Last time we discussed the importance of delighting in God and who He is by coming to know Him. As we come to know Him we find there are treasures and riches and wisdom in who He is in the name of Jesus Christ. These treasures, riches and wisdom are just waiting to be discovered; not necessarily for the "first time ever" - rather for your own personal experience, "the first tiem". The Glory of knowing Jesus, to personally kno Him as you know your loved ones, to His ways and His precepts and His love.
Overall, we alluded to last time, our (Christian's) goal our
END RESULT is to be Holy because God is Holy. As you might have guessed this is done by practicing Spiritual Disciplines in accord with God's soverign Grace to grow and mold us; therefore, not only is God active in our growth but we are too. We participate in our growth with God, because knowing God is the greatest pleasure ever by truly knowing Him, creates everlasting Joy.
So the question this week:
Why Do We Ignore Our Spiritual Disciplines?
A couple of quotes I thought would be interesting to place in this post:
- This book [the Bible] will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.
- Dusty Bibles lead to dirty lives.
A study from 1990 states that nationwide 100 adults stated, they read the Bible:
- Daily: 17
- Weekly/Often: 23
- Once a Month/Often: 13
- Less than once a month: 25
- Rarely/Never: 20
- Can't say: 2
Some of the excuses they stated:
- The Bible doesn't apply to "today"
- I don't know how to read the Bible
- I am just a layperson/uneducated in my understanding of the Bible
- I don't have time to read the Bible
- I have doubts about the text and/or The Bible is not interesting
The hard part is, all those excuses are just sin.
- The Bible doesn't apply to "today"
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17; clearly tells us that the Scriptures are to assist is in teaching, thinking correctly, rebuking us, telling us what is and is not sin and correcting us to lead a life after God's Will; that is to be Holy as He is Holy. Also, if you read This Post you will note the Bible was written by over 40 authors, over 1500 years, on 3 different continents, from multiple socio-economical backgrounds and all the book remain consistent, with integrity all pointing to Jesus Christ. If you just look at those facts objectively, you have no choice but to say the Bible is accurate and has the utmost integrity than any other “thing” in the world. Therefore, to say it does not apply today, would be missing the point of the Scripture (i.e. Salvation through Jesus Christ alone)
- I don't know how to read the Bible
- If you can read you can read the Bible. It is just that simple. You don't need to be "special" to read.
- I am just a layperson/uneducated in my understanding of the Bible
- Hebrews 5:12 & 1 Peter 3:15; tells us that we should all be teachers. Not necessarily in the sense of being a theological professor at a well known school for theology; rather, have the knowledge to explain what you believe.
- Furthermore, there are multiple FREE RESOURCES to help us understand the Bible further, to say otherwise is a cop-out. Also, I have a short and simple post on "3 Steps To Study The Bible"
- I don't have time to read the Bible
- I would argue you don't have time not to, life is short - so carpe diem.
- It is very ironic to me that people say they dont' have time for prayer or reading the Bible but they have ENDLESS time to update their Facebook/Twitter accounts.
- In addition, I would say, if you can worry you can pray, if you can worry about finances, you can mediate on scripture. Worry is just the opposite of Mediation. Joshua 1:8 tells us to meditate on scriptures day and night and Psalm 1:1-2 tells us that the person who delights in God's word does not live a wicked life.
- I have doubts about the text and/or The Bible is not interesting
- I would suggest you read this post (as well as the entire series) and you be shown that the Bible is clear, authoritative, necessary and sufficient for Spiritual growth and you can trust it.
Overall, we are commanded to be Holy through God's perseverance/grace in us and our own obedient effort. We can only become Holy by knowing Jesus more and a focus for that is through our spiritual disciplines. Finally we do all this because we are commanded to grow up and have the ability to pour our lives into other people so they too can see Jesus and know Jesus.
After all, no matter what you are doing you are always teaching/influencing someone else's life so influence for Jesus.
Praise the Glory of His Grace
Judson