The Bible is wonderful because it gives us a knowledge of God, of men, of the universe, and of redemption.

No other book can be compared to it in this respect, but it not only informs us about these important truths, it also tells us what we are to do with it.

We have within the Bible itself instruction as to our attitude toward it.

In it we are exhorted to:

1. Read it. Nehemiah 8:8. And may I suggest that it be read slowly, carefully, prayerfully, in large portions, repeatedly, reverently and with a willing spirit to follow its precepts.

2. Believe it. Romans 10:8. Because it is the Word of faith. It has been given to increase our faith in God and His working in the Universe.

3. Receive it. James 1:21. Here it is the engrafted word that is to be received as the soil received the seed, or the tree receives the graft. Taking the Word of God in our heart life, allowing it to grow and bear its own fruit in motives and actions.

4. Taste it. Proverbs 19:10. For it is the good Word of God. Some seem to be afraid of the Bible for fear it will require them to do something they do not wish to do. Be not afraid; it is good and right in all its requirements.

5. Eat it. Jeremiah 15:16. This process suggests that we not merely taste but actually live by it, as Jesus said, “Ye shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

6. Hold it fast. Titus 1:9. It is a faithful word. All its promises are true; all its history is true; and its statements are truth. Therefore we are to rest our faith upon it.

7. Hold it forth. Philippians 2:16. Because it is the Word of Life. All who come under its beneficent rays feel its life giving power.

8. Preach it. 2 Timothy 4:2. Here it is called simply the Word. It suggests that we are not to preach any one part of it or any one phase of it, but preach it in its entirety and fullness.

9. Search it. John 5:29. This suggests work and patience. The Greek word carries the idea of “ransack” as the housewife goes through the home at housecleaning time; or “to track” as the hunter laboriously follows the game through the brush, so we are to search for truth and run down the lines of God’s revelations to man.

10. Study it. 2 Timothy 2:15. Here is a word that means close application to the Word of God, as the builder minutely studies the plans of the architect before erecting the structure.

11. Meditate on it. Psalm 1:2. This word has much the same meaning as “eat” for it means literally “to chew the cud.” Turning the Word of God over and over in the mind till the sweetness of its truths feed our souls.

12. Compare it. 2 Corinthians 2:13. This is not so much what we do with the Scriptures as what the Holy Spirit does with them in our hearts. This is a divine commentary always at hand. Or as John puts it in 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”

13. Rightly divide it. 2 Timothy 2:15. This is not an arbitrary division of subjects but the following of a line of truth from the first place mentioned to the last place mentioned; noticing it in all its relation to other truths and as the word literally means “the cutting of a straight line” of truth in the Bible.

14. Delight in it. Psalm 119:92. Seven times in this Psalm the Psalmist speaks of delighting in God’s word. This should always be the heart ambition and attitude.

“Study it carefully; think of it prayerfully;
Deep in thy heart let its precepts dwell.
Slight not its history; ponder its mystery,
None can e’er prize it too fondly or well.
Accept the glad tidings, the warning, the chidings,
Found in this volume of heavenly lore,
With faith that’s unfailing, and love all prevailing,
Trust in its promise of life evermore.”

*Adapated from portion of W.H. Pike’s beginning remarks in Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the Old Testament.

Have you ever wondered how the Bible works together as a whole?  Or how events from the New Testament were foreseen in the Old Testament? 

Walk through the Bible one day at a time, and you will uncover the deep truth of the Bible story:  God’s plan is revealed -  our salvation is through His Son, Jesus Christ.  It is one story – the story of Jesus Christ.

Each day’s devotion offers a selection from Scripture, an insightful teaching devotional, and an additional Scripture reference for further study.

Image used under creative commons licensing courtesy of knowhimonline.

Elijah… prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain. James 5:17

Here are six observations about Elijah’s prayer:

2. Promised: The word of the Lord came to Elijah… “I will send rain…” 1 Kings 18:1
Cultivate the practice of praying God’s promises. Pray with an open Bible, and as you read, turn what God says to you back to him in prayer.

3. Pray: Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain. James 5:18
Why should we ask for something God has already said he will do? Because what God has promised will be done through your prayers. We’re God’s fellow workers (2 Corinthians 6:1).

4. Precision: He prayed fervently that it might not rain. James 5:17
Do you know what you have asked for after you’ve prayed? How would you know if your prayer was answered?

5. Passion: Elijah prayed fervently… James 5:17
Prayer can easily become separate from real life. What Elijah asked for mattered to him. Let all the pressures and challenges of life drive you to pray.

6. Persistence: [After] the seventh time… 1 Kings 18:44
After praying the 70th or the 700th time you can get tired of praying! Jesus taught his disciples not to give up (Luke 18:1).

You can find Pastor Colin Smith on Twitter @PastorColinS or Unlocking the Bible @UnlckngtheBible

This excerpt is from LifeKEYS Daily, the new daily devotional from Unlocking the Bible. Request your free sample copy of LifeKEYS Daily.

Have you ever wished that God would make it so you could never sin again? Maybe there is a sin in your life that you keep coming back to, and you feel like you will never break free from the tight grip that it has. You know you are truly saved, but feel that you should be doing better. You put forth a lot of effort to improve, but find that you don’t have the power or ability to master your sin.

I think that is the experience of many if not most Christians. In other areas of your life, we may be able to put forth extra effort to accomplish our goals and solve problems, but breaking sinful habits is much more difficult. You know that positionally you are clean in God’s sight because of the work of Christ. But you still wish you could conquer certain vices.

An analogy

One rule we have at my house is to wash your dishes as soon as you are done with them. Though not followed perfectly, the idea is to immediately wash away the food and grime left on your plates, bowls, and silverware so that they do not get caked on and very difficult to get off the next day.

Unfortunately, my family (including me!) does not always follow this rule. That means that the pasta sauce, old cereal, and leftover food can get plastered onto the dishes so that it takes more than a bit of elbow grease to remove it. Sometimes the leftover food seems to become one with the dish, and that no matter how hard we scrub, it will never come off.

That is often how it can feel with our sin. We have become so good at sinning that it becomes a part of us, something we cannot separate from our very being. We feel as if we can never be totally clean because we know how dirty we have been in the past.

The best remedy for food stuck in this situation is to leave a dish soaking in water for a period of time. This allows the water to loosen up the grime and dirt so that it can be wiped away, usually without much effort.

The cleansing power of the water over a period of time is enough to get rid of that dirt and grime that you could not get off no matter how hard you scrubbed.

Breaking sinful habits works in a similar way, although instead of using physical water, we need the Living Water of Christ and water of the word.

True believers in Jesus Christ are already clean in God’s sight because of the blood of Jesus Christ, but can still struggle to live in obedience when they live in the flesh. That is why we need to know not only what can help us live more obediently, but Who can help us live more obediently as well.

We try to fight sin with every fiber of our being, but feel like we have a long way to go. Doing this may scrub some dirt and grime away, but we will likely have some left over sin parts stuck that can’t be scrubbed away. What we need is a good soaking.

In Ephesians 5:25-26, Paul describes the reason that Christ gave himself up for the church, “that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word…”

God’s word has cleansing power.

When we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, we are better able to ward off temptation and sin. Our mind is fixed on God’s greatness instead of sin. Psalm 119:11 describes this when it says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

One particular thing to focus on in reading the word is the grace of God, particularly shown at the cross of Christ. Understanding the fact that God didn’t have to offer forgiveness and salvation to sinners will instruct us and cause us to live more godly lives.

“For the grace of God…teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).

When we soak ourselves in the word of God, meditating on God’s grace, God will reveal himself and make us more like him. All of those sins that seemed to be a part of us will be separated like the grime is separated from the dirty dishes. The strong grip of sin and the enemy will be loosened by the water of the word.

The power of God’s word to sanctify us is an amazing truth. But it is not the only thing that God gives us.

God himself rolls up his sleeves and helps scrub us clean by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:11). The things we couldn’t do ourselves earlier are able to be done with the Spirit of God’s help.

The Holy Spirit will work and change our hearts to have an increasing love for God and hatred for sin. Though we will never be perfect in this life (1 John 1:8), the word of God and the Spirit of God are powerfully at work in our lives and able to cleanse us and make us more and more like Christ.

By the grace of God, we are sanctified by the Spirit of God, so that we can live for the glory of God.

If you are struggling with a particular sin and feel like your life is dirty, why don’t you cry out to God and ask Him to move in you with His Holy Spirit and by His word? Ask Him to lead you through the word and for help applying it to your life and change your heart.

Author: Kevin Halloran you can follow Kevin on Twitter @KP_Halloran

Are we all basically the same, except that a Christian believes certain things about Jesus…? Or is there something more? And if there’s more, what is it?

How is the person who is in Christ different?  The answer to these questions lies in understanding the Spirit’s work of regeneration in the life of the believer. This new life from God makes all the difference in the world…

“Regeneration: How Christ Changes Your Soul” a Sermon Series from Pastor Colin Smith

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Paul begged God for relief from the thorn in his flesh (see 2 Corinthians 12:7), but God chose not to give him what he asked for. There may be times when God’s Word to us is, “You are more useful to me with this thorn than without it.”

Consider the cross. When wicked men nailed Jesus to a piece of wood, he said, “This is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53). But then Peter tells us that “God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out” (Acts 2:23). Nobody had the power to take Jesus’ life from him. He chose to lay it down (see John 10:18). In fact, it was for this very reason that he came into the world.

Paul prayed three times that God would remove the thorn. When I read that, it reminds me of when Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me” (Matthew 26:39). God didn’t take the cup from him, and our salvation is possible because Jesus accepted the Father’s answer.

God the Father didn’t remove the suffering of the cross, but when Jesus prayed in the garden, an angel came and strengthened him (see Luke 22:43). And when Paul prayed, God gave him a particular promise: “My grace is all you need” (2 Corinthians 12:9). The person who walks with God will often know what it is like to draw strength from that promise and to discover that God has a purpose in the hardest things in life.

There will be times when God does not give you the answer you are looking for in your prayers, but you can be certain that when you seek him in prayer, he will always give you the strength you need. The mark of true spirituality is not that God gives you everything you ask, but that you walk with him when he does not.

For further reading, see Luke 22

For more information or to purchase this item, visit the following link: The Unlocking the Bible OneYear Devotional

What does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart? 

Where can a woman find a satisfying life that is pleasing to the Lord? 

God said that David was a man after His own heart, but David committed adultery.  Being a man after God’s heart does not mean being perfect.  Find out what it does mean and how you can become one.

The Proverbs 31 woman is intimidating to many, but she doesn’t have to be.  Find out how she can help you find rest and freedom in a world that holds up stifling or schizophrenic feminine models.

Messages in this series:

1. A Man After God’s Own Heart – 2 Samuel 23:1-7

2. A Woman of Godly Character – Proverbs 31

This sermon series set is also available on CD in the Unlocking the Bible Store.

To download the series, fill out the form below. This will email you access to the download and subscribe you to Pastor Colin Smith’s weekly eDevotional LifeKEYS.

Pastor Colin Smith (@PastorColinS) of Unlocking the Bible recently offered 7 Traits of False Teachers on The Gospel Coalition’s website. In it, he contrasts the teaching 2 Peter 1 and 2 to show several traits of a false teacher. Over 100 years ago, J.C. Ryle shared a similar list that focused on symptoms of false teaching that still has tremendous relevance for the church today.

Here are Bishop J.C. Ryle’s 8 symptoms of false teaching:

1. There is an undeniable zeal in some teachers of error–their “earnestness” makes many people think they must be right.

2. There is a great appearance of learning and theological knowledge–many think that such clever and intellectual men must surely be safe to listen to.

3. There is a general tendency to completely free and independent thinking today–many like to prove their independence of judgment by believing the newest ideas, which are nothing but novelties.

4. There is a wide-spread desire to appear kind, loving, and open-minded–many seem half-ashamed to say that anybody can be wrong or is a false teacher.

5. There is always a portion of half-truth taught by modern false teachers–they are always using scriptural words and phrases, but with unscriptural meaning.

6. There is a public craving for a more sensational and entertaining worship–people are impatient with the more inward and invisible work of God within the hearts of men.

7. There is a superficial readiness all around to believe anyone who talks cleverly, lovingly and earnestly, forgetting that Satan often masquerades himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

8. There is a wide-spread ignorance among professing Christians–every heretic who speaks well is surely believed, and anyone who doubts him is called narrow-minded and unloving.

All these are especially symptoms of our times. I challenge any honest and observant person to deny them. These tend to make the assaults of false doctrine today especially dangerous and make it even more important to say loudly, “Do not be carried away with strange doctrine!”

Product: 10 Keys for Unlocking the Christian Life

People are often uncertain about what the next step in their Christian life ought to be after salvation. In 10 Keys to Unlock the Christian Life, Colin Smith gives you a fresh look at the book of 1 Peter, which will show you how to grow in your faith.  This book is packed full of encouragement and practical insights.

Some have wandered away… 1 Timothy 1:6

It’s very rare that anyone ever decides to abandon the truth. What happens much more often is that people wander. It happens gradually.  It happens when you do not have any particular goal. You lose your moorings and you drift.

You don’t want to be that person. So, you need to be alert to the danger. You may know someone who is wandering and God may use you to bring a wanderer back and help them get rooted in the truth.

Look for the warning signs

There are four warning signs that a person is in danger of wandering away from the truth. These questions will help you to see the signs:

1. Am I always looking for something new?

[They] devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. 1 Timothy 1:4

If that’s true of you, you are in danger of wandering. That’s what the myths and endless genealogies were—something new. People who are deeply rooted in Christ are satisfied in Him. If you were deeply rooted, you would have found contentment in Him—as millions of people have.

2. Do I like to talk while avoiding action?

They have turned to meaningless talk. 1 Timothy 1:6

These folks go on and on about how we should do this and how we ought to be doing that, but as it turns out, their pious talk masks an unholy life. If you see the Bible as a book of ideas to be discussed rather than truth to be obeyed, you are just the kind of person who wanders from the truth.

3. Do I want to teach more than I want to learn?

They want to be teachers.  1 Timothy 1:7

These folks want a position in the church. They want to be teachers more than they want to learn. If you love to teach, but you do not love to learn, you are in danger of wandering away from the truth.

