August 15, 2023

The Bible Edge

Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have a Bible Edge

Dear Reader,

Some of you may know this, but most probably do not. Several years ago God led me to put together a 365-page devotional book called Rēad to Read. The purpose of this book is to move individuals from “I will read the Bible” to “I have read the Bible.” For the balance of August, this devotional page will mimic that book, as a sample of its content.

Many take it upon themselves to read the Bible through, yet, often become confused and quit. The Rēad to Read devotions are written in such a way as to keep the reader engaged to kind of “sort out” what they are reading thereby aiding them in overcoming the urge to stop reading the Bible altogether.

If you have the Rēad to Read book, I apologize for the redundancy for the rest of August. If you do not already have the book, I wanted to give you a sample. I hope you will find the wealth of information contained therein a good investment for your library. To order a book, go to the top of this webpage and click on "More" to go to the Devotional Book page.

Thank you for faithfully reading these devotions, I trust they prove to be assistance to your spiritual development as a believer in Jesus Christ.

August 15

Daily Reading: Jeremiah 10-13

Jeremiah 10:2

Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

This may be a good time for a reminder of a New Testament truth that should be kept in mind while reading the Old Testament. It’s found in Romans 15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. This means that all the Old Testament was written for us so that we can learn to have patience and comfort, from which grows hope. Hope that we will not fall into the same horrible sins of past generations, hope that God will be with us through difficult times as He was with David, Moses, Daniel, and others. Hope of all types.

Today’s verse is a perfect example of an eternal truth that should echo down the tunnel of time. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah that which he in turn was to speak to the people of his day. Of the many things the Lord told the prophet to speak about, one was to Learn not the way of the heathen. All of God’s children today would do well to adopt this command.

Interestingly enough, this is the only place in our Bible that the phrase “learn not” is used in a general sense (it is used one other time to warn two individuals about blasphemy). Sixty times the word “learn” is used, but only a few times in the arena of not learning something. In the Old Testament a “heathen” was any person who did not worship the God of Israel. So, God told Jeremiah to command His people to Learn not the way of the heathen.

If they never learned the way of the heathen they would not be tempted to turn to the way of the heathen. Evidently, they did not listen.

Until tomorrow, live for Christ today.

William T. Howe, Ph.D.