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Importance
of Bible Reading
Bible
Study of
The Bible is so deep that theologians can never touch the bottom
yet so
shallow that babes cannot drown. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Bible
Value of
The Bible is as necessary to our safe passage through
this lifetime as oxygen is to sustain life.
Bible
Value of
Karen’s mother was startled to find her five-year-old
going through a new Bible storybook and circling the word God wherever it
appeared on the page. Stifling her first reaction to reprimand the child for
defacing a book
she quietly asked
“Why are you doing that?” Karen’s
matter-of-fact answer was: “So that I will know where to find God when I want
him.”
Wouldn’t
it be nice to have her confidence that all we had to do was open a storybook
and find God waiting for us? The truth is
we do have such a Book—the Bible.
Bible
Value of
A.C. Gabaeline rates J.N. Darby as one of the great
teachers of the Word of God. Dr. Darby for many years lived among the rustic
country people of
One
day an infidel who was very well-known in those times challenged Darby
saying
“You claim that all Scripture is profitable. What possible earthly value could
a verse like 1 Timothy 4:13 have―”The cloke that I left at
Bible
Value of
“I believe the Bible is the best gift that God has ever
given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us
through this Book. I have been driven many times to my knees by the
overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” ―― Abraham Lincoln
Bible
Value of
The Bible is alive
it speaks to me.
It
has feet
it runs after me.
It
has hands
it lays hold of me.
――
Martin Luther
Bible
Value of
“When home is ruled according to God’s Word
angels might
be asked to stay with us
and they would not find themselves out of their
element.” ―― C.H. Spurgeon
Bible
Value of
John Wesley once wrote: “I am a creature of a day
passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit
coming from
God
and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf; a few months
hence I am no more seen; I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know
one thing—the way to heaven…God Himself has condescended to teach the way. He
hath written it down in a book. O give me that Book! At any price
give me the
book of God!”
Bible
Value of
Andrew Young
former U.S. Ambassador to the United
Nations
urged the graduating class of the University of Maryland’s Eastern
Shore campus to “get a bible” and read a chapter a day. “It won’t hurt you at
all
” he said in his commencement address
“and it will give you more
illumination and purpose in life. It’s better to invest fifteen dollars in a
Bible now than twenty-five dollars an hour for a psychiatrist later.”
Bible
Effect of Reading
A young believer was discouraged in his attempts to read
and remember the Bible. He said
“It’s no use. No matter how much I read
I
always forget what I have just read.”
A wise pastor
replied “Take heart. When you pour water over a sieve
no matter how much you
pour
you don’t collect much. But at least you end up with a clean sieve.” ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
Bible
Effect of Reading
Some seem to expect the Word of God to hit them like a
jolt of adrenaline each time they read or study it. Although the “jolt” may hit
us periodically
the benefits of the Word of God act more like vitamins. People
who regularly take vitamins do so because of their long-term benefits
not
because every time they swallow one of the pills
they feel new strength
surging through their bodies. They have developed a habit of consistently
taking vitamins because they have been told that
in the long haul
vitamin
supplements are going to have a beneficial effect on their physical health
resistance to disease
and general well-being.
The same is
true of reading the Bible. At times it will have a sudden and intense impact on
us. However
the real value lies in the cumulative effects that long-term
exposure to God’s Word will bring t our lives. ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Bible
Effect of Reading
The story has been told of a South Sea Islander who
proudly displayed his Bible to a G.I. during World War II. “We’ve outgrown that
sort of thing
” the soldier said. The native smiled back
“It’s a good thing we
haven’t. If it weren’t for this book
you’d have been a meal by now!” ── Michael P. Green《Illustrations for Biblical
Preaching》
Bible
Effect of Reading
A Bible which is falling apart usually belongs to someone
who isn’t! ―― C.H. Spurgeon
Bible
Study of
The story is told of a small fishing village where
for
many years
a flock of sea gulls fed on the scraps the fishermen left. All was
fine and good for the sea gulls did not follow the fishermen and--because they
had lived off the scraps of the fishermen and had never learned to feed
themselves--the entire flock of birds died.
Believers
who feed only on what others teach them are like these foolish sea gulls? ──
Michael P. Green《Illustrations
for Biblical Preaching》
God’s
Word to His Children.
The Word is Milk to feed ( 1.Peter2:2).
Th’ imparted life ( 1.Peter 1:23 )
This is the fare we need ( Jer.15:16 )
In peace and strife ( 1.John 2:14).
The Word is Food to mould (Acts 20:32 ).
The man within (Eph.3:16 ).
And makes him strong and bold (Joel 2:11).
The fight to win (Rev.12:11).
The Word id Honey sweet ( Psalm 119:103).
Refined and pure (Psalm 18:30
M.).
It fills with joy complete ( 1.Thess.1:6).
Unspoil’d and sure (Psalm 93:5).
The Word’s a Living Fount (Psalm 36:9).
Tis pure and clear (Psalm 12:6);
It makes the soul to mount ( 1saiah 40:31)
To Christ most dear ( 1.Peter 2:4-6).
The Word’s a Running Stream ( 1saiah 33:21).
Tis broad and deep (Psalm 65:9);
His love in it doth gleam ( Jer.31:3).
The soul to keep ( Jude 21).
The Word’s a Five of Love (Jer.20:9).
To make aglow (Psalm 39:3).
The soul
to things above ( Col.3:1).
While here below ( Prov.15:24).
The Word’s a Lamp to light ( Psalm 119:105).
Through life’s dark way (Prov.6:23).
It guides us safe and right (1saiah 58:11)
To realms of day (Psalm 43:2).
The Word’s a Safe Guide Book (Psalm 73:24)
To map the way (Psalm 119:9).
To this we need to look (James 1:25)
1.est we should stray (Psalm 119:11).
The Word’s a Mirror bright (James1:25).
In which is seen (Job 43:5-6)
Dark self—a hideous sight (Rom 7:18);
The flesh— unclean (Isaiah 64:6).
The Word’s a Hammer hard (Jer.23:29)
The heart it breaks(11.Kings 22:11-13).
Its force can none retard (John.5:25)
The soul it shakes ( Jer.23:9).
The Word’s a Balm to heal (Psalm 107:20).
The broken heart ( Psalm 147:3);
New life
and strength
and zeal (John 6:63)
It doth impart( 1 Kings 18:1).
The Word’s a Girdle sure (Eph.6:14)
To brace the loins (Luke 12:35);
It girds us to endure (Psalm 18:39).
What truth enjoins (1 Peter 1:13)
The Word’s the Spirit’s sword (Eph.6:17)
As sharp as steel (Heb.4:12)
To kill unholy words (1 Thess.2:13);
Its power we feel ( Acts 19:20).
The Word’s the Pilgrim’s Stay ( Isaiah
1.ro)
While here below (Isaiah 1.4
R.V.);
It helps us on our way ( Psalm 119:54).
As home we go ( 2 Cor.5:8
R.V.).
The Word’s a Casket rare ( Psalm 139:17).
Its gems are great ( 11.Peter 1:4);
Its cost can none declare (Job 28:16)
On earth’s estate (Psalm 119:72).
──
BY F.E.MARSH.