04/16/2023
The Bible is approximately 1,500 pages long, depending on your version. Because of the voluminous material in its pages, most Christians find it difficult to read all the way through, but reading through it is imperative for anyone who wants to grow correctly in their Christian walk. It takes deliberate determination and encouragement to get through it the first time, making reading the bible from cover to cover one of the most important projects a Christian will undertake. However, just reading the bible is not enough. Principles must be extracted to help us develop a firm foundation for making decisions and understanding how to live the Word. The first principle displayed as we read through Genesis and Exodus, is FAITH. Among many examples, Abram agrees to go to a land he knows not, by Faith (Genesis 12:1-4). Miracles, particularly in Exodus, demonstrate why they (and we) should believe in God. In Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the principle of ORDER is displayed as God organizes the Israelites for holiness so that He can live among them. In Deuteronomy (30:19) and Joshua (24:15), the Israelites are given a choice to obey, or not to obey the word of God and given the consequences for either choice. Standing up for the Word of God requires COURAGE! Joshua is told to be courageous as he leads the Israelites into the Promised Land (Joshua 1:7). He needed it! In the Book of Judges, courageous individuals were installed as judges. Although we can observe all these principles throughout the bible, some are more prominent in specific books of the bible. The principle of WISDOM becomes prominent in 1 Samuel through the Book of Esther, with story after story of those who heard, understood, and applied the Word of God, versus those who didn’t, and the consequences they experienced. The principle of PRAYER becomes prominent in the book of Psalms. David was a master psalmist! There is nothing like a good worship service to get you in the mood to hear the Word! In the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the Lord Jesus Christ teaches us what GIVING is all about with His ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Further, in the book of Acts, we see the application of Giving among early Christians. The book of Acts, along with the Epistles highlights lessons in UNITY. These seven principles are articulated in 2 Peter 1:5-7. The apostle Peter concludes in verse 8, “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” NLT 🙏
