read in context (part5)

1,2 Tim - here are some words to pastors. Some of these we may not like though.

Also tells of the conditions of the final days but the most amazing thing, these could be very well, some of Paul's lasts words , so I am thinking it would be good to pay attention to what he has to say.

I guess this is another reason I believe we should be reading our Bibles and reading them correctly. Because, by the time one gets to the end of theirs lives, it is interesting what they are thinking. If we read this Bible wrong, it could be that when the time comes for us to die, we would be very afraid and I do not want that for myself

Paul knows what awaits and he knows we don't deserve Gods mercy.. Those who know that life is about, what's been done  , not what we do, have this assurance.

I like what Joey Feek said at the end of her life. She said she had no regrets.
Un believers can get to a point where they can say this too. The difference is, one has a foundation built on what you have done and one has a foundation on what God has done.
Guess it depends on who a person has more faith in. Themselves or God.

Titus - some more advice for pastors , along with some words concerning sound doctrine.

Not the first place this appears but its a good point to make.

How and why churches have become what I call "group therapy" is a most learning experience for the one who wants to discover how that happened.

And for the one who does not think modern church has become that, they are the ones that need to research it.

Forgive any "tone" that may accompany that but by not knowing what the emergent church is and its effects on the local body of believers , will have that person wandering for quite a long time. The challenge here , for the believer , is to watch out for those who mock sound doctrine.

Philemon - now here is an interesting chapter on what we might call forgiveness , acceptance but we should not confuse that with tolerance. Most times, we can tell when someone is sincere in their knowing when they have done something wrong. Nothing worse than a phony apology and we need discernment in knowing the difference.

Hebrews - I try to stay away from having a favorite book of the Bible or a favorite verse. Nothing wrong with it. In fact having passages that bless us most is kinda cool. Its just that so much of the same thing is said in so many places throughout that it is hard to pin point one area.

That said, This book says the same thing as all the other books but for me, says it in a most beautiful way.

Jesus our High priest, the tabernacle in Heaven and a picture of Jesus offering His Blood there. Amazing.

There are some warnings against false teachers and there is an indication of eschatology being among elementary teaching , and for good reason.

And of course the chapter on faith but it is good to keep in mind that the faith we have will in every case , be for Jesus, ONLY. So often these verses are used when trying to encourage a believer , after he's lost a job or this is used to advance some vision they may have. They are directed to have  faith in God providing a better job or maybe more income. That is a sorry use of this wonderful passage. 

James -  now here's a book some thought didn't belong.

I wonder if that's due to the confusion concerning good works for salvation vrs good deeds for rewards.

Rewards was not a popular topic in churches as I was growing up. Too bad.

Whatever the case, it does belong and it's packed with good, sound advice and the way we know that is, this book disturbs so many. That's a sure sign it belongs. Fact is, if passages anywhere in this Bible don't trouble , your probably reading it wrong. Let's face it, the Bible bugs everybody. It's the true believers that stay with it (all)

1,2 Peter - this is a book of hope, tremendous hope given to those that were going thru what's completely foreign to us, persecution. 

Something that  is a result of reading the Bible straight thru is an overwhelming sense of gratitude in the receiving something , so precious as salvation , with an ease that many ,throughout  time, do not share.

That ease can be as deceiving as well as a blessing. I may not know why God allows what He does but I do know that He is just and right and good, all the time. Later on Peter addresses heresy. Peter and Jude are similar in nature,

1,2,3 John - these letters are stunningly amazing and I can guarantee that anyone going thru them slowly , will never be the same if and when they can grasp its message. It nails down tight what the Christian life is all about but again, if we are not reading our Bibles with the same message that existed when you began in Genesis, we might miss it. Heresy is again addressed, in this book.

Jude - Interesting that, we are getting ready to end this book and the last several letters spent some addressing heresy as well as false preachers, to the church. If you were too listen to many preachers today , one would think that the church was immune to such things, on a wide scale I mean , but the bride of Christ and the visible church , is not the same thing.

Revelation - and finally this book, the one I recently finished.

If someone reads there Bible straight thru, they might be

awed by its beginning ,

saddened by mankind's fall,

shocked and appalled at its judgements ,

Amazed at God's long-suffering,

Aware that God is just and righteous,

overwhelmed by its laws and

grateful at its fulfillment ,

thankful for its solution in salvation

and confused as to how it came about ,

 overcome by its mercy ,

broken over their sin ,

humbled by its grace ,

defeated in living it in there own strength

strengthened by Gods Spirit of enablement ,

and content in its assurance....

and if they made it thru all that, they can now see more clearly, as they are relieved and glad when the enemy is justly dealt with and overjoyed at its rewards and finally ,

  overcome with joy as they long to worship Him and see Him, face to face - Jesus !

All this should make you eager : to tell others!