Know Your Bible!

Know your Bible! There is no better instruction book on the market. It will address the issues of the heart and therefore the issues of life. It will guide you in the right way and will always give you the truth. It tells the most important story every recorded in history and shares the deepest love ever shared. Read it often. Follow @pastorbarr

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9 

Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105

If you enjoy Daily Wisdom  Tidbits, you will love Pastor Jim's book: For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom.  

For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom is a collection of meaningful and powerful reflections from real life experiences coupled with practical biblical wisdom. Going beyond the normal inspirational book, For His Glory unveils a kaleidoscope of commonsense precepts that challenges the reader to discover the wonders of living for God's glory. Eye-opening, life changing and easy to understand, For His Glory will enrich your life.

More Than Knowledge

There are many good reasons why a person should know their Bible. The Bible contains the wisdom to live right; and the wisdom found in scripture will help you avoid trouble and live a long life. The list of benefits could go on and on. 

Nevertheless, the Bible is more than a book of knowledge. It is a love letter wishing to bridge the gap of a broken relationship between fallen mankind and their creator. The reading of the Bible should do more than just the share of knowledge. Reading the Bible should bring the reader into an intimate relationship with God.

Unfortunately, many read the Bible with the sole desire to gain knowledge. Although a knowledge of the teaching of scripture will benefit almost anyone, the real purpose of scripture is to mend a broken relationship because of sin and to grow a closer relationship between you and God. 

When you open your Bible to read it, remember that God wants you to know how precious you are to him; and He wishes to deepen the bond between you and Him. By doing so, you will find a new joy in reading the Bible. 

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. -Charles Spurgeon

May we suggest these Wisdom Tidbits: Communicate with God and Is The Bible Too Hard To Understand? 

For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom is a collection of meaningful and powerful reflections from real life experiences coupled with practical biblical wisdom. Going beyond the normal inspirational book, For His Glory unveils a kaleidoscope of commonsense precepts that challenges the reader to discover the wonders of living for God's glory. Eye-opening, life changing and easy to understand, For His Glory will enrich your life. 

Alone Time

There is great wisdom to be found in alone time with God. In a world filled with busyness and a culture that seems to demand social interaction, spending time alone with God has taken a backseat. The benefits are enormous including allowing God to speak to your heart and giving you time to unload all your cares and concerns on him. Take time to be alone with God. 

With Bible in hand and an attitude of prayer, make time to get alone with God. Share

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. -Mark 1:35

Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine By Max Lucado We talk about "grace periods," "falls from grace," "grace notes," and "graceful" dancers---but do we understand what this all-important word means when God uses it? In his latest faith-stretching, heartwarming volume, Lucado challenges readers to be changed, shaped, strengthened, emboldened, softened, and "shaken to their senses" by Jesus' radical mercy. Let it rock your world! 240 pages, softcover from Nelson.

Communicate

Definition of communicate: to convey knowledge of or information about: make known.

Communicate with God and allow God to communicate with you. Prayer is the means by which you communicate to God. The Bible is the means by which God communicates to you. The Holy Spirit makes it possible both ways. Pray often and read His word. Share 

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Colossians 4:2)

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. (Psalms 119:9)

Follow Pastor Jim Follow @pastorbarr

Why Should I Read the Bible Through?

By now many of you know that I have really been pushing people to read through the Bible. There is some reason to this madness! I cannot, in good faith, publish a blog titled Daily Wisdom Tidbit without acknowledging who is the true wisdom, Jesus Christ; and where you can find him.

The real blogger of wisdom is Jesus and the name of his blog is the Bible.

The little poem below sums up why you should read through the Bible J.B.

When I Read the Bible Through
by Amos R. Wells

I supposed I knew my Bible
    Reading piecemeal, hit and miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
    Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapters of Isaiah
    Certain Psalms (the twenty-third);
Twelfth of Romans, First of Proverbs
    Yes, I thought I knew the Word;
But I found that thorough reading
    Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
    When I read the Bible through.

Oh, the massive, mighty volume!
    Oh, the treasures manifold!
Oh, the beauty of the wisdom
    And the grace it proved to hold!
As the story of the Hebrews
    Swept in majesty along,
As it leaped in waves prophetic,
    As it burst to sacred song,
As it gleamed with Christly omens,
    The Old Testament was new,
Strong with cumulative power,
    When I read the Bible through.

Ah! Imperial Jeremiah,
    With his keen, coruscant mind;
And the blunt old Nehemiah,
    And Ezekiel refined!
Newly came the song idyllic,
    And the tragedy of Job;
Deuteronomy, the regal,
    To a towering mountain grew,
With its comrade peaks around it
    When I read the Bible through.

What a radiant procession
    As the pages rise and fall,
James the sturdy, John the tender
    Oh, the myriad-minded Paul!
Vast apocalyptic glories
    Wheel and thunder, flash and flame,
While the church triumphant raises
    One incomparable name.
Ah, the story of the Saviour
    Never glows supremely true
Till you read it whole and swiftly,
    Till you read the Bible through.

