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a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."
My husband and I got married while still in college, and we were on a very meager budget. Our honeymoon was a trip to San Francisco, with a stop at my grandparents in Napa. After the wedding, we packed our little car and headed northwest from our home in Phoenix through the hot desert sun.
Because of the distance of the trip, we planned a mid-way stop in Las Vegas. We didn't know any of the hotels, and making reservations before the age of the Internet was a challenge. But we did find one in our price range called the Sand Dunes. We both thought we'd heard of that hotel before, and assumed it was one of the nicer ones in Vegas. We congratulated ourselves on getting such a great deal.
Boy, were we surprised when we pulled up to the Sand Dunes and found the check-in counter at the back of a liquor store! Needless to say, we didn't spend even one night of our honeymoon at the Sand Dunes. We found a decent hotel, at a decent price and enjoyed our time together.
We were still left puzzled. Why did we think the Sand Dunes would be a nice place? We found the two missing pieces to that puzzle the next day as we drove past the very elegant Dunes hotel, and then past the equally delightful Sands hotel. It seemed the owners of the dumpy Sand Dunes motel were playing off the names of their beautiful neighbors, and hoping to lure unsuspecting guests to their establishment.
Assuming something to be true because it sounds right, can be very disappointing and even dangerous ... especially when we are dealing with the truth of Scripture. It's easy to assume we know something about the Bible, because it sounds familiar. Lots of "truth" has been passed down through generations, although it's not found in the Bible. For example, I'm guessing "Cleanliness is next to godliness" was probably developed by a mother. "God helps those who help themselves" isn't in Scripture either. In fact, the opposite is true.
The only way to know if something we believe is true or not, is to research it ourselves in the Bible. It's good to listen to sound biblical teaching, and commentaries are helpful too. However, a non-scholar can understand the Bible, if that person takes the time to read with a teachable heart that is searching for truth.
Sometimes all it takes is an investment in a Bible that is easy for you to read. There are many translations and various types of study Bibles available today. There are Bibles geared toward women, mothers, teen girls, or grandmothers. A devotional Bible can provide tidbits of inspiration to keep you interested and encouraged. Also, I've found it helpful to read shorter passages of Scripture at a time, but read it over several times until I really understand it.
God desires to reveal Himself to us through His Word. When we know it for ourselves, and handle it correctly, we can be saved from many difficult situations, and from sin that can lead us away from God. It can even help us avoid unsuspectingly spending our nights at the "Sand Dunes" of life.
Dear Lord, thank You for revealing Yourself to us through the Bible. Help me to read Your Word with an open and teachable heart. As I read the Bible, help it to come alive to me. I want to know You more, and to know Your truth. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Pick one belief you hold about God or about how to live life, and research scriptures on that topic. Make sure you read each scripture in context.
If reading the Bible consistently is hard for you, what are some of your challenges?
Can you think of some ways to make Bible reading more of a habit in your daily life?