Read any Good Book lately?
I was 46 years old before I read the Bible. It took me two months, but I read it cover to cover and when I was done I was left with one very important question that I still haven't answered. Why did I wait so long?
I had a conversation with one of the guys I used to work with about this. He was lecturing me on faith and I found it interesting. I listened intently as he went on about his faith and how he practices it and to tell you the truth, he and I were surprisingly not that far apart, which when he was done lecturing me, I pointed out to him. I asked him but one simple question before I explained the difference between the two of us and it was this: "Did you ever READ the Bible?"
I thought it a fair question because his actions, to me, at least, lead me to believe what he would confirm: He hadn't. I was thinking about this today. I wonder how many people were like me, before I accepted Christ as Savior and gave Him my life. I believed, you know, but past the bits of scripture found on plaques, trinkets, and the odd reading at this funeral or that church service, I didn't know the word of God. I tried to explain to him the concept that you can't know God's word if you've never READ His word.
The conversation left me with this question: Why do people believe what they do? I can't answer that for anyone but me but I think it's an important question for you, the reader to ask yourself today. If the Pew Group is right 78% of Americans identify themselves as Christians but I'm willing to bet not all of those 78% have actually read the Bible. Our society doesn't reflect the values that 78% of the population identify with. I can clearly see that. It's evident in the way we talk, the way we act, the way we treat others. I suggested to my friend he start with the book of Proverbs, that the ideals in this particular book are timeless. I hope he takes the suggestion to heart.
As I've grown in my Christian Walk, one of the key things I've learned is that God speaks to us, even today, through His word. If it's one of the primary ways He uses to communicate with Man, how can you know what He's saying if you've never read His word?
How 'bout you? Read any of the Good Book lately? Try reading 5 chapters a day. And if you need a good Bible Study, I have one I can recommend (again)!
God Bless,
Coop
I had a conversation with one of the guys I used to work with about this. He was lecturing me on faith and I found it interesting. I listened intently as he went on about his faith and how he practices it and to tell you the truth, he and I were surprisingly not that far apart, which when he was done lecturing me, I pointed out to him. I asked him but one simple question before I explained the difference between the two of us and it was this: "Did you ever READ the Bible?"
I thought it a fair question because his actions, to me, at least, lead me to believe what he would confirm: He hadn't. I was thinking about this today. I wonder how many people were like me, before I accepted Christ as Savior and gave Him my life. I believed, you know, but past the bits of scripture found on plaques, trinkets, and the odd reading at this funeral or that church service, I didn't know the word of God. I tried to explain to him the concept that you can't know God's word if you've never READ His word.
The conversation left me with this question: Why do people believe what they do? I can't answer that for anyone but me but I think it's an important question for you, the reader to ask yourself today. If the Pew Group is right 78% of Americans identify themselves as Christians but I'm willing to bet not all of those 78% have actually read the Bible. Our society doesn't reflect the values that 78% of the population identify with. I can clearly see that. It's evident in the way we talk, the way we act, the way we treat others. I suggested to my friend he start with the book of Proverbs, that the ideals in this particular book are timeless. I hope he takes the suggestion to heart.
As I've grown in my Christian Walk, one of the key things I've learned is that God speaks to us, even today, through His word. If it's one of the primary ways He uses to communicate with Man, how can you know what He's saying if you've never read His word?
How 'bout you? Read any of the Good Book lately? Try reading 5 chapters a day. And if you need a good Bible Study, I have one I can recommend (again)!
God Bless,
Coop
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