blog 24: just read.
There is like a fire in my bones and I feel I can’t contain it! I had so many other directions in writing tonight, but at the last moment as I started to type this phrase wouldn’t leave me.
“Know my word, know my word”
This truth has never ever changed. To read, study, learn and know Gods word.
When I first got saved all I knew were the Sunday school stories, Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark…ummm yeah that’s about it and even then I only knew a little bit about it.
Something that was drilled into me as a new believer, which to this day I am so so thankful for is “know your word”.
And that’s what I started to do. I would run home after work and just sit and read the word of God. I would circle words I didn’t understand and look them up. I would tell God I’m not leaving my room till you show me something. I was so hungry! And my God did not disappoint. I would ask questions about parables and look into commentary. I wasn’t just reading I was learning and falling in love with Gods word. I was falling in love with Jesus.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
If in the beginning was the word (the Bible) and the word was with God (Jesus) and the word was God (trinity)…wouldn’t you want to read the Bible?
It makes no sense to me that followers of Jesus do not read their bibles daily. I cannot understand it.
If Jesus is the word of God and as a follower of Jesus we should desire to know Him. The one we follow, why wouldn’t you go to Him. Aka the Bible??
This is where we “insert excuses”…
Some are as follow:
don’t have time
don’t understand
My mind wanders
Not sure where to start
And the list goes on…
Mark 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
This is straight from God telling 3 disciples to listen to Jesus. Same with us today. God is shouting LISTEN. LISTEN TO HIM! Jesus is the word. Jesus is the Bible. Read it to be able to listen to Him!
The Bible is not just a book. It’s not something you can just throw on as background music, it’s not something that puts you to sleep or passes the time. The Bible is alive and active!
As you read it, it will start to read you.
Hebrews 4:12 (ASV)For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It will reach into those places no one knows about…if you read it.
It will comfort you like nothing ever has. If you read it.
It will unlock things in you , you never knew you had. If you read it.
It will give you the confidence and security that no other self help book can even come close to giving. If you read it.
It will teach you everything for living a life of peace. If you read it.
It will allow you to have hope in the most hopeless situations. If you read it.
It will fill you with joy and fulfillment. If you read it.
It will show you a love that you will never ever experience from any human being. If you read it.
It will give you direction, guidance, and help you in every single situation. If you read it.
And most importantly, it will turn you into the one you’re following…JESUS. If you read it.
It starts with just reading. Every. Single. Day.
There is no excuse and no reason why someone who claims to follow Jesus should not be reading their Bible. And I write this to myself as well. I have had days where I don’t want to. I rather watch a YouTube video. I rather sleep, I rather do anything else. BUT, I need Jesus. I need direction, I need peace, I need security , I need guidance , I need correction! And if you need all that too, then read your Bible!
I feel such an urgency to write this and I pray the Spirit of God tugs on your heart and you open your Bible TODAY. Just pick a book and stick with it. Proverbs has 31 chapters start it! John! Luke! Mark! Haha! Anywhere just start. Don’t think too much about it, just start reading.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Everything will one day be gone. But the word of God will live on forever. People, things, moments, all of it will fade and be gone, but the word of God will last forever. Run to His word. Run to something that actually lasts, you will not be disappointed.
My prayer today is that you feel the tug to read your Bible . Not just as a book or as the thing to do to check a box, but read Who you follow. Get to know Jesus through reading. He is the word of God.
love you friends ONE LOVE
