The Christian and the Bible
by Katherine Kehler
“The Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone??? (2 Timothy 3:16,17).
Two months after we were married, we left our home and all that was familiar to us and drove halfway across the country where my husband would attend Bible College. We (and our parents) thought we would get a thorough grounding in the Bible and our Christian faith would be stronger.
However, the opposite happened. Some of the professors’ teachings put serious doubts in our minds regarding the authenticity of the Bible. We doubted the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. We doubted God parting the Red Sea. We doubted the story of Jonah and the whale. And, as a result, we also doubted parts of the Bible that didn’t condone our attitudes and lifestyle.
Because of doubting some of the Word of God, something serious happened to us. We no longer had an absolute standard to measure all of life against. We would pick and chose what we wanted to believe and disregard what we didn’t like – especially if it demanded a life or attitude change. I became unstable and unhappy. I had lost my bearings.
Fortunately friends and relatives noticed that our faith was wavering and encouraged us to attend a Christian conference. It was a life – changing experience because it was here that we both yielded the control of our lives to Jesus Christ.
A few weeks later I was listening to a message by psychologist Dr. Henry Brandt. He made a statement that would change my thinking. He told us that he had to make a choice to believe the Bible was his ultimate authority, not worldly wisdom, but God’s Word. Right then, in my kitchen, I told God that from that moment on I would choose the Bible to be my authority. Anything that didn’t line up with God’s word, I would reject.
As I began applying to my life what God taught me when I read the Bible, I gained stability, peace, joy, guidance, wisdom and much, much more.
There are many things in the Bible I still don’t understand and probably never will, but it is because God is so great and I am finite, not because it is not true.
I urge you to take time to read the Bible every day. Ask God to show you what He wants to teach you that day. You will be surprised how often it is exactly what you need.
~Father, thank You for your Holy Word. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who opens our minds to what You want to teach us each time we read it. Give us a hunger and thirst for the Bible. Amen.
About the Author
This devotional was written by Katherine Kehler. Read more about Katherine: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/katherine-kehler/
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: What is a good first step to take when doubt starts to creep in? What must we do in order to grow in our faith? What are the most common excuses we use for not spending time with the Lord?
2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional. Visit http://talk.thelife.com/ and double click on “Comment??? (just under the devotional title).
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Related reading: When doubts creeps in: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/devotionals/daily/2169.html
Copyright
This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from TruthMedia Internet Group. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please see our guidelines: http://talk.thelife.com/reprint-permission/
8 Responses to “The Christian and the Bible”
Leave a Reply
Start a Conversation
Media
What Do You Fear?
What do you fear, and why? Is it holding you back from realizing your full potential?
>Watch
- Contact
- |
- Advertising
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Link to Us
- |
- Media Releases
- |
- What we believe
God’s word is the truth that can never be compromised ! As we depend upon it and live it . God will be forever be on our side . GOD=TRUTH and when we align our heart , mind , emotions , will to His truth what joy and peace we have . His presence through His word is indeed the most valuable riches that any created being can possess and will never grow void and empty within . Try the recipe of chewing into His word in the morning , in the afternoon and in the evening it will always have a wonderful outcome . You will never grow weary for You will truly discover Him with every moment . It is good to be always in His hollow hand . Safe and secure . God bless us all who have committed to the recipe of life eternal ! You will never have regrets but blissful insurance of a future inlaiden gold streets of heaven , no more tears to wipe and continuously adoring His MAJESTY THE KING OF KINGS!!!!
I love reading God’s word. I try to spend some time each day reading and am always amazed at how much it speaks to me. Recently I was feeling upset with someone in my life and the words ‘Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me’ came into my mind. I was wondering where i would find it as I thought they were from a psalm (psalm 51 I found out not long after). When I opened my Bible some suggested reading revealed God’s promise to me in Ezekial chapter 36 where God said in His word I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit within you and that He would take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. I was astounded to think that i was led to those verses. I asked the question and God gave me the answer. Something i have found very helpful too when it comes to verses in the Bible, I actually write them out and I have found the meaning I couldn’t see before suddenly becomes very real to me as I write. Little words can make a very big difference and you have to concentrate as you write.
I think its happeningto me now. the desire to read the Word is there but when i read it nothing goes to my mind . God knows the desire of my heart is to evangelize to the lost
I believe and i obey whatever i understood in the bible. and i’m praying in faith that God would fill me with the Holy Spirit so that i will be guided acc. to his will. Please pray for me that the enemy has no rightin me and he cannot pull me back.
Thank you so much for reminding me about that. And for putting it that way. I was given abook that was written in the 19th century as a gift and it tries (I do mean try) to discount the verascity of the Bible. As it was given to me as a gift, I will finish it. I also need remember what category it was listed under- fiction (Barnes and Nobles, I think)
His word is life to our bloodstream . Renews our mind , revives our heart and gives light and our lamp in all of our daily walk , guards our lips and infills our spirit of His presence . The only truth , the only life and the only way . Chew it and live it by His abounding grace , mercy , love , compassion , wisdom and discernment and above all that He will be glorified alone . Through the working of His Spirit may we comprehend how much He has done and given to us that the only debt we have is to love others as he has loved us . God your word is active like a two edged sword that pierces us through our bone marrows . May we thirst to read and live it by your guiding hand as we reach out to thee every moment of our life .
Thank you for your word and the goodness it brings into our everyday lives.
I haven’t been reading as much as I use to. Sometimes I get discouraged when I read the Bible and don’t get the full understanding or how it applies to me. Lord, lead and guide me in your word that I may get the understanding and how it can help me that I may be a blessing to someone else.
It amazing I felt the same way, attending bible school,
years later, I began to understand what the word of god meant to me, by just spending time in reading and praying, the holy spirit guided me as well.
I had a desire to do Gods work and never quite understood where have started, the prompting of the spirit led me to do what he called me out to. The first thing I learned was to love people of all walks of life.i have started to attend to studing His word once again, online bible study,i seem to understand His word far better know then i use to.
Thank you for visiting my site ladies I would like you to respond, to the comment section
http://www.joyceministries.org.au