Why Study the Bible?

Chuckle: A children's Sunday School teacher asked her class, "Who defeated the Philistines?" One little boy said, "I don't know. I don't keep up with the minor leagues."

Quote: "The Bible is so deep that theologians can never touch the bottom, yet so shallow that babes cannot drown." –Unknown author

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey from the comb" (Psalm 19:7-10 NIV).

The story is told about a pastor who was visiting in the home of a church family. Before leaving he asked if they would like him to read from the Bible. The mother told one of her boys to go bring the Big Book we read out of so much. Excited to help, the boy rushed out of the room and returned with the Mail-Order catalog. .!!

I wonder how many of us see the Bible as a treasure from God and study it accordingly. It was written over a span of 1500 years by hundreds of different writers including kings, peasants, poets, herdsmen, fishermen, scientists, farmers, priests, pastors, tentmakers, and governors. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the various books were gathered together, and they tell one complete story of God's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness without contradictions or inconsistencies. Just stop for a moment and let the significance of all this this sink into your heart anew.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). ". . . .men spoke from God as they were carried along (moved) by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:20). Listen to what some famous people have said about the Bible:

Abraham Lincoln: "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book."

George Washington: "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

Napoleon: "The Bible is no mere book but a living creature which conquers all who oppose it. For thousands of years the forces of evil have tried to discredit, ignore, or destroy God's Holy Word - but to no avail."

Andrew Jackson: "That book, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests."

Daniel Webster: "If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering, but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity."

The worldly secular progressive view is that the above observations are archaic, irrelevant, and were made by less than enlightened men. But, for us believers, such statements about God's Word only add credibility to a truth we assimilated into our hearts and minds long ago.

Love, Jerry & Dotse