This article is a follow-up from “I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed“.
I’ll be honest; I’ve been abnormally stressed the past few weeks. Not proud of this, but it is true.
For one, I always get uneasy living in Asia in the spring when people are inevitably leaving here. Another reason is there has been an unusual amount of activity in my life. Mostly good stuff (with the exception of Tracy’s sickness), but just lots and lots of stuff that I have needed to do, people I have hosted, meetings I have attended, classes I have taken. On top of this, I am moving to yet another apartment this week.
The accumulation of all of this “stuff” has left me tired, haggard, emotionally depleted, and a bit discouraged. I brought all of this to a local coffee house this morning.
I opened the Bible, read 2 Corinthians 4 (specifically 2 Cor. 4:16-18), and meditated.
So we do not lose heart. . . For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Though the pressure of the past few weeks is still present, a release value seemed to open up just a bit. I am at a better place now. Not “over it” by any means, but a little more secure in the reality that God is with me, in control, and everything will be good in the end.
I know this reality in my head. I really do. However, I just need reminders of this often. Actually, I need to be reminded of this every day. My memory is short, my mind can lack discipline, and my heart is often fleeting.
This is just one example of why I have found that I NEED to read and meditate upon the Bible often, if not daily. As I continue to think about this “discipline” of consistent Bible reading, several things come to mind.
There are many “hard reasons” why I should make the Bible a part of my daily routine, including things like its historicity, salvific nature, and sanctifying elements. However, here I simply want to talk about the “soft reasons” why I see reading the Bible needs to be an on-going, consistent part of my life.
Here are 7 reasons I need and want to read the Bible daily:
1 – Reminder of the eternal in the midst of the temporal world we live within
This was illustrated to me beautifully in the 2 Corinthians passage I studied this morning. Additionally, I wrote on this a few weeks ago (CLICK HERE). Bottom line, I need a daily reminder that this world is NOT it.
We are made for the next world. Only when I live this way am I happy and truly content. I need daily reminders of this, as my heart daily wants to attach to this world. I daily want to “establish a name for myself” or build my own kingdom. Reading the Bible really is my only defense against this mentality.
2 – Truth in the midst of the “murkiness” of life
For the most part, we are not confronted with direct “evil” choices on a daily basis. Affairs happen, people abuse kids, rage can take people over, yet for most of us, this type of explosive sin is not a part of our daily experience.
However, compromise in the areas of “personal sin” and overall directionless living is a constant temptation. Whether it is in the areas of greed or lust OR in simply turning a blind eye to a co-worker during a time of need, I am daily tempted to live life in ways which are not honoring to God. In not honoring God, I am essentially selling short my own joy and hope in life.
I need the Bible to daily pull me out of the “murkiness” of life in living for my own selfish desires and nudge me towards the light of the Gospel of Christ. Only in the clarity of the Bible do I find ultimate meaning and joy in the daily “grind of life”.
3 – Emotional “groundedness”
As I described in the opening paragraph, I can be very emotionally up and down. Again, not an area I am proud of and something which I continue to seek to grow in as an individual. However, it is part of my make-up.
As a result, I NEED to have the words of eternal truth wash over my emotionally turbulent heart and scattered mind daily. I am a passionate person. Consistent and rich study of the Bible is essential in keeping these passions going in a positive direction.
Just yesterday, I was given the privilege of visiting a local orphanage with my friend Herbie Newell. Herbie is the Director of Lifeline Child Services in America. They are among the largest adoption agencies in the world. They do incredible work.
We were visiting a new orphanage with which they are working. Yesterday we were simply meeting with the orphanage leadership and doing initial survey work with some of the children which might be eligible for adoption. As I sat in the room seeing one child after another with no family marched in front of us, my heart broke. Knowing the fate of those without parents in this country made my heart break all the more.
How do I process this? How do I not let this torpedo me emotionally? Bottom line, only in the Bible can I find hope in a situation like this.
Only in the Bible do I find a Savior whom loves these children infinitely more than I can ever imagine. Only in the Bible do I find a Heavenly Father whom knows the very number of hairs on their heads and the days of their lives.
Only in the Bible do I find a Gospel which provides hope for all of us, whether we are a boy born in upper-middle class Atlanta, Georgia to loving parents or a girl abandoned in the bathroom of a hospital in rural Asia.
The God of the Bible knows and cares.
I need to be reminded of this daily. I have found the best way to do so is to simply read and meditate upon the eternal Word of God . . . daily.
