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Life-changing or Time Wasting? — 7 Comments

  1. I guess the outcome of reading the Bible depends mostly on the kind of heart a person has. Sort of like the soils in the parable (Mat 13:3-9).

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      • Andrew, of course as a Seventh-day Adventist I do not believe in predestination as some Christian groups do. To me the soils represent what happens under the four conditions presented and doesn't necessarily say that the conditions cannot change. In other words it is about the state of things in a moment of time.

        As a matter of trivial comment I can think of one more soil type, saline seep which is a condition that farmers in the north central and eastern sections of Montana are familiar with. That condition happens when salt percolates up to the surface which shows itself as a whitish soil color usually found in large patches. There aren't many plants that can tolerate that kind of soil so the ground is usually somewhat barren. Just a few sparse weeds live in it and in many cases not too stony either and the soil depth is usually sufficient as well. The only problem is that it basically tends to be poisonous even though some plants can actually thrive under that condition. I think that kind of soil also has a spiritual application.

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  2. Lillianne, as I was reading your post I also received an instant message from a lady friend, complaining that all the men who were contacting her in a singles website were only after one thing-sex. She was disappointed no one was looking for a deep relationship, but only looking for a way to please themselves. I could not help but wonder if that may be the answer to your question of how people can read the Bible and never be led into a deep relationship with God. Is it because they are as shallow as the men my lady friend is talking about, and only looking for ways to gratify themselves, instead of how to have a lasting, meaningful relationship with God? I can see how the Bible would be useless to someone only looking for ways to gratify themselves, and would be offended by such things as "Pick up your cross daily and follow after me." That would not amuse the pleasure seeker.

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    • I believe your point is "right on," William.

      We must come to the Bible with a mind ready to receive God's Word into our lives. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth (John 16:13), and we need to ask Him to do that in our lives, because He will not intrude if we do not ask. It is the agency of the Holy Spirit that makes the Word live in us. He who inspired the writing of the Bible in the first place will speak to us personally when we ask Him.

      I understand that studying the Bible for the wrong reasons and/or with the wrong attitude -- such as to "prove" our own agenda -- may actually do positive harm.

      Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit we shall be continually liable to wrest the Scriptures or to misinterpret them. There is much reading of the Bible that is without profit and in many cases is a positive injury. When the word of God is opened without reverence and without prayer; when the thoughts and affections are not fixed upon God or in harmony with His will, the mind is clouded with doubt; and in the very study of the Bible, skepticism strengthens. The enemy takes control of the thoughts, and he suggests interpretations that are not correct. (Ellen White, 5 Testimonies for the Church, p. 704)

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  3. During my personal devotions (both mornings and evenings,) I read my Bible out loud after an out loud prayer. I noticed it puts me more "in the spirit" when feeding on the Word as opposed to when I read it silently after a silent prayer. It also guards my minds from day-dreaming; in other words, it increases your focus and concentration; thus, creating a perfect atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to do His thing!! I believe studying and praying in such a way is the formula for spiritual growth for today's generation that suffers from short attention spans that results from watching two-hour-long movies with special effects. I guess the enemy has his tools also (he ain’t gonna sit and just watch us idly as we march to our heavenly homes.) Hence why we should always guard our minds from the junk that’s in the mass media (that includes the News.) The Lord says in the Book of Isaiah (Isa. 33:15), “Stop your ears from hearing of bloodshed and shut your eyes from seeing evil.” The Creator/Owner of this Planet already has ministering angels to attend to the mayhem and violence that’s in the world. There is absolutely no reason for a Christian to tune into a secular channel to hear a “news” story that glorifies and sensationalizes the work of the enemy.

    Our diet also has a direct influence on our minds (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit-- 1 Corinthians 6:19.) We live in an age of abundance of food—at least here in the West—which is the epicenter of end-time prophecy. Over-eating, even of good quality food, is detrimental to one’s mental faculties—as the body has to re-direct blood from the brain to the stomach. There is a direct correlation between what (and how much) we eat and our spiritual well-being...hence also why the Bible mentions the simple diet of John the Baptist. The devil also knows that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

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  4. I think "The Purpose of This Book" (John) is for all Bible also.

    Chapter 20:

    30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

    Bible:
    1. These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God - purpose is only this. We can have much blessings also. Some peoples learn to read by Bible or some have great insights abotu science or other, but there is One ultimate Goal - To recieve Jesus.
    2. Word become ALIVE only if by believing you get (may have) life in his name.

    Jesus is life giver. He give life to Word, and to us.
    Like we are dead without His life power so the Bible is dead word also, if not quickened by Jesus Himself.
    So if we trie to find Jesus in Bible, He will show up to us and word will become Word to us.

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