One Way Only (Christian Devotions)

Bakit Kailangan Kong Magbasa ng Bible? (Another Reason Why)

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

Sa panahon ngayon, maraming Kristiyano na ang nalilinlang sa mga iba't ibang klase ng preachers. May mga naeentice kasi masarap sa tenga yung pinpakinggan nila, na imbis na yung mga makakapagpagbago sa kanila yung papakinggan nila, mas pipiliin nila yung preaching na hindi sila mafoforce na baguhin yung lifestyle nila.

Pero hindi iyon ang tinuturo sa atin ni Lord.

The Lord wants us to turn from our evil ways. Kung hindi ka nababago at natotolerate ang sinful living mo imbis na narerebuke ka, better think twice.

Going back, bakit kailangan mong magbasa ng Bible?

Marami na tayong naririnig at nababasa about successful lives. May mga libro at steps para masunod mo upang maging successful ka, like goal-setting, habit-changing, at iba't iba pang lifestyle books. Meron rin akong ganoon, pero ang tindi ng conviction sa akin ni Lord na kinailangan kong magdelete ng mga unnecessary na libro sa phone ko at sa Wattpad ko.

Dinala ako ni Lord sa book of Proverbs na kung saan sinabi niya (WHOO, 1st chapter pa lang agad-agad)  Proverbs 1:3 (NLT) "Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, and to help them do what is right, just, and fair."

1. The Word of God Leads us to Success
Hindi ito yung success na inooffer ng mundo, (although may kakayahan tayo na pagpalain ni Lord at dalhin niya tayo doon) Pero hindi yun yung success na akala ng marami.

Akala kasi ng marami pag sinabi mong successful, yun yung may pera ka, or may naabot ka na pangarap.

Ang tindi ng rhema ni Lord sa akin dito: Successful life is a life that has achieved its purpose.

You can be rich without being successful. Kaya hindi na tayo magtataka bakit may mga mayayaman na at artista pa ang nauuuwi sa depression dahil nga hindi ito matatagpuan sa yaman.

Only God can give us that feeling of "success", and believe me: It's very unlikely to what the world offers. The success that God gives us is a success that leads us to Him, draws other people to God, and it overflows our cup.

You can have a hundred-peso bill in your wallet but still feel successful.

Remember this: Success is not based on your financial resources. Sabi nga ni Paul kay Timothy, " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV)

It is a success that reaches the heavens, and it will fulfil our destiny that is defined by the Creator. (Believe me, through God's word, nadadala niya ako sa mga dapat kong puntahan at gawin.)

2. The Word of God protects us from lies.
Ngayon, marami na sa mundo ang mga kasinungalingan at walang katiyakan. But the word of God is firm and His word will help us and assist us in everything.

"I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life."
1 John 2:21-25 (ESV)

Maraming so-called Christians pero taliwas ang ginagawa sa Bible. Iba ang doctrine nila compared sa binigay ni Jesus. Nagiging lukewarm sila at hindi nila alam kung saan tatayo.

But when you know the word of God, it can lead us to the right path. Hindi lahat ng Christian, ay Christian talaga. Sabi nga ng isa sa mga youtuber na pinapanuod ko, "Kapag sinabi ko bang Christian robbery, christian na yun?"

When you know God's word, you can test whatever that is being said. Sabi nga, " Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Psalms 119:105 (ESV)

Dear Christian, you need to read your Bible. Because it directs us and instructs us. Parang laws lang yan. Pag alam mo ang law, hindi ka maloloko. Knowing God's word protects us from the lies of the devil as well as the lies of the people around us. Knowing God's word helps us live the life God called us, worthy of His calling.

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Salamat po kasi hindi mo kami pinapabayaan, bagkus lagi mo kaming binabantayan upang hindi kami mapahamak. Panginoon, batid mo na madalas, kami ay tamad at hindi masipag sa pagbabasa ng iyong salita pero masipag kami sa ibang libro.

Panginoon, baguhin mo ang aming pananaw sa iyong salita, at tulungan mo kami na magkarooon ng pagkauhaw sa iyong salita. Tulungan mo kami na mahalin namin ito at maging gabay namin ito sa araw-araw na pamumuhay.

Salamat Panginoon, sa pagmamahal at katapatan mo. Sa pangalan lamang ni Jesus, amen.