Psalm 119:9-16 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
Tonight is the conclusion of a six week unit with my Wednesday night class. Since I teach 5th/6th grade girls, many of them are going to be moving up into our student ministries within the month and becoming youth students. I decided that the last unit we should do together as a class would be about the Bible. It seems like kids bring their Bible to church for a prize or at least have one sitting somewhere in their room at home. However, most don’t know how to use it! It’s been fun to teach them facts like the Bible has 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. We’ve discussed who wrote what books and why it’s important to study the Bible. I LOVE being able to explain how the promises in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament. The Bible is not a book of short stories, but is one complete message from God showing His plan for redemption! It was written by many different men, over many years and yet, it’s message is seamless! God used ordinary people to communicate His extraordinary love! He gave it to us in written form so we can have it with us always!
I’ve mentioned this a couple of times, but I don’t think I will ever be able to stress enough how much I enjoy reading the Bible and how much I love my Bible reading plan that allows me to read it cover to cover in one year. It takes about 20 minutes of reading a day and it blows my mind! New things pop out to me each I read God’s word. Through the years, different passages bring out new meanings to my life and encourage me. I’m also one of those highlight and write in the margins kind of a Bible readers! I love making notes about what stands out to me. I love finding foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament! I’ll underline the verse and then in bold text I will write “JESUS”. It just makes me happy!
The whole reason I went to Bible college was so I could learn more about God’s Word and be able to teach it better. The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). It has the power to shape our lives and transform our character. I am teacher – I love the kids I get the privilege of teaching on a weekly basis. However, in order to be a good teacher, I need to be a good student. I will never master the Bible. I will never reach a place in my life where I know it all and never need to read it again. The Bible isn’t a one time read! It is a continual, life shaping presence in our lives. Currently in my Bible reading plan I am reading through Psalm 119. It’s the longest Psalm and longest chapter in the Bible with 176 verse. I think it’s very appropriate that the longest book of the Bible all about God’s Word and the important role it plays in our lives. I pray that my passion for God’s World would be that same as the Psalmist. May it be ever growing, ever increasing, ever deepening!
Amy Scott's Thoughts 