Marriage is two flawed people coming together and making a commitment to faithfully love each other for the rest of their lives. Before Ethan and I got married, we both agreed that communication is one of the keys to a successful marriage. It would be silly for me to assume that our relationship would work if I never talked to him, if I didn't care to know more about his character/who he is or if I didn't take the time to learn about what pleases him/makes him happy. In the same regard, we cannot expect to have a relationship with God (or receive the blessings that come from a deep relationship with him) if we never talk to him through prayer or get to know more about His character (through the Bible).It astounds me that 79.5% of Americans call themselves Christians, which -- by the way -- literally means "professing Christianity and it's teachings", but never spend time in prayer or reading the Bible.According to a recent Gallup poll, about six in ten Americans (59%) say they read the Bible at least on occasion . . . Readership of the Bible has declined from the 1980s overall, from 73% to 59% today. The percentage of frequent readers, that is, those who read the Bible at least once a week, has decreased slightly over the last decade, from 40% in 1990 to 37% today. About one American in seven reports an involvement that goes beyond reading the Bible. Fourteen percent currently belong to a Bible study group. In terms of frequency of readership, 16% of Americans say that they read the Bible every day, 21% say they read it weekly, 12% say they read the Bible monthly, 10% say less than monthly and 41% say that they rarely or never read the Bible. [source]If you and I were to look back at the past 7 days, what would your schedule look like? What did you spend your time on? What did you make room in your busy schedule for? The answers may even be good things. Perhaps you spent time with your kids or perhaps you even spent time working at the church -- but all of those things are meaningless if our days are not spent communing with God. Isaiah 55:2 says, "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good (referring to reading the Bible, something that will fulfill), and your soul will delight in the richest of fare."I fall short of this all the time! I can't tell you how much time and effort I put into my marriage, making sure that Ethan and I are on the same page and that I got to spend enough time with him in a day. And yet, I know for a fact, in comparison to my marriage, I don't devote far enough time with the God who created me and deeply longs for me to know Him more. The more I pour over Scripture, the more I realize how silly it was for me to skip over such rich text because it truly does fulfill.So what does the Bible say about reading the Bible?We read the Bible because we are His followers: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. -- John 8:31We read the Bible to build ourselves up and be encouraged:And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself. -- Acts 20:32Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. -- Romans 15:4We read the Bible because it is the compass of right and wrong:All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. -- Hebrews 4:12We read the Bible so we have a foundation to stand on, gain wisdom and can discern from false teachers: Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. Matthew 7:24-27And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth -- Acts 17:11I leave you with this:
Not everyone who calls out to me, "Lord! Lord!" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, "Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name." But I will reply, "I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws." (Matthew 7:21-23)
As I have stated above, 79.5% of Americans proclaim to be Christians and yet many will be surprised when they stand before God and He tells them He never really had a relationship with them. I encourage you to spend this weekend reading and studying the Bible. You will be encouraged, strengthened, and renewed. You will gain wisdom and build a solid foundation for your faith that will withstand trials and persecution. Most importantly, your understanding of who God is and how much He truly loves us will grow exponentially.