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BEGINNING FROM THE MIDDLE
More fun to follow THE Leader

A Commentary by Constance Vanides

"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." (Psalm 118:8)

By dividing the Bible into two even numbers of chapters, someone discovered the exact middle of the Bible would be Psalms 118. An interesting statistic, but, so what? For me, though, it's personally meaningful because God Himself had me start my first-ever Bible Study with the book of Psalms.

Both my husband and I had just become new believers, "Born Again" Christians, if you will. Never having really read the Bible, I thought of taking a Bible Study Class. We weren't in any church so I didn't know where to go.

Traveling a familiar road from bygone years, I spotted a "Garage Sale" sign ahead. It was on the side of the church building where, many years earlier, our children once worshipped and attended Youth Fellowship. We had attended twice, once when our eldest gave the sermon for youth Sunday, and secondly, at the other child's confirmation service.

The sign beckoned me to stop and see what bargain I could gather. As I placed my $2.00 hanging lamp into the trunk of my car, I was surprised to hear my name being called. It was someone I had known years before when we served as leaders in Girl Scouts together. After enthusiastically greeting one another, she announced, "I'm in charge of Adult Education here at the church. Would you like to see what's going on?" With that she brought forth the bulletin announcing the various scheduled classes.

The one Bible Study offered, and this for the first time, was on the Book of Psalms! It turned out to be the finest "bargain" ever, as I signed up to learn the word of God from the middle out! The Holy Spirit had indeed led me there and to this day continues to guide into further depths of understandings.

The Holy Spirit points us to Jesus. As we follow His lead, and trusting in Him alone, we can say with the psalmist, "The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation." (Psalm 118:14)

Are you wondering where to start studying? Start anywhere in the Bible! The beginning, the ending, the middle! Jesus is throughout the whole Bible! Let Him lead to untold adventures in the Spirit! "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is to come, the Almighty.'" (Revelation 1:8) "...the First and the Last." (Revelation 22:13)

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