Bible Reading - Tumblr Posts
I enjoyed reading these Bible verses today — Acts 17:24-31 (NIV). ❤️
#God #Jesus #Bible #resurrection #hope #Bibleverses #Biblereading #reading
This evening I finished the Gospel according to John, and I believe I read it in about a little over a week because I missed 2 days. I also enjoyed reading the Psalms and take 3-4 chapters or as much as I want and need. In addition, I started reading simultaneously a timeless classic in Christian literature, The Purpose Driven Life, which I had borrowed and traveled with an old, worn-out copy from my aunt back home.
This isn't the first time I tried reading the Bible (neither the other book - I remember having read it as a teenager) regularly, but I'm trying to build a spiritual practice and discipline. So far I wake up early morning and read the devotional and then pages from OT and NT, then write my notes and important verses in a notebook, before going to work. Sometimes I catch up on a little more reading in the evening before bed.
Some things I wish to improve in my spiritual life has to be prayer and fasting. Remembering God continually, asking for His guidance, and trusting that He hears. I actually had one of my prayers answered this morning rather quickly I literally fell to my knees. I was praying about how I didn't talk to Him more, I felt rather distant, and wasteful of my spending and eating habits (I specifically mentioned fasting as a way to repent), and when I turned on my phone I see the verse of the day notification from my Bible app, and it says:
““Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
Joel 2:12-13 NIV
And I was floored. I literally fell to my knees, and I praised God because I know I worship a living God who hears. This has happened to me many times when I pray sincerely to ask about something, and He answers (most notably a few months ago when I cried to Him to reveal Himself and tell me which religion to follow, but that's for another story).
Even today I had my moments of unbelief... But God is faithful. He continues to reveal Himself to me, so I know He is God. And we fix our eyes on Jesus, because He is the perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2 NIV).
Lord, let me believe.
Bible study notes: Gospel of John, Acts, Romans
I had finished the book of Acts yesterday evening, in about a week since I finished the Gospel according to John (I decided to skip the first three gospels for some reason, then just planned to continue on until Paul’s letters; I will come back to it before I finish the NT with Revelation). I had a lot of notes from John, mainly affirming Jesus’ authority, divinity, teaching and resurrection.
A memorable scene for me (as I typically imagine the story play out in my head while reading) is towards the end when the Risen Christ sits down, eats and talks with Peter and John, the disciple he loves, who also says to have written the book. After previously being denied three times when He was being tried, Jesus gives Peter a chance to redeem himself in an almost poetic, parallel manner:
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
John 21:15-17 NKJV
There are many important events in the gospel, but to me that was the most heartfelt and impactful. How the Lord is so good and faithful, even to us who fail Him! Truly He is God and Savior. I was even more in love with Jesus.
And indeed Peter redeems himself—in the next book, Acts, he preached Jesus everywhere, despite facing persecution from both Romans and Jews. As Jesus said to Peter, “On this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” We see the apostles laboring to get the church off the ground. They were brave and emboldened by the Spirit, and did many wonders in Jesus’ name. I truly believe the apostles’ testimony of the Risen Christ. This is the cause of our faith: the apostles testified that Jesus is the Messiah, and that He rose from the dead, and we must repent and be baptized so we may be forgiven for our sins.
Again, one of my favorite “scenes” from this is when the crowd had plotted to kill Peter and the apostles who miraculously escaped from jail with God’s help, and a council teacher named Gamaliel stands up to them and says:
[…] keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
Acts 5:38-39 NKJV
And it made me think, yes! Indeed it is the work of God. If our faith was in vain, it would not have survived and persisted for 2000 years amidst all challenges. How else could you explain that a small group of men started what pretty much was a cult that was heavily persecuted during those times, and that became a dominant global religion that it is today? Jesus told the disciples to preach and baptize “to the ends of the earth” and said, “I will be with you to the end of age.”
God is faithful! In Romans, Paul writes “If God is for us, who can be against us?” In this first book of letters he shows his incredible reasoning and oratory skills. He argues between law and grace, how salvation came first to the Jews then to the Gentiles, and both are equally saved by the same faith in Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: translations, how I read and study, and keeping reverence for the Bible
I have been reading the Bible for about two weeks now. I use NKJV personal size by Thomas Nelson, and I absolutely love it. It’s large print, easy to read, leather copy cover, big and sturdy to hold which makes reading that much more enjoyable. I like my bible clean, I don’t make any marks, and I take good care of it, not only because it cost me money, but also I believe there is a way to study and show respect for the Bible. One thing I realized is that I don’t need to make too many highlights or notes simultaneously. Sometimes the busyness makes you think you’re understanding when you’re actually not, so it’s better to simply read and enjoy and reflect on the text. I can always deep dive a second time. This is how I feel I can go through the Bible quite easily. At this rate I might finish the NT in less than two weeks.
False apostles
“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!”
II Corinthians 11:3-4 NKJV
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
II Corinthians 11:13-14 NKJV
Paul's Thorn in the Flesh
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
II Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
True Peace
