Thursday, September 25, 2008

the Bible front and center

Do we keep the Bible front and center every day of our lives? I know I don't every single day. But most days, especially with normal pressure on me, as in weekdays, I do so. At least in my own way.

I have a paperback TNIV Bible which I carry around on the factory floor. It is open to a passage I'm meditating on, yesterday this passage in 1 Corinthians 10. I partly work at memorizing, but with the goal to meditate and really take in the truths of God in Jesus, from the words which I keep mulling over.

On days with less pressure I still want to keep the Bible front and center, and sometimes succeed to some extent. But those days can be swallowed up with other activities which to a point is fine. Yet can be a loss for me.

The Bible front and center is a continuing by me, through the influence and help of others (like The Bible Experience), to meditate on the truth of God, and find my place in the Story of God in Jesus. My place not just for my life, but for that day. It is actually a seeking to open myself up to God's voice to speak into my existence here. A major goal of the Bible, God's word, is to make me a living word in the Word, Jesus. A living, loving word from God to others in the ongoing story of God unfolding before each one of us, everyday. From the word of love in Jesus I receive from God.

What would you like to add to these few thoughts?

11 comments:

L.L. Barkat said...

Not every day. I kind of go through phases. But it's my favorite book. Ever.

Anonymous said...

a few thoughts added:


i like the "title" of your post.

it is a good way to begin to convey this information.

the book itself is not always right in front of me, but, God finds a way to feed the word to me almost every day.


i am not very good at memorizing anything word for word, but, the word is making it's way into my life. i am sure that the HolySpirit uses it along with other things to change me.

sometimes i study by way of the web page called www.biblegateway.com and sometimes i put the printed book in front of me to get centered by the HolySpirit.

front and centered...do you like that one?

i think that we can be the hands, eyes, mouth, heart and bearers of God's word throuth the HolySpirit in us.

Anonymous said...

I love the thought of the unfolding story of God which involves, indeed, revolves around His desire to enfold each of us in His story.

Blessings in Christ,
Bill Williams

Rachel Mc said...

I don't always keep the bible front and center, I am afraid I am someone who works in the "secular" world and I haven't found my courage to invite co workers into the bible with me. However, it seems to me everyday I am seeing/hearing particular versus that really relate to my life at the time. I believe the spirit is keeping me close.

preacherman said...

Wonderful thoughts.
I will strive...strive...every waking hour to put it front and center.

Ted M. Gossard said...

L.L., Your going through phases thought is interesting. I can identify with that, really. There are times, like I noted on my post yesterday, I think it was, where I seem really into one book. Proverbs just seemed to hit the spot so vividly, as I was passing through it, recently. And Job has seemed much that way for me, a good number of times.

Then I went through a period awhile back when I was hardly in the word at all, at least not in the regular ongoing way, which actually was quite a surprise to me.

But we must press on. I liken it to the monks, for example in the Benedict order, who have an ongoing practice of regularly going through the word.

Of course God in Jesus is what is truly central for us, and Scripture has a central place in helping bring us to that.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Amen, Nancy. That reminds me that I'm interested in centering prayer. Has some similarities to this, I think, and have done a bit of that I think, and probably all Christians have at some time or another without realizing what Christians have called it. Have a friend in the blog world who is helping me on that.

But yes, we need God's word before us to center us on him and his will, so that it's about God's story in Jesus, and us finding our place in that.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Yes, Bill. Me too. I think it is a good way to see God's word to us, the inscripturated word. And nice way of putting it, Bill. Thanks.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Amen, Rachel. I think the Spirit is leading you, and that you are doing well in what you are doing. I don't think nonChristians have to see us carrying a Bible around, in fact I think that can be a distraction. D.L. Moody once said that for every person who reads the Bible there will be ten people who read us (something like that). I think he's right. It's about them seeing how God's word impacts our lives, and that in a true sense, just as Paul says, we are to become God's living, love letters to the world, known and read by everyone.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Preacherman,
You're sounding like a good monk. I could have been a monk, I think, provided it was a married order, of course!

preacherman said...

LoL!
:-)
Contemplating becomming "The Monk" instead of "Preacherman". Ummm...Nah.....:-)