Last week we talked about prayer and how it is important to the follower of Christ. Both the church and the world have expectations of what a Christian, or follower of Christ should be, do, and look like. We knew it was not earth shattering that the Christian thing to do was to pray and read our Bibles to deepen our relationship with God. Yet, because many of us seem to fail at some level in these simple acts of disciplines, I felt it was important for us to look at why we struggle to do these simple acts of discipline. Let’s look at reading the Bible.

• The Bible is an old document that seems strange and foreign to us. We don’t always know how to apply it to our lives and current circumstances.
• The Bible is boring and it puts me to sleep. It’s not interesting like my spy novel.
• The Bible has been interpreted by so many theologians, scholars, and denominations that I don’t even know where to begin to understand who is right and who is wrong.
• The Bible takes time to read and I don’t have the time to dedicate to a good study of the words and what it means for me.

Have you ever heard yourself say any of the above statements? I think we can go in spurts as to which one of the above are most applicable at any certain point in our lives. Yet, just as we shifted our focus on a group mentality of “Christians” to a more singular focus of “a follower of Christ”, I think we need to shift our focus on the Bible.

• The Bible is an old document that although a bit foreign, the attitudes and actions are very similar: lust, murder, greed, issues of trust.
• The Bible is boring and uninteresting because I choose not to become involved in the story. When I begin to wonder how Ruth felt as she chose between her hometown and her mother-in-law, Naomi, the story seems real.
• The Bible has been interpreted by others but I have to understand it based on what God is revealing to me. It’s okay to look to theologians but God is my ultimate authority.
• The Bible takes time to read and I have to make reading God’s word a priority because it is how I learn about the God I serve.

Through reading the Bible, I discover David doubted God’s ways just like I do at times. Abraham and Sarah didn’t trust God to give them a son and took matters into their own hands. Jesus cried when His friend died; it’s okay to grieve. Most of the disciples deserted Jesus at His crucifixion just like I discover I desert God’s plan for my life. Just like the disciples, though, I hide and then realize Jesus is alive, Lord of my life, and then I come on fire for Him!

Both reading the Bible and praying to God is not about what I must do to be a follower of Christ. No, it’s so much more than that. Reading the Bible and praying to God are a privilege and a blessing: it’s what I get to do! As I grow closer to God in my walk with Him, my daily habit of reading the Bible and praying are now a true desire of a connection with Him that will always draw me closer to Him.

Do you feel far away from God today? How are you doing with the hard, simple disciplines?

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

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