Did Neil just give us homework?
The premise we’re getting today is that in order to be a well-functioning believer, we don’t just need to know how to behave. We need to know the foundational truths behind who God is, who we are, and what God did for us. If we’ve got that under our belt, the way we live will naturally fall in line with what God wants.
In other words, what we do is based on who we are, and our understanding of it all. Sound familiar? Oh, yes – that’s the sound of the wagons circling back around…
When was the last time you read through, say, Romans? If you’re not on a daily reading plan, there are plenty of places to read that are more fun. Psalms, Proverbs, the gospels – I can read and walk away satisfied, because I understood it!
Truth be told, my first several readings of Romans and Ephesians were, shall we say, less rewarding. I knew it was important stuff, but I didn’t get all of it. If you’re in the same boat, don’t give up. Keep going, keep reading… Make sure you’re reading a Bible that’s helpful, either a translation with wording that makes sense to you (New Living is my fav), and/or a good study Bible with helpful notes and explanations.
I’ve gone from trying to make sense of the theology stuff to times where I read just a few verses and love the way the language washes over me… It’s powerful stuff, and reaches me beyond an intellectual level. I read that there’s nowhere I can go that God’s love can’t reach me, and it makes my heart leap. The stuff I read has begun to seep into my core of beliefs, and I can’t wait for more.
Even so, there’s so much more there for me to understand – I need to keep reading. I love that about God’s word – it doesn’t matter how many times you read it; there’s always something new there, because the Spirit of God is breathing life through it. Amazing.
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