Why Every Christian Should Read the Bible Daily

by | Jun 9, 2018 | Christian Living, Trusting God

When I first started blogging one of the hardest things to deal with was acknowledging that people I considered good friends would never stop to read my words.

Pouring my heart out and pressing “publish” felt so vulnerable–like I had allowed the whole world to see right into me. If someone I considered to be part of my inner circle didn’t take that opportunity to know me better, it felt like rejection.

But then there’s my husband. He has to read my posts. He can’t say he loves me and have no interest in what I write. That’s just inconsistent…

Then, I think about all those years that I said I knew God, that I understood the Gospel, that I followed Jesus.

But, I rarely read his posts.

Hmmm . . .

Reading God’s Blog

So many of us desire to change our lives. We want to be transformed. Lose weight. Stop over-spending. Stop yelling at our kids. Quit fighting with our spouse.

But, we don’t want to get to know the one who can actually transform us.

We’ll follow friends on Twitter and Instagram, subscribe to great “encouraging” blogs that we love and check our Facebook news feeds 49 times an hour.

We read a lot. 

But, reading a chapter of scripture. Is that really necessary? 

(Oh, wait. I know . . .you probably don’t have time to read the Bible.)

If you want to be different get to KNOW Him. You can’t do that through meditating on what you think you already know about him. A fresh dose every day is necessary.

You have to read His posts.

I know, you may have a lot of Bible verses memorized. You may have even been raised in the church and have a mental rolodex of thousands of sermons you’ve heard. But, I beg of you! Consider that you still may not know Him.

His word says that people who cast out demons and do great works for him will still hear the words, “Depart from me…I don’t know you!”

We live in an era of cultural Christianity. People who may have been raised in church and think they are “good” or people who feel like they’ve made a commitment one time and don’t have to do anything more.  I fear for those who believe this is Biblical. I think these are also the ones God is talking about in the verse above.

Practically, how would the we’re-still-close-I-just-don’t-have-time-philosophy we take with God work out in a marriage?

I made a public commitment when I married my husband almost nine years ago. I walked forward and said I do (just like a lot of people do to get saved…). If today I stopped communicating with him…stopped talking to him and stopped listening to him. . .

What would that do to our relationship?

I mean – surely that first several years we spent together built a good enough foundation that we can kind of “do our own things” now and be just fine. Right?

I’m not going to forget basic facts about him…how he prefers his eggs to be cooked…and what he takes in his coffee, will I? I know a whole lot about him…I won’t forget it.

Isn’t that enough?

No. Because once we stop communicating, we will no longer be in relationship.

And, let me elaborate just a little further. This has to be a two way street. If our only communication is me sending him a text once a day when I need help or am in trouble…and I’m not allowing him to communicate back with me, we still aren’t in relationship.  (In other words -those one sentence prayers you shoot up all day long (although God doesn’t mind them) aren’t enough to sustain your relationship.)

Here are 3 things to do if you want to know him:

1.  Read God’s Posts First:

Before you read your email, check social media, or even the newspaper headline, open your Bible app (or, hey- your Bible) and read his word.  Don’t read the same verse or book everyday — use a system and get through the whole thing.  Otherwise you’ll miss out on a lot that he hast to say to you.  If you only read the Psalms, you are going to miss the usefulness of books like James where we learn to watch what we say or the Gospels where we see how Jesus actually lived.  If that sounds too daunting – use one that captures the main themes of the Bible. 

2.  Reference God’s Posts First:

How often do we struggle and turn to a friend for advice instead of God’s word? Let me assure you that if your friend isn’t grounded in the Bible (i.e. reading God’s posts…regularly) . . .She’s going to give you bad advice. Pray and seek wisdom from the scriptures first. Then, turn to a friend who is doing the same and see if her advice matches.

If you get conflicting answers–honestly assess whose doing the diligent work of seeking God regularly. Who’s in fellowship with other believers regularly? Who is doing what God’s word says to do. If she’s not…(if her answer to, “When’s the last time you read the Bible?” is…”Ummm…well, I’ve been so busy…” and “We just can’t find a church we like…”) then find a new confidant. (If you’re not, then return to number one above.)

