The Christian who is careless in Bible reading will be careless in Christian living. I think we all believe and understand this. I think we would all agree that is indeed a true statement. The more time I spend in the word is going to directly relate to the kingdom life I live. Read little, live little. Read much, live much. Yesterday at FBC one of the verses that I preached from is John 8:31, 32, which says, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (ESV). Jesus gives us some clear instruction here about what we should be doing with his word; he makes it clear if you really are my disciples you are going to abide in it. Then he says as you abide in it you are going to know the truth and the truth will set you free. This is great news for the person who realizes that they in prison, in need of being set free. For those who do not realize they are enslaved it is not much news at all. This was the reaction of the Jews Jesus was speaking to. We are not slaves, we are not in need of being freed. As believers in Jesus Christ we need to realize from this verse that some of the keys to our kingdom lived life is directly related to our bible reading life. Even more important is the implications for struggling believers. For the believer who is struggling with an addiction, with a relationship problem, with finding joy, with all those things that seem to keep us enslaved this is very important because there is a direct correlation to you abiding in Jesus' word and knowing the truth that sets you free. In context Jesus is speaking to the crowd about understanding, believing and putting their trust into what Jesus was saying about himself to them in this chapter. For us today we can apply this verse to how we allow the bible to enter in us by reading it. I am not sure if you have a person in your life that models this to you. I do. My role model is my wife, Lesleigh. Lesleigh has committed herself to having daily time of reading the Word and also reading Christian books. Myself and our kids know that when they see mom sitting in her chair upstairs that she is off limits.(at least we are suppose to know this) Without fail my wife no matter what has gone on or what is going to go on that day has her time with God. She is such an encouragement to me, showing me that it can be done. Thinking about this I thought of some practical suggestions for abiding in His Word.
1. Quality over Quantity- Choose quality time in the word and not necessary quantity. Many people read through the bible in a year and it's very rushed. Others use the Daily Bread or other short devotionals. I am not knocking these practices. I am just saying for me personally the times I have done this I find myself just trying to check a box on some reading plan so I can say I did that or feeling frustrated by the lack of substance in devotionals. I find myself not really reading for growth just reading to get it done. I think that the best thing to do is the read the bible a book at a time. Study a whole book at once. Take your time and learn and grow and read for growth in and for your life.
2. Consistency- The goal should be everyday but this is not reality in the world we live in. All thought no matter how busy we are, we never fail to eat, sleep, watch TV, etc. We should strive to be steady eddies. Slow and steady wins the race. If the habit is read 1 day miss 7, read 2 days miss 3, read 5 days miss 20 etc its going to produce in you the same kind of kingdom living. You will live out the word just as inconsistently as you read it. You can set a time and try to stick to it or be flexible with what going on in your life. Many people love to get up in the morning and spend time in the morning reading the word. If that is you that is great. I am more of a noon guy myself. And some are more of night people. The time doesn’t matter, the consistency does.
3. Mediate-I think this is really something many believers miss. A major point of your reading should be so that you can ponder on it. Think of the cow with his food. He eats it and shallows it, pukes it up and chews some more and then swallows it again. OK maybe don’t think about to much. Read your bible in a way so that you remember it and chew on it through the day and week. It does little good to read and then not to think about it again. For all of you married folks where both are believers, this is a great marriage builder. Les and I haven’t to many weeks go by since we were saved that we don’t mediate on scripture together by talking them through.
4. Be selfish-. This is the simplest yet the hardest to do at times A couple of weeks ago I asked Les if she wanted to play domino's and she said she would really like to but was just getting ready to go read so she said I’ll pass. Be selfish. Say no. Say no to your husband, your kids, your friends. Guard some time for you to hear from God. And don't feel guilty over it.
5. Don’t give up- When you get and are inconsistent just don’t give up. When you have those stretches were you aren’t reading like you should don’t give up. Set it in your heart that you are going to get back at it, pray for the ability and determination to get going again and then just do it. Whatever you do don’t get in a rut and then think you can’t get out of it or that is doesn’t matter or that God wont forgive you.
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