Invitation

The Belmont County Public Bible Reading continues, having started on April 30 with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This event, like so many others, is being done in a new way in 2020, with volunteers selecting times to read chapters of the Bible out loud in our homes rather than from a podium at the court house. I read a few chapters of Genesis on April 30 and then a portion of the book of Numbers on May 1. Yesterday, I had the honor of reading from Proverbs, one of the Bible’s poetic books of wisdom. I’d like to share a few verses that really stood out to me as I read.

Choose my instruction instead of silver,

knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies,

and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 8:10-11

I love those who love me,

and those who seek me find me.

Proverbs 8:17

For whoever finds me finds life

and receives favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 8:35

From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things

as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

Proverbs 12:14

Tomorrow morning I will be reading the first seven chapters of the New Testament book of Romans. It follows all 39 books of the old testament, all four gospels (the story of Jesus) and Acts (the story of the beginning of the Christian church). In the What’s In The Bible episodes we’ve watched during our evenings at home, Phil Vischer taught that if you want to know what Christians believe, you can’t do better than the book of Romans.

Some oft-quoted verses are contained in this letter that is believed to have been written in A.D. 57 to teach early believers in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jewish), about faith and works, law and grace, sin and righteousness, judgment and justification.

I’m planning to do this reading LIVE on FACEBOOK from my kitchen Wednesday morning, May 6, from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m.