Read It Every Day

Forty-four men wrote over a period of sixteen centuries sixty-six books that display coherent unity and progressive revelation from Genesis to Revelation.[1] The Bible reveals God’s redemption plan for humanity. It offers the best leadership, marriage, child-raising, family-relations, financial, conduct, attitude, character, teamwork, physical, spiritual, emotional and wisdom-producing advice and instruction on the planet. Yet, I believe we would be shocked, if we knew how many Jesus-followers have never read through this supreme gift from God. 

We wonder why our society is crumbling. God’s people are not immersed in His Word. We fear the demise of what we hold as sacred yet who is sacredly holding Scripture? We cite Biblical-sounding slogans like, “God helps those who help themselves,” and hurt ourselves by not knowing who God helps or why, because we have not fed from His truth. 
 
Meditation
Deuteronomy 17:18,19—When he is seated on his royal throne, he is to write a copy of this instruction for himself on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. It is to remain with him, and he is to read from it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to observe all the words of this instruction, and to do these statutes.
 
If there is any doubt that God wants us to understand and apply His Word to our lives look at the requirement Moses commanded for his nation’s kings to keep. By requiring the king to write a copy of the Torah for himself in the presence of the priests several things would happen. First, the king would have a great understanding and working memory of what God expected. Second, if there was any confusion, he had the priests beside him to ask for clarification. Third, he would send a message to the religious leaders and his countrymen that he was serious about obeying Yahweh. 

By further requiring the king to read from Scripture every day of his life more good things would occur. He would refine and maintain godly reverence. He would consistently be reminded of what he needed to be and do. He would know how to lead the people in a God-honoring manner. I cannot prove this but I am going to make an observation. I don’t believe one single Jewish king did what Moses asked. King Saul certainly did not. King David committed adultery and murder.  He failed to discipline rebellious sons.  This indicates that he had stopped studying Scripture. King Solomon would not have accumulated so many horses, chariots and wives and worshiped idols as an old man if he revered God’s Word.  

Yes, there were good kings. But good kings are not the same as completely faithful kings. And most were terrible. The same holds true for us—good people are not the same as completely faithful people. We have only ourselves to blame if we are ignorant of God’s will and plunge into sin because we do not know the contents of Scripture. It is not too hard to read 66 books—it simply takes discipline! It is unacceptable to solely entrust with religious leaders the task of studying the Bible. It is our responsibilityto eat and drinkfrom this rich treasure of wisdom. Inspired words beget inspired lives! Inspired lives transform nations! 

The Bible makes us complete for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17). It prepares us for greatness. It bathes us in grace and stimulates fruitfulness. It provides answers for questions we have not yet asked and questions for answers we have not yet received. If we will make it our commitment it will renovate our hearts to hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit who will guide us through the calamitous clatter of a sin-saturated world. Something to think about . . . in reveration! 
             
Inspiration
The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection.—Mathew Henry 

©2016 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)

[1]Grant R. Jeffrey, The Signature of God, (Waterbrook Press:  Colorado Springs 2010)