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| Is the Bible hard to Understand? |
Many times, I have friends and family tell me that they have a hard time understanding the Bible. They ask questions like:
- Why does the Old Testament seem confusing?
- Are Christians still supposed to read the Old Testament?
- How should I read the Bible when it doesn't make sense?
- Which parts of the Bible should I read?
This morning I was reading an article by one of my favorite preachers: John Piper. Here is the article:
As I was reading, a few things started occurring to me after he said this:
"When Paul says it is all inspired by God and that it is profitable so that you will be equipped for every good work, I believe he means that even the parts that are hard to read, or even sometimes confusing, will in the long run have an effect on your mind and your soul that will shape you into the kind of person who can stand strong all your life for Jesus..."
Pastor Piper was referring to this scripture from Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
When it says that all scripture is God-breathed and is useful, it is referring even to those scriptures which are hard to understand or that you don't understand at all. Even though you don't understand them, they are still able to edify your spirit, and are still able to water the seed of the Gospel which is planted in your heart.
Aren't there many other things in life we don't understand, but they do benefit us?
- I don't understand how medicine works, but I still take it to help my body.
- I don't have understanding while I sleep, but it is good for my health.
- I don't understand everything about a computer working, but I still use it for benefit.
- I didn't understand why a coach made me do something thirty times in a row, but it made sense later.
- I didn't understand why my mother wouldn't let me do some things, but I understand now.
1 Corinthians 14:15 shows us there is a difference between what our mind understands and our spirit understands:
"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."
Sometimes we are not aware that prayer is helping us, but it is. We are not understanding that worship is helping us, but it is edifying our spirit. The same is true with the Word of God.
Since being a Minister for 10 years, there are things I read in scripture 10 years ago which God is just now revealing to me. Every day is a new joy as I open the Word of God, and God builds revelation upon revelation when we are faithful to the study of the Word.
Even when you don't understand the Bible - keep reading. Even when it seems like a chore and you are not enjoying it - keep reading. Even when you have a million things to do which seem like a benefit - keep reading.
As the Apostle Paul spoke to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:13 - "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching."
Do you know that Paul studied the scriptures for years while he was killing Christians, but never understood it? But then Jesus revealed himself to Paul, and the prophecies of the Messiah made sense.
10 years from now, you will thank yourself for what you started reading today. Read with the spirit, not just with understanding. May God bless you through his Word today.