The Bible may have been written two thousand years ago, yet it has everything to do with life today. This book is all about life, understanding yourself, finding God and his power to transform. Far from being a book of religious rules, the Bible brings life as you read it.
The Bible is about life.
Like any good story, the Bible deals with the big questions and themes we face in life -- life, death, hope, disappointment, love, tragedy, evil, existence, meaning, purpose... The Bible is a relevant book to understanding life -- it offers insight into why things are the way they are, why we are the way we are, and how things could be different.
It's a guide to life in this not-so-perfect world. The Bible is honest about life with all its problems and human frailties -- its contributors tell it like it was, no matter how raw and real, admitting their mistakes and weaknesses in facing life's challenges.
You'll find the Bible offers practical wisdom and guidance for life -- how to live at peace with yourself, with others and with God.
The Bible can help you find God.
Imagine if someone was speaking falsely about your best friend. You would probably defend your friend and go talk directly with them about it. Likewise, you probably would not want others to misrepresent you or misunderstand who you are.
In a similar way, God wants to be known for who he really is. How would you feel if everyone was more interested in creating their own concept of who they thought you are, rather than coming to you directly to get to know who you are?
The Bible is a direct way to get to know who God really is. The Bible describes itself as God-breathed. Just like a letter to a close friend, the Bible is God's letter to people from his heart. It is his message to you and it is what he wants you to know about him. In searching for God, go straight to the source to find him -- read his words in the Bible.
The Bible is about you.
As one man was reading the Bible to learn about God, a different realization dawned on him: "This book is all about me!" He felt like it was describing his struggles, fears, hopes and desires. Reading the Bible not only helps you to see God more clearly, it helps you to see yourself more clearly. The Bible can be like a mirror to our souls.
Eugene Peterson, a writer who has translated the Bible, puts it this way, "When you hold a Bible in your hands, it contains our collective stories. Each of us can find little glimpses of ourselves in its pages. The people in the Bible are a whole lot like you, and a lot of them were far from perfect. We need to open our eyes and see what God would have each of us understand about ourselves."
The Bible is a story of people and how God works in their lives. You are a part of that story too.
The Bible is more than just a book -- it's a book that has power to change...
Have you ever wanted to change something about yourself? In your past efforts to change, maybe you have encountered the huge difference between knowing what to do to change and actually doing it. Simply knowing what we "should" do in life doesn’t always seem to provide enough motivation or power to act on it.
...it has the power to change your life.
Going far beyond offering inspiration or self-improvement techniques, the Bible's message tells us how God offers us the power to change by trusting ourselves to Jesus. Jesus says, "The Spirit of God can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don't make anything happen. Every word I've spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making” (John 6). James, the brother of Jesus writes, "Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you" (James 1)
This is not a mere change of your habits or words, but a change of your heart, hopes and your very being. But perhaps the idea of change makes you cringe. Whether it is a change you are resistant to or whether it is a good change you welcome, change is uncomfortable.
Many people think that following Jesus means giving up everything they deem pleasurable in life. Giving your life to Jesus is not so much about giving up what you think "the good life" is -- it is more about coming into the fullness of life that God intended you to experience. Jesus says, "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed"” (John 10).
Reading the Bible can bring you new life.
...it has the power to change the world.
If you really want to see breakthrough and change in your life and world, brace yourself. Quite contrary to being some dead old book, the message of the Bible has the power to bring new life to a person, community, city and nation... it has the power to change the world.
The principles in the pages of the Bible are revolutionary. Jesus' teaching to love your enemies, if ultimately followed, would mean the end of world wars, as would his teaching to feed the poor would end world hunger. The Bible paints a picture of what the world was meant to be, what went wrong, what the world could be, and what God is doing to restore life.
There is power in these pages -- power to change lives, power to change the world.
Millions have read and experienced the Bible for themselves. Read it with your own eyes and see it for yourself.
Copyright TruthMedia.com 2004. May not be reprinted without permission.
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