Still in Love with “The Message”

Last week I discussed a long standing apathy I had with the King James Version of the Bible due to over-familiarity (and some bad circumstances during my teen years). This past month, however, I have re-discovered the beauty of the scripture message through reading the modern day translation “The Message”. For the first time in years, I’m actually excited about scripture reading, and have read a lot over the past 2 weeks. Everything just seems so new and fresh again!

As of last Monday, I had read from Matthew through Corinthians. This past week, I covered Genesis through Numbers, Esther, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiates, Song of Solomon, Daniel and also Galatians through 1 Timothy. Those were read straight through, from beginning to end. I’ve also skimmed bits of the Psalms, Isaiah, and Revelation. Even though I we memorized probably 60% of the Bible in during my 13 years at a christian school, I have never read an entire book from beginning to end – much less that many books in one week. It’s amazing at how powerful it can be to read the Word like that, especially in the easy to understand language that this translation is written in.

I’ve also started a prayer journal and make it a point to write down my prayers every night. I haven’t prayed this much in years – it feels great! Just last week alone, I saw 3 answers to specific prayers come about. It was pretty astounding. I’m also learning and understanding in greater detail many things I thought I once “knew” and once took for granted. Re-discovering and learning those specific doctrines, as laid out by the apostle Paul (such as the stark difference between “the law” vs. “grace”) makes the Word seem that much more powerful to me and I have a far great respect for what’s in it now than I have in years. There’s no words to describe how great that feels.