Challenge Completion, New Testament Reflection and What's Next
Challenge Completion
I have done it. On Sunday, October 13th, 2013, I completed a complete read (listen) through of the New Living Translation Bible. That is a major accomplishment for me. It has been a great learning experience for me, both personally and spiritually.
Personally, there are two major things I have gotten from this experience. First, I prefer to listen to books. Not only am I able to pay attention better, but having headphones eliminates distractions. It also allows me to be active while I read. Second, I now have a regularly scheduled time everyday that I take time to read God's word; one that I am not wavering from. As a minister, it is vitally important that I do not neglect my own spiritual nourishment and development. This is a vital key in that process. Being constantly filled with God's word every morning give me perspective throughout the day.
Spiritually, I feel like I have a better grasp on God's story as a whole. I feel like I can better place where events take place, why they happened, and what importance that meant at the time. I have also realized how much about the Bible I have yet to learn. I am able ti visualize the parts that I am still in need of instruction.It is very humbling. But part of continuing in my walk with Jesus is continuing to learn. And I am looking forward to learning more in the future!
New Testament Reflection
The New Testament is a very different animal from what the Old Testament is. There is a different feel to it; it is much deeper and more complex. Its size can be deceiving. The authors, such as Paul, were very good at injecting a lot of information and ideas into very compact spaces. This is why the New Testament is so goo to chew on. The more time you spend with it, the more is revealed to you.
It is also apparent in the New Testament that our relationship with God changed from what it was in the Old Testament. It used to be a more cause and effect type relationship: we sin, and sin, and sin until God can't handle it anymore, there is consequences, we repent, repeat. Even though God very apparently displays His grace in the Old Testament, we seem to see His justice quite often. But that changes in the New Testament with the arrival of Jesus. He talks about what our relationship with God is supposed to be like, and then dies to make it that way. And now, we are free. Free from what? Sin. Being slaves to sin. And since we are free from sin, we are free to be completely in relationship with God, just like we were meant to in the first place. There is no longer sin hovering over our heads. It is gone. The Old Testament promised it was to come, and it is now here. And I can't help but rejoice and thank God every day that this is the case today.
What's Next
I am now listening through a book called "The Story." It is a book from Zondervan that puts the whole Bible into one continuous story. It is not a chronological Bible. It takes excerpts from the Bible and strings them together into a familiar chapter by chapter format. Not all stories or events are covered, but there are written explanations that connects the gaps and provide story-like commentary. I am 3 chapters into it, and it is very interesting. I am interested to see what is left out, how the book as a whole is put together and what value this book has in a personal study environment.
I have done it. On Sunday, October 13th, 2013, I completed a complete read (listen) through of the New Living Translation Bible. That is a major accomplishment for me. It has been a great learning experience for me, both personally and spiritually.
Personally, there are two major things I have gotten from this experience. First, I prefer to listen to books. Not only am I able to pay attention better, but having headphones eliminates distractions. It also allows me to be active while I read. Second, I now have a regularly scheduled time everyday that I take time to read God's word; one that I am not wavering from. As a minister, it is vitally important that I do not neglect my own spiritual nourishment and development. This is a vital key in that process. Being constantly filled with God's word every morning give me perspective throughout the day.
Spiritually, I feel like I have a better grasp on God's story as a whole. I feel like I can better place where events take place, why they happened, and what importance that meant at the time. I have also realized how much about the Bible I have yet to learn. I am able ti visualize the parts that I am still in need of instruction.It is very humbling. But part of continuing in my walk with Jesus is continuing to learn. And I am looking forward to learning more in the future!
New Testament Reflection
The New Testament is a very different animal from what the Old Testament is. There is a different feel to it; it is much deeper and more complex. Its size can be deceiving. The authors, such as Paul, were very good at injecting a lot of information and ideas into very compact spaces. This is why the New Testament is so goo to chew on. The more time you spend with it, the more is revealed to you.
It is also apparent in the New Testament that our relationship with God changed from what it was in the Old Testament. It used to be a more cause and effect type relationship: we sin, and sin, and sin until God can't handle it anymore, there is consequences, we repent, repeat. Even though God very apparently displays His grace in the Old Testament, we seem to see His justice quite often. But that changes in the New Testament with the arrival of Jesus. He talks about what our relationship with God is supposed to be like, and then dies to make it that way. And now, we are free. Free from what? Sin. Being slaves to sin. And since we are free from sin, we are free to be completely in relationship with God, just like we were meant to in the first place. There is no longer sin hovering over our heads. It is gone. The Old Testament promised it was to come, and it is now here. And I can't help but rejoice and thank God every day that this is the case today.
What's Next
I am now listening through a book called "The Story." It is a book from Zondervan that puts the whole Bible into one continuous story. It is not a chronological Bible. It takes excerpts from the Bible and strings them together into a familiar chapter by chapter format. Not all stories or events are covered, but there are written explanations that connects the gaps and provide story-like commentary. I am 3 chapters into it, and it is very interesting. I am interested to see what is left out, how the book as a whole is put together and what value this book has in a personal study environment.