I just read that "...88% of American homes have at least one Bible in them." according to the American Bible Society's "State Of The Bible 2013". Eighty-eight per cent! In a nation that is increasingly turning away from God's Word through the current conditions of lifestyles and politics, it is easy to see that just HAVING the truth isn't enough. That's why Jesus said, "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) [underlining added]
The only way the truth is going to set you free is if you KNOW it. And the only way you are going to know it is if you HEAR it and READ it. Just having a Bible on your shelf doesn't make you free... KNOWING it does. Eighty-eight per cent of Americans have at least one Bible but how many of us are reading it? How many of us still believe it is the true Word of God by which we must live?
Let me encourage you to devote yourself to the following...
1. Start reading your Bible today if you are not already doing so. There are plenty of ideas available online as to where you should start. For example, I might suggest Mark and then Acts.
2. Listen to an audio Bible. Audio Bibles come in two forms: narrative or dramatic. Narrative is one person reading the text for you. Dramatic has multiple voices and sound effects to help you stay focused.
3. Attend your church on a regular basis and get involved with your church family. They will help you grow.
4, Find a friend to talk about what scripture you have been reading lately. Maybe even have them read the same chapters that you are reading.
How many times has this happened to you? You notice that something doesn't feel right but instead of going to the doctor, you try to ignore it. You tell yourself that it will be okay in a little while. Or maybe you think it isn't worth the trip since it isn't that big of a problem. Often when I have taken this approach, the problem did get worse and I wished I had taken care of it sooner!
Not only do we take this approach with our physical health, but many of us take this same approach with our spiritual health as well. We recognize that we are allowing something to be in our lives that we should stay away from but we try to justify it instead. "It's no big deal. At least I am not doing what he's doing!" We try to hide things from God and from others but the truth is God already knows and sometimes others know as well. Instead of calling it "sin", we call it our problem or our weakness as if there was no solution. "It's just who I am."
When we don't repent (turn away from) of our sin, we are hardened by it. And when we are hardened by it, our sin becomes like a magnet drawing other sins to us. With this sin in our lives, we begin to feel defeated by it and yet addicted to it. We say that we want it out of our lives but then we still crave it's worldly pleasure. Before long we realize how far we have drifted away from God. It didn't happen all at once. It happened one choice at a time.
So today... Right now... No matter if you are one step away from God or way off the right path, I am asking you to turn around. Turn back to God. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to help you make better choices. And start walking towards Him. It may seem difficult. You will face some resistance. But you are going the right direction when you are walking towards God.
What if we really would seek God with all of our heart this year like we are supposed to be doing? What if our churches would collectively bow in prayer and ask God to revive us again? What if our pastors would preach nothing but the true gospel of Jesus Christ? What if our church leaders would lead with the intensity that we should have? What if our church families would unite together in worship weekly instead of using our Sundays for our own pleasure? And what if we read our Bibles with the same interest and excitement that we have when we read our favorite magazines or favorite web sites on the computer?
WHAT IF?
We will never know unless we do it. We will never know until we see God as He really is... high and lifted up. All powerful and all knowing. But too often we approach God like He is our equal or even our servant. Do you take God seriously or are you just going through the motions? Do you just talk about Jesus or are you really following Him the way that He described in Luke 9:23 when He said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."?
Will you join me in praying for our churches and our nation? Will you repent of your sins and ask God for His forgiveness? Let us become the churches that God wants us to be. Amen?
