Just the Good Stuff?

For a long time, the evening news was a regular habit. At 6:30 pm I was watching ‘the news.’ Not so much anymore but the reason for that decision is a subject for another blog. I truly enjoyed a segment at the end of the Friday broadcast called “On the Road.”  (https://www.facebook.com/OnTheRoadCBS/) 
The stories in that part of the news were always full of hope, human kindness, and caring!  Sometimes I just want to say, “just tell me the good stuff.” How about you?

We Christians tend to do that same thing with the Bible. A study that looked at the social media posts for Scripture quotes found that Christians posted Paul’s words from Philippians millions of times:  "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, KJV) Another favorite passage often posted is: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)  And nearly equal were the hopeful words of Jeremiah:  ^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (29:11)

Sharing hopeful words is a good thing, however… there is much more to the Bible than a few quotable passages of promise! The whole of Scripture is a gift of God to us, but there are parts of it that get a lot of play and others we seldom, if ever, read. There are, in addition, to those promises, passages that challenge us to serve, many that call on us to consider our ways, and even those which speak of God’s judgment. We are not nearly as fond of the stark visions of the Revelation as we are the warm words of Psalms, are we?

Think about this: "All Scripture is inspired by 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 teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

We need the whole Scripture to become healthy and godly Christians.
-If we only read the passages that make us feel good, we will lack correction.
-If we avoid passages that reveal the holiness of God, we will slip into careless sins.
-If we stick to the Gospels, we will not know how to order our lives in the Church. 

Some parts of the Bible arrest us and make us realize the majesty and mystery of God.  The Spirit tells us to grow up in our appetite and tastes. "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:11-14, NIV)

I hope you will commit yourself to the whole truth, not just the so-called ‘good stuff’ in the Bible. Be willing to wrestle with the ‘hard parts’ so that your faith is strong and mature. Jesus taught us that we live from the content of our heart.

Reading straight through the Bible, cover to cover, may sound like a noble thing, but it will lead you to long stretches in passages that are hard to understand, or in books that demand more study to mine the wealth of His wisdom.  We do better following a plan that mixes readings from the whole of Scripture.  Get a plan and hang with it.  Does it require discipline? Yes, it does, but what a reward we enjoy when the Word takes root and produces a harvest of holy living. 

 (Need a plan?  A great site online offers many. See Bible Gateway)

Here’s the word from the Word, a prayer, to know and understand the Scripture.
"Teach me, O Lord, to follow every one of your principles. 
Give me understanding and I will obey your law; 
I will put it into practice with all my heart. 
Make me walk along the path of your commands, 
for that is where my happiness is found. 
Give me an eagerness for your decrees; 
do not inflict me with love for money!

Turn my eyes from worthless things,
and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise, 
which is for those who honor you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; 
your laws are all I want in life.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness." (Psalm 119:33-40, NLT)

Amen

___________

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