Ever since I was young, I have loved to read and act out stories. Baby girl is a lot like me in this way. Recently I came across a blog that challenged me. It talked about a successful and wealthy business man who spent a lot of his time reading. The author challenged me to read the Bible, just pick it up and read it, because not only is it enjoyable to read but it is the living word of God and is alive. Just think how simply picking up the Bible and reading it could be life changing. So that's what I did.
This rainy overcast morning, after a brief encounter with social media's pull, I clicked "minimize" and picked up my bible. I opened to one of my favorite of Paul's letters - Galatians. I began reading.
Immediately, God's word spoke to my heart. I was reminded of events in scripture I had forgotten about, issues Paul was addressing in the early church were mirroring conversations I have had recently with other believers, I read a warning, I felt convicted, I felt my passion for an issue ignite... And this was only in the first 2 chapters! God's word is quick and powerful, sharper than any double edged sword. To the believer, it is LIFE-GIVING. LIFE-CHANGING.
One great way to impact children for the kingdom, for Jesus, is to become a reader of God's word. You know this, though. And so do I. But for some reason, the junk food pieces are more enticing than the organic fruits and vegetables of the WORD. It's easier to pick up my phone and click a social media app and begin to read. Or to pick up a magazine. Or click on a favorite opinion piece or blog. Or pick up a favorite fiction book. Or maybe a self-help book or the latest work by a favorite Christian author. They may be beneficial in some ways. Maybe they are like the quick, processed grab-and-go foods or the bowl of popcorn or the chips and salsa, or in my case the scoop of peanut butter or cup of coffee.
God's word is more like a tall glass of life-giving water. It's pure. It's not flavored or fancy, but it rejuvenates the body and mind. God's word is like a ripe juicy organic apple. The handful of salt & cracked pepper potato chips seem more appetizing or tempting in the moment, but after washing, slicing and eating that apple your body literally feels better. It doesn't feel bloated - it's satisfied and it has plenty to chew on for the moment. And it gives energy to get up from the reading and do what it says to do.
There are many beneficial bible reading plans. But maybe what I need to do is not worry about following the plan; I just need to read the word. It's simple, really. I tend to complicate things a lot... but eating well is simply making better choices. This is the same thing. Making better reading choices begins by just setting my phone down and picking up the word and reading that instead.
I have a Bible app on my phone. I use it some, especially to share the verse of the day or to read in church... but I find myself tempted to look at other apps on my phone. I think I'll set my phone down and pick up the physical written word of God. No distractions or temptations. It's a lot like buying only healthy foods. When I'm hungry, I have no option but to wash a piece of fruit or make myself something to eat with the foods that are in the kitchen. There are no quick snacks to tempt me, there is no junk food to replace the real food. When it's out of sight, it's a lot easier to make a better choice.
Paul talks to Timothy in his second letter about not being ashamed of the gospel and encourages him to keep preaching it and teaching it. He says "the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid (or afraid) but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Tim 1:7) This scripture has been used and applied to many aspects of life, but the real reason he is writing this is to talk about sharing the gospel, preaching, even suffering for the gospel without being afraid. One way we can live this out, experience the Spirit of God, is to read His word. We need to fill our minds with His words so we can give an answer, so we can have hope, so we can live with purpose and so we can resist temptation. If we fill our minds with the words of others all day, that's all we will have to offer back. But if we fill our minds with God's life-giving word, we will be able to offer that to others. We will literally be able to SPEAK LIFE into others.
Something else I've struggled to do is to convince my kids I'm doing something important while looking at my phone. Sometimes I actually am, but many times I'm trying to escape the isolation that is sometimes part of my homeschooling mama life. I'm trying to connect to someone other than my precious children because I just need adult stimulation. But if I want to raise a reader, especially one who sees the value in reading God's word, I need to demonstrate that beyond the shadow of a doubt. That's where reading the physical written word is vital. Kids copy what they see. If they see mommy on her phone, they want to be on their tablets. And frankly they don't understand why I wouldn't want them to be... I have to lead by example.
So these are some things I've been thinking about and that God has been challenging me with.
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