I really enjoy History â€" Family, Biblical, World, U.S.â€" all are interesting to me! I enjoy reading about our cultures, watching period films, learning about historical places and landmarks, and even reading historical fiction. I wouldn’t consider myself a history buff, I just simply enjoy it. The Bible is the ultimate History Book. It is a collection of 66 books and letters written by more than 40 authors over a period of about 1,500 years. Although the central message of the entire Bible is God’s story of salvation which was Spirit-breathed upon its authors, it is also rich with historical knowledge. There are several chapters, however, that get somewhat overlooked due to their repetitive content. Those chapters include the genealogies of centuries of important biblical families. For example, in Genesis chapter 5 we find the line between Adam and Noah, and we come across some recognizable names, like Enoch and his son, Methuselah. Enoch was known for walking with God and leaving this earth without dying, for the Lord just took him up! Methuselah went down in history for being the oldest man to ever live â€" 969 years! This ancestry line led straight to the birth of our Lord Jesus!

We have in our reach the most precious book to ever exist â€" the Bible; the beautiful historical account of God’s Love for mankind.  Every single word was given to us to teach us, to encourage and comfort us, and to allow us to know the God of all Creation in an utmost and intimate manner. Maybe opening this ancient book sounds boring to you, maybe you’ve read it before and didn’t understand it. I encourage you to give it another chance, but this time pray first, and ask God to open your heart and mind to understand the promises the Lord filled these pages with. Ask God to give you a love for the Scripture. And then I encourage you to really study it and be blessed, encouraged, and filled with hope through the reading of God’s Word and Love letter to you!

Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how blessed we are to live in a time when we can read your Word freely. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of knowing You through Scripture. Please give me the wisdom to understand the words on each page. Help me fall in love with the Word and its message. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1.    Romans 15:4 (NIV).

Today’s Encounter was written by: Veronica B.