This year we will be studying a few subjects that will require us to do a lot of Bible reading and studying.  We often watch sermons or blogs on things of the Bible and often wonder, wow how did they get all that info or insight on the subject?  Watching that kind of content is great and can be very helpful with our growth in Christ. I have personally heard some of the best sermons and studies online. Last week we discussed about for the new year our goal should be to seek God daily. But if all we do is watch others and their search for God, we will miss out on what God truly has for us. I know a lot of people who go to church and watch preachers preach, but never open the Bible to read or study for themselves. Listening to others can be inspiring, but if it does not inspire us to search on our own, to read the Bible for ourselves, we will be missing out on what God truly has for our lives. We should never put our trust in anyone else pertaining to our relationship with God. We can easily say in the sense because we see so many videos of the president that we know him and how he works and thinks, but we do not truly know who he is because we have never spent any time with him. To truly know someone, you have to spend time with them, AND, they also know who you are. That is why it is important for us to read the Bible for ourselves and not rely solely upon someone else to do it for us. We need to get personal with Jesus.

Matthew 7

  (21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is possible for us to do great things in the name of God. Without the personal relationship they will all be for nothing. Verse 23 is a verse that should always be in the back of our minds. The though of Jesus saying "I never knew you” is haunting. That is why it’s imperative for us to read and study the Bible for ourselves. I am not against watching others, they can be inspiring and helpful, but let us not use that as our main source of "knowing Jesus”. We must do our part and spend time with Jesus personally, praying to Him, Reading His word.

A comment I many people say well I do not understand the Bible the way it is written, it’s complicated. It can be with that attitude. But the Bible was written for the simplest minds. Most likely you will not pick up the Bible and start reading and go "Oh I get it”, it will require time and effort just as any relationship.

1 Peter 2:2   as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

We should be desiring the Word in our lives just as infants desire milk. God’s word is for nourishment and sustaining life through Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2   (1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

 Here Paul is saying that I could not speak deeply with you on spirituality but had to be simple for you are still new to this. At this moment you are notable to bear it or understand it. At first when we start reading it will seem challenging, but as we grow it will become clearer and relevant.

 Today is not so much a Bible study, but an encouragement for us to dig into scriptures for our own sake. Getting to know God personally. Quit relying on others to do it for us. This year we will be tackling some great studies and will require us to dig in deep. We will all have different ways we see the verses depending on where we are with our relationship with Christ. None are wrong, that is why we do these studies for discussion and growth. I by no means am a Bible scholar, nor does it require it for me to be one. The only stipulation is for me to desire the word of God. To desire to know Jesus, the desire to spend time with Jesus.

 I heard this from an online sermon. "if you do not want to spend a little time with Jesus today, what makes you think you will want to spend an eternity with Him in the future.”

1^st John 5:20-21  (20) And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (21) Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

  Anyone can understand the Bible, it was written for us, not for scholars or others to interpret for us, but for us to be able to do it for ourselves. It does require us to put in an effort. We cannot know Jesus through someone else. We have to build a relationship with Him personally. The only way is through our prayers and reading His word. The more we do the more the Bible become clearer and clearer for us to understand.