August 25, 2026
I have sought you with all my heart; don’t let me wander from your
commands. I have treasured
your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you. Lord, may you be blessed; teach me your
statutes. Psalm 119:10-12
Our Sunday morning Bible Study
gathering is something of a mixed brew.
We work at doing a deep dive into the Scripture; at the
same time there are lighter moments with laughter. And laughter is not the direct opposite of deep
study. It is more like the release valve
at the top of a pressure cooker. Whenever
the contents of the sealed cooker gets too much for the container, the valve
opens and lets off some steam. In a class
devoted to knowing God and His Word, that valve is certain to show up!
This past Sunday was not unlike
others. The Bible passage in 1
Corinthians was all about the difficulties that first century church was having
with attitudes and behavior; that stuff gets personal. We shared some personal views about an issue,
and how the Bible addresses correct behavior.
That led to how we’re supposed to conform our lives to do
what Scripture says (not the other way around, changing what the Bible says to
fit our lifestyle and opinions).
Bible study always invites
personal opinions, and our class is no exception. We sometimes chase a rabbit or two. This week’s hare was bringing your Bible to
church. It’s a bit of a sticky issue. Some study Bibles weigh-in like a Sumo
wrestler. If you throw a twenty-pound
King James version in your purse and try to carry a toddler and a diaper bag
with extra bottles, wipes, and eighteen pounds of toys, common sense dictates something’s
gotta go.
Among the diverse opinions shared
about carrying your Bible:
1. 1. The actual bound paper with genuine cowhide is a
must!
2. 2. (my friend lifting his phone) “My Bible is inside
here”. (J)
3. 3. The words are on the screen when the pastor
preaches.
Not much of a list, but our discussion
did morph into the importance of using the Bible for its intended use – the changing
of life by the transforming power of God’s Holy Spirit acting on the hearts and
minds of people who read, understand, and then put into action God’s
instruction for our very messy lives.
Our class leader for this week,
Sam, mentioned that preachers, called upon for a funeral, will sometimes ask
for the deceased’s Bible, to hunt through for clues as to what was important to
that person. I immediately thought of
the many times I had done just that, especially when I worked as a grief counselor.
Chasing that hare, we mused on
what the preacher would find in our Bibles.
Would it be bookmarks, notes, tracts, grocery lists? I shared with the class that the one thing a
preacher would find in my Bible, if he asked for it, would be coffee stains. My life is as messy as anyone’s (including
yours), and drips from my early morning coffee find their way to the Gospels
and Genesis, as well as the Psalms.
If there is one thing I deeply
desire when attending or leading a Bible study it is closing-in on a central
thought that I can dwell upon, draw through the grid of God’s Word, and arrive
at useful matching points that need attention in my life and behavior. In short, I want to do what the Psalmist did…get
that Word deep in my heart, my desires, my soul, so I have the strength to
resist sin.
For You Today
You
chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!
[1] Title and Other Images: Russell Brownworth photo. Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The Christian Standard Bible©
Posted on Facebook Guide for a Messy Life
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