“Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

When I was a freshman in college, two girls stopped by my dorm room and witnessed to me. Using the Bible, they showed me what it meant to be a born again believer. I accepted Christ’s forgiveness that night, and asked him into my heart. That began my journey as a Christ follower. As I hung out with those girls and others in the University of Minnesota Navigator fellowship, they helped me to really understand what a Christ centered life was all about.

I listened, I watched, and I learned as they transparently lived their out their lives in front of me and the rest of the world. Their desire became my desire – to love God, and serve him with a whole, undivided heart.

One thing I just loved about those dear people was their Bibles. The pages of their Bibles were dog-eared and coffee stained. The margins and verses were marked up with dates, notes and prayers. The covers were worn and bindings were falling to pieces. It was a mark of honor to own a Bible like that, and I could hardly wait until my own Bible started to show the same marks of loving use.

I remember a question someone threw out to our fellowship group back then. He asked: If you were stranded on a desert island, and could take only one thing with you, what would it be? The answer I heard most often from my friends? ”My Bible. I couldn’t live without my Bible.” By then I had come to agree with them, with all my heart.

I remember that every now and again. My answer to the hypothetical desert island question through out the years is still the same. I would choose my Bible. I could not live without my old, worn out, marked up, falling apart at the seams Bible. So as I make my travel plans for 2010 and pack my bag, definitely - my Bible is in.

This year I feel more than ever the urgent need to know what God says in his word. I can’t take for granted that God’s truth will be respected and guarded in my world. I can’t take for granted that I will be able to tell the difference between truth and a lie. I can’t take for granted that I will be sharp enough to tell a subtle half truth that might make its way into my Christian faith. I need the instruction, protection and nourishment of the Bible. The responsibility to know the Bible and know it well is my own, and it will be a priority for me in 2010.

A Bible teacher who is an expert on end times particularly as it relates to Israel, Jan Markell, recently reported that a study shows Christians across the board (meaning in every faith tradition from liberal to conservative) are becoming increasingly syncretistic in their beliefs and religious practices. Syncretism is a big word meaning the combination of different systems of philosophical or religious belief or practice. The Christian Church is looking more and more pagan as it adopts more and more Eastern religious beliefs and practices. 

Why is this happening? Because so many of us don’t have personal knowledge and conviction of what the Bible teaches. This is not a new problem for people, I know, because Paul warned Timothy about the same thing. “…a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

We are there. And I must follow Paul’s instructions to Timothy.  “Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

Here are 2 major steps I am committing to this year:

*I am reading through the Bible in a year
*I am using Kay Arthur’s book “How to Study the Bible”, and the old “Navigator Bible Studies Handbook” to do some in depth Bible study (inductive, character and topical studies) this year.

My Bible is in my suitcase!  How about yours?

Dear Friends,
 It can be so intimidating to start studying the Bible – to even know where to begin. I would suggest this: go on Amazon used books for Halley’s Bible Handbook, Henrietta Mears’ “What the Bible is All About” and a good study Bible. (Used books are so reasonably priced!). Start reading the New Testament, and as you go through each book, follow along with your “new” used Bible study books.

 That should wet your appetite and hunger to dig deeper! Let me know when you get there, and we will talk more! Just start today!

Digging Deeper in 2010,
Joan Tyvoll
Norwegian Ridge Retreat

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david henderson  - mr   |Feb 26, 2010 just doing a character study on timothy and your information was listed. i'm so glad i opened and read it what am encouraging story. its great to have fellowship with likeminded believers who really love the word of God. The Lord bless you and your work for Him in 2010 or until we see Him face to face. David Reply 1   0

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