Monday, September 26, 2011

blessed by the bible…

when the preacher’s car broke down on a country road, he walked to a nearby roadhouse to use the phone. after calling for a tow truck, he spotted his old friend, frank, drunk and shabbily dressed at the bar. “what happened to you, frank?” asked the good reverend. “you used to be rich.” frank told a sad tale of bad investments that had led to his downfall. “go home,” the preacher said. “open your bible at random, stick your finger on the page and there will be GOD’s answer.”


some time later, the preacher bumped into frank, who was wearing a gucci suit, sporting a rolex watch and had just stepped our of a mercedes. “frank.” said the preacher, “i am glad to see things really turned around for you.” “yes, preacher, and i owe it all to you,” said frank. “i opened my bible, put my finger down on the page and there was the answer -- chapter 11.” 

in america, bibles are everywhere.  you can find them in grocery stores, bookstores, motel rooms, everywhere.  they’re available in all sizes, shapes, translations, versions, leather bound, paperback.  every year the bible out sells every other major bestseller.  last year there were 500 million bibles published in the world in 18,000 different languages.  in america we are glutted with the word of GOD on the airways, radio, tv, books, magazines.  it’s everywhere.  yet millions of people still miss the blessing of the bible. 

why?  because it’s not automatic.  the bible is a book of blessing.  it promises comfort, strength, hope, wisdom, joy, power, and purpose.  but just because you have a bible doesn’t mean you’re going to get the benefit from it. 

listen, GOD’s word is HIS love letter to you, but you need to apply it to see results.  you need to apply it, to be blessed by it!

james, being his practical self, tells us how to be blessed by the bible. 

james 1.25 (niv), but whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.the bible is called the perfect law because it's exactly what i need.  it promises freedom and it promises blessing. 

just a thought from the front porch..

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