Acts 10:43 “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

We tend to forget that when the events recorded in the New Testament took place, the New Testament didn’t yet exist. In 2 Peter 3:16 Peter refers to Paul’s letters as on a level with “the other Scriptures,” but when this happened, Paul hadn’t yet written any of the letters that are currently part of the Bible. However, they did have the Old Testament, and Jesus had no trouble explaining the things about Himself using the Old Testament, when He walked to Emmaus with a couple of believers after His resurrection. (Luke 24:27) Some churches focus so exclusively on the New Testament that you might not even know the Old Testament existed, from attending their services, but God spoke through all of the writers, from Moses through John, and we do well to pay attention. The historical records are given to encourage us (Romans 15:4) and to give us examples of what it is to follow or not follow God. (Hebrews 4:11) Jesus is, of course, central to the whole Bible, but we miss a lot if we think He isn’t in the Old Testament simply because He isn’t mentioned by that Name.

I don’t think I was ever given the impression that the Old Testament wasn’t important, by my parents or any of my other teachers. I like to refer to Isaiah as “The Gospel according to Isaiah” because it has so much in it about the Messiah. I’ve always loved Psalms, and in recent years Habakkuk has become very meaningful to me. I find I am more and more approaching the attitude of the writer of Psalm 119, and that is very pleasing to me. I want to be a “Biblioholic!” I want to soak in the richness of the Word of God, as it is recorded and as He speaks it to my heart. More than that, I want to be one who puts it into practice, not deceiving myself into thinking that because I admire it, that’s enough. (James 1:22) Words are an expression of the will of the one speaking or writing them, and I want to be an expression of the will of God, for His glory.

Father, thank You for the environment in which I was raised, which was steeped in Your Word. Thank You for the generations before me who loved, studied, and applied Your Word. Thank You for the joyful privilege of opening the treasures of Your Word to others. Thank You for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything regarding Your Word. May I indeed handle it correctly, (2 Timothy 2:15) so that it may accomplish everything for which You send it. (Isaiah 55:11) Thank You. Praise God!