Have you ever heard anyone sing this tune? Of course, I believe in God. No, I don’t read the Bible, it is too complicated, I can’t understand it for myself, and I can’t remember what I have read.
If you have ever said this, there is good news. The good news is, in Christ, you have been given a teacher to teach you.
Coming from a teaching background, I have a tendency for seeking knowledge. In fact, sometimes I wish I could just have my head jammed full of information because I love to learn.
For me personally, there have been times in my walk with Christ when I believed the only way I could be closer to God was to know more about God and understand the Bible. I have also fallen into the trap of believing the only way to understanding was for someone to explain it to me.
I knew the stories. I had heard them a thousand times. As I have grown in Christ, I have realized the importance of being taught straight from His Word.
Growing up, somewhere along the way, I missed the importance of picking up the Bible as part of my daily life. I missed the essential part of walking with Christ was walking through His Word and forming a bond and need for Him.
1 John 2:27 says: But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. (NLT)
We can quickly get on a journey to know so much about Christ that we miss key elements. Knowing about Christ is not the same as knowing Him. Believing there is a God is not the same as believing and putting our trust and faith in God. Being taught about God is not the same as learning from God.
1 John can give us a confidence in studying God’s Word like never before.
If we want to know what God’s Word says, we have to take the first step in seeking His truth. We have to open the Word that HE has given us. The Holy Spirit will guide us to understand it’s truth. When the time comes for us to recall the truths, the Holy Spirit will put it to our minds.
The Holy Spirit was given as an advocate for us. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come as His representative and teach us all things and remind us of the things He taught us (John 14:26).
Notice 1 John also says the Holy Spirit teaches us everything we need to know and what He teaches is true. We can read all kinds of amazing books that teach about Christ, I know, I have.
One thing we have to be careful of is knowing whether it is truth or one person’s interpretation. We have to be able to discern the truth. We can only do that if we know the truth and we can only know the truth when we go to the source of truth- God’s Word.
There is a lot of information coming at us from all directions, let’s be honest, it is not all truth and some very far from it. In fact, reading this article you can only discern the truth of it by seeking God’s Word. Looking up the verses that I have given and have God teach you for yourself what He wants you to draw from His Word.
What we believe as Christians always has to come down to clinging to the truth of God’s Word. We don’t have to walk around in the dark being led by the knowledge someone else has gained. We only need the Holy Spirit to guide us in our teaching.
Three things to help you begin.
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and seek the truth that is laid out before you. Holy Spirit, Teach Us, Remind Us!
2. Open God’s Word and let the Power of the Holy Spirit fill you. May My Cup Run Over!
3. Enjoy the journey! Seek to Know the Truth!
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29
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Hi Jaime, Thanks for reminding us that knowing of God is not the same as knowing God and that we can all know God intimately if we dig into his word. I hope you had a great Memorial Day. Thanks for hosting the party and have a great week!
I did have a great Memorial Day and thank you so much. We have family from out-of-town and have had a great time together. I hope you did, too. I always find digging into God's Word makes me crave it more. I need to be feed there. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your work with us here.
Jaime! This is TRUTH! You have to go to the source, not just trust what other say about it. If we trust commentaries, and study notes, and even great bloggers, the dangers go from missing out on the living and active power of the WORD itself to being led astray by false teachers whether intentional or not. Blessings, Liz
You have to go to the source. We sometimes rely too much on those around us to feed us the truth and you are right, there is real danger in that. Even if it is unintentional we need to realize only the best comes from the best, that is God's Word. Thanks for sharing with us here today!
I have that same tendency to go for the facts – too knowledge oriented. We forget that reading and studying the Word is about relationship with the God who wrote it!
You are right, Michelle. I am not sure if it is maturity, growing up, or just the need to be feed and loved on by God's Word. I didn't get that growing up. I try to emphasize that to my kiddos now. We need Jesus, all the time.
My favorite line is, "There are so many contradictions in the Bible." To which I ask, "Show them to me." Duh… I haven't had one person take me up on the challenge. Thanks for the weekly linkup and Word-wisdom!
To which the answer is usually ignored. People say that because they hear that. It sounds good but the proof is in the life changing life and hope that we are giving. Challenging someone to seek that truth can reveal something they may not be looking for – a living God. What a blessing that would be. Thanks for sharing here, Susan.
Like you, as a teacher, I want to take in all the information I can. But… As a Believer I depend on the Spirit to help me with what I need. Awesome article! I'll be sharing it in my Friday Faves this weeks. Blessings to you and yours! Marie
Thank you so much for the encouragement and for sharing Marie. I appreciate it. We do have to be careful not to just be consumers of the Word but partakers in a real relationship. Especially when we have a tendency to crave knowledge. Thanks for sharing with us today. Have a great week!
So true. It our responsibility to study the Bible daily. Acts 17:11 One of the main things I teach the kids in my 2nd grade class is how to look up scriptures and to study and see the answers for yourself. Thanks for hosting!
What a great thing to teach little kids. They will be challenged to question what they are taught and what they think. It is good for them to know the answers are all there. Thanks, as always, for stopping by and sharing with us.
I love these truths you share: "Knowing about Christ is not the same as knowing Him. Believing there is a God is not the same as believing and putting our trust and faith in God." Amen. The more we invest in really knowing God, the more blessings we'll be able to receive.
Amen, Lisa. The more we invest, the more we seek, if we truly want to find the truth, God will reveal Himself to us. We are told if we seek Him with all our hear, we will find Him. How awesome He will speak to us in an individual way because He loves us that way. Thanks for stopping by and spreading the hope of Christ with us here.
Interesting. Truth without proof? I only wish I shared your faith.
