Read your Bible Everyday or get Scurvy!
I just watched Touching Lives on TBN with James Merritt. No, he didn’t say we would get scurvy if we did not read our bibles everyday but he did make a great point. He told us of the Pilgrims story. Most died before they got to America. They were eating morning, noon, and night but not eating the right foods. They were missing the most important ingredient – Vitamin C. They developed scruvy. Their joints would swell, their teeth fell out, and their organs began to shut down. All because of one vitamin – the lack of Vitamin C.
I was changing channels on the TV. This was not by mistake that I stumbled upon this broadcast. James Merritt’s sermon is entitled “Eat Your Heart Out.”
As a busy culture, we neglect time with God. We get tangled up with the busy events of the day.
Merritt points out these facts:
- Fewer than half of all adults can name the 4 gospels
- 60% of Americans cannot name 5 of the 10 commandments
- 81% of born again Christians say that God helps those who help themselves is a bible verse.
- 12% believe that Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife
- Over 50% of graduating high school seniors think that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife
We have many people who say that they are reading their Bibles everyday. That may be so but you can get complacent and read to be reading it. So, it is one thing to read the Bible but are you living it?
It is based on these scriptures: 1 Peter 2:1-3 (The Message) So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God.
Or the NIV version: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Peter tells us 3 things in 1 Peter 2:1-3:
- We must develop a Heart for God’s Word (vs 1); Psalm 66:18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; 2 things are true – either sin will keep you from the Bible or the Bible will keep you away from sin
- We need to develop a hunger for God’s Word (vs 2); Matthew 4:4 – we should not live by bread alone; consider God’s Word as a buffet
- Develop a hearing for God’s Word (vs 3)
I admit…this really hit home to me. I do read my Bible but it hasn’t been everyday. I do try to live right. I am only human and admit when I fall. My neighbors are really making this one hard for me. I think thoughts…thankfully, I have not acted upon those thoughts. Satan tries to wear us down. At first it is very subtle and then BAM, we are in the middle of the mess “we” created. It is by design that we have free will. Free will to do what we want. Can we really afford to not stay in God’s Word? I am very thankful that even though I haven’t read the Bible everyday that I know the promises that God has for each of us. Reading the Bible is just part of it. I am going to commit to reading the Bible everyday to be able to keep my armor on. I hope this speaks to you and encourages you to be the person that God created you to be.
More scripture to ponder:
1 Peter 2:25 (NIV) For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Deuteronomy 32:47 – They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.
The Bible is our life and gives us direction. My question is to you: Got Bible?
