To Learn

Wow! Just wow...God has been so good to me, I can't even begin to praise His name for all He has done for me this past semester in school.  Let's just say I'm glad it's over and I'm definitely ready to be moving on to the next chapter of my life!!  My parents have been such blessing to me throughout this whole journey to getting my Associates.  Speaking of school, I read this verse today and here are my thoughts.  :-)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." ~Romans 15:4


Many things have been written down throughout time for others to read and remember what was written.  History is written so that we may remember where we came from and what others have done wrong in the past so we may not repeat their mistakes.  Letters are written down so that the recipient can know what the writer has said and feels.  How To books are written to pass information from one entity to a person so they can learn and know what is meant to be done.

The Bible was written so that we could read it and understand what God has planned.  Through the Bible God is able to "talk" to us and show us His will for our lives.  Granted, we may not be able to look at it and find out if we are supposed to become car salesmen or biologists, but it shows us things that are much more important to our lives than careers.

The Bible shows us how we should act and think.  In Philippians 4:8, it talks about the thoughts that should be prevalent in our minds.  How often do we really think about what we're, well...thinking?  What thoughts are always present in our minds?  Life isn't simple moving throughout our day with no feelings at all for those around us.  We are always looking at the people around us and having thoughts about them, or circumstances surrounding them without really focusing on what is being thought.

I will catch myself many times thinking about someone or something before I realize that what I'm thinking isn't always the best.  God tells us in the Bible to always lift up those around us instead of tearing them down, but if all we think about someone is negative thoughts, how can we build them up?  The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 that what is in our hearts will come forth through our speech and actions.  In Matthew 15:11, Jesus was telling others that what is eaten does not make us unclean, but what we say and do.  Works may not be able to redeem us, but they do a very good job condemning us in our places.

There is but one way we can be completely redeemed and have the ability to approach our Heavenly Father, and that is through Christ's blood.  He came down to Earth from Heaven so that we may have the joy and hope of what is to come when we return to Heaven.

The Bible was written so that we may learn.  It may not always be in the way we may expect in our lives, but God has a perfect plan.  It's amazing the things we can learn from a single scripture, even if it is seemingly insignificant at first.

What is God trying to teach you when you read The Bible?  Are you listening to His instruction, or are you reading to check off a box?

God did not write anything in the Bible that is not important.  Focus, listen, share what you learn.