Have You Read The Book

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Key Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16
              All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their
              lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.

In 1835 Harvard scholar Richard Henry Dana took time off from his studies and went to sea for his health. It almost broke him. From his experiences he wrote Two Years Before the Mast, the first account of life at sea written from the perspective of a common seaman. It was a very hard life, often dangerous, usually uncomfortable, the food unchanging, and human contact sparse. Working the West Coast collecting hides (for shoes in the East), Dana wrote, "Here we were, in a little vessel, with a small crew, on a half-civilized coast, at the ends of the earth...." He was in Santa Barbara, California. To make matters worse, the captain was hard to deal with. Punishing a small infraction with brutal whipping was not beyond him. On ship there was no other law, no redress, no way out. It was these kinds of experiences that caused Dana to vow, were he ever to get back to America (California was still part of Mexico), that he would dedicate himself to lighten the sufferings of this poor class of people, one of which he had become. In fact that is what happened. Dana later took up maritime law and saw through some significant changes. Since then Dana has been pretty much forgotten. There is a town by his name along the California coast, with his statue, a replica of his ship, and curiosities for tourists. But if people haven't read his book then they don't know his story-and most haven't. In a way there's a parallel between what Dana did for seamen and what The Lord did for all of us. He came and identified with the poor, working, suffering, and dedicating himself to the solution of our pains. In the years since then statues have been erected and memorabilia have been sold, but a great many people still don't know much about our Lord. Most have not read His book.

Sometimes we have insurance, credit cards, and membership policies that grant us privileges we know nothing about, because we haven't taken the time to read all the benefits we have through being a member in good standing of a certain organization. That's the way it is with the Bible. We miss out on some great blessings because we haven't taken the time to read the Book.
              Here are a few blessings to consider:
* "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not
     be lost, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
*   But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God.
     (John 1:12)
*  Being kind to the poor is like lending to the LORD; he will reward you for what you have done.
    (Proverbs 19:17)
*  He gives strength to those who are tired and more power to those who are weak.
    (Isaiah 40:29)
*  But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
    gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. (Galatians 5:22)
*  Whoever respects the LORD will have a long life, but the life of an evil person will be cut short.
     (Proverbs 10:27)

Don't let another day go by in your Christian walk without taking the time to discover at least one new promise for the day. A good beginning is reading the books of Psalms and Proverbs. Each verse