“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”– Ephesians 6:17
Today I just completed a milestone on my “life” to do list! Today I finished reading the Bible from cover to cover. This project took me two years, but I made it. If you have never seriously read the Bible, you need to give it a try. It isn’t an easy task! There are definitely some difficult reading sections, like the genealogy sections and the book of Numbers where it seems very repetitive, but the Bible is a very interesting book. There are family battles and struggles, there are love stories, there are great battles between kingdoms, and there are miracles, natural disasters and stories of great triumphs. There are life instructions in Proverbs and there are reassurances in the Psalms. There are stories of dynasties and then there is the Greatest Story Ever Told, the birth, life, death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Growing up and always going to church, I heard many parts of the Bible each week, short clips of what can be found in this book. These weekly readings gave everyone some of the basic bible stories, such as the Genesis story, Noah and the Ark, the Wedding feast, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes to feed the multitude and most of the story of Jesus’ life, just to name a few. But there are many, many more interesting stories and facts in the Bible that I rarely heard! These stories were fascinating to me, to read through the entire story of Jonah, David, and King Solomon. To follow the writings of Paul on his missionary journeys, just reading his writings are captivating. This follower of Christ endured so much to spread the Good News! He was beaten many times, run out of many towns, arrested, thrown in prison, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, but never relented on spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. What an example for all of us. How many of you are like me at times, a little hesitant to speak when the topic of religion comes up in a non-church setting? I am much better now in speaking out; there was a time when I would just keep my mouth shut, but no more. When we continue to stay silent, then we slowly lose the right to proclaim our faith. That’s one lesson that I’ve learned on this journey! I will not be silent any longer, I will speak for those that can’t and I will act for those whose voice has been silenced!
As I stated in the title, this is life’s instruction book. Better yet, life’s “How to Book”! There is guidance on raising your family, how to best use your finances, how to deal with heartbreak, loneliness, sickness. If there is something you question, you can find guidance in the Bible. There is no life topic that is not covered. And to top it all, it instructs you on how to get to Heaven!
Best of all, we Christians, believe that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God. What better way is there to live your life than with the instruction book from God himself?
One of the most intriguing and enlightening things I found in reading the bible was that many times, God didn’t work with the most powerful people of the time. He didn’t pick the strongest, smartest, and wealthiest or best looking people! Most of the time he chose the exact opposite! Abraham was a shepherd, David was a shepherd. Moses was a shepherd, (I think he had a soft spot for shepherds!) became a slave to the Egyptians, and to top it off, had a speech impediment. Gideon was a farmer, John the Baptist was probably looked at as a crazy man with what he wore, and what he ate! Peter was a fisherman. God used these “common” people to do great things! Abraham was the father of all of Israel; David defeated the giant Goliath, became a great King of Israel and was the ancestor of Christ! Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt by parting the Red Sea, brought water from a stone, and through whom God gave the 10 commandments. John the Baptist in my mind’s eye must have looked like a wild man! He traveled throughout the land clothed in camelhair, eating honey and locusts; I’m sure looking very unkempt and sounding, to many of the people of that time, like a crazy lunatic. But he was the “set up” man. He knew he was to make way the path for the coming of the Lord. He knew the Jewish law, he knew the prophesies, and he knew his purpose. God used him in great ways. Gideon was another fascinating figure to me. Here was a farmer who the Lord sent into battle with about 300 soldiers against thousands of Midianites and they were victorious. And most of us all know a little about Peter, the fisherman. He’s an interesting character! He strikes me as the good but naive friend. He always speaks up, usually has an opinion and more than not the one who can find trouble without looking too hard! But he becomes the rock, the solid one that the Lord uses to build the church. I find he’s easy to relate to in that he has the traits of most of us, all the good and bad points, but yet it’s very comforting that the Lord still uses him as the anchor for us.
So if you’re looking for a book to read that has an abundance of adventure, intrigue, and mystery; or if you’re looking for the “How to, book of life”, pick up the Bible and start reading! You don’t have to try and read from front to back as I just finished, just open it up and start reading a section. Proverbs isn’t a bad start if you want to do a monthly read, there are 31 chapters, one for each day of a month, but as I’ve described there are many wonderful things to be found.
Pick up the Bible, it’s a life changer! You’ll be glad you did!
God bless you all this coming week!
thecatholicdropout 
Leave a comment