OCTOBER CHALLENGE Update

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.