Let’s get started on what? This is a great question. Let’s get started on reading the Bible. I have personally found that my reading of the Bible has helped me in coping with all the difficulties of my life. I know that it will do the same for you. Its pages are filled with the stories of men and women who have had shortcomings, some huge, some small. However, when they put their trust in the God of the Bible their lives changed and they went on to do significant things that are all chronicled in the pages of the Bible.
Bible teachers (including myself) have suggested that a beginner should start by reading the Gospel of John or in other translations, the Gospel according to St. John. The beloved Apostle John writes in simple language and most of all stress the divinity of Jesus the Christ. He gives us an inside look at the other Apostles which is quite informative.
What if a member or members of my family cannot read? Then you can read to them, get an audio Bible, install a free app, or teach them to read or get them to go to reading classes. There is a whole new world awaiting readers in general and of the Bible in particular.
Long before I became a member of Gideon’s International I came across an interesting foreword in the New Testament printed to be distributed for free worldwide, I will reproduce it here:
‘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 traveller’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Here Paradise is restored, Heaven opened, and the gates 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 will be remembered forever, it involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents’.
In our beautiful island of St. Lucia, we all need to do our part to help each other. This nation is a great nation under God and we must teach our people to read the Bible. We all need to be biblically literate.
So what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
Greetings to you brother Steven Lambert, it is indeed very encouraging to read from
time to time of the many of our brothers in Christ, coming forward with the ‘Word’ of
encouragement to the young particularly, but really to all concerned to read, or better
still, to listen via ‘Audio Bible’ thanks to modern technology. One of my sons, who I
feared for, having achieved and gained much in career, financially, materially and in every
respect but not that as pertains to the ‘Word’, shocked me a couple months ago to tell me
that he has begone reading the Bible again. Well I must confess it was my fault due to lack
of faith not trusting in what I pray for, because I pray daily not only for my own but for many
to come back to the fold. My family are pretty well close enough but boys will be boys.He took
pride in telling me,”dad I wanted to start right from the beginning, in the King James Version
with Genesis.” Because of his background, he is a perfectionist, and thrives for the absolute
best. He listens Via Audio, by a British translator (he was born in London) maybe that’s why.
Now, you mentioned saying …”doom of sinners” can I just say, we are all sinners, “all have
sinned and come short of the Glory of God” but thanks to Christ Jesus who by his sacrificial
death on the Cross, whoever believes and ‘repents’ is Saved, I as a sinner have been working
out my Salvation for a long time, just to make sure of my election. I urge all to Read, Pray &
stay steadfast as you said, the very ‘Word’ will Wash, Cleans and Purify you into a new man.
It saddens me reading of the constant shooting and other crimes in St.Lucia. Its time that we
should step down from the Pulpit, meet the people on the Streets and talk Jesus to them, one
on one, tell them the time is near – as I know, it really is. God bless you my brother, keep reading.
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