Quote from Forum Archives on February 7, 2003, 10:53 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

How well do you know the Bible? Do you read it regularly, at
least once a day? If not, I encourage you to do so. I have many
Bibles in my home (I keep extras and give them away when I find
someone who needs one). This year, we've given one Bible to one
of my son's friends. In the past, we've given away Bibles to
people in various needs. I'm glad we still have a few left;
resources aren't as plentiful as they once were.

But if you have online access, you can even read the Bible
online. One such resource is an easy to read translation from
the Year of the Bible project. This project has New Testament
Bible passages from the Contemporary English Version of the
Bible. As such, it is easy to read. Those of us who read the
Bible often might see something fresh and new in a passage by
reading it in another translation or paraphrase. The natural
inclination is to compare the passage with what we're most
familiar with, and that often leads to a closer look at
particular words or phrases. Sometimes, we can learn something
from that, either in new insight or by seeing something we never
noticed before, so that's one reason I read different versions
on occasion. When I'm looking for literary accuracy, I still
have the usual resources available to me.

I do this, not as some pointless exercise, but with a keen desire
to know my God. Though on occasion, it can become a ritual, my
heart's desire is the Word of God will continually penetrate my
heart, and if I ever begin to just "go through the motions" of
reading and studying, God Himself will convict me and redirect me
back to the right place - earnestly seeking and serving Him,
simply because He is worthy of love, attention, my full and
complete adoration and obedience.

I pray that however you choose to approach God and His Word, you
will do so out of a deep desire to know Him and love Him, as He
has first loved each of us.

Have a great weekend!

Dear Lord,

Please write Your Word within the very deepest part of me, that I
may be completely, entirely Yours. Be patient with me, help me
learn and apply Your ways in every area of my life. Draw me to
You in every way, for that is my deep desire, and I believe it is
my entire reason for being.

Strengthen those who are weak today in whatever way, whether ill
in body or mind, or lacking in any way. Fill the void with Your
Holy Spirit. Please cleanse away any impurities from each of
us. I know, Lord, that I cannot purify myself in any way other
than to offer myself completely to You, giving up even the things
that I hold onto tightly. I trust You, even in the darkest times
You are there, and You have always been faithful. You are a joy
because Your love never fails. May I be like minded, for Jesus
sake. Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

======================================================================

Year of the Bible

February 7, Matthew 26.14-35
Judas and the Chief Priests
14 Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. He went to the
chief priests 15 and asked, "How much will you give me if I help
you arrest Jesus?" They paid Judas thirty silver coins, 16 and
from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray
Jesus.

Jesus Eats the Passover Meal with His Disciples
17 On the first day of the Festival of Thin Bread, Jesus'
disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare
the Passover meal?" 18 Jesus told them to go to a certain man in
the city and tell him, "Our teacher says, My time has come! I
want to eat the Passover meal with my disciples in your home.'"
19 They did as Jesus told them and prepared the meal.

20-21 When Jesus was eating with his twelve disciples that
evening, he said, "One of you will surely hand me over to my
enemies." 22 The disciples were very sad, and each one said to
Jesus, "Lord, you can't mean me!" 23 He answered, "One of you men
who has eaten with me from this dish will betray me. 24 The Son
of Man will die, as the Scriptures say. But it's going to be
terrible for the one who betrays me! That man would be better off
if he had never been born." 25 Judas said, "Teacher, you surely
don't mean me!" "That's what you say!" Jesus replied. But later,
Judas did betray him.

The Lord's Supper
26 During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed
the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and
said, "Take this and eat it. This is my body."
27 Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He then
gave it to his disciples and said, "Take this and drink it. 28
This is my blood, and with it God makes his agreement with
you. It will be poured out, so that many people will have their
sins forgiven. 29 From now on I am not going to drink any wine,
until I drink new wine with you in my Father's kingdom." 30 Then
they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Peter's Promise
31 Jesus said to his disciples, "During this very night, all of
you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, I will strike down the
shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' 32 But after I am
raised to life, I will go to Galilee ahead of you."

33 Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never
will!" 34 Jesus replied, "I promise you that before a rooster
crows tonight, you will say three times that you don't know me."
35 But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never
say I don't know you." All the others said the same thing.

Scripture made available by the American Bible Society for the
Year of the Bible Project. These passages are from the
Contemporary English Version of the Bible.

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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