Tag: bible study

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Discipline

 . . . discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.  (1 Timothy 4:7-10, NASB)

The Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to his protege, his son in the faith, Timothy, because there was trouble at the church at Ephesus.  Timothy was there, and Paul wrote to give instructions to correct the problems.  In this snippet from 1 Timothy 4, Paul speaks of godly discipline. 

What is the purpose of godly discipline?  According to Paul, “bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”  There’s nothing wrong with working out.  No one disputes the physical and mental value of exercise.  However, Paul says there is eternal value to spiritual exercise.  In fact, he says the spiritual > the physical. 

1 Timothy 4:8 image.  Found at Quotess, 
https://quotess.net/life/wisdom/quotes-about-wisdom-for-bodily-exercise-profiteth-little-but-godliness-is-profitable-unto-all-thing/

According to Paul, there is both earthly and heavenly value in godliness.  Godly living attracts other people who may want to do the same.  This is valuable because of our mission to populate heaven.  Godliness is also important because as followers of Jesus, we’re in dress rehearsal for what we’ll be doing when we get to heaven.  So practice, because practice makes perfect! 

Paul concludes with why our actions are important:  “We have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”  God desires all of us to be saved, although it’s not His mandate.  But He is the potential Savior of us all.  It’s up to everyone to either accept the free gift of His Son, or to reject Him.  To those who pray Jesus into their hearts, God has promised the hope of eternal fellowship with Him in heaven, the New Jerusalem.  If you haven’t received Jesus, would you do it now?  Now practice!

Worship:  “Endless Praise,” by Charity Gayle
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Bible Study

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.  (Psalm 119:11-16, NASB)

The title of Psalm 119 is “Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.”  The psalmist speaks of his delight in learning and obeying God’s commandments.  It’s a glorious poem, and it leaves no doubt as to the author’s desire to walk in total harmony with the Lord.

In my own experience, I’ve found that the best way to find out God’s precepts and testimonies is to read His Word. And I also find that the more I read, the more I want to know.

I spend about three to four hours on my eye-gaze tablet nearly every afternoon. I look through email and check a couple of websites, but I spend most of my time doing Bible study.  It’s been a real progression (or should I say REgression) from days past.

I used to do Bible study early in the morning before work.  As my ALS progressed, it became difficult, then impossible to hold a book and turn its pages.  At that point I began to read from my phone, using the YouVersion Bible app.  There are many good apps available, but I found many great Bible studies there. When I could no longer manipulate my phone, I began to use the internet on my TV, and bible.com, the website tied to YouVersion.  Later, I couldn’t work the TV remote control (oh no, a man without a remote!) so the next step was to have someone go to the website for me and play the audio for me. This was dissatisfying to me because I prefer to read at my own pace, and when I finished a chapter someone would have to come start the next one for me. When I received my tablet, I figured out how to log in to bible.com, and now I’m back to reading on my own.  I’ll be able to keep this arrangement going as long as my eyeballs can move, and my eyelids can stay open!

I miss turning the pages in my Bible, highlighting and making notes. It’s a study Bible, and I miss reading all the footnotes. But, as the cactus says on the realtor.com commercial, when noting that he has no legs, “Ya work with what ya have.”

There’s a way to do Bible study.  Sometimes it’s not the way you want to do it, but God’s Word is a blessing.  In the armor of God, it’s the sword.  I also find that the more I read, the more hope I find from God’s promises.  And that’s something to stand on!

Worship:  Thy Word, sung by Amy Grant