Did you know that there is more evidence for the bible’s authenticity than any other ancient text. We have copies of New Testament manuscripts that were hand written within 100 years of the events, and have over 20,000 copies of original ancient texts. They have been found in Africa, Europe and the Middle East with very little variation (99.5% consistency). In contrast, there are less than 1000 copies of Homers Illiad, and they were written over 500 years after Homer wrote it. No other ancient text is anywhere close. Over 100 million bibles are sold each year, and it is estimated over 5 billion have been printed.

Paul wrote the letter to Timothy that we read as 2 Timothy around 67 AD while Paul was in prison in Rome. He said in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.” What a great gift the bible is for us.

Dear Lord, thank you for giving us the bible to guide, inspire, motivate, and educate us. Help us to read it regularly to help bring us closer to you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The devil tries to make us feel like we are losing out if we give a significant part of our time, money, attention or energy to God’s work, at our church, or to other Christian activities. He does a very good job convincing us of this.

In Mark 10, Jesus speaks with the virtuous rich man, who sounds like a very caring, and giving person who was trying to do the right thing, but when he asks Jesus what he must do to go to heaven, Jesus tells him, “sell all you have, give it to the poor, and follow me,” he went away disappointed because he could not bring himself to do this. Then Jesus told the disciples how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

After this story, the disciples were concerned, saying, “if this good rich man cannot go to heaven, how can anyone? We have given up everything to follow you.”

Jesus then told them, and tells us, in Mark 10:29-30, “Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything—home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or property—for love of me and to tell others the Good News, who won’t be given back, a hundred times over, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—with persecutions! “All these will be his here on earth, and in the world to come he shall have eternal life.”

It may not be easy, but God will take care of us if we put him first with what we have.

Dear Lord, thank you for the promises you make to us in this story. Give us confidence to overcome the lies planted in our minds that make us concerned about doing too much for you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you have read many self-improvement books, you have probably come across a concept that is instrumental in helping achieve earthly success, that being the belief in a world of abundance. The concept is that there is abundance for all who believe it is possible, and that believing in limits to abundance is a self-fulfilling limit on our success.

In a similar way Jesus says in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The Living Bible translation writes it like this, “My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” Clearly Jesus is talking about more than just our life on earth. We know our entire faith is based on the eternal life we have in Jesus Christ. I think, however, He also intends to bring an abundant life of peace, joy and hope here on earth to those who believe and put their trust in Him.

Dear Lord, thank you for the promise of an abundant life. Help us to truly believe your promise and live our lives expecting and grateful for this abundance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

You have probably heard this expression at some time. If not, the point is that you have more success persuading and influencing someone if you are nice.

Paul talks about using a similar approach with people. In 2 Timothy 2:25,26 Paul writes, Be humble when you are trying to teach those who are mixed up concerning the truth. For if you talk meekly and courteously to them, they are more likely, with God’s help, to turn away from their wrong ideas and believe what is true. Then they will come to their senses and escape from Satan’s trap of slavery to sin, which he uses to catch them whenever he likes, and then they can begin doing the will of God.”

When we are discussing scripture and doctrine with others, we need to be patient and kind. We are not alone, God is working on them as well. Our message may not be accepted at the time, but after additional thought people may come to agreement.

Dear Lord, help us have the confidence to present your word to others, courteously, as Paul says. Help us realize that we don’t need to “win” the argument, just present your truth as we understand it. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Different parts of the bible use different types of writing to convey God’s message to us. Some are stories about particular events that we can use as metaphors for our lives 2000 years later, like David and Goliath, teaching us about faith in God giving us ability to overcome, or Peter walking on water, teaching us to trust.

In the story of Esau trading his birthright in Genesis 25:29-34, Esau came in from a hard day of hunting and was very hungry. Thinking only about his immediate desires he asks his younger brother Jacob for some of the stew he was cooking. Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”. So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.”

Esau trades something precious and irreplaceable for immediate gratification. We need to think about this in our lives. Are we trading things of long term value, like our integrity, our reputation, our health, or even our salvation for something we want right now, like entertainment, convenience, or short term pleasures.

Dear Lord, help us remember what is important in our lives, and to think about the long term consequences of our decisions before we make them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.