Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

If pressed, most Christians would admit that there are parts of the Bible they skip, especially the genealogies. It's understandable: 1) The lists are usually long; 2) they are full of names and places that are hard to pronounce and completely unfamiliar; 3) and it is often difficult see how they are relevant to me today. So why bother?

The Bible actually answers the question: 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness," (2 Timothy 3:16)

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’" (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3)

What these and other similar passages make clear, is that there is not a single word in the Bible that was not given by God, inspired by God, and therefore should be valued as spoken by God, as a means to meeting present needs and circumstances. God is an inveterate communicator. He uttered the very first spoken words at Creation: "Let there be light...”; and He will speak the very last word at its dissolution: Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Rev. 22:7)

So again, why is it important to read "every Word?" 

First, these strange & obscure words, names and places, actually prove that the Bible is a book of history, not myth or legend. Scholars and skeptics alike study these details to “fact check” the historicity of the Bible. To date, not a single historical, geographical, cultural or textual notation has been found to be in error, confirming the Bible is as historical narrative, speaking about real events, that affected real people, in real time.

Second the Bible's attention to detail confirms that God is involved in the details of our live as well; as illustrated by passages like Luke 12:6,7: 

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Here is the secret for overcoming fear: If sparrows and spare hairs are not forgotten by God, neither will I, or my problems. No matter how overlooked or unimportant I feel, I have My Father's full, constant, continuous and undivided attention and care. As the old hymn advises.... 

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.