April 11, 2006
-
Read a comment on someone’s site that they were asked how much they read the Bible, the person asking read theirs two hours a day. The comment stated that they had read the Bible twice through, and now felt that that two hours would be better put to use in helping others.
Oh my heart went out to that person and I pointed out that a musician or an athlete has to practice. We too need to hone our spiritual swords, with the Bible. And if we spend the time in the Bible, we will be far more effective in the world, and most probably would be doing more what God wants us to do by being in His Word.
And that there is a depth in the Bible that can only be found by reading after reading and spending time. (my response is a paraphrase of the comment and my reply).
But it brought to mind something I learned from Pastor Don years ago, and he repeated recently in our Discipleship Class. Given the time of the year and the fact that, while I am sharing Revelation with you, I am currently back in Genesis enjoying the Beginning of the Bible, and seeing so much were the Beginning lays the foundation for the End. Reminds me of the movie the Neverending Story.
Anyway in Genesis 5 there is a geneology (or as I used to say a begat chapter, and had little use for them until you realize just how much God could put in the begats). Here are the names from Adam to Noah and his three sons – and what their names mean in Hebrew:
ADAM -mankind
SETH – appointed, to turn the face toward
ENOSH – a mortal, grievous sorrow, calamity
CAINAN -lament, mourn
MAHALALEL – god who is praised
JARED – comes down
ENOCH – to instruct, to consecrate
METHUSELAH – to die, to be sent forth as a prophet
LAMECH – to be smitten, scourged
NOAH – to give rest.
(if you read the meanings from Adam to Noah you have the salvation given to us by Jesus presented in the geneology of Adam to Noah – God had it so much in His control, now read a bit further by the following three names’ meanings.”
SHEM – renown
HAM – burning
JAPETH – widespread, world-wide
And now the gospel is being spread world-wide.
I get shivers when I see how much God loves us, and how far-reaching His plan is.
Heather
Comments (21)
Wow….I’ve read my Bible through every year for at least 10 years and counting and I KNOW that I could read it every year the rest of my life and never know it fully. We can never stop studying. God shows me something new every time.
Have a blessed day!
Michele
Amen to yours and even the comment above. I’ve been a Christian since age 16, and although I “know” a lot of scriptures, I still need to read, and like Michele, they speak to me differently each time…they’re the living word of God, our food…to stop reading is to starve yourself spiritually. in Him, Gerrie
The New Testament took on a whole new excitement when I began to delve into the Old Testament… The completeness and fullness of God and His Word never ceases to amaze me. By Jesus’ own words, Mary chose what was best while Martha spent her time too busy to hear a fresh word from her Lord ~She missed the blessing. No matter how many times I read a single verse… God gives me fresh insight ~ I believe that’s why it’s called The Living Word! Be blessed today Heather.
Sherry
Howdy-subscribe away.
To be successful in our walk of faith we must constantly study the Bible. Joshua 1:8 says, This book of the law (the Bible) shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall MEDITATE IN IT DAY AND NIGHT, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Note: To be successful we are to follow God’s instruction to Joshua. We should read our Bibles until Jesus comes, because we are forever learning. Its just like watching a program on television over again, you all ways see something that you missed.
Heather, we are in agreement with you in prayer for this person.
Stay encouraged in your walk of faith and Remember, God loves You And So Do We. *******
Good point on the reading idea. I think He will make our time go much further when we put Him first. Just like our money where He has promised to bless us beyond our capacity to receive. He can make us so much more useful in our time if He is first!
Tim
Fascinating.
Your post inspire me daily Heather…just thought you should know that! Keep it up! Have a blessed day! ~Gena~
A person can never get enough of reading the Bible. It is food for our spirit, we would die without it, like our body would die from lack of natural food.
That is really an interesting post…I’m going to have to print that out and save it….thanks,
Mike
I agree here, although I think there’s a “happy medium” to be found. If all we do is spend two hours a day reading the bible yet never reach out and help others in the community, are we serving God?
I always liked the coach metaphor that was told to me: Church (or reading the bible, etc.) is like the locker room just before a game. We get the motivating speech and the information we need to play the game. But we can’t spend all day in practice–or in the locker room. We must also go out and ‘play the game’ by spreading and sharing God’s love.
I just felt compelled to comment once again on this subject. While I agree that there should be time everyday spent helping others and serving God… I really can’t understand why anyone would think that 2 hours of time in God’s Word and/or practicing solitude at His feet is somehow too much time. It is a matter of what is most importance to us. If we wrote down how much time we spend on the computer, watching TV, talking on the phone, working overtime, etc… there would be no contest at why the majority of Christians feel exhausted and burned out~ they are walking in their own power instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. Are we trying to please God or man with all of our service? It is a slippery slope that most Christians get on… We do lots of things “in the name of Jesus” that really have nothing to do with Him at all. Faith without works is most definitely dead ~ but works without being filled up to overflowing with the power of the Holy Spirit is worthless! And that filling only comes from spending much needed time in the Word, prayer and learning to be still before Him. Sorry to rant. ~Sherry
Our God truly is a loving God. No matter how many times I have read the Bible it seems sometimes the simplest things jump right out at me that I have messed over and over again. That is why its a living word.
Love ya, Darlena
WHOA! Now that is cool!!!!
I love reading the comments you get. This person you are writing about just goes to show how you can read the Word and miss the message.
Amen, preach it girl! “We too need to hone our spiritual swords, with the Bible. And if we spend the time in the Bible, we will be far more effective in the world, and most probably would be doing more what God wants us to do by being in His Word.”
Powerful statement.
That’s a neat geneology you have going on! Thanks for sharing!! Love Always,E.
wow.. thats intersting.. I also know the life of Joseph and Jesus kinda go together in the stuff they went though.
Christina
You left one name off your post that surprised me. The name Yeshua, the name of the life that we refer to as Jesus. Yeshua would perhaps be the best name for us to call him, not only since it was his name when he walked the planet, but because in Hebrew it means, Salvation or, Lord who is Salvation. Just a thought. Sometimes things get lost and forgotten in translation.
Thanks for the above post. Also the reply on my site. Very insightful. It is intriguing to me that so many of us do not even realize that Jesus was not even his real name. And of those that know it wasn’t, I wonder how many know the meaning of his name. Ever wonder why it would have been changed? What were we trying to do? Who were we trying to appeal to? Why would we change his name to something with no intrinsic value from something that is so appropriate?
Thanks for your input today. Very good. Very person insight from you and I appreciate your sharing. justmarty
Yeshua is in this list, shines through splendidly, but this was the genelogy from Adam to Noah.
Heather
Heather ~ This is the last comment to this post…I promise
, but I had to share a short story that I read from a friend’s xanga today referencing the importance of spending time with the Lord:
One man challenged another to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had.
“I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.”
“But you didn’t notice,” said the winning woodsman, “that I was sharpening my ax when I sat down to rest.”
Hi Heather, nice to meet you! I find that the more you read the Word the more you desire to read the Word…there really is Life in it and it really does change you from the inside out. It is more addictive than chocolate!
You asked about the Waking the Dead study…it is great…we have done some Beth Moore stuff (actually, my brother in law-Bill Cox-produces all of her videos! How cool is that?) John Eldridge doesnt’ require as much actual Bible study, but he asks a lot of thought provoking questions…that help you with your walk. Waking the Dead is a must read in my opinion. looking forward to getting to know you better hereafter! blessings