Is there anything more important than godliness to discipline ourselves for? Paul tells Timothy to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim. We don’t recline into discipline we must work at it. It is time to get up even if I don’t feel like it.” Discipline takes effort. It is when the mind speaks to the heart and says, “Hey, I’m in charge. But there is a critical point when discipline defeats the desire of the moment. Do you think an Olympic athlete hits snooze on their alarm when training? Never! Do they not get tired? Of course they do. ![]() However, if we sit back and do not live with intentionality we will not be regularly in the Word of God. In order to do anything of value consistently it takes discipline. This may take some time rolling up the sleeves, but it is definitely worth.Īction item: admit it and ask for help. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God in the child of God to conform us into the likeness of the Son of God. ![]() After some time with another Christian reading the Bible together, and through providing some basic tools and resources they should be well on their way. Ask a pastor or another mature believer for help. In this situation they should seek some help. When they begin reading it they find they have crossed cultural, historical, and even religious lines. I think this is a rarity but there are some people who find the Bible very difficult. It is only be being made uncomfortable by God that we can truly be comforted.Īction item: search your heart and see if you are avoiding God to preserve the idol of comfort. We lean upon the false savior of self and as a result guarantee that we will not be comfortable. We believe the lie that it is better to live in the false comfort we are in rather than the comfort that God can provide. If we aim to preserve comfort and protect honor then we will avoid this like someone who is out of shape avoids the gym.īut here is the truth: our hearts are deceitful (Jer. This punctures our pride and unsettles us. If we have engaged in honest Bible reading we know that we have been confronted by God and his Word. It trains us by saying: “This is how you must live instead.” The moral law reveals to us, even the next 9 commandments, how to live with God as your God. It trains us: The Scripture tells us both what is wrong and how to do what is right.It corrects us by saying: “Repent and serve the one true God.” Because we have been reproved by the Word we are pointed back to what we are supposed to be doing. It corrects us: It points us back to what is right.It rebukes our sin by saying: “That is wrong.” It reproves us: When we are not putting God first by giving him his due worship because we are giving this to someone or something else.It teaches us truth by saying: “This is right.” He alone must be our only true God who rules us even as we glorify him. It teaches us truth: One who follows the Lord is not to have another other gods.“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16)Ĭonsider the First Commandment: “”You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3). Consider what Paul says about the activity of the Bible: So, why in the world would we avoid the Bible? It is because the Bible makes us uncomfortable before it comforts us. We love to be comfortable and yet the Bible aims to comfort us. ![]() This is the reason that no one wants to talk about but everyone needs to grapple with. Let me give you a few reasons why many Christians do not regularly read their Bibles. We may be busy but we choose to put the Bible aside for one reason or another. In pursuit of a true diagnosis here, let’s be honest: none of us are truly too busy to read the Bible. ![]() However, others who claim busyness also are up to date on the news, watch movies, use social media, exercise, and a host of other things. There is time for even the busiest of us. They are extremely busy yet they still read their Bibles. I know people who have their entire day (and evening) mapped out for them. Those same people who are really busy do have the time to eat food and sleep. I think we can distinguish between realities and reasons. This may be the truth people are very busy. Most people when asked about their Bible reading say: I have been really busy.
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