Since I haven't had a routine devotional in a while, I decided to poke around BibleGateway.com for some Bible study resources. At this point, I'm not all that interested in reading full blown devotions; I just want some quality time in the Word, to hear God, to be with Him, and to hear what He has to say.
I chose to go with the Chronological Bible Reading Plan (61 days). This plan is perfect for me right now, because it'll get me reacquainted with the Word and orient me as to the arrangement of content. Kind of like reading the Table of Contents in a new book and then skimming over the subheadings.
Once I'm done with this plan, I think I'll pick up My Utmost for His Highest. Or not. I'd love to do an in-depth study of Romans again.
But I'm into Day 3 of the chronological plan. Tonight's reading was from the Book of Job.
The thoughts I found most astounding:
- When Job's friends saw him, they didn't recognize him for how badly he'd been marred by disease. They were so overcome with grief at only the sight of him, they sat with him in utter silence for an entire week, because they could just feel how deep and dark his despair truly was. Regardless of what transpired later in the book, these friends genuinely loved Job. They shared his pain. If we all had friends that close....
- When God finally relieved Job's agony, He accepted him again so quickly, expediently. Almost every chapter of the Book of Job portrays the man's misery in great detail. And the chapters of God's monologue...powerful and overwhelming. Yet, toward the very end, Job repents and glorifies God. Job spoke only five short verses, ending with "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes," and immediately, God accepted him.
- The book ends on a most beautiful thought...I felt like my heart would just burst with joy: "So Job died, being old and full of days." Full of days.... Full of days blessed by Almighty God Himself. I cannot imagine....
This Old Bible
The Bible I have now is the same soft-bound leather, giant print that was given to me when I was about ten years old. The pages are falling out in clumps, several pages are torn, but none are missing. The margins are scribbled with notes in blue ink, and lines throughout are starred, circled, and underlined.
I love that Bible. It's a part of me now, but each time I read it, I have to hold it so carefully by the spine so I don't lose any part of it, or what's left of the binding doesn't rip and come undone.
I've considered investing in a new Bible, but I don't think I could. It wouldn't be the same. This Bible from my childhood is almost like a cloth wrap for my faith. It holds so many tears of pain and joy, answers to tough questions, stories that made me happy.... It would be like putting away all the years of my life walking with the Lord. If I had a new Bible, my mind would always return to this old one. It feels like home.
