Through the Bible in One Year

In the year 2000 some missionaries visited our primary school and as I later learnt, their mission was to preach the gospel of Christ and in addition distribute the New Testament bible by The Gideons International. 

A copy of which I have until now.

In its first pages, it is written:

“The BIBLE contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are Holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilots compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christians charter. Here paradise is restored, Heaven opened and the gate of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.”

I have always wanted to commit to read my bible cover to cover (Genesis to Revelation) although I believe I have read 90%, or may I say perhaps. In 2010, I had come up with a plan to ensure I accomplish this desire. Every day I read 3 to 4 chapters. I was doing well until my long vacation ended and returned to do my final year at the university. The zeal faded slowly as I succumbed to the pressures of a final year engineering student! I had read half way through the bible.

2014, I am back at it again, starting at the beginning. By the grace of God I am holding on to the schedule and pursuing this course to the end.

I had usually wrestled with the idea that it was not important to read my entire bible. What I esteemed was whether I practiced the word that I know. I believed and still do that one could find great revelation in just one scripture of the bible. Reading my bible cover to cover appeared to me as a religious activity that makes those involved feel a sense of accomplishment. Further, there is a great difference in reading and studying, reading and understanding, reading and perceiving. Understanding the scriptures is the key thing and getting insight the distinguishing factor.

However, abstaining from committing to read my entire bible has not helped me gain the understanding and revelation that I so desire in my life. I have realized that reading the bible is not the hindrance, but the person (in this case myself) is the hindrance to tapping into that insight and revelation. The reading is not religious until first the person is! The result of this type of reading the scriptures is just acquisition of mare information and events in the bible. It is through prayer and the involvement of the Holy Spirit that the information is turned to knowledge and the knowledge refined to insight, revelation and understanding. These two are the game changer.

Prayer will help cultivate the right attitude and a meek heart that can receive the implanted word of God. The heart of stone is changed to be a heart of flesh which is the good soil in which the seed can grow and yield much fruit. The Holy Spirit helps us to know and understand the inner things in the Scriptures and so we do know the mind and the will of God.

Notice therefore, that without reading there can be no study and hence no information which can be acted upon to result in the understanding of the will of God.

I have also noted that there is a significant difference between reading a verse in the bible and reading a chapter. Similarly you gain a better perspective in reading a book in its entirety (say the book of Numbers) than a chapter in the same book. 

Let no voice of the enemy cheat you that you cannot read the bible cover to cover or there is no benefit. Although it requires a great deal of discipline it solidifies your Spiritual Disciplines. 

For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. (Romans 15:4, Amp)

Please find the one year bible reading plan here.

I should be glad when I hear your feedback. Shalom.

Will You Sing the Resurrection Song? Part 2

In the first part of this important question, I advanced to you three hindrances on why many of us would not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today we are examining the narrow gate that leads to the eternal life. Let us look at Luke 13: 22 - 25 (NIV);

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

Jesus Christ in this scriptural passage is showing that there are many people willing to enter into the Kingdom of God, but unfortunately, they will not be able to! Instead of answering the anonymous question directly, He tells them what to do;

That is, make every effort to enter through the narrow door. To understand the narrow door clearly, Apostle Mathew also wrote similarly in Mathew 7:13-14

 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

This implies that even though the innocent blood of Jesus Christ has been shed for all, not many will enter into this promise. Remember the popular phrases we kept on encountering in part 1, " Many are called but few are chosen" and " The last shall be the first and the first the last"

Apostle Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:11 -12,

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,  and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In this, he shows that there remains a choice for us to continually make as part of living our faith.

Apostle Paul wraps this in Philipians 2:12-13

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

From the teachings of Christ and the scripture it is evident that the we must actively pursue the Kingdom of Heaven with obedience, humility and reverence!

Dear friend, I pray that the LORD may keep you steadfast in the faith and keep you from evil so that you and I may be found worthy to receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Shalom.

