April 30, 2024

The Church Mouse: That’s in the Bible, right?

1 Corinthians 10:13–“No temptation has overtaken you that is no common to man. “God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 

Did you ever think that you knew something, it was tired and true? Just because you had heard it all of your life? You just knew that it was right because your grandparents, parents and other folks at church said it (and we know those “old folks” know everything and would never ever tell you the wrong thing).

Then one day you are spouting off your vast knowledge of the Scripture. Someone says, well I am not sure that is correct….whoa!  Wait a cotton picking minute. I know what I am talking about. I have heard this all my life and besides that, my grandmother said so!

Then you start to think to yourself…hummm…maybe I had better get a second opinion just in case I was not paying close enough attention to my grandmother. So here is what you do…you Google it! After all if it is on the internet it has to be true………right?? 

Finally, you get your common sense kicking in and go to the real source and look for it in the Bible. 

Here is what happened at a recent Bible Study. We were all talking about why God allows Christians to suffer. One of the group piped up with this quote…”God will never give you more than you can bear. It’s in the Bible!”

Someone else spoke up and said, “Where, exactly is that in the Bible?” Well, at first we all kind of just looked one another. Finally someone said. I think it is in 1 Corinthian 10:13. 

We all hurriedly looked it up. To find that it was about, temptation but not exactly the way we had been using it. So then, I decided that I would just use the Bible Study app on my phone. Because I just knew that it was in the Bible somewhere else with the exact connotation that we had been using it. Well low and behold it gave the same reference!!

Oh my! I thought to myself, I have heard my grandmother quote this scripture, or least that was what I thought she was quoting. This reminded me of friend telling us about her aunt saying that, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” being in the Bible, which by the way is not in the Bible, either, (so do not bother to Google it). 

This very reason that I’m about writing this is to tell you to read the Book! Read your Bible! Don’t rely on your grandma, mother or even your pastor to tell you what’s in your Bible.

Besides that remember, what does B I B L E stands for? Basic Information Before Leaving Earth! 

PrayerFather, Help us to be planted in your word. Help us to study and then use your word in our everyday life. Open our eyes to your directions. Help us to admit that we sometimes get confuse about what the Bible says and that we are often lazy about reading the Bible. Help us to grow in your understanding. Amen.

the Church Mouse 

Work hard! Pray Harder!