Thread by @GPrater85015

#GeraldsDevotional
66 Books – One Theme

When we read and study the bible, it can seem overwhelming with all of the diverse story lines and characters. The countless lessons and examples can appear to be an elaborate puzzle that is hard for the reader to decipher. But in reality, all of the books and stories, both Old-

and New-Testament, can be boiled down to one simple theme. It is a book about love and how it blesses everything (all of creation). From Genesis to Revelation the bible tells us to love God, giving to Him our everything (our lives, our time, our possessions and passions, desires,

and yes – even our problems, worries and personal failures). When we do all of these, we acknowledge that He is real (more so than us) and then we seek and obey Him. And He leads us to complete the second part of the central theme – to love and esteem others around us more than

we do our own selves. He tells us to live our lives to love others more than ourselves and show them what God says about them (also not worrying about what others say about us – for God is the One who affirms us and our value). This is the central theme throughout the entire

bible – the blessings that flow when we love like that and how the train de-rails when we do not.

An ultimate love story, the bible is not a weapon that is used to reverse or distort ANY of the above. The enemy will tempt us (using our natural selfish tendencies) to use the

scriptures to turn the focus of what they say to be self-centered and self-serving for us. He knows all of the scriptures as well and is an expert and cherry-picking isolated verses and themes (taking them out of context with the overall story) to make them serve our (his)

selfish desires as if God is holding out on us or is not sufficient for our needs. The picture of Jesus’ temptation after His 40-day fast in the wilderness is a great illustration of this method. It is an illustration of what it looks like to use the bible as a weapon to win an

argument or manipulate others for selfish and evil gain. It reverses the true theme illustrated above, is not God’s truth, God’s way, or God’s love.

Here is one last powerful point – God even applies that simple theme of love to Himself, being a living example of what He calls

us to do. 66 books is a lot to remember, for sure. But the message is so very simple. Love God, obey Him, and love others.

34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. 35 One of them, an expert in

religious law, tried to trap him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest

commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” - Matthew 22:34-40
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