Daily Bread

7/25//18            Isabel  (video)          early 20's

A young lady named Isabel agreed to allow me to record a conversation based on a general question and brightened up when she found out it would be of a spiritual nature.  She attends church regularly, having changed from Catholic to Protestant.  In answer to my question about eternity and how she came to her present beliefs, she made several statements each beginning with a telling phrase – “I feel like…”

I wondered if her faith was based on more than feelings, so I asked if she reads the Bible regularly.  She does not.  From what I could tell her version on eternal life is based more on wishful thinking, sensational internet videos, and the feeling that her deceased grandmother has shown up through a variety of small coincidences.

I felt like it was important to stress to her the importance of regular Bible reading, and as we discussed it she made a very true and important observation – “If you are going to read the Bible, you can’t just choose the parts you like and ignore the rest – you have to be willing to accept the whole thing.” 

Like Solomon who was said to be the wisest man who ever lived but failed to heed his own advice, I wanted to help Isabel follow her own wise advice by not ignoring the many commands throughout the Bible that command us to read and meditate on it’s truths.

For me, that advice resonates through Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible at 150 verses, each of which contains at least one reference to the importance of reading, meditating on and obeying God’s word. It starts with these first verses and continues on this way for 142 more:

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.  Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways.  You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.  Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!  Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.  I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.  I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”

I talked with Isabel about the Gospel, because it was confusing to her.  I hope I helped give some clarity about it, but I also tried to encourage her to begin to read, meditate on, and obey God’s word so that she can keep from straying from it in the future.

Our conversation can be seen HERE