The Good Book (The Best Book)
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
That verse is telling me that the Bible is a guiding light, one that shines on the paths we follow on our journey in life.
Growing up, I never read the Bible because we weren’t taught to do so. Instead, we had Catechism, which was taught by the devout mothers of the church who had time to dedicate an hour each week to this class. Catechism taught us about the Creed, the Sacred Liturgy, and the Sacraments.
Now, you might be wondering what those three things are. In short, the Creed was a vow that expressed our belief in Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the Holy Catholic Church. The Liturgy encompassed the collective rites, ceremonies, prayers, and sacraments of the Catholic Church. The Sacraments included baptism, communion, penance, confirmation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and the holy orders.
It was a lot for young minds to take in, and we started early. First graders began by learning the prayers recited during Mass. However, throughout our education, we never once sat down and opened a Bible to a chapter or a verse.
I personally sat down a few years ago and began reading the Bible, but I approached it as if I were reading any other book, from cover to cover. However, this method is not suitable for reading the Bible. It’s not comprehensible to read it in this manner, and I wasn’t grasping the meaning of what I was reading. To make matters worse, the Bible I was using was a King James Version, and the language in it was simply too difficult to understand.
Just over a year ago, when I started attending services at Faith Tabernacle, I decided to read the Bible again. This time, I chose a New Living Translation Version and used a Bible study book to guide me through the text and enhance my understanding.
If you know me, you know that I’m an avid reader, and my book shelves are a testament to that. You’ll even find a section on one of my shelves dedicated to Bibles, some of which are quite old. There was a period in my life when I was particularly drawn to them. Perhaps I’ve always been searching for the right time in my life to pick one up and finally delve into it; to better understand God’s word.
Everyone has their own favorite book in the Bible, along with a particular verse that resonates with them. While Psalms and Proverbs are often chosen for their uplifting messages, the Bible also contains stories of wars, famine, destruction, and execution, filled with violence and bloodshed. These passages can be challenging to read, and it’s natural to want to move on to something more pleasant.
Just as our own lives have moments when we desire to turn the page and start a new chapter, the Bible offers a similar sense of renewal and hope. For me, it’s the beginning of the Bible, the book of Genesis, as it recounts the creation of man and woman, that God is the Creator of all things, and it sets up the story of God, his people, and his ultimate purpose for all humanity.
Other books that hold a special place in my heart include Psalms and Proverbs, as well as the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books provide a detailed account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection, offering a profound message of love, forgiveness, and redemption.
The Bible has a way of speaking to everyone, and it’s up to us to open it up and turn the pages, to allow the stories to unfold. Perhaps it will inspire us to share His words with others, spreading His message of love and hope.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
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 corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
That verse is telling me that the Bible is a guiding light, one that shines on the paths we follow on our journey in life.
Growing up, I never read the Bible because we weren’t taught to do so. Instead, we had Catechism, which was taught by the devout mothers of the church who had time to dedicate an hour each week to this class. Catechism taught us about the Creed, the Sacred Liturgy, and the Sacraments.
Now, you might be wondering what those three things are. In short, the Creed was a vow that expressed our belief in Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the Holy Catholic Church. The Liturgy encompassed the collective rites, ceremonies, prayers, and sacraments of the Catholic Church. The Sacraments included baptism, communion, penance, confirmation, anointing of the sick, marriage, and the holy orders.
It was a lot for young minds to take in, and we started early. First graders began by learning the prayers recited during Mass. However, throughout our education, we never once sat down and opened a Bible to a chapter or a verse.
I personally sat down a few years ago and began reading the Bible, but I approached it as if I were reading any other book, from cover to cover. However, this method is not suitable for reading the Bible. It’s not comprehensible to read it in this manner, and I wasn’t grasping the meaning of what I was reading. To make matters worse, the Bible I was using was a King James Version, and the language in it was simply too difficult to understand.
Just over a year ago, when I started attending services at Faith Tabernacle, I decided to read the Bible again. This time, I chose a New Living Translation Version and used a Bible study book to guide me through the text and enhance my understanding.
If you know me, you know that I’m an avid reader, and my book shelves are a testament to that. You’ll even find a section on one of my shelves dedicated to Bibles, some of which are quite old. There was a period in my life when I was particularly drawn to them. Perhaps I’ve always been searching for the right time in my life to pick one up and finally delve into it; to better understand God’s word.
Everyone has their own favorite book in the Bible, along with a particular verse that resonates with them. While Psalms and Proverbs are often chosen for their uplifting messages, the Bible also contains stories of wars, famine, destruction, and execution, filled with violence and bloodshed. These passages can be challenging to read, and it’s natural to want to move on to something more pleasant.
Just as our own lives have moments when we desire to turn the page and start a new chapter, the Bible offers a similar sense of renewal and hope. For me, it’s the beginning of the Bible, the book of Genesis, as it recounts the creation of man and woman, that God is the Creator of all things, and it sets up the story of God, his people, and his ultimate purpose for all humanity.
Other books that hold a special place in my heart include Psalms and Proverbs, as well as the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These books provide a detailed account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection, offering a profound message of love, forgiveness, and redemption.
The Bible has a way of speaking to everyone, and it’s up to us to open it up and turn the pages, to allow the stories to unfold. Perhaps it will inspire us to share His words with others, spreading His message of love and hope.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
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 corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
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