My Wordless Wednesday /Linky
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20
Friend, I have seen your amazing pictures. You have captured the divine creation in those photographs. Look at them closely, God has revealed Himself to you there. Such beauty, such amazing creation is all around you. This may be God's way of reveling the "proof" you are looking for. His proof is looking right back at you in His creation. God's creation is clear in your photos. The sea, the sky, the fog. They are all stunning and reveal His greatness. Seek and You will Find, when you are seeking with your whole heart. Open the Pages of His Word. Ask Him to prove Himself to you. Honestly ask Him to reveal His divine nature to you. He will. Seek Him. I look forward to more conversations.
Glad to have you here this week. Thank you for showing your photos with us here.
Thank you Jaime for hosting and I dont think I properly thanked you for sharing my Friday Features party, Thank you, I appreciate it! Thank you for sharing your party with the readers of Oh My Heartsie Girls WW this week.
Hope you have a wonderful week!
Karren
I am always happy to connect with you, friend. You have a great place to gather and I appreciate that you have shared my work. Have a wonderful week!
So thankful for the Holy Spirit!!! May all our cups overflow with HIM! Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day. Thank you kindly for hosting the blog party! Bless you!
I did have a wonderful Memorial Day. Thanks so much, I hope your weekend was great, too. I believe the power of the Holy Spirit is one we don't realize or remember that we have living within us. It is great power and one that we can rely on.
Thanks for your faithfulness in hostessing. May God bless you with continued insight and wisdom in Jesus' Name.
Please drop by and say hello!
ஐღLauraღஐ
Harvest Lane Cottage
…doing what I can with what I've got where I am
on a short shoestring budget!
~~~~~
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing with us here, Laura. Glad we are able to continue to connect. Have a great week!
I'm so thankful for our Comforter/Teacher! You're right, so many times I hear people say they can't understand the Bible or it doesn't speak to them. Scripture says "Be still and know that I am God" and that means sitting at His feet, soaking in the Word, meditating and praying.
Thank you for always staying true to Scripture and weaving it throughout your posts, Jaime. You do good work!
So Thankful. I have gone through times where I thought these same things. Only to realize that the Holy Spirit inside of us is here to be that teacher we so often seek in others. Thanks so much for the encouragement and for sharing here with us.
Thank you again for stopping by to share your blog party,it was perfect to share on the #OMHGFF.
I have just added a new one. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Karren
Thank you so much for sharing here with us each and every week and for coming back a sharing more. So glad to have you!
Absolutely, Jaime! It is so important to know the truth and be in the Word! Awesome post, my friend! Thanks for hosting and hope you have a wonderful weekend 🙂
We can only know the truth is we seek it in the right places. You can't go wrong with God's Word and seeking the truth there, you have it, friend! Glad you are here!
Amen, Jaime! Thanks for sharing with #SocialButterflySunday! Hope to see you link up again this week 🙂
Hey Jamie – I love this post, it is so good and great 3 tips at the end – – Seek to know the truth is my favorite of them all! but they are all good so its hard to pick just one. Talking about the Holy Spirit is one of my favorite things, so thanks. Plus I found a new link up to join next week 🙂 YAY – Your neighbor at #DanceWithJesus
Thank you so much for your encouragement, Debbie. Seek to know the truth. God does not want to keep us out the loop. The "secret" things have been revealed to us through His Word, we just have to be a willing participant in the conversations with Him. Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us here! We look forward to seeing you back next week!
Thank you for hosting, the problem is that everybody has a different take of the word. Just something I am going through right now.
Patrick, You are right, everyone does have a different take on The Word. The great news is the Holy Spirit has One take on The Word and is willing to teach you if you are willing to seek and learn. We don't need to be told from people what the Holy Spirit wants to teach us. I have to admit, I have learned a lot from other people. I always have to remember to only compare the Bible with the Bible. God wants us to know Him. Since He wants us to know Him, He is not going to leave us hanging on the edge trying to understand what He wants to teach us. As always, Patrick, feel free to email me.
The Bible stories are revived as we read them for ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to teach us what the stories truly mean. He is our teacher, guide and helper and may we be the scholar he wants us to be. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Thank you, Hazel for stopping by every week and sharing your wisdom with us here. I am with you, may we be the scholar that He so desires us to be. I look forward to seeing you again next week!
I went through this very same scenario several years ago. I would try to pick up the Bible and read. I would push through it, however I never quite "got" it. So I prayed. I prayed for revelation. For eyes to see what the Holy Spirit wanted me to see. For God's Word to connect with my heart. And for an insatiable desire to read His Word no matter the difficulty. And guess what? He answered that prayer. I went into a season of about 2 years where I stopped reading all other books. I simply read His Book! It was such a soul filling time. So much learning took place and I am so thankful for that time!
Thanks so much, friend, for this beautiful little corner of blog world where we can sit together and be real! Hugs!!!!
Friend, I have been there with you. Thinking it was all too much for me to understand. Too complicated. The more you learn, like any subject, it all begins to flow together and make more and more sense. It is over a thousand years of history. That in itself can seem quite daunting. The great news is God will teach us the things we need to know to build on each thing, precept on precept, as my grandmother always says. Glad you're here!
Thanks for this inspiring post.I am not much familiar with bible,but I like to read such inspiring posts and quotes from the Bible.
Amila, Thanks for the encouragement! I am glad that you are here today. Anytime you want to have a conversation about the Bible, I would love to have that chat with you. My favorite conversations are ones about my true Love, Jesus. I am here for you, friend!
I have a little sticky note on my desk which says: Knowledge ≠ Relationship. May God give eyes to see and a heart to receive from His Word every time we open our Bibles. Wonderful post!