Read God’s Word Often

Only 16% of church-goers read the Bible every day.

Only 32% read the Bible at least once a week.

Only 37% say that reading and studying the Bible

has made a significant difference in the way they live their lives*.

 

Why read the Bible? How about…

to learn about God’s special revelation of truth He wants us to know

to learn about God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Spirit

to learn about creation and humanity

to learn about our purpose, why we exist

to learn about our sin separation from our Holy Creator God

to learn about God’s plan of redemption to solve our sin problem

to help you communicate the great news of Jesus Christ to others

to draw closer to God

to help you worship God

to help you live according to God’s will

to help you memorize portions of the Bible which will minister to you and others later

to remember & reinforce what you have already learned

for encouragement

for exhortation, to challenge yourself

to learn about God’s Heaven

to learn about God’s future plans for this earth

to learn about the spiritual enemies of God and how to have victory over them

to help renew your mind with what is God-honoring and praise-worthy

to help your thoughts be captive to obeying Christ

because Jesus said, “if you continue in my Word you are truly My disciples” (John 8:31)

to know the truth and the truth will set you free

to help you become who God created you to be

to help prepare you for God’s plans for your life

to help equip you for Christian ministry

to help you be a God-honoring steward with your life and the resources God has allowed you to manage

to help you develop a deeper hunger for God

to nourish your soul

to feed on the very words of God

to give you hope

to show you what is right and what is wrong

to receive spiritual conviction

to help you develop God-honoring wisdom and discernment

because the Word of God is life-transforming

because the Word of God is living and active

to help us identify false teaching

to reap blessings of joy

 

and on and on are the many good reasons to read the Word of God. And don’t just read it often and regularly; study it and apply it to your life regularly as well.

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ESV

This time of year is as good as any time of the year to make a commitment to spend time in God’s Word on a regular basis, like 5-7 days a week or even more. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you don’t have time to read God’s Word or you can’t understand it or it is not relevant. If you don’t read well, then listen to the Bible on audio. If you have questions, then ask God in prayer and ask someone familiar with God’s Word and do some research. It can be done and it should be done. Read God’s Word!

 

The Word of God; Learn It, Live It, Pray It, Proclaim It!

If you are looking for different Bible reading plans and schedules to follow then I recommend www.youversion.com (which I personally use and have their APP downloaded to my phone) which offers free online Bible access with several translations and they have a lot of reading plans.

 

What other God-honoring reasons are there to read God’s Word; other than what I have listed above?

 

Mike

 

*These statistics came from readthebibleforlife.com; Dec. 2011

 

Ten Key Events Related to the Birth of Christ

 

1) The Angel Gabriel tells Zacharias that his barren wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to the Forerunner to Christ; Luke 1:5-22

Zacharias was a Jewish priest and he and wife were both righteous before God. She was barren and quite old so this will be a miracle conception and birth. The baby’s name will be John. Zacharias doubted the Angel’s words and was made mute because of his doubt until the baby’s birth. This child will later point people to the coming of Christ and the need for Christ.

 

2) The coming Virgin Birth of Christ is announced, to Mary first and later to Joseph, by the Angel Gabriel; Luke 1:26-38, Matt. 1:18-25

Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth legally pledged to marry each other. The Angel told Mary, “O favored one. The Lord is with you.” The Holy Spirit will cause this pregnancy. Jesus will be the baby’s name. When Joseph, a just man, learned of her pregnancy he wanted out of their ‘betrothed’ relationship but Gabriel appeared and spoke to him confirming what’s happening to and through Mary. Jesus will save people from their sins! Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not know her intimately until the birth of Jesus.

 

3) Pregnant Mary visits pregnant Elizabeth who is filled with the Holy Spirit; Luke 1:39-56

Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy in her womb when Mary greeted her. Mary’s “Magnificat”, vss.1:46-55 (“it magnifies” is her prayer song of praise to God referring to several covenant promises of God to His people from the Old Testament)

 

4) Elizabeth gives birth to baby John; Luke 1:57-80

Zacharias could now speak again. John later becomes known as John the Baptist. Zacharias’ “Benedictus” (this is a benediction type of prayer/blessing referring to truths from the Old Testament). And John grew and became strong in spirit and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

 

5) Baby Jesus is born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger; Luke 2:1-7

A Roman Census directed Joseph to their tribal home, Bethlehem (City of David). Mary laid baby Jesus in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. The manger was possibly in a stable or cave setting for farm animals. Old Testament verses connected with the Messiah’s birth: Gen. 3:15, Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Mic. 5:2.

 

6) An Angel directs some shepherds to the baby Savior (the Lamb of God); Luke 2:8-20

Some nearby shepherds see & hear an angel tell them about good news of great joy:

Vs11 ESV For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. A sign was given them for how to find baby Jesus then they see and hear a multitude of angels praising God. After the shepherds visited the baby they too glorify and praise God.

 

7) Baby Jesus is dedicated to the Lord in Jerusalem; Luke 2:21-39

A. Simeon, a righteous man with the Holy Spirit upon him, held baby Jesus and blessed God and blessed Joseph and Mary