Do you have your own copy of the Bible? If you are reading this devotion, I assume the answer is “yes.” Most Christians have Bibles in several translations, and they may have Bibles in different languages as well. They also have easy access to Scripture online.
We should treat Scripture as a treasure, a limitless, infinite treasure. The more we “dig” into it, the more precious truth we uncover: truth that reveals who God is and what His will is for our lives.
Everything we need to live a godly life is written in the Bible (2 Peter 1:3). Even when we don’t find a specific answer for every situation, we can always find wise and trustworthy principles that guide us through daily life.
Jesus gave an example in Matthew 13:44: A man found a treasure hidden in a field, and he sold everything he owned to buy that field because the treasure was so valuable.
Jesus used this picture to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.
When we discover the treasure of God’s Kingdom revealed in Scripture and enjoy its benefits, we begin to desire it more than anything this world can offer.
So if you have access to a Bible, don’t let it sit unopened on a shelf. Read it daily. Dig into it often. Obey what it says. And enjoy the blessings it brings!
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(1) See a one-minute video about how persecuted Christians in China receive their first Bibles.
For more insights, see Hiding God’s Word in Our Hearts and Better than Morning Coffee.
BLN
Gail, I am very confused about the Israel Gaza war and the implications for Christians. Most say that we should stand with the current Israeli government, but others claim that the true chosen descendants are outside of Israel. I would love to hear where you stand on this. Thanks so much for your devotions, hope you are recovering well from your surgery!
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi,
DeleteYou ask a very relevant question.
First, as Christians we need to recognize that Islam is an evil religion. I hope you read my two devotions in that regard:
Christians, Make Sure You Understand Muslim Beliefs Accurately
The Religion Responsible for the Greatest Persecution of Christians
Secondly, despite the biased press reports, Hamas started the war with Israel and from the beginning it has been a war that shows the evil of Islam. Hamas is all about satanic cruelty: rape, beheading, sexual mutilation, burning alive, etc. and they purposely attack civilians if it fits their strategy.
Israel has also caused the death of civilians, but only as a biproduct of their attacks on Hamas, never as their objective. And this happens largely because Hamas chooses to have their military presence in places where civilians will be harmed so they can make false claims against Israel.
Regarding the ownership of the land: Muslim history is based largely on stealing/taking over lands that were not theirs. If that is their claim about Israel, they should do the same and return the lands they've stolen. From the internet:
"Muslims, through various empires and conquests spanning centuries, have historically taken over many countries and regions, including much of the Middle East, North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), and large parts of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. These were primarily military and political expansions led by Islamic caliphates and empires, such as the Umayyads, Abbasids, Seljuks, Ottomans, and Mughals. These historical conquests resulted in the establishment of long-lasting Muslim rule in these areas."
The U.S. recognized Israel as a Jewish country after WWII.
There are innocent people in Gaza, but Hamas is completely devoted to the destruction of Israel. It's not just about land. Satan is the author of Islam so Islam hates both Jews and Christians....this is according to their holy book, not simply an opinion. Their goal is to convert or kill whoever disagrees with them and Christians and Jews are their main target.
Most present-day Jews are not saved, but the Jews hold a special place in our salvation. The Apostles who first shared Christ with the world were Jews. They did their best to spread Christianity and saved people of every race and color. And Scripture tells us that God has special plans for the Jews. We should not justify anything Israel does that isn't ethical, but they will always have more ethics and more respect for human life than the Muslims.
This short article by Got Questions might help:
Should Christians support the nation of Israel?
Those who support Hamas have been blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:4) because many of them would be tortured, enslaved, or murdered by Hamas if they lived under Hamas rule. Only Satan could get intelligent people to call pro-Israel leaders Fascists and Nazis.