Good Reasons to Read Through the Bible in 2022
Have you ever read through your Bible in a year? If you haven't I hope to encourage you to do so. In the past Christians have saturated themselves in the Bible. How else could the "Miracle at Dunkirk" have happened.? The British Expeditionary Force found itself with its back to the sea and surrounded by German tanks and infantry, a dire situation indeed. A British officer broadcasted over a shortwave radio channel that was monitored by the folks at home , the following three word message, "But if not..." The Germans listening in had no idea what it meant but the British public new right away. It was from Daniel 3:18 and the passage was about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednigo's statement to King Nebuchadnezzar before being thrown into the fiery furnace. The British public was inspired and mobilized commandeering any vessels capable of crossing the channel to rescue the stranded army. An armada of fishing vessels, yachts, sail boats, tug boats and ferries launched by three words and the rest is history. Could this same scenario have played out today? Sadly, I think not.
Bible literacy is at an all time low. A recent Lifeway study from 2020 found that only 32% of Americans who attend a Protestant church regularly, say they read the Bible everyday. Uh Oh, "Houston we have a problem!" Why the disconnect with the 68%? Too busy binge watching Netflix, posting on and reading FaceBook, Twitter, SnapChat, video games? Face it we live in a time where distractions are only a click away consuming way too much of our free time. We have become slaves to the digital god. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? Do you check your email and see who posted what on your social media accounts? Think about it, what does that say about you and your priorities?
Why is it so important to read God's word? Here is what Moses has to say about it to Israel before they crossed into the "Promised Land." 18“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 20You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,21that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth."
In Matthew 4:4 , Jesus quotes Deut. 8:3, "Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." God's word is for our spiritual sustenance and life. 1 Peter 3-15-16 says: 15"But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, 16 For it is written : 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This raises the question how can I become holy, a sinner? Jesus answers this question in John 17:17 in a prayer for his disciples: "Sanctify them with truth; your word is truth." We are sanctified (made holy) by the truth. (God's word) Proverbs 2:6: "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;" We know that God's word is the bread of life but it also imparts on us wisdom and understanding.
In summary Moses thought it was important to have God's word always before us and to teach it to our children. God's word is our spiritual food that sustains our faith, sanctifies us and gives us wisdom, understanding and knowledge of God our creator and redeemer. It's not too late to start reading your Bible, just start! There are many plans for reading through the bible in a year or even 2 years, pick one and get started! Happy New Year and God bless you and your families. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom," (Collossians 3:16)