“WHEN YE READ”
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). Recently a brother told me that he had read the New Testament through eighteen times in 2011. A sister in Christ told me how she was using the book “Reading Through The Bible” to read through the Bible in one year. How wonderful it is when folks are reading The Holy Word of God.
There is an interesting passage in 2 Kings 22. Josiah has become King at the age of eight. When he was 26 he sent Shapan the scribe up to the high priest. Hilkiah told Shapan that he had found a book and he gave it to him and he read it (2 Kings 22:8). He then took it to the King and read it to him. Some years later in the days of Jeremiah we find the grandson of Shapan, “When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shapan, had heard out of the book all the words of the Lord” (Jer. 36:15). Do you suppose that reading the book ran in the family?
Remember Jesus asks the question on more than one occasion, “Have ye not read?” (Mt. 12:3). There are great blessings in store for those who read the Bible.
When you read the Bible God is communicating with you. Remember the words of Paul, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). A survey of Hebrews reveals to us, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds” (Heb. 1:1-2).
When you read the Bible you are turning on the light that gives direction. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Ps. 119:105). The scriptures tell us that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (Jn. 3:19). The darkness of the world must be penetrated by the light of the holy word of God.
When you read the Bible you are building up a reserve to help fight against sin in your life. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Ps. 119:11). Part of the Christian’s armor is “…The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). We are in a battle that can only be won by using the word of God.
When you read the Bible you are showing your priorities. Remember the words of Jesus when he said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” (Mt. 6:33). When we spend hours on a daily basis watching television or scanning the internet and yet cannot give time to read the scriptures we have our priorities wrong.
Make a determination now to read the Bible every day.
Larry