My parents told me I prayed and was saved when I was five years old. The only evidence I remember that I could have possibly been saved was in the second grade when I told my older brother that I wasn’t going to lie anymore because it was wrong. He scoffed. I think I was a pretty good liar at the time, but my quest did bear out a little fruit of salvation.
When I was twelve I was attending a revival in our church and was convicted that if I died I’d go straight to hell. I asked my parents to pray with me, but they were adamant that I was saved at age five. I was adamant that I didn’t remember that, and that I wanted to pray and make everything right with God. My dad led me through the prayer once more, and I felt at peace. I was baptized and felt the presence of the Holy Spirit during that act of faith. I’ve never truly doubted my salvation since then except for a couple of times when I was having trouble feeling God’s presence in my life—but in those instances I “worked out my salvation with fear and trembling.” (see Philippians 2:12)
After that I began to read the Bible. Not steady like every day, but for Sunday school lessons, training union (remember those on Sunday nights?), and I tried to follow along in church. Sometimes we had Bible drills in Sunday School, and I struggled to find the books they would call out. That’s why I love Bible tabs now—they help me move quickly trough the Bible.
So my Bible reading was sporadic, but I kept coming back to it. We used King James Version at that time, but then I was introduced to the New International Version and started to read longer passages because I could understand it. I’ve read many versions of the Bible, but the favorite Bible that I own is a Parallel Bible which has the King James Version on one side and the New Living Translation on the other.
As the LORD took me through the difficulties of life—marriage, children, sickness, miscarriage, working as a nurse… I clung more and more to the Bible. God drew me in. He was my ROCK. Now I crave His Word. I read to know more about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and what the future holds. I want to know how to act appropriately in every situation… not how the world shows me to act, but how God wants me to act.
This morning I read this from my NLT version — “Then Peter said to Him (Jesus), ‘We’ve given up everything to follow You. What will we get?’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man (Jesus’ name for Himself) sits upon His glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, Judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'” — Matthew 19:27-28
It made me daydream about our future—first the Millennium where Jesus will rule—and teach us, and where David has a big role to play, then when this Heaven and Earth passes away (see Matthew 24:35) and a new Heaven and Earth is created (see Revelation 21:1). I pictured the twelve disciples sitting on thrones judging the tribes of Israel. How far they will have come from denying Christ as Peter did, and fighting to sit next to Jesus in Heaven as James and John did. Peter became an amazing preacher—even while still on Earth. John had the book of Revelation revealed to him and wrote that book along with the gospel of John and John 1,2, and 3. According to Christian tradition and early church historians John was boiled in oil, but lived—how amazing. Now these disciples are in Heaven with major jobs to do. We’ll meet them one day and I think we will hear more of their stories during their time with Jesus on earth.
If you want to know…
- How to live out your life in this messy, sinful world…
- How to correct yourself so you won’t face God to give an account and have quite so much to give account for…
- Find direction for the plans God has for you on earth…
- Find out what your future holds after death…
Read God’s living and active WORD (see Hebrews 4:12). If you want to live as God intends — start with 1st and 2nd Peter. Read the book of James. Read Ephesians and Colossians. And keep going. There is not one word in the Bible that doesn’t hold some message for us… even the genealogies. Reference Bibles are good, because they direct you to correlating scriptures.
Pick a time of day that fits you… early morning is my best time because I’m too tired at night. And just start. Pray as you go for God to reveal Himself to you. Pray for understanding. Thank God for His WORD to you. (see John 1:1-5 for the double meaning).
Have fun getting to know God, and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit!
Happy reading!
Have a great week!