Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 4

"That the G.o.d of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you _the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him_." Eph.

1:17.

12. Upon what conditions is an understanding of divine things promised?

"Yea, _if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures_; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of G.o.d." Prov. 2:3-5.

13. What great blessing did Christ confer upon His disciples after His resurrection?

"_Then opened He their understanding_, that they might understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45.

14. What beings of a higher order than man desire to study the truths revealed in the gospel of Christ?

"Which things _the angels_ desire to look into." 1 Peter 1:12

15. What is promised him who wills to do G.o.d's will?

"If any man will [willeth to, R. V.] do His will, _he shall know of the doctrine_, whether it be of G.o.d, or whether I speak of Myself." John 7:17.

16. How did Christ reprove those who, though familiar with the letter of the Scriptures, failed to understand them?

"Jesus answered and said unto them, _Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of G.o.d_." Matt. 22:29.

17. What are the Scriptures able to do for one who believes them?

"And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, _which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus_." 2 Tim. 3:15.

18. When asked by the rich young man the conditions of eternal life, to what did Jesus direct his attention?

"He said unto him, _What is written in the law? how readest thou?_" Luke 10:26.

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Jesus At The Home Of Martha And Mary. "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42.

19. Whom did Jesus p.r.o.nounce blessed?

"But He said, Yea rather, _blessed are they that hear the word of G.o.d, and keep it_." Luke 11:28.

20. What did Christ say concerning the book of Daniel?

"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (_whoso readeth, let him understand_)." Matt. 24:15.

21. What other book of the Bible is especially commended for our study?

"Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear _the words of this prophecy_ [_the book of Revelation_], and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Rev. 1:3.

*"**How Readest Thou?**"*

It is one thing to read the Bible through, Another thing to read to learn and do.

Some read it with design to learn to read, But to the subject pay but little heed.

Some read it as their duty once a week, But no instruction from the Bible seek; While others read it with but little care, With no regard to how they read, nor where.

Some read to bring themselves into repute, By showing others how they can dispute; While others read because their neighbors do, To see how long 'twill take to read it through.

Some read it for the wonders that are there,- How David killed a lion and a bear; While others read it with uncommon care, Hoping to find some contradictions there.

Some read as if it did not speak to them, But to the people at Jerusalem.

One reads with father's specs upon his head, And sees the thing just as his father said.

Some read to prove a preadopted creed, Hence understand but little that they read; For every pa.s.sage in the book they bend To make it suit that all-important end.

Some people read, as I have often thought, To teach the book instead of being taught; And some there are who read it out of spite.

I fear there are but few who read it right.

But read it prayerfully, and you will see, Although men contradict, G.o.d's words agree; For what the early Bible prophets wrote, We find that Christ and His apostles quote.

So trust no creed that trembles to recall What has been penned by one and verified by all.

Power In The Word

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Christ The Word. "He spake, and it was." Ps. 33:9.

1. Through what agency did G.o.d create the heavens?

"_By the word of the Lord_ were the heavens made; and all the host of them _by the breath of His mouth_." "For _He spake_, and it was done; _He commanded_, and it stood fast." Ps. 33:6, 9.

2. By what does Christ uphold all things?

"Upholding all things _by the word of His power_." Heb. 1:3.

3. Of what are some willingly ignorant?

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that _by the word of G.o.d the heavens were of old_, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: _whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished_." 2 Peter 3:5, 6.

4. By what are the present heavens and earth reserved for a similar fate?

"But the heavens and the earth, which are now, _by the same word_ are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of unG.o.dly men." Verse 7.

5. In what other scripture is it shown that creative power is exercised through the word of G.o.d?

"Let them praise the name of the Lord: _for He commanded, and they were created_." Ps. 148:5.

6. What change is wrought in one who is in Christ?

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, _he is a new creature_ [there is _a new creation_, R. V., margin]: old things are pa.s.sed away; behold, _all things are become new_." 2 Cor. 5:17.