as a child.  I’m sure the pictures are what kept my interest.  This Bible was a manageable size and explained the most well-known stories such as the parting of the Red Seas during Moses’ time and God’s laws given to the Israelites. 

I listened intently of a story given by Pastor Henry Reyenga Junior.  His own story of learning the Bible included daily readings at the dinner table with his family.  His story included how his Grandmother read him a scripture which led him to become a pastor. 

But if you’re an adult and didn’t have the opportunity to learn the bible as a child.  The best ways would be to find a friend who is already teaching the Bible, find a Community Bible Study at a local church or in an interactive online setting.  When you do this, you will find volunteers or paid staff whose true desire is to see you build your relationship with God and Christ.  When you build this relationship, you will be caught up in the love and excitement of God’s purpose for you in Life.  You may become so enthralled with his love, mercy, forgiveness, truth, and strength that you may over time even want to teach others. 

Jesus lovingly tells us, If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7 ESV).  To know his words, you must study the bible.

Declaration: Repeat after me. “Jesus I wish to abide in you and know your word the bible, I can ask whatever I wish and it will be done!“

In Exodus 20, our Heavenly Father spoke directly to his people.  He reminded them what he’s done for them and gave them simple rules to follow.  The rules are called the ten commandments.  These rules in summary, were  to put God above anything else, to refrain from making carved images of other gods and  not to worship other gods.   He shared that he is loyal to those who love him and follow his commands.  He told his people  to never curse while using His name or use his name  without reverence.  He required them to take one day off a week without work (most people today take Sunday’s off). Honor your parents.  And also,  we must not murder, do adultery, steal, lie or be jealous.    It’s impressive that all these rules are laid out in a small chapter in the Bible. Imagine how much more you could learn about life and how to please our Heavenly Father by reading/listening to the Bible regularly.

For a declaration repeat after me. God is loyal to those who Love Him and I wish to Love Him with All my Heart!

If you want to jump in on reading the bible, it will take endurance.  You will need to read the Bible often.  It is preferable to read every day and meditate on what you’ve read.  It’s easier to have group to read with, this will motivate and encourage you to have the endurance to read. And this will connect you with community.

During the music, meditate on how often you are reading the Bible.  Is it on a regular basis?  If not, pray to God that he could lead you to a study group to help build your knowledge of the Bible.

We have free Bible Studies on Tuesday and Wednesdays (Live and Zoom).  Contact us or Sign up to read the Bible with us today! 

Scripture Reading Exodus 20

Exodus 20 1-26

“God spoke, and these were his words: “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves. “Worship no god but me. “Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the Lord your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and, on their descendants, down to the third and fourth generation. But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws. “Do not use my name for evil purposes, for I, the Lord your God, will punish anyone who misuses my name. “Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. You have six days in which to do your work, but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to me. On that day no one is to work—neither you, your children, your slaves, your animals, nor the foreigners who live in your country. In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the seas, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested. That is why I, the Lord, blessed the Sabbath and made it holy. “Respect your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that I am giving you. “Do not commit murder. “Do not commit adultery. “Do not steal. “Do not accuse anyone falsely. “Do not desire another man’s house; do not desire his wife, his slaves, his cattle, his donkeys, or anything else that he owns.” When the people heard the thunder and the trumpet blast and saw the lightning and the smoking mountain, they trembled with fear and stood a long way off. They said to Moses, “If you speak to us, we will listen; but we are afraid that if God speaks to us, we will die.” Moses replied, “Don’t be afraid; God has only come to test you and make you keep on obeying him, so that you will not sin.” But the people continued to stand a long way off, and only Moses went near the dark cloud where God was. The Lord commanded Moses to tell the Israelites: “You have seen how I, the Lord, have spoken to you from heaven. Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gold to be worshiped in addition to me. Make an altar of earth for me, and on it sacrifice your sheep and your cattle as offerings to be completely burned and as fellowship offerings. In every place that I set aside for you to worship me, I will come to you and bless you. If you make an altar of stone for me, do not build it out of cut stones, because when you use a chisel on stones, you make them unfit for my use. Do not build an altar for me with steps leading up to it; if you do, you will expose yourselves as you go up the steps.”

Exodus 20:1-26 GNTD