Be with Him

All 66 books of the Bible are inspired by God and are profitable for us, but some are more easily understood and more readily digested and loved than other books. Books like Leviticus require some background study to get the most out of them. After all, we don’t live in the Middle East thousands of years ago. I know that we should rely on the Spirit working in us to understand (2 Tim. 2:7; 1 John 2:27), but studying is a biblical concept, too (Ezra 7:10; 2 Tim. 2:15).

Relying on the Spirit is a neglected way of life for many, but so is studying the Bible. We may read the Bible, but that is only the beginning of studying. Studying involves rereading and mulling over Scripture. We need to meditate on and memorize Scripture, and we may read what others have learned and contemplated in their own studies. However, all of this must couple seeking God and being still and waiting on Him to speak through His word. I’ll be the first to tell you that it’s much easier to read the word, ponder it a bit, and move on to something else, not because we don’t like the word or God but because some of us feel that we ought to be doing something. (As if waiting on God is not doing something.)

After hearing Jim Cymbala speak at an event, I felt the need as I have so often to be still and wait on God, but it’s not easy for me. One of Cymbala’s points was that Jesus didn’t first call His disciples to preach or drive out demons. He first called them to be with Him. “Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve, whom He also named apostles, to be with Him, to send them out to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons” (Mark 3 CSB). I pray that you’ll be with Him this week, really be with Him.

This week, you’ll read…

DEUTERONOMY 1-7: Deuteronomy is Moses’ reiteration of the Law, or his second-telling of the Law. If you've read through Exodus and Leviticus, you’ll recognize some parts of Deuteronomy but maybe summarized and told differently. Moses now has a new generation who will enter the Promised Land, and the old, faithless generation has died off.

JOSHUA 1-7: Along with Deuteronomy, you’ll read Joshua and enter the Promised Land and begin the conquest with Joshua, Israel’s next leader.

EZRA 1-3: Alongside these books, you’ll also read Ezra written by the scribe Ezra who writes hundreds of years later after Judah (Israel’s Southern Kingdom) was taken captive and then allowed to return.

ROMANS 1-7: You’ll also read Romans which is arguably the greatest book of the Bible.