Question, for those who barely open your Bibles, what are you afraid of? There is a segment of believers who have open access to the Bible, and in fact, a number of them own several. Nevertheless, that same segment does not treasure those Bibles as the ones who do not even have a page, and in many instances, are in danger of losing their lives if they do manage to obtain one. If you are not in danger of losing your life for having the Word of God, why don’t you read it?
Perhaps for some, there is a fear of death of the old man. Face it, crucifixion can be found in the pages of the Bible. The Word clearly says Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (see 2Timothy 3:16). Doctrine, in this instance, means divine teaching. Sometimes, teaching leads to correction, which in turn leads to the death of the old nature. Conviction comes by the Holy Spirit when He uses Scripture to reveal that we are hanging onto the old nature and need to change the way think (repent). When conviction comes, so does a decision. We all must decide if we are going to deal with what the Lord is revealing to us, or ignore it and go our own merry way. What does the old nature offer that is greater than the things of God?
It is easy to receive those positive words of comfort and love, but can you allow for words of correction? Can you let the Word search your heart? We know that things written in the Bible are to serve as examples. Some are positive and some are negative. For instance, when you read about the idolatry of Israel, do you consider your own heart? Meaning, Do I have any idols? When the Bible talks about people being stubborn and prideful, do you ask yourself, “Am I being stubborn and prideful?” The idea is not to use the Bible to accuse yourself; rather, to allow it to keep things real. When you read about the humility of Jesus, do you ask yourself, “Am I humble?” How do things you read apply to your life? Don’t compare what you read to other people, compare it to the one in the mirror.
Sometimes, the Word of God can really challenge our belief systems. Our belief systems need to be challenged in order for us to reach our full potential. If we do not believe the way Jesus believes, we will find it difficult to navigate in His Kingdom. Sometimes, people love to believe what they believe, and do not want to be challenged. Wrong beliefs hold you back from God’s best for you. That is one reason is it important to study Scripture. Ironically, the Bible true is God’s Love Letter to us, yet some do not see it that way. They actually have issues with God and do not fully believe He is Love; therefore, they find it difficult to believe He has good intentions for them. If they want to continue to believe God does not love them, they need to keep their Bible closed. Why? Because it will completely contradict their belief if they honestly read it. Some people say they don’t have time to read their Bible. Perhaps, change is the issue and not time!
As we close, lets be clear. Not everyone who does not get into the Word as much as they could is afraid of change. As a matter of fact, they want change and that includes how much they read and study. How much a people read their Bible is between them and the Lord. Some struggle with comprehension, and that is where adjustments can be made in a variety of ways. Of course, the first place to go for understanding is the Lord, Who can give us greater revelation through the Holy Spirit. Jesus also gave gifts to the Church which includes teachers who can help us grasp what we read (see Ephesians 4:8-14). With modern technology, such things as audio books and podcasts are readily available. Naturally, they can be valuable to those on the go. Of course, there are a variety of translations that make it easier as well. Even if you do have a difficult time reading, keep reading, even if it is a little bit at a time. Your comprehension will increase as you do. God loves to reveal His Word to those who will diligently search the Scripture. In fact, He loves to take that journey with you because He is your Father. How many parents love to read to their children? Where do you suppose they got that from?
