LEARNING FROM THE BIBLE

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4 NKJV).

Here the apostle Paul is speaking about the Old Testament, but what he says applies today to the entire Bible. The Bible was written for our learning. The greatest of all learning is the learning we get from the Scriptures as it instructs us in the most important matters of life. In this verse the apostle Paul speaks of three areas of learning which we gain from the Scriptures: patience, comfort, and hope.

Patience - Few things are needed more for mankind than patience. Patience is a virtue of great value and none of us have enough of it. But we can learn it from the Scriptures. The more we get into the Scriptures in wholehearted study, the better we will learn about patience. The world does not teach about patience well, but the Word will teach us patience.

Comfort - We live in a world that is not very comforting. It can get pretty rocky and bumpy at times, and often we hit these rough areas of life without any protection. But the Scriptures will give us the comfort and protection that we need for the rough patches that we encounter in life. Indeed, when folks are sick or experiencing great sorrow they often do not the newspapers or news magazines or other life literature, but they often turn to the Scriptures. Why? Because it is the Scriptures that gave the best comfort.

Hope - Another valuable thing we learn from Scripture is hope. The world does not give us any hope. Rather, it gives us a lot of hopelessness. But the Bible gives a lot of hope. It will give us hope in the midst of the worst circumstances and trails. It will give us hope for the future. If you want hope in your life, go to the Bible. It gives the best hope.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 2)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“God’s Word is the only reliable guideline for living. Following your heart, without the leading of His Word and His Spirit, will lead you to His judgement!”

Chuck Smith (1927 – 2013)

American Author and Preacher

Word Study

Fig tree

In Luke 13:6 we read, “He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none” (NKJV).

“Fig tree” is the Greek word sukē (συκῆ = soo-kay'). Sukē refers to the fruit-producing tree that was common throughout the area of Palestine. The fig tree was often used as a symbol of Israel (cf. Hos. 9:10; Joel 1:7). It is mentioned often in the Old Testament (cf. Judges 9:7-15; Isa. 34:4; Jer. 8:13; 24:1-10) and thrives in Israel even today. The fig tree is also frequently mentioned in the New Testament, most often in the Synoptic Gospels. In context, the Lord Jesus uses the simple analogy of a fig tree, something that would have been readily understandable to folks in an agrarian society. While the primary application of this parable is to the Jewish Nation, it also applies to everyone because in its conclusion it speaks of a judgment which is inevitable! This means that everyone is living on borrowed time. Fig trees generally take some time after planting before they begin to bear fruit, but their ultimate purpose is to bear fruit. God is seeking fruit. He will accept no substitutes, and the time to repent is now.

Did You Know…

According to the Book of Revelation, there is no need for a temple in the New Jerusalem because of the presence of Lord God Almighty and the Lamb - “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Rev. 21:22).

Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Ecclesiastes, what is “the duty of all mankind?”

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Ephesians, what part of a building did the apostle Paul compared the Lord Jesus to? The “chief corner stone” (Eph. 2:20).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The Enmity of Kings Predicted (Psalm 2:1-3) – A Prediction of the Enmity that would be leveled against the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:25-28)

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1-3 NJKV).

In these first three verses, the Psalmist David expresses amazement at the plans of the nations to overthrow the Lord and His Anointed One. Here we have a description of the hatred of the human nature against God. When one consider all that the Lord has done for mankind, how can we rebel against Him? But the nations’ rebellion isn’t only against God, but is also against His “Anointed,” the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This rebellion is depicted in the words of the citizens in Luke 19:14: “We will not have this man to reign over us.” And so Gentile and Jewish rulers conspired against the Lord Jesus and executed Him by crucifixion. In the end, their plot proved futile; even death could not hold Him. And what is most interesting is that this was all part of God’s plan to bring salvation to sinners. In spite of man’s sinful revolt, God remains the unrivaled sovereign Lord; He laughs at man’s feeble attempts to thwart His eternal purposes.

Did You Know – Christian History

Phillips Brooks was born December 13, 1835, in Boston, MA. He was an American Episcopal Bishop and Hymn writer.

Descended from the earliest Puritans of Massachusetts, Brooks studied at Harvard. After teaching for a short time in Virginia, he was ordained in the Episcopal Church. Because of his great oratorical skills, Brooks served in prominent churches in Philadelphia and Boston. One of these was Trinity Church, Boston, where he eloquently defended the idea of God in three Persons at a time when Unitarianism was a rising force in New England. Two years before his death, Brooks was chosen bishop of the Episcopal Church in Massachusetts. By then, he had touched many lives by his preaching as well as his personal Christian walk.

As a boy, Brooks’ parents had hymn-sings on Sunday evenings, and by the time Brooks went to college, he knew over two hundred hymns. Many of these came up again in his sermons, and Brooks himself also wrote poems and hymns. Today Brooks is probably best remembered for one of those hymns: “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” written in l868. A Christmas Eve spent in Bethlehem some years before had left a lasting impression on his mind. Brooks wrote the song for the youngsters in his Sunday school when he was rector of Philadelphia’s Holy Trinity Church. The organist and Sunday school superintendent, Mr. Lewis Redner, wrote the music.

Brooks loved children and liked to romp on the floor and play with them. He often wrote delightful letters to his young friends. That explains why, when Brooks died on January 23, 1893, a five year old was upset because she had not seen her preacher friend for several days. Her mother told her that Bishop Brooks had gone to heaven, and the child exclaimed, “Oh, Mama, how happy the angels will be.”

Brooks left an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals through his powerful sermons and unwavering commitment to Christianity. His legacy continues to inspire generations with timeless classics like “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” which remains a beloved Christmas carol to this day. Over his tomb the following words are erected: “A preacher of righteousness and hope, majestic in stature, impetuous in utterance, rejoicing in the truth, unhampered by the bonds of church or state, he brought by his life and doctrine fresh faith to a people, fresh meanings to ancient creeds.”

A Little Humor

On the first day of school, the Kindergarten teacher said, “If anyone has to go to the bathroom, hold up two fingers.” A little voice from the back of the room asked, “How will that help?”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon!”