(For PART 2 of this article, please CLICK HERE.)
Yes yes yes! Thanks for this.
A few weeks ago, I watched a sermon by John Piper on memorizing Scripture. The first 16 minutes or so, all he does is quote Scripture…it’s pure awesomeness. 🙂
Here is the manuscript: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/if-my-words-abide-in-you–2
John Piper shares “The words of Jesus don’t “abide” without effect. When they take root, they produce faith and holiness. “Sanctify them in the truth,” Jesus says; “your word is truth” (John 17:17). So when his words abide in us, sanctification happens. We are transformed. Holiness, Christlikeness, happens.
So, in sum, the abiding of Jesus’ words in us means that the words of Jesus take root and bear the fruit of faith and holiness.”
Tremendous quote! Thanks for sharing the Piper stuff. He’s been very influential in my life, so always good to hear of resources of his I am yet to come across. Thanks, Jami!
THANK YOU I needed this in the midst of disappointments.
All will be wonderful Uptown in the New Jerusalem.
HUGS !!!
Thanks Mrs. Clarke. . . I was glad to hear of your being a tremendous blessing to Craig and Tracey with your visit!
Sorry for your recent disappointments. Praying for you today.
Yeah, it is really essential to read the Bible daily. It is our sword against the enemy’s attack (Ephesians 6:17). God’s Words are life and health (Prov 4:20-22). The Bible is also God-breathed that is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training us in righteousness for our thorough equipping in pursuing God‘s purpose in our lives (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
I am also presently experiencing health problems, emotional attacks and work adjustments. But just now I remember how God brought me into His Words to assure me of His love in Romans 8:38-39 which is far more important than what I’m going through right now.
There are countless reasons actually. That‘s why this should be our priority daily, to read the Bible and pray.
I’ll be praying with you…
Thanks Jhanice. . . I’ll do the same for you today. Have a great day!
I love your blog!
Thanks Susan, I hope you guys are well!
Such a good post! We, God’s people, need to continue to encourage each other in this area as the messages and lies and self talk (usually based on the lies) of our day come fast and furious against us. The Bible equips us with armor and weapons to battle those forces. So often I find strength and peace in these words…praying that you will feel the same. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Phil.4:8 The word of God is the only place we truly find such things. Thanks for the exhortation, John! Grace and peace…
Btw…watch/listen to/read the transcript of the Piper message suggested by Jami…today if you can. It will be food for your soul!
Great stuff. . . I used to have Phil. 4:8 on the wall in my first apartment in Asia in characters. Good thoughts.
Hopefully I will get to the Piper message soon. I’m moving apartments this week, so things are a little pressed.
Thanks!
Coincidentally, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 is my current memory verse.
Another good one that I hang onto daily is Romans 8:28 (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”).
Jerry, I honestly think about Romans 8 about as much as any passage in the Bible. Thanks for sharing it here!
This was so timely AND needed for me!! Thank you John for sharing this and I look forward to the next part of this message.
Thanks Ann!
This post is so comforting, thank you for taking time to share your heart and mind with everybody who reads, this is a blessing because, as you can see, we all relate to being “tired, haggard, emotionally depleted, and a bit discouraged”… 🙁
Whenever I am under this dark “cloud”, reading the Bible, or thinking of God, knowing He is and will always be in control scatters any clouds and brings back contentment and serenity. And happiness.
I have another cloud-blowing “secret”: singing, praising God this way at home, during the week, not just on Saturdays at church. Music is great to bring joyfulness back.
My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 41:10 (it has seen me through big school exams, bad times and turbulent flights…;), I used to be very scared of flying :))
Just as you say, the God of the Bible knows and cares.
Great to know of your comfort from Isaiah 41:10. . . it was actually the first verse I ever memorized by in college.
Hope you are having a great week!
John: was in another new orphanage today here in the north. They took me in the rooms where the severely special needs children were. All I could do is quietly sing “How deep the Father’s love for Us.” Thankful for the truth contained in His word because it is the only linchpin on which we can hang our lives. It was a blessing to spend time with you my brother.
Herbie, I am so grateful for you and your heart. Man, I wish you lived here, as I miss you guys already.
Great getting the past few days with you!
I would certainly like to hear more about #6 – when will you be expounding on it? Thanks for sharing your heart!!
Thanks Joanna…it’s still in my head. I hope to write on it in a few weeks. Definitely check back, as I would love your thoughts on it!