You who like to play at Bible,
    Dip and dabble, here and there,
Just before you kneel, aweary,
    And yawn thro' a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writings
    As you treat no other book
Just a paragraph disjointed,
    Just a crude, impatient look
Try a worthier procedure,
    Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
    When you read the Bible through.

Give yourself a gift of encouragement and inspiration or give a friend a gift of encouragement and wisdom. Check out For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom and take a peek inside. Also available for Kindle! 

A Noble Resolution

It has become the custom for many to make New Year Resolutions. While it is true that most New Year's Resolutions usually goes in one year and out the next, the following resolution by the famed Bible commentator Matthew Henry should stir our hearts and minds:

I do in the beginning of this New Year solemnly make a fresh surrender of myself, my whole self, body, soul, and spirit, to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, covenanting and promising, not in any strength of my own, for I am very weak, but in the strength of the grace of Jesus Christ, that I will endeavour this year to stand complete in all the Will of God. --Matthew Henry


A Must Read for 2018!
For His Glory: A Kaleidoscope of Wisdom is a kaleidoscope of commonsense precepts that challenges the reader to discover the wonders of living for God's glory. Eye-opening, life changing and easy to understand, For His Glory will enrich your life. Find out more and see what others are saying by clicking here.

Understanding God's Word

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13  

It is interesting the number of different ways that God makes known his will.  In the Old Testament, he spoke through a burning bush to Moses and in a small still voice to Elijah.  God disclosed his will in visions and dreams to the Prophets and, on one occasion, through a talking donkey. In the New Testament, the Apostles used the roll-of-the-dice (casting lots) for Judas’ replacement; and the Holy Spirit spoke to the collective church body to send Paul and Barnabas on the first New Testament missionary journey. 

In the both Old Testament and New Testament, it was the personal responsibility of the individual to be sensitive to the work of the Holy Spirit.  Moses had to hear and surrender to God through the burning bush.  Balaam had to listen to the donkey. Paul, Barnabas, and the church had to acknowledge and act on the Spirit’s instruction. 

Today we have the Holy Spirit that indwells the believer and the Word of God (The Bible) to speak to us.  The Word and Spirit are in harmony.  The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of the Word, and the Word is interpreted in the correct intent of the author since the author is the Holy Spirit.  

Unfortunately, we often look to the Word without seeking the help of the Spirit to interpret the correct intent and meaning. The Pharisees are a good example of stressing the letter of the law without the seeking the spirit of the Word.  When reading, studying or meditating on the Word of God, we should by prayer seek the Spirit to guide us into all truth. 

Pray for the guidance of the Spirit before reading the Word of God, after reading the Word of God, and while reading the Word of God.  He is indispensable in understanding it!

Is The Bible Too Hard To Understand?

I am often told by people that the Bible is too hard to understand and therefore they do not read it. What if the Bible read like a first grade reader? What then would they say? Could a book that reveals the nature and will of the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, be so shallow? R.A. Torrey addresses this issue:

It is clear that there must be difficulties for us in a revelation such as the Bible. If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication table, and say, 'This is the Word of God. In it He has revealed His whole will and wisdom,' I would shake my head and say, 'I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.' There must be, in any complete revelation of God's mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand; and the wisest and best of us are but beginners. 

 Nevertheless, God has made understanding the Bible easy for those who seek to know the LORD and find His will by giving us His Spirit as a teacher and a guide. Just like when Jesus spoke in parables so that only the sincere seekers could know the meaning, the Bible speak to those who seek to know him and his will -- and only to those that will allow the Spirit to teach them.

Are you seeking and are you willing to let the Lord's will become your will? Then let the Spirit help you search the scriptures.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things. Proverbs 28:5

Don't look for you strength in an energy drink.*

Don't look for your strength in an energy drink. Plug into the source of real strength by reading the Holy Scriptures.

The thing that will carry you through the day, the week, and all of life is the personal relationship you have with the Omnipotent Lord. Develop and enrich your relationship by discovering who he is and the promises he has made to those that receive him as Lord and Savor through reading and studying the Bible. When you know the character, love, and might of the Lord, the problems and task of life grow smaller.

The wisdom tidbit of the day is simple -- Read you Bible. It is your energy drink!

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  (Ephesians 5:26)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)

Develop that personal relationship with God by having daily devotions. Let For His Glory: 31 Daily Meditations help you get started. Take a peek inside.

Your Gut Is Not Inspired.

Your gut is not inspired. Feelings can be and often are deceiving.  It is much better to listen to God the Holy Spirit as He speaks and directs you from scripture. Solomon sought wisdom and God granted him his wish. It wasn't until he turned from God and listened to feelings and others that he found himself in trouble. 

Wisdom, true wisdom, is found in His Word and not in your gut. Let let the Holy Spirit guide you from the word of God and not a gut feeling. Follow @pastorbarr

Twain Wisdom

"It's not the hard-to-understand things in Scripture that make me tremble. Rather, it's those things I do understand." -Mark Twain