What’s it all about?
Sometimes the bible just does not seem relevant at all. Well …..the truth is that we are reading about History (His story) that happened over two thousand years ago.
But, in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New Living Translation (NLT), it tell us that ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives’
This means that we need to apply what we are reading, to our lives today. That ‘His story’ should become ‘our story’. That our lives should be lived out as a continuation of the bible. And there is absolutely no pressure in that, because the people of the bible were by no means perfect. They were just living ‘for God’ and in relationship ‘with God’.
So this is how I find it easy to make it personal. I take a ‘short’ scripture and read it over, two or three times, placing emphasis on different words, to see if there is anything specific that God is saying through the passage. Then, I will re-write the passage in my own words, making it more personal to me.
The message seems to become more ‘alive’ when it is displayed in a way that is relevant to our lives today. It is not a permanent re-write, but rather more like a journal entry. A tone for that time. The tone may be different, the next time we read the passage, but that is because God is living and breathing and has so much to say to us!
So here goes …..
Hebrews 1:1-2
God’s Final Word -His Son But In the past, God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe.
…. Before Christ was born, God got his message across to the people through prophets at very specific times and in rather spectacular ways. But now, we are blessed to have been born after the time that his Son was sent into the world to be God among man, to bring us the truth in a real and tangible way. (And just as the brilliance of the sun is inseparable from the sun itself, so the power and magnificence of Jesus is inseparable from God himself.) God appointed Jesus to be governor over all things and to speak life and creation into our world…..
Jesus is our friend and father, our governor and carer. He is intimately interested in every single aspect of our lives! That is profound in itself. He has a hand in where we go to school, who we are friends with, where we go to work, who we meet and marry, where we will live, what pets we will have and what children we will have – in other words ‘in every single aspect of our lives.’ He continues to create the universe, through the people in it.
Jesus led my parents to a little Baptist church where I went to a playschool run by one of the church moms. There I met Lara, who is still my closest and most precious friend today. We were 4 at the time. We both went to the same primary school until standard 2 (Grade 4), when her family moved away. But we remained best friends, despite the distance. This distance however, gave us each space to make other friends who helped shape our lives. After school, each job I had, did a little to prepare me for where I am today. I met Clayton at a time when I was ‘healed and whole’ and certainly not looking. But he was a gift because I had liked him in school but was clearly not anywhere ready for him then – or him for me!!! We built our home, in which we live today. It has greatly increased in value and this will ultimately (God willing) enable us to buy our small holding, which has been my dream since I was in sub B (Grade 2). We have identical twin girls, which was also my absolute dream since having my best friend Lara, who was my fictitious twin. We have a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel, who loves running and adores the girls – two qualities that are not common for this breed but a specific answer to prayer. And now I work with Clayton, building our dreams together and putting to use all the experience that I have gained over the years.
That is just a short list but it shows that He covers it all – ‘every single aspect of our lives’ – the biggies and the smallies!