Jesus said, “You have one instructor, the Messiah” Matthew 23:10.
I love this text because it is the most compelling reason to read the bible.
The most important book ever written is the Bible. Most estimates put the number of Bibles published since the printing press in the early 1800s at more than 5 billion. Why? Because when we read the bible Jesus speaks to us and teaches us!
When people begin to read the Bible they often tell me how great an exercise it has become to them in their life. When they begin they ask me often, “What should I read?” I always tell them to read the four Gospels and Acts. I love the Psalms, Proverbs, the Prophets, Paul’s writings and John’s Letters. I love Job and the Torah.
Most of all I love to read the words and life of Jesus.
I think one of the greatest paragraphs in the Bible’s is what Jesus said to Israel:
“7 “It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the Lord set his heart on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8 It was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know, therefore, that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 10 and who repays in their own person those who reject him. He does not delay but repays in their own person those who reject him. 11 Therefore, observe diligently the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that I am commanding you today” Deuteronomy 7:7-11.
I love what Mary, the mother of Jesus said at the wedding feast in Cana:
“5 Jesus’ mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you’” John 2:5.
I love what Jesus said, “18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you” John 14:18.
I also love what the Prophet Jeremiah said: “11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile” Jeremiah 29:11-14.
How about you? Send me your favorite texts and I will share them in a future blog.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
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