A Biblical Worldview Requires Quality Time in the Bible!

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”-Jesus, Matthew 4:4

I hear so many reasons people can’t and won’t read their Bibles. From “too many words I don’t understand” to “I just didn’t have enough time to read that much,” people in the church find ways to justify their Biblical illiteracy. I think that believers ought to spend quality time in the Scriptures. I do not agree with those who claim that you can read “too much and not get enough out of it;” this is a response that comes from a lack of wisdom and maturity. There are some days when I can only read a few sentences without getting distracted, I admit, and when I was younger and far less mature, I couldn’t read much without having to stop and process what I read.

Many of us, however, spend hours scrolling on our phones, watching TV, and even reading books (some of us have completed whole books with hundreds of pages in less than a day!): do you complain about not being able to process that information? Or, when you were in school, apart from the complaints about not wanting to be in school, you disseminated information for multiple subjects! Regardless of outcome, you still did it. Going further back, you learned to speak through listening to others talk to you directly and indirectly as they spoke to one another. You didn’t understand all they said at first, but eventually, you could understand, and even join in the conversation!

In the same way, I’ll admit there are parts of the Bible I still wrestle with. I believe it all, absolutely, but I don’t always understand. There are days when I’m only half-paying attention to what I am reading, certainly. However, I am in the Word every day. Every day, we process information. The majority of it comes from TV, our phones, and worldly sources. Shouldn’t we, then, make every effort to curb that by being in God’s word? Don’t listen to the people who say “You can’t” or “you shouldn’t.” Let God’s word be a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path! I make it the first part of my day, and I hope to, some day, spend even more time in the Word. As I don’t remember every conversation I have with my wife, so, too, I may not always remember everything I read in God’s word. However, I know I will always get something from each conversation, so I will spend as much time in God’s word and in prayer so that I can hear from Him often! No more excuses! It’s time to be a people, not of our word, but of His! And to be people obedient to His word, we must be in it, often.

Psalm 119:105-112

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your righteous rules.

I am severely afflicted;

give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

I incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.

1 Peter 2

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,” 

And

“A stone of stumbling,

and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.