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My project results – part 1 of 6
God started out teaching me how he teaches. Jesus pointed out this gem early on.
Whom shall He [God] teach knowledge? And (to) whom shall He explain the message? Those weaned from milk, those moving from breasts. For rule (is) on rule, rule on rule; line on line, line on line; a little there, a little there. (Isaiah 28:9-10)
God doesn’t tell the meat of scripture to those who still need to receive milk. He teaches from where you are and causes you to grow. It’s rule on rule – you see a truth and then another truth will build on that one. It’s line on line – God draws together what you are learning to fit together into a whole. It’s gathered a little there, a little there. That means we gather daily and we gather across all scripture. You will find part of your answers in the new testament and part in the old testament. The 66 books that make up the Bible together form one presentation.
I would ask every day where do you want me to read? More than 100 times Jesus answered with either Isaiah 14 or Mark 4. In Mark 4 is this instruction:
be careful what you hear. (Mark 4:24a INT)
It means if you want to know truth, only listen to truth. I didn’t realize when the year started that I was obeying this verse, I just wanted my new 4-volume Hebrew-Greek-English Interlinear Bible and the Strong’s dictionary of Greek and Hebrew Words to be my priority for the year, so I had stopped reading other books. I had shifted what I was hearing to only listen to Jesus. God says, ‘this is my Son, the beloved, hear him.’ (Luke 9:35). I did and it created a remarkable year.
God taught me he would present a topic and then explain it and add details and that information would be spread across several books of the bible. For example:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
Jesus said – “If you…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)
What are we to seek?
Jesus said – do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For all these things the nations seek; and your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)
What door does God want to open?
pray together also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ,…that I may make it clear, as I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:3-4)
Jesus reassured me that time with him would yield real benefits in my life.
Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)
RSV: Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952 and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
INT: Scripture quotations marked INT are taken from the Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible, Jay P. Green, Sr. General Editor and Translator, copyright © 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 by Jay Green Sr.
Scriptures not marked by source are from the King James Version (KJV) or the Greek and Hebrew of the Interlinear Hebrew-Greek-English Bible (INT) as worded or punctuated by the author. |