Introduction
Just this week more ancient fragments of the Scriptures were found in Israel. Click here to read the article. Scholars believe these date back to the 1st century B.C. This is the first discovered in over 60yrs of any type of Scripture. One of the verses on the fragments is from Zechariah 8:15:”Speak truth, each man to his neighbor, and render truth and justice in your gates…”
As amazing as this is, if you are looking for reasons not to read any of it, keep scrolling!
Excuses. We are great at making excuses and looking for a way out of things. One has said an excuse is a “skin of a reason stuffed with a lie.”
One excuse we have heard over and over is, “I’m sorry we can’t do that due to COVID.” How many times have we heard that over the past 12 months?
Be honest, you are guilty as charged. How many of you have used COVID as an excuse to get out of doing something you didn’t want to do? Like going to the dentist, for instance, (not confessing just illustrating!). Below you will find 3 excuses to stop reading your Bible!
1. If you are looking for a good luck charm.
When I miss a short putt on the golf course I often joke, “I should have read another chapter in my Bible this morning!” But in reality, some of us really think that way! When the fridge quits, a tire goes flat, or the ankle sprains, the temptation is a self-examination of our devotional life. Basically a good vs bad spiritual life check. But will God really make our lives miserable if we don’t read through the Bible in a year? No! That’s not how God works. God’s Word is a lamp and light to lead us on our way. Not a gauge to measure our spirituality.
2. If you are looking for a new truth.
We love new. Headlines, latest gossip, or what’s trending on Twitter (@tregtweets is not so much anymore, maybe another day). We want some new angle or spin on a topic or headline.
We want to do the same with the Scriptures. We desire the new truth found in it. We search out people online who are teaching things we have never heard before. Peter tells his listeners, “I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things…” (2 Peter 1:12). The Bible can never be “new.” It will never reveal a new truth. Solomon makes it clear, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9).
God’s Word is sufficient. It needs no new “twist.”
3. If you are looking for evidence to support your hobby horse.
Many open the Bible with their mind made up on what they believe, despite what the Bible says. I’ve seen this done with all sorts of topics. With this mentality, one can find whatever they would like to prove their point. Last week I saw two pastors online doing just this. One took a verse out of Deuteronomy to prove Jesus wore pants and not a robe. He didn’t say if they were (the tribe of) Levi’s or not but I’d sure like to know.
The other called Jesus a racist. I’ll mention him in another post in the future.
The Bible meets our needs but does not necessarily support our agendas.
Don’t pick up your Bible today with an agenda. Simply open it with these words, “God please erase my thoughts today and fill them with yours from your Word.”
There is no greater book for you to read than the Bible. God’s words and truths have been made available to us in the Bible. Over the course of the next few weeks, I hope to share several blogs that will encourage you to love and appreciate your Bible even more!
Feel free to comment below with more reasons we should stop reading our Bibles.
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