Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans chapter 8 verse 26). Be strategic about studying our Bible. Don’t just read it. Make every effort to truly know and understand it. Remember, we need the basic instructions.

I am always intrigued by some of the conversations that take place as you move an inch at a time toward the food. You find yourself talking to people in front of you and behind you. Sometimes, random people will visit everyone standing in line. If we have not one, we have not any. It is this fruit of the Holy Spirit that is living proof of our transformation and the substance in between the B.I.B.L.E that we should read and study each day. I believe my first Bible was give to me for use in school by y parents. Living in Jamaica, a Bible was always on your booklist. It was a Good News Bible, and it had these cute figures as illustrations to help young minds understand the stories better. My second Bible was probably one from the Gideon Missionaries.As we look out at the world and into our churches, we think we know what will fix everything. We'll just tell them to get their act together. Thus all the instructions. Written in the voice of a trusted friend, this book gently challenges pastors to rethink the “attractional” church model in favor of an explicitly biblical approach that is gospel focused, grace based, and fruit oriented.

The Bible is alive and active, as Scripture states above. You will find answers to many questions, and now more than ever, we need the truth to guide us through the weeks and months to come. I still have that physical Bible, but I must admit that my reading of it is done mostly via the Bible app on my electronic devices these days. Despite whatever happens, I still love having a physical copy and I do believe that this is something every believer should have. Perhaps we need to see how versatile and resilient the gospel is, how much deeper and more powerful than the dos and don'ts this message is. Maybe we need to see that the gospel does more than the law could ever do. It goes further than the law could ever go. If the instructions come with glory, Paul says, "will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory" (v. 8). It is this Spirit that will indwell us and teach us how to live, give us guidance and show us how to interpret the Bible. Together, both are a wholesome synergy. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come (St. John chapter 16 verse 13). One night on the way home from small group, I listened to the guy on the local Christian radio station give a ten-minute presentation of what he had learned in church the previous day. It all boiled down to an appeal to make Jesus, in his words, our "role model." It was all very nice and inspirational.Do you take the last spoonful of mashed potatoes, knowing the 50 people still in line are left with stuffing and scalloped potatoes? Decisions, decisions, decisions. In biblical times, you read about murders, anger issues, stealing, adultery, wars, love, devotion, flooding, diseases, and healing. We see those same things today. And the list goes on. The lines always seemed to move slow. After all, one must eye every dish and determine it’s tastiness. And of course, you have to decide whether that pot of greens beans looks better than the other two pots of green beans sitting there. One has floating pork bits; the other does not. If the Bible is not essentially an instruction manual for practical application, then, what is it? If it's not mainly about what we need to do, what is it about? If it's not about us, who is it about? The Bible Is about Jesus

So, where does one look for insight into what is to come in the world we live in? Over the years, I have learned the Bible has the answers to what I can expect in the days to come. The Bible instructs me on what I need to do to prepare. I can never say I wasn’t told because the Bible has the answers. Years ago, I was standing in a long line at church, waiting for my turn. It was the annual Christmas dinner. If you have ever been to a Christmas dinner at church and stood in line, you are quite familiar with the occasion. As an adult, I may have been gifted a Bible or two, therefore growing up Christian, I was always in arms reach of the Good Book. In my own efforts to know God and understand my walk, I invested in a study Bible some years ago. We laughed and continued through the buffet line at church. Who can pass up all the side dishes those sweet little ladies brought from home? The last scoop of mashed potatoes didn’t make my plate that night.

The Bible Is about Jesus

True, we may not see words in the Bible like the internet, social media, or popular community causes and organizations. But we see many similarities like emotional feelings, directions on how to worship, lead your family, serving, praying, and so much more. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him (1st John chapter 2 verse 27). In 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 Paul is recalling the giving of the tablets of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. As Moses would go up and commune with God, the glory of the Most High was so intense that it would continue to radiate off his face when he came down. The radiant glory was so intense that Moses covered his face with a veil to shield the children of israel from the intensity. But as stark and intense and awe-inspiring as that glory was, Paul says, it is eclipsed by the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of righteousness, the ministry of the gospel of Jesus. The Bible is incredibly practical. We don't have to make it that way. It's already that way. There are lots of practical things in it, and we do need to teach them. But we must never teach the practical points as the main points. The practical stuff is always connected to the proclamational stuff. The "dos" can never be detached from the "done" of the finished work of Christ in the gospel, or else we run the risk of preaching the law.

Over the years I have learnt that the word Bible was turned into an acronym. The most common one I have heard meant ‘Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth’. I went ahead and did some more research and found at least ten other variations that pretty much meant the very same thing: You need to choose carefully because you’re only allowed one plate. Do you pile food on top of food? Be considerate of others? Not appear to be a pig or greedy? As I moved through the line, I couldn’t help but think about what he said. How true is that statement? After all, when I read the Bible, I find many instructions on how to live life. I also see lots of encouragement, advice, and warnings on how to live this life. What’s equally fascinating is it applicable to everyone.

Indeed, everything the Bible teaches, whether theological or practical, and everywhere it teaches, whether historical or poetical or applicational or prophetic, is meant to draw us closer to Christ, seeing him with more clarity and loving him with more of our affections. The Bible is about Jesus. The Primary Message of the Bible Is That the Work Is Already Done In biblical times, many people chose to worship false gods of their own making. We see the same thing today. What will motivate people to real life change that begins with real heart change? Not all the helpful tips in the universe. They would visit schools and hand out small Bibles that comprised the New Testament including Psalms and Proverbs.