In the recent years, polls have shown that Biblical
knowledge is at an all time low. Mainstream
Christianity is going towards a humanist-centric religion, based on how we
feel, what we think, what others tell us outside our religion, what other
religions do, and what popular consensus is with the masses. Quite honestly, I wish these groups would
stop calling themselves Christians because they hold true to almost none of the
tenants of Christianity and those that they do, they have seriously twisted.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. (1 Timothy 1:6-7)
Not only is this inherent selfishness being encouraged by
popular “pastors” or “teachers” or “devotional writers,” but most people who
still want to hold true to Christianity have almost no Biblical knowledge (oh
no! theology! run away!) and don’t put a priority on gaining any in the near
future. And then there are all the people
that “would like to spend more time in the Bible, but I’m just so busy
with…” You can use that excuse all you
want, but I bet you I could find time in your schedule to allow for a good hour
of Bible study and prayer. You just
won’t like what I would cut: TV, an activity, a hobby, “just me” time…
You know, I get it.
It’s hard to stick to something you have no real interest in or
something that is boring (sometimes it’s pure selfishness but many times it is
not having a plan that causes boredom). “You
mean you spend how long devoted every day to Bible study and prayer?!?! What do you do for that whole time? Wow, it’s great that you have all that free
time to devote to it.” For the
questions, that’s what this series is about: how to do it and what to do. You will find you will have way more to do
than time available. As for the “free
time” that I have, well, my day is busy with everything but free time (twin
newborns do that to a schedule). And I
have had to give up things that would be more “fun” and mindless and selfish.
Now, as a disclaimer, when we are more than a family of two
(as we are right now), then yes my Bible time is shorter and is not a block all
together. Every so often, I am able to
look back and see how I could have been more productive with my time. What I want you to know is that I am not
perfect and it has taken years and trial and error to get where I am at
today. I was the person who at first had
to start with just a little bit each day and build, finding out what best allowed
me to focus on my learning and a deeper walk with God.
If you’re not already doing this, it’s time to take a real
interest in your faith and to put some real effort into your relationship with
God, especially if you feel alone or that God doesn’t speak to you. The greatest growth that I have seen in my
faith first comes from putting my faith first in my life. Through this, God is able to use much more in
my life to further the growth of myself as a Christian. If you call yourself a Christian, then be a
Christian! And the first step is knowing
what it means to be a Christian (i.e. reading your Bible), and then creating a
deep relationship with God (i.e. studying your Bible, praying, and worshiping
our Lord). For the next couple of weeks,
I am going to share my personal way to do Bible time and why I think each of
the four areas are important. How you
specifically implement them is up to you, but I don’t think that we can be
strong Christians without reading the Bible, studying the Bible, praying, and
worshiping God.
I [Paul] am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:6-12)
through His grace alone!
Sarah
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