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Seek out God's word for answers
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Studying the Bible is something people should do for themselves.
On one occasion, Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him, the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).
With a warning like that, every person should want to be aware of what the Bible teaches. If one does not know the way to live their life, how will we be ready for the Judgment Day?
A person’s eternal destiny will not depend on how much their ancestors knew about the Bible, or how much a loved one knows. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
A person needs to study God’s word for themselves, which will enable them to know what God desires. One who studies and obeys will be approved in the sight of God.
The divisions of the Bible need to be understood. While it is all inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 3:16-17), not all of it is for man to follow today. The Bible is divided into the Old and New testaments. The New Testament is what is to be followed today.
The Hebrew writer told that the Old Law was a shadow of things to come (Hebrews 10:1-22). With the death of Christ, the New Testament was given to man (Hebrews 9:11-28). If man were to keep the old covenant today, he would not be able to have the forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 10:1-4; Galatians 3:16-4:11). Christ took the old law out of the way (Colossians 2:14).
The Old Testament still should be read and studied because it serves to help one learn of how God dealt with man down through the ages. The more of the word of God that is studied, the more it will help one to realize the need for God each day. It also teaches on the responsibility to “feed” the starving masses with this same word.
“Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). It will also better equip a person to “…fear God and keep His commandments…” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Constantly feeding upon God’s word will enable one to desire to faithfully serve God.
It also important that children of God feed upon the proper food. One must be careful when choosing a Bible. Some so-called Bibles of the day are mere paraphrases, which only tell what a man thought the Bible said. The two most reliable translations are the King James Version and the American Standard Version of 1901.
Desiring the word is something that must last a lifetime. Many times, older people simply stop eating, and before long, their body gives up for lack of nourishment. Spiritually, a person can starve to death from a lack of spiritual food. Some Christians forget this and lose sight of their goal. Just as the dying body turns cold, so can one’s spiritual zeal for God.
Study of the word produces faith (Romans 10:17) and repentance (Luke 13:3), leading one to be willing to confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 10:32) and then a desire to have one’s sins washed away by baptism (Acts 2:38).
Peter’s admonition needs to be heeded: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

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