IGNORING SCRIPTURE

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17 ESV)

As a former educator, I have met many adults who do not like to read. There are many college graduates who never read another book after they graduate. I have also met people who have proclaimed their faith in Christ and attend church regularly, however, they say they cannot focus long enough to read the Bible. They are absolutely dependent upon the good will of others to teach them the truth of the Scriptures.

CHRIST AND THE BIBLE

J.C. Ryle:

“Let it be a settled principle in our minds, in reading the Bible, that Christ is the central sun of the whole book. So long as we keep Him in view, we shall never greatly err in our search for spiritual knowledge. Once losing sight of Christ, we shall find the whole Bible dark and full of difficulty.” (The Gospel of Luke)

READING THE BIBLE

Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul as oak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart!

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF READING YOUR BIBLE

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. (Proverbs 15:14 ESV)

It is very sad that most people, including Christians, never read their Bibles on a consistent basis. George Gallop once said, “Americans revere the Bible – but, by and large, they don’t read it.” I am also afraid that, of those who do read their Bibles, very few study it with the intention of becoming more like Christ. Should we not seek to grow in the knowledge of God?

Consider this: In a country where the Bible, Christian literature, and the publication of Biblical study-helps abound, we are becoming a nation of Bible illiterates. Can you name the four Gospels? Can you name six of the 12 disciples? Can you name five of the Ten Commandments? I really do not believe you have to be a Bible trivia expert to grow as a Christian, but I do believe that Bible illiteracy is fast becoming the norm in America. Perhaps, you too have heard people repeating verses or condemning something in the Bible which, in reality, are not even in the Scriptures. How many times have you heard someone say, “The Lord helps those who help themselves,” believing it to be a Bible verse?