3.  Refer TO God’s Posts First:  

What about when you are on the other side of the friendship coin — and asked for advice on an issue… Who do you refer her to? Do you send an Oprah quote set in a pretty font that you saw on Pinterest?  Do you google “inspiring sayings” and read to her the one that best applies?  Or, do you send her to God’s Word?  Do you know the Bible well enough to do that — or does that sound too intimidating? If it does, don’t despair. Just go back to point one and get on it.

I believe you will be amazed at how God’s word does exactly what it says it does. It transforms, comforts and guides.

Your answers are not in US Weekly or your inbox.

Make your top priority to know him.  Then, he can say he knows you too.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matt. 7:21-23 (ESV)

**Photos courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

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blog every christian should read

8 Comments

  1. Trisha Mugo

    I love this analogy. He has spoken. He has revealed himself to us! May God make all of us ravenous for his Word. Let us feast on the Spirit-inspired words. May we glut ourselves. As we see Him there on the page, He remakes us. God bless you and your work.

    Reply
    • Heather Creekmore

      Was away for a few days so sorry I missed this comment! Thanks, Trisha! Hope your writing is going well too! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Pamela J Merten

    I’m extremely thankful that our Lord does not judge us as we judge ourselves and/or others! He doesn’t end it as we might if, for example, someone doesn’t engage with us in the way we desire. I can’t imagine Jesus asking me, “Did you read the Bible – enough today?” “I noticed you called your friend before you ran your problem by me. What with that?” He is secure, confident in who he is; when we go there, we usually are not in a good place with OURSELVES.

    The God I perceive (based on his revealing himself to me via Scripture, nature, within relationships, etc.) pursues US- especially- when we do not pursue HIM! If he did not none of us would perceive him as who he truly is: “grace”, “freedom” and, especially, LOVE. We’d remain stuck in legalism: We’d perceive our Lord exactly the way evil wants us to perceive him – a god who demands us to earn our relationship with him.

    I’ve known Jesus my entire life – before I attended church in a formal church setting. With that said, Jesus continues to reveal himself to me. With each revelation I receive I say what Job had said: “I have heard of You; but now my eye sees You.” He’s amazing. I love him.

    Reply
    • Heather

      Hi Pamela – Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with you – God does pursue us…My heart though is for more women to understand that he wants us to know him too. Not that he’s insecure in his relationship with us, rather that we are often insecure in all of our other relationships because we simply don’t “have time” to pursue God. I couldn’t agree with you more, I’m glad God isn’t a mean Father who is waiting to chide and correct us everytime we get it wrong. I’m so thankful for his grace. My heart just hurts for women who continue to flounder and stumble on same issues without seeking the counsel of God’s word and grounded friends.

      Reply
      • Pamela J Merten

        Got it. I realize when we write, we need to ask for clarification because what’s in black/white can hide our intentions – assumptions can be made. That happens to me ALL the time when I write and many do not ask me to clarify. (I’m a life coach/licensed counselor. My passion is for the spiritually abused within Christianity. I, too, am a pastor’s wife. I am going to attempt to share my passion in my new blog: “Musings of a Spiritually Free Pastor’s Wife”: http://whybeaslave.blogspot.com/p/my-posts.html. Putting myself out there can be quite scary! But the encouragement I’ve gotten over many years to go there because “What you share helps me to see God in a different light,” moves me to continue.

        This statement really bothered me, “Then, he can say he knows you too.” You used a Scripture to back that up which I believe needs much more delving into – more cross referencing with other Scripture & enlightenment from the Spirit – to draw that conclusion.

        I follow you because you have a passion for Jesus and the Scriptures and for people. As do I.

        (Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.)

        Reply
  3. Tarah Estes Stock

    How does this strike me? With great force right between the eyes. 🙂
    So creatively and powerfully put, Heather. It’s a message that God has been sending me through multiple channels repeatedly during the past few months. Thank you for taking the time to write this and helping to seal the deal on my end.
    God bless you and your family in 2014!!!

    Reply
  4. missionmightymom

    Thank You, Thank You, Thank YOU for this!! What a beautiful reminder to us all. Happy New Year!

    Reply

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