Do you believe because of the way that you were raised and what you learned from others, or is it because you have studied to show yourself approved? When I was a “baby” Christian I was visited by Jim and another with him who were Jehovah Witnesses. They started to share their beliefs, and I started to get curious, and then, started to doubt my own faith. I was questioned about the Gnostic gospels from a family member so I started reading them as well as some Jehovah Witness literature, and became even more confused. During this time I went to a friend at church that I trusted, told him what I was going through, and he told me simply that I needed to really know and understand what it is that I believed and why. I started looking consistently into God’s word and His word alone to find truth. Jim came back a few more times with another and the second to last time I saw him I asked him if Jesus was the Lord of his life? He asked me “Who is this question coming from, me or someone else?” I said that I believed that it was coming from the Lord and shared all of the places in scripture where it says that Jesus is Lord. The last time I saw Jim he came back alone and said he was sorry that he was late, even though we didn’t really have an appointed time to meet, lol. I was able to share with him the scriptures that gave him an understanding of the truth of God’s word, all because I got to know it myself. I have not seen Jim since then, but I have continued to pray for him on a regular basis, especially when I share this story. I have learned to follow the instructions found in the scriptures as seen written in *2 Timothy 2:15 Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.* and the reason why look to the Bible and not other literature is found written in *Hebrews 4:12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.* We as believers are called to reason from the scriptures and not argue from them. We are to study to show ourselves approved and not go with every wind of doctrine. We MUST be careful of those that seek to tickle our ears. I pray that I can be like the Bereans and search the scriptures daily to find the truth written in them. Charles Spurgeon said, “The word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it.” My BeLoved, may that be us all. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i.

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