I've read and studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation a great many times over the years. I was saved after reading from the Bible and I remember the excitement and joy of coming to understand what actually happened when I got saved while reading the Gospels and Acts. I remember sitting out in front of my parents house on a bench praising the Lord with all of my being. I remember the joyous praising and singing in Bible Studies and prayer groups during the period of the "charismatic" movement.
When reading through the Old Testament, I would sometimes but not always skip the genealogy parts just because that was hard for me to read. Interestingly, it was genealogy I first read the night that I got saved. At that time I didn't understand that the Bible was the Word of God, the Holy Spirit just led me to fetch and open the book the sister of a friend had given me. When I did open it, it was to a page with nothing but genealogy. Understand that when I opened that Bible I was in the process of being convicted. Whenever anyone asks if God has a sense of humor, I'm fast to say, YES! Fortunately after reading a few begats I turned to a different page farther back in the fairly large book and ended up in one of the Gospels. I think it was Matthew but no longer remember where it was. Whatever I read there in the lowly Living Bible completed my conviction and I surrendered to Jesus.
As with the genealogy parts I would also sometimes skip Psalms. I received a special blessing recently. I just spent the last few months reading through Psalms. I gained an appreciation for Psalms that I had not previously had. I was reminded of my early exuberance for Jesus. I'm much more sober now, just as dedicated, but quite sober compared to those early years. I thoroughly enjoyed my slow crawl through the Psalms, and thank Jesus for that.
When reading through the Old Testament, I would sometimes but not always skip the genealogy parts just because that was hard for me to read. Interestingly, it was genealogy I first read the night that I got saved. At that time I didn't understand that the Bible was the Word of God, the Holy Spirit just led me to fetch and open the book the sister of a friend had given me. When I did open it, it was to a page with nothing but genealogy. Understand that when I opened that Bible I was in the process of being convicted. Whenever anyone asks if God has a sense of humor, I'm fast to say, YES! Fortunately after reading a few begats I turned to a different page farther back in the fairly large book and ended up in one of the Gospels. I think it was Matthew but no longer remember where it was. Whatever I read there in the lowly Living Bible completed my conviction and I surrendered to Jesus.
As with the genealogy parts I would also sometimes skip Psalms. I received a special blessing recently. I just spent the last few months reading through Psalms. I gained an appreciation for Psalms that I had not previously had. I was reminded of my early exuberance for Jesus. I'm much more sober now, just as dedicated, but quite sober compared to those early years. I thoroughly enjoyed my slow crawl through the Psalms, and thank Jesus for that.
