Has Your Bible Read You Today?

We're often asked - and rightly so - "Have you read your Bible today?" But an even better question is this, "Has your Bible read YOU today?" In his new book on the parables of Jesus, Gerald Bilkes turns our thinking (and our Bible reading) around with these challenges:

"...many today are content to read the Bible in a way in which the Word of God is subject to them, rather than reading so they are subject to the Word. They study the Bible--so they think--but the Bible does not study them. They may even 'search the Scriptures,' but the Scriptures fail to search them."

Gerald M. Bilkes, Glory Veiled and Unveiled, Reformation Heritage Books

I once heard Dr. Bruce Ware suggest a simple prayer to pray before we begin our Bible reading, Lord, open Your Word to me and open me to Your Word. I think this is an appropriate way to begin allowing our Bibles to read us.



Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

A Sinner's Prayer

God, be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ.  For I see that if His righteousness had not been offered, or if I have no faith in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away.  Lord, I have heard that You are a merciful God and have ordained that Your Son Jesus Christ should be the Savior of the world.  Moreover, You are willing to give Him for a poor sinner like me (and I am a sinner indeed).  Lord, take therefore this opportunity, and magnify Your grace in the salvation of my soul, through Your Son Jesus Christ. 
Amen.

John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress, Edited by C.J. Lovik

Pray for Mamaw

UPDATE:  Thanks to those who prayed.  Mamaw went to Heaven Tuesday night, May 25th. Read her obit here.

Our Mamaw is 89 years old and her health has recently made a drastic turn for the worse.  She is very close to Heaven.  She could be only days or weeks away from meeting her Savior.
Abby has been asking everyone to pray for Mamaw & asked me to post this note for others to see (Mrs. Johnson is her school counselor).

Visiting Mamaw, November 2009