The Lost Art of Reading...the Bible?

Reading? I know, I know. You think because I'm a “dinosaur-age” youth guy that it's normal to harp on reading. You're thinking...”Heck, you probably didn't have TV when you were growing up.” We did too! It was black and white.

“Probably only had 3 channels though.” Nope, it had 4 on good days. Even though one was that fro-man painting, but still. We were taught how important reading was and how fun it could be too. Now college has a way of nearly killing that love of reading but I pressed on through most of it (with the help of Cliffs Notes).

You're probably thinking, “Why is he bugging me about reading?” I believe the lack of reading is another way we're falling out of love with God. My spiritual temperature can be tied to whether or not I'm reading his word or not. If I'm consistent in spending time with him, then my focus is on the right things. If not, I'm drifting away. Think about it. We can't get the whole Bible in movie form or a video game. (Bits and pieces of it, sure.) We get into the Bible by READING it.

Now I know that reading ONE book in a year might be an accomplishment to some but to most of you (who are reading this now) that would be nothing. Why do we think it's a big accomplishment to read the Bible through in one year? If it took me a year to read through any other book, I would ditch it and look for something else.

Last year a friend challenged me to read the Bible through like a story, in 90 days. I thought, “90 days? Wow, that's fast!” Ninety days in any other book would be snail's pace. Why should I think that reading the Bible through in 90 days is fast?

Well, I did it and it wasn't that difficult—and it was awesome! The different stories connected in ways I never knew from spreading it out over a year (or two or three). My relationship with God became fresh again and I learned a ton!

My challenge to you is to actually read the love story of you and God like it really meant something to you. Just maybe God will use it to change your life. I heard he's done that a time or two...

Happy Reading!