DAILY READING Preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, by unfailing in patience and in teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2, RSV. The Bible well compares with the mirror that both show us how we look like. The mirror stops there while the Bible goes many steps further in not only showing us how clean or dirty we are spiritually and physically, but also in how to get clean from these dirtiness. The Bible does not stop here. When we study it properly, we see in it an unmistakable sacred power and an inspiring challenge to have Christ live in us as Savior and Redeemer. In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “ As we study its pages, we are turn out of our own existence and set down in the midst of the holy history of God on earth. There God dealt with us and there He still deals with us, our needs and our sins, in judgment and grace.” Perhaps the greatest modern stumbling block to the spiritual advancement of the world-wide church is the failure of many members to study the Bible, immerse themselves in the word to hear the messages God set out for modern man. I am yet to see that Christian, who after faithfully and devotedly studied the Bible, has been defeated by the devil, discouraged with Christ or has his questions about life unanswered. It is hard to find one. Backsliders are often mainly those who are visitors to their Bibles and may only pay a visit to the Bible on the Sabbath morning during the lesson study or another aspect of church service. After that, the Bible is allowed to struggle with dust where it is left untouched during the week days. Paul charges young Timothy to expound the Scriptures (1Timothy 4:11). At the time in question, Christians were to search and expound the Scriptures. No particular time was considered conducive for such a religious exercise. It was a matter of principle and never a matter of inclination or personal likeness. There were laws governing many activities of man like hunting for deer. But in the matter of searching and expounding the Scriptures, it was open all the year round and there was no law to check it. No wonder the young apostolic church succeeded and expanded because they made the word of God a central pillar holding the angles of existence. It was the same Old Testament times. Success of God’s people was a product of their attention to the Scriptures. The apostles took up the good manner from them. Why should we be so busy today and occupied with many needles nothings as to break the status quo?
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 17:51:34 +0000
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