Last week we started a new series we are calling “Sword Sharpening” and we are looking at how to make the most out of your time with the Bible. This week we will look at how the Bible is pointing to Jesus.
Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Here is a fascinating statistic from a survey I read recently:
64% of churchgoers rarely or never read the Bible.
The data tells us this number has been increasing with every generation. As compared to 51% of Seniors (age 69+), a massive 73% of Millenials (age 18-30) tell us they rarely or never read the Bible.
For us to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus, we need to grow deeper in his Word.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
You need to understand that reading the Bible is not some boring, obligatory task. It is a life giving, exciting adventure.
John Chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is and was the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us.
John 1:14 (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
This means that every time you open the Bible you are in some fashion coming to Jesus. With that in mind, consider this verse:
John 5:39-40 (NIV)
39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
I think the reason so many people aren’t passionate about reading and studying the Bible is because they’re coming for something other than Jesus. Our motivation needs to be love for God, wanting to know Him more. When you come with a heart of wanting to know and experience God, you won’t just be reading words, you actually experience the Word (Jesus). When you begin to experience Him in this way you will have a desire to keep coming back for more.
I want you to encourage you to read the Bible looking for Jesus. This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church we will be looking at two really cool stories from the Old Testament that reveal more about the Lord, so make sure to join us in-person or online.
I also want to try and have a practical suggestion each week. Last week it was about ‘illuminated reading’. This week I want to encourage us to apply what the Word says to our lives.
James 1:22-25 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.
It’s not about what you know. It’s about what you apply. Spiritual maturity is not about how much Bible you know, but how much Bible you apply. That is food for thought.
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
