Exodus 24:9-11, Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel.  Under His feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.  But God did not raise His hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Okay, it’s confession time!  The other day as I was reading in the New Testament God put it on my heart to start reading as though it was the first time I was reading the story of Jesus in the Garden and the Crucifixion.  To read it like I would a new book that I was picking up for the first time and the characters were my friends so I wouldn’t want to miss any detail of what was being said and done.  I have to admit that when I pick up a book written by my friend, Lynette Eason I am glued to it.  I can hardly put it down and when I am finished it almost makes me sad to be done.  God was asking me to read that way.  

This morning as I was reading in Exodus I came across these verses and I stopped and read them over a few times realizing they weren’t familiar.  Now, here’s the confession;  I read through the Bible about once a year and I have done that for years!  How could I miss this?  It’s a huge deal that they saw God!

How do you read your Bible?  Do you read it glued to every word not wanting to miss one tiny detail or has it become so familiar that you find yourself half reading the same stories that you have read time and time again?  It is shocking to me that some Christians don’t read their Bible at all ~ oh how much they miss!  God has given us His word so He can speak to us through it so we need to make the most of that opportunity and not take it lightly.  If you are not familiar with reading your Bible I would encourage you to start with the Book of John or Psalms or Proverbs.  If you love the stories of the Old Testament there’s a lot to learn there as well, but don’t miss out.  Even if you just start with one verse a day, start somewhere.  If you have been reading your Bible for years I would encourage you to read it with fresh eyes.  Determine to not miss a detail.  

No matter what your Bible reading habits are, I would like to encourage you to read it and ask God to teach you.  To give you a better understanding and to show you great things you would never have known.  He loves you and He wants to spend time with you.  He has left you these letters in His word so you can get to know Him more and to develop a closer relationship with Him.  I am so glad you all are here so we can study together, but don’t miss out on your time alone with Him as well.

Quote: “Life begins when you do.”  ~ Hugh Downs