“Your word is…a light to my path.” January 8, 2010
Taken From The Word For You Today – Comments by Rev. Susie Owens
When asked, “What book has most influenced your life?” most folks say the Bible. Yet fewer than 14% of us read it every day. How come? Our most common excuses are: (1) I’ve not time: Really? Many of the books in your Bible can be read in ten to forty five minutes, some in less than twenty minutes. By taking a chapter a day you can complete the book of Proverbs in a month and the Epistle of James in five days. (2) I don’t know where to begin. If starting in Genesis and working your way through seems overwhelming break it into bite-sized pieces. Pick a Gospel and read the life of Christ. Just get started! (3) It’s not exciting. Do you like romance? Read the book of Ruth. Looking for adventure? Try Judges or Acts. enjoy poetry? Explore Song of Solomon. From history to how-to, it’s all in Scripture. (4) Isn’t going to church every week good enough? Billy Graham says, “The Bible is the road map for life, and while your pastor can highlight the best route to take, you learn how to navigate life’s twists and turns for yourself.” (5) It makes me uncomfortable. When you don’t know what God’s Word actually says, it’s easy to equate it with negative experiences and hypocrisy you’ve observed, then throw out the baby with the bath water. No question, the Bible makes you face hard truths. It “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb 4:12 NIV). It gives you a check-up from the neck up. But you’ll discover who you are, what you’re called to do, and become empowered to do it!
Rev. Susie Owens after thoughts:
I too, deal with taking time out of my busy day to read my Bible. It isn’t something I like to admit but it is true. God is so kind, full of grace and abounding in mercy. It is so refreshing and freeing to know that God loves us where we are. All we have to do is dust off our Bible and pick up as if we’d never stopped. A new beginning is just a turn of the page away.
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WORD FOR YOU TODAY devotional books are available (quarterly) from Shekinah Fellowship Church. For more information, please call 405-799-8888.
