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Bible study can be one of the most exciting things a
person has ever undertaken. I would liken your study of God's Inspired
Word to taking a trip to some country to which you have never been. You
know virutally nothing about the country nor the trip; it is a totally
new experience. However, this does not discourage you from wanting to
get started. So let's go!
The first thing about taking any trip, is you must
prepare for that trip. May I suggest some things I believe important?
You must begin prayerfully. The psalmist wrote, "Open thou mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law". (Psalms 119: 18).
James, the brother of our Lord said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let
him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given Him". (James 1: 5).
Secondly, safety is important. In fact, it has become a
way of life in America. We are told constantly, "buckle up for safety",
etc. We teach our children to walk, ride, and play safely. Bible study
must be approached carefully also. God promised Israel an inheritance,
"only if thou care- " (Deuteronomy 15: 5). fully hearken unto the voice
of the Lord thy God - . ." (Deuteronomy 15: 5). Again, this trip
requires reverence. Psalms Chapter 111, verse 9 says, ". . . holy and
reverend is his name". The outcome of this trip depends upon your
reverence to God and His Word. The psalmist writes again for us saying,
"Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in
awe of thy word". (Psalms 119: 161).
Fourthly, this trip must be taken intently. "Ask, and it
shall be give you: seek, and you shall find: Knock, and it shall be
opened unto you" (Matt.7: 7).
I believe another necessary requirement for Bible study
is trust. We must study trustingly. You need to realize quickly that
you will not always understand why God says certain things, but "Trust
in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).
A final point I feel necessary to mention about your
trip is: it's a daily thing. God's word is spiritual food and drink. No
man can live long without food and water physically. Neither can one
live long spiritually, so make it a daily habit. "These were more noble
than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all
readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those
things were so" (Acts 17: 11).
Now we are ready for our trip. First, the Bible is a
library consisting of sixty-six books under one cover, called the Holy
Bible. it is broken into two major divisions called Old Testament and
New Testament, or two covenants, (Galatians 4:24). The Old Testament
consists of 39 books. The first five (5), Genesis through Deuteronomy,
are called law. The next twelve (12), Joshua through Esther, are
History. From Job through Solomon are considered Poetry. The final
seventeen (17) are Prophecy, called major and minor prophecies. They
are considered major and minor only because of their size. From Isaiah
through Daniel are major or large prophecies and Hosea through Malachi
are minor or small prophecies.
The New Testament is divided into twenty-seven (27)
books which may be grouped into five distinct classifications. The
first four (4) Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are biography, dealing
with the life of Christ. The fifth book, Acts is just that the acts of
the apostles, telling us how to get into Christ and his church. The
next twenty-one (21) tell Christians how to live after they get into
Christ, and they range from Romans through Jude. The final book is
Revelation. This book is a book of prophecy telling of Christ and his
church from beginning until its climactic entry into heaven.
One final word. Please study your Bible systematically.
Do not sit down and let it fall open to some place and read. If you do,
you most surely will be confused.
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