Category: Bible Reading

  • Foundations – What are you building on?

    Collapsing building foundation showing

    The news article showed a building that is  dangerously close to collapsing entirely. Indeed, it wasn’t safe to enter. The cause? A poor foundation.

    We often talk about the need for good foundations in faith and life, but it is surprising how seldom we take the time to build them.

    Relationships are often built on lies. There are the lies the world tells us about what good relationships are. There are the lies that come from our own experience. We build on lies about our expectations of a relationship. We lie about who we are and who we want our partners to be. It is no wonder that so many relationships crumble or, like this old building, are in danger of falling.

    Non-Christians plan their eternity on a wide variety of things. They wish and hope that, somehow, God will let them skate through their sin. They hope that all roads lead to God. On judgment day, Christ’s words will ring damningly in their ears.

    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV

    Even those of us who know Him and have our salvation assured do not build on solid foundations. We live our lives based on half-truths, other’s opinions and wishful thinking. We seldom take the time to go to God’s Word, chew on it, and truly digest its contents. We are often foolish builders.

    “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

    Poor theology and doctrine won’t keep you out of heaven if your faith is truly in Christ.  However, it will distort your view of who God is and what your relationship with Him and others ought to be. It will rob you of joy and blessings. 

    What condition is your spiritual house in? Is it firmly anchored in the truth of God’s Word, like the wise man building on the rock? Is it sinking into quicksand? Is it leaning dangerously like that old porch?

    It is not too late to do some repair work. Get into the Word and learn what it has to say. Then, apply that knowledge to shore up the weak spots.

    Until next time, may you be resting on a solid foundation.

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

    You might also like

    Chit chat and true fellowship

    Read the Word

    Is it right belief or right living?

    God in the lonely places

  • In Between – Born again and glory

    Two large cliffs with the text "In Between" in the air

    Christmas is over unless you are a member of an Orthodox Church; in that case, it won’t come until January 7th. There may still be turkey to eat and undecorating to happen, but for most of us, Christmas 2024 is in the past.

    We’re in the nebulous period in between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s a time when people easily get confused about what day it is, and calendars get confused.

    People are starting to gear up for their favorite New Year’s Eve activity. For some, it will be big parties; for others, it will be a quiet night at home. I used to enjoy the New Year’s Eve gatherings at “the cowboy church,” where we would gather for an evening of games and snacks and ring the New Year in with communion.

    It’s also a time of reflection. Many will reflect on their resolutions from last year, some of which will be successful and some of which will fail. Most resolutions last only a few days. Other people will be thinking ahead to the changes they want to make for the New Year.

    I don’t tend to make resolutions. If I were to make one, it would be more like Christ. That, of course, is an ongoing process guided by the Holy Spirit.

    …and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

    God alone saves us. God transforms us. He redeems and shapes us to spend eternity in His presence. We are betweeb being born again and home in glory.

    There are Christian disciplines that can help us be readily available for Him to mold us. There is prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, worship attendance, giving, service, and more.

    I seldom miss a Sunday of worship, and thanks to technology, if I do, I can at least catch up on the sermon. It isn’t the same as attending in person, but it helps. My prayer life can always use work. Fasting is something I have done periodically but never regularly. Tithing is part of our lifestyle, and we both serve at the local church.

    Now, let’s be clear: none of those things earns me extra merit with God. We are saved by grace and not by works. All of us are sinners saved by grace and works in process.

    The other discipline I am reasonably consistent with is Bible reading. I don’t do it every day, but I try to read the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation at least once a year. That’s on top of whatever other reading I do.

    I will be reading in the HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible) this coming year. It’s a solid translation, not my favorite, but I’d have no issues recommending it to others.

    By changing translations each time I read through, I gain fresh perspectives. It forces me to actually read what’s on the page, not what I am used to seeing.

    I confess to cheating. I started yesterday as I had finished last year’s reading already. I try to be diligent in my reading, but I don’t give up if I miss a day or two. I pick up where I left off and continue.

    There are plenty of Bible reading pans out there. I usually read front to back, but some do the New Testament and then the Old, others read chronologically, and still others have designated passages in both the Old and New for each day. It doesn’t matter which plan you choose; pick one and stick to it.

    What are your plans for the coming year? Are you planning on reading the Scriptures in 2025? What plan do you use? Is there a time or place that you find helpful to read? What translation will you use this year? Have you done it before? Let me know, let’s all encourage one another.

    What are you doing in between?

    Kevin

    Some other Content to consider

    Some thoughts on who we are in Christ

    The gospel – the best news ever

    Why Sound Doctrine still matters