“HALF-HEARTED READING”

5 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”

Proverbs 30:5

The Bible calls us “salt and light of the world,” “ambassadors of Christ,” and “the body of Christ.” These terms aren’t just nice titles to make us feel good; they are also effective. When we consider the seriousness of our calling as God’s people, we have significant roles to play in bringing heaven to earth.

Therefore, as a skeptical world watches, we should be mindful of our words, actions, and choices. Our mandate is not only to preach the Gospel but to live as Christ lived. In a world of darkness, confusion, and hatred, God wants us to demonstrate to the world that He is real, that Jesus is alive, and that He desires to save everyone.

I wish we always did what is good and pleasing in God's sight. But the fact of the matter is, we don’t. Sometimes we do well, but sometimes we fail. Therefore, we must evaluate ourselves and identify areas for improvement to become more effective representatives of Christ to the unbelieving world.

With that in mind, I intend to discuss five things we Christians should stop doing.

Cherry-picking Bible Verses

A true born-again believer is convinced that the Bible is God’s authoritative word and every part of it is essential. But we sometimes find ourselves picking verses we like while ignoring the rest.

If we believe only in the parts of the Bible that we like, I don’t think we’re doing such a good job living as God’s children. We should revisit the importance of the entire Bible and understand it in the way that God intended.

The Bible is the living, Holy Spirit-inspired word of God. Scripture says that for a reason. It’s not just the work of the human writers but the words that come from the very mouth of God.

The Bible presents God as true and perfect; so is His word. Today’s verse shows that God’s word is pure (the Hebrew word used refers to the process of purifying metal), that is, God’s word is worthy of our trust. There is nothing dubious or fraudulent in it. 

The Bible has been tried and found to be true and reliable. When we fail to read the Bible in its proper historical and grammatical context, we can easily misinterpret its message. As such, we miss out on the life-changing blessings that Scripture offers.

So, I would like to encourage us to start reading the Bible like careful, curious, and diligent students. Let’s find out what it means, so we’ll understand what it can mean to us. If we read it with eagerness and humility, we will discover that God’s word is a true, powerful, and reliable spiritual resource that will transform our lives.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash