During my working years, life was hectic. I couldn't find time to read the Bible and it bothered me. Somehow, I had to make time. I started getting up twenty minutes earlier and read the Word in the parking lot before going to work.
Reading the Bible may be one of the most neglected areas in the Christian's life. You cannot be physically well without eating physical food, and you cannot be spiritually well without eating spiritual food.
1 Peter 2:2 As new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.
The aim of the Word is so you will spiritually "grow".
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.
Spiritual maturity as a Christian will increase in direct proportion to the amount of study you invest in the Word.
As you grow in the faith, the Word of God becomes a delight. You just can't get enough.
I love America, but the America we once knew is gone.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
We have forgotten the gracious hand of God which preserved us in peace, multiplied, enriched, and strengthened us. We have imagined that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.
We have become too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us to humble ourselves before God, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
There is hope for America. It begins with the humble prayers of God's people who are called Christians.
Salvation is simple. "Look unto me" -- not turn over a new leaf, keep the Ten Commandments or promise to do better.
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.
There is only one Savior and His name is Jesus Christ. This scripture doesn't say look to a church, a good life, to baptism or religion.
All people are sinners (Romans 3:23), so all need to be saved. Christ died for all people (Hebrews 2:9) because He loves all people (John 3:16). His sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to save all who believe.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Saved from what? Hell. It is an actual place where those who are not saved will be for eternity. According to the Bible, it is a place of everlasting fire and torment. Those who accept Jesus are saved to eternal life in heaven.
Some people think once they become a Christian they will not sin anymore. But Christians do sin because they are not perfect. This does not mean they must be saved all over again. Jesus didn't say, "Ye must be born again and again and again."
Sin in the life of the believer breaks fellowship but does not destroy sonship. Because of our sin nature received from Adam, the evil environment of the world, and the temptation of Satan, even heaven-bound Christians end up sinning. However, born again Christians don't want to sin as they did before.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We often struggle with sin. We excuse ourselves, rationalize our sinfulness, and defend ourselves. To restore fellowship with God, we must confess specific sins.
Whether omission, commission, body or mind sins; God will show mercy to those who confess their sins.
