Ultimate Reading Experience

Ownership of a new car comes with an owners manual in the glove compartment for easy access. In our technically changing world we need to refer to this helpful booklet often. Fancy features from customized European accent voiced GPS devices, computerized gadgets that tell you everything you could care less about to space ship looking audio equipment designed to confuse anyone without a PHD in nuclear science. Do-dads galore come with our contempoorary vehicles as well as hefty price tags and high end maintenance requirements. Yet we proudly sport the latest and greateast show room pony we can afford with all it’s complicated gadgentry in tow. My generation flinches a bit over the ever increasing changes in technology but the younger people seem to go with the flow quite easily. For us slight technically challenged folks, we rely heavily on that owners manual until we’ve learn the little details we need to know to insure a smooth ride with desired comfort and functionality…or until it at least looks like we know what we’re doing with all this stuff we’re paying for. The owners manual during those periods of getting acquainted is a much needed tool to get the most out of your probably overpriced but snazzy looking vehicle. I’ll add at this point that owners manuals used to be a dozen or so pages of basic information. Now it’s 50 pages of detailed instruction worthy of manning the space needle. Yet it’s invaluable and totally necessary. The Holy Scriptures are just that for us…invaluable and totally necessary to make this journey we call life a victorious trek. I recommend this book above and beyound any other publication out there including my own work. Without the Bible to show us God’s way and His expectations our existence is futile, fruitless, a chronological expenditure with no eternal value. The Word of God brings it all together for us answering crucial questions like what, why, when, where and how.

I read the Bible a lot…not as much as I should I’m sure but it’s a continual source of guidance and information into God’s Kingdom agenda. The Bible is the voice of God to a dying, deaf world; a wolrd that rejects His soveriegn rule and the truth of the Gospel. Scripture speaks to life’s purpose and everything concerning our existence in the here and now. Like an owner’s manual it guides you to a more fulfilling experience with the life God has given you. Teaches you how to manage life and get the connection you were made to have with our Creator. The Bible parents us through life with divine revelation so awesome I believe we can never exhaust learning from it. Layers of wisdom and spirit led understanding peel off the more your read the word of God. It speaks to your situation and teaches you what God has to say about any subject relevant to your living. It is ageless; always relevant, limitless; like our God and essential reading and meditation for any born again believer.

 

Today there are so many versions of the Holy Scriptures it’s mind boggling. Personally I cling to King James or New king James and supplement with, the Amplified and New Living Translation. Although other versions can be just as good there are just too many to use them all so pick what version speaks best to you. I suggest using King James as the guide to guage the other versions and by all means use the Hebrew and Greek versions if you want. Combining a couple of versions has helped me understand the Scriptures better. I must add here that all translations are not equal. No version is absolutely perfect in it’s translation but some more so than others. Be careful in your choosing, pray for guidance. I have quite a few versions other than the ones I mentioned but find the combination I now use the most effective for me. No matter what version you pick, if your spiritual eyes are opened, reading the word of God will be your ultimate reading experience.

 

The Bible has been around for a long time. People made great sacrifice to get this word out to the masses. John Tyndale died for his work to make it available to more than just religious leaders. As heartbreaking as his execution was it served to bless generations after him with the sweet voice of the Lord in our lives in a real and active way anytime we need it. That was indeed the work of God through Tyndale. The kind of conviction and faith it takes to do what he did comes only through the Holy Spirit strength that we all should desire even if we’re afraid of it. Sacrificial faith, the kind Christ Jesus had that saved us…the kind that makes it possible for that life giving book to be printed in all the world in most languages. The Bible is not for the coffee table so you look like you have a spiritual household. It’s not for the drawer in the kitchen or stuffed up in the attic with everybody’d birthdate in it. The Bible is for you to read and recieve what pearls God has for you at any given time. The Bible is a living book, an active book which dispenses positive results if you apply it’s principles and promises.

 

I can’t recommend this book strongly enough because it’s the sword in the spiritual battle all Christ followers better have if they want victory. The Bible is a word from God, a weapon against the enemy and a divine living manual. Read it, study it and meditate on what you learn. Most importantly apply it to your everyday circumstances. It will get you to a higher level than you can imagine in Christ…it changed my life for the better and it will change yours.

 

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… Ephesians 6:17, KJV