Will You Sing the Resurrection Song? Part 1

Sunday school was awesome. Among the things it inspired in me, was how life after death would be so sweet in heaven. I had painted this picture in my imagination of an endless life free from trouble, spent feasting on the choicest fruits and befriending all the animals in the planet. The picture has evolved a lot in my imagination over the years as I continually learn the truths of the Kingdom of God.

It was while reflecting on some teachings of Christ that I realized that it may not be that easy entering into that Kingdom for so many of us. So sad!

Case 1: Lacking Just One Thing (Mathew 19:16 – 25)

A young man came to Jesus Christ and asked, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" This would be a question anyone would ask Christ if we had an opportunity to. The question was both serious and personalized. The young man was so resolved in his heart that he did not want to miss heaven and was willing to cast out any doubt that he may have had as to whether he was qualified.

The giver of life himself was right there to respond and he did, “if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

The young man must have been puzzled by the simple answer and just to clarify there were no commandments he did not know of, he asked, "Which ones?"

Jesus spoke of the Ten Commandments and the young man said, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?"

Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And in conclusion Christ said in Mathew 19:30, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

This statement puzzles me and you ought to consider it too. The young man had met the religious standard but was faulted on one thing only. He was not willing to part with his riches. What is that one thing that may make you miss on the Kingdom of Heaven? What is that one thing you are unwilling to surrender? Because sadly for many of us who are Christians already, it will be just one thing! Unforgiveness, lustfulness, bitterness, envy, pride, lying……

Case 2: It is by the Grace of God to enter into the Kingdom of God (Mathew 20) 

To illustrate more on how the first shall be the last and the last the first, Jesus Christ went on to tell of a parable of the laborers in the vineyard. The first laborers were hired early in the morning (perhaps at 6 am) and agreed on a denarius a day as the wages. At 9 am, the housemaster still hired other workers for the same wages. He did likewise at 12 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm.

When the job was done at 6pm, he started by paying those who came at 5 pm a denarius and when the turn came for those who had toiled all day from 6 am, they thought they will receive more. But the housemaster paid them a denarius. The bible says they murmured against the housemaster. They must have felt violated for their toil to be equated to those who came at 5 pm.

The housemaster reminded them, he had a right to be generous and their contract was not breached after all as they had agreed a denarius a day!

We are living in a world system that is so reward based. You are paid by your input. But it is not so with the Kingdom, we are only recipients of grace. Salvation and eternal life is the gift of God and cannot be earned. Whoever is found working in the vineyard of Christ when He returns will receive the same gift of a denarius which is eternal life.

Jesus Christ again concluded by saying in Mathew 20:26, "So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."

Isn’t it what the older Christian folks may be tempted to feel when they see the recent converts of faith? Yet in Christ’s view, the first may be the last. Many years of being a Christian could breed a familiarity that may lead to contempt. And those who are more recent in faith may be found more worthy to enter into the Kingdom of God. A point to be cautious about and even more careful as the time draws near. Does not the bible say, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith? Test yourselves.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]. 1 Corinthians 10:12

Case 3: The Careless (Mathew 22)

We have all seen those job advertisement with the caveat ‘X is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of ……..’ So it is with the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is likened to a king who made a marriage feast for his son. He sent for those invited but they would not come. He again sent for them saying, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage.”

But not caring, they went their ways, one to his field, and another to his trading.

This parable explains it all; why some people will not enter the kingdom of God. They simply do not care! They would rather go to their fields and businesses than go to the King’s marriage feast even though he has prepared everything for them. Put yourself in the king’s shoes for a moment and imagine the feeling after your invited guests do not care to come and the banquet is ready.

In fact to add insult to injury, they treated the king’s messenger spitefully and killed them. So the king was angry and sent his army to destroy the murderers and burnt their cities. This is what will happen to this world! I wonder what businesses you will be waking up to, that is if you will wake up?

The king was heard telling his servants, “The wedding is ready, but they who were invited were not worthy.” How sad!

Yet the marriage feast had to go on, and those in the streets both good and bad were made guests.

Again Christ concluded in Mathew 22:14, "For many are called, but few are chosen." My Bishop calls it the selection of the selection.

Will you sing a resurrection song? Will you be among the numbers? 

Part 2 coming soon. Please feel free to give feedback.