I grew up in a semi-conservative church. We were told to read our Bibles and we were encouraged to memorize Scripture. However, I did not learn the Bible very diligently. I read portions of the Bible almost every day and yet, I didn't hunger or thirst to know God more.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. (1 Peter 2:2)
I certainly did not desire the Word of God as much as a baby desires milk. As I observed others at church, I saw that they were just like me. Perhaps they read their Bibles, even daily, but they seemed to enjoy other things more than God's Word. We may have devoted some of our time to learning more about God but it was quite clear that our affections, our deepest enjoyments, were elsewhere. In the last several years, I have met many people like this. Let me reproduce a conversation for you between what I will call a Christian and a religious person.
Christian: Are you a Christian?
Religious Person: I sure am.
Christian: Would you say that the Bible is the most important book that you own?
Religious Person: It certainly is. No book is more important than the Bible!
Christian: Do you believe the Bible?
Religious Person: Of course I do. As I said, I am a Christian.
Christian: Would you be willing to die for the contents of the Bible?
Religious Person: I sure would. I would lay my life down for God's Word.
Christian: But do you believe every word of the Bible?
Religious Person: (very boldly) Absolutely! Of course I do!
Christian: Have you ever read every word of the Bible?
Religious Person: (nervously) Uh....well....um....no, not yet.
Christian: Oh, you must be a relatively new convert to Christianity then?
Religious Person: Uh...actually, I have been a Christian for several years.
Christian: Why haven't you read the most important book that you own? Why haven't you read every word that you say you believe?
Religious Person: I haven't had time.
Christian: Do you watch more television than you read the Bible?
Religious Person: Yes
Christian: Do you read the newspaper or magazines or novels more than you read the Bible?
Religious Person: Yes
I have had many such conversations with people and I think you can see where I am going with this. Religious people often make very bold claims, but their lives seldom match up to what they claim. Several years ago, when I examined my religious talk with my actual walk, I found that I lived in contradiction.
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matt 4:4)
I discovered that if I ate food the same way that I read my Bible, I would starve to death. In fact, I was already spiritually dead. I was dead even though I had been going to church for my whole life and I prayed daily and I even read my Bible almost daily. That which thrilled me most was not God.
How was I to answer a holy God? Could I honestly stand before God and explain that I loved Him and that I believed Him when, in fact, I spent more time being entertained than seeking him? I had no answer. I cried out to God and begged his forgiveness and mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ. Miraculously, I became a "newborn baby" and began to crave the Word of God. I couldn't put it down. I realized that my spiritual life depended on seeking God and hearing from him.
They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. (Deut 32:47)
The Bible became alive to me. It spoke to my heart.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
I found that I could understand it much more than I had ever been able to. It did not require becoming a Bible scholar and years of formal study to be able to understand the Scriptures. No! I found that God gave me understanding when I yielded to him fully. Don't get me wrong. I do not understand everything in the Bible, but the Bible is alive to me as it never has been. I see how what is written applies to my life. Before, it was difficult for me to remember what I read let alone attempt to apply it to my life.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor 2:14)
Is the Bible a mystery to you? Is it difficult for you to understand? Do you neglect God's Word? Are you truly seeking him with all your heart? Do you indeed know what the Bible says or have you merely been told what the Bible says? I would implore you to repent of your ways if you are not living what you say. Get on your knees before God and begin seeking him. Begin craving his Word.
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (Heb 2:1)
I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. (2 Peter 3:2)
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom 15:4)
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Cor 10:11-12)
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