4. Does my confidence exceed my knowledge?

They want to be teachers of the law but they do not know what they are talking about.  1 Timothy 1:7

These men are supremely confident, big voices that carry a lot of weight, but Paul says they do not know what they are talking about. I’ve seen this many times.

A man who has only a shallow root in the truth reads a book or hears a talk and gets excited about it. Suddenly he feels, with that little bit of knowledge, that he knows more than his teachers. He knows what the church needs, what it should be doing.

He feels he should be given a platform for what he has discovered. But when people don’t buy his discovery, he becomes dogmatic, angry and belligerent. He feels that he’s the only one who really sees the truth. What he doesn’t see is that he is wandering away from the truth.

How to return from your wandering

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith, some have wandered away from these… 1 Timothy 1:5-6

How can we stay rooted in truth and keep growing in love? Where does love come from? How does love grow? How can you become a loving person, and not a divisive person at work in your home and in the church?

a. Love comes from a pure heart

The word “pure” means undivided. James says “the double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Ask God to give you a pure heart. “Set your heart on things above where Christ is seated” (Colossians 3:1). Ask God to give you a stronger faith in Christ and a deeper love for Christ, a firmer hope in Christ. Then you will be able to love. Love comes from a pure heart

b. Love comes from a good conscience

A good conscience is one that’s at rest with God. Is there a sin that you have allowed to remain in your life? Your conscience is not at rest. You are fighting all the time. It’s making you an angry person, a divisive person. It’s the root of your complaining spirit.

Can you see what a blessing it would be for you to come clean with Christ today? To lay what you have been carrying at the feet of Jesus, who died for you? To be washed and to receive a clean conscience? Then you would be able to love! Love comes from a good conscience.

c. Love comes from a sincere faith

Sincere faith means that you really trust Christ. You don’t just talk about trusting Him. You trust Him! You trust Him, whatever is happening in your life. You trust Him when you lose a job, you trust Him when you find a job. You trust Him at the wedding and you trust Him at the funeral. You trust Christ!

“The trials of your life prove that your faith is genuine” (1 Peter 1:7). Do you remember what Peter says next? “Though you have not seen him you love him.” Love comes from a sincere faith.

All these come from Christ

The Lord Jesus Christ can give you a pure heart, a clean conscience and a sincere faith. That’s why He died, and that is why He is alive!

If you receive these gifts today you will be able to love! You will be able to love your wife. You will be able to love your children and your parents. You will be able to love your enemies, and you will have love for the church. Most of all you will love the Lord Jesus Christ who loved you and gave Himself for you.

That’s the transforming power of the Gospel. Lord, make us a church that is increasingly rooted in truth and growing in love for the praise and glory of Jesus Christ—till He comes again. Amen.

You can find Pastor Colin Smith on Twitter @PastorColinS or Unlocking the Bible @UnlckngtheBible

On Friday, April 19, from 4-6 p.m. tune in to hear the One City, One Gospel broadcast special on 90.1 FM Moody Radio Chicago.

From 4-5:30 p.m. will feature worship and preaching from Pastor Colin Smith of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church of Arlington Heights, Pastor James Ford of Christ Bible Church of Chicago and will conclude with Pastor Mark Jobe of New Life Community Church also of Chicago.

Following the broadcast from 5:30-6 p.m., a live prayer conversation will be hosted by Roy Patterson, Moody Radio Chicago station manager who emceed One City, One Gospel.

We pray you can tune in and from that be moved to proclaim the gospel, pray without ceasing and can help be the change!

Listen to Moody Radio Online!

Join the One City, One Gospel Facebook Community and Share Stories of Peace

Nothing could be more foolish than to resist the Holy Spirit when He speaks to you about your sin. It is a wonderful expression of grace.

— Unlocking the Bible (@UnlckngtheBible) March 22, 2013

“Sing to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.” Eph 5:19 twitter.com/UnlckngtheBibl…

— Unlocking the Bible (@UnlckngtheBible) March 1, 2013

The Cross was not only the greatest expression of human sin; it was also the greatest outpouring of the love and grace of God.

— Unlocking the Bible (@UnlckngtheBible) March 31, 2013

Why is it hard to be a true Christian in America? The blessings of freedom produce an expectation of a comfortable life.

— Colin Smith (@PastorColinS) March 8, 2013

When we’re weary, Jesus doesn’t say, “Practice more spiritual disciplines.ʺ He says, ʺCome to me and I will give you rest.ʺ Matthew 11:28-30

— Colin Smith (@PastorColinS) March 25, 2013

There were 105,000 believers killed for their faith in 2011, that is 288 a day, 12 an hour, 1 every five minutes.

— Colin Smith (@PastorColinS) March 11, 2013