As we continue our challenge to read scripture in the
morning and before we retire for the night, I find myself anticipating the next
encounter with this strange book. Each chapter I read has some insight into
life, and sometimes it holds hidden truths that are not realized for days. Yet,
no matter how often I read, there is always one more chapter, one more line,
one more…
I have found it rather difficult to stop reading certain
days. There is such a draw into the stories and accounts I am reading that I
want to jump into the book and be there myself. Just as I do with novels, I
find myself immersed in the culture, time of day, life situations, of all that
is going on in whatever I am reading—and it is incredible.
I am learning about myself and how to interact with
others. I am learning about God’s timing and how we play a role in what He
accomplishes. I am learning that change doesn’t mean “fix it this way.” And I
am learning that my God, my God, is
so powerful that all he said (HE SAID mind you) was “let there be light,” and
the sunrise was born with all its majesty and brilliance and perfect timing.
A friend asked me, last evening, what the next step would
be for “Bill” to stop drinking alcohol. The only answer I could think of was
that when “Bill” is ready to stop drinking and embrace Christ, there will be
drastic changes in “Bill’s” life: this could include giving all money to “Bill’s”
wife, staying away from any place where he has easy access to alcohol, turning
to scripture to occupy his mind, etc… And what is still with me today is that “Bill”
has no idea what kind of changes will take place if he were to sit down and
read a chapter or two of the Bible each
day.
I understand the argument “we shouldn't be so radically
different that it turns people away from Christ,” but how do you explain JESUS
telling those who did follow Him “some of you will say to me, ‘Lord we did
follow you and do all these things in your name.’ But you will be sent to hell
because you followed me with a lukewarm attitude.” (Matthew 7) God demands all or nothing. So why not
try this “all or nothing” with a little bit of scripture reading.
You don’t need to proclaim to the world or even your
friends that you are spending extra time each day reading scripture. You don’t
even need to tell your family. But you do need to start. Everything else will
come later, so don’t worry about the later stuff.
I hope that you are still reading in the morning and
evening, or at least once a day. You can argue that you don’t have time, but I
work two jobs and can still make time to read two chapters a day.
Philippians 4:8
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
