Wouldn't it be great to be able to read the Bible with the same sense of credibility as was written?
What was written in the previous entry actually took place; others who were there can (and will) verify the events; it's accurate.
Every time I read the story, it brings back vivid images of the day's events and how it all went down, and I have to confess that I am moved deeply every time -- it's that real. Why can't we read each chapter, each phrase, of the Bible and have the same appreciation and experience?
First, in my own reading of the Bible, there's always been a sense that it's a storybook with history that's so far removed from today that it's seemed more like philosophy. We know, however, that the persons, places, timeline, and history are consistent with the writings of other secular sources that verify that the Bible is accurate.
Second, I had to ask myself, "Do I really believe that the Bible is true?" We know, absolutely, of the dramatic changes in the lives of the disciples while they were with Jesus, and especially after Jesus spent time teaching them before the ascension. We also know that the disiples were tortured and met horrible deaths for their faith, yet would not budge on what they witnessed. Today, we continue to see lives changed as the Holy Spirit pursues and redirects people toward God through faith in Jesus Christ. What we're experiencing is Biblical - it's just difficult to see it in our own lives sometimes.
Last, I believe we can read the Bible with the same impact through study and gaining perspective on historical events. The Life Application Study Bible and any commentary provide excellent detailed information that help expand our understanding of the people, events, and times we read about. The Case For Christ by Lee Strobel is an excellent resource as well as he takes us through some critical thinking to who Jesus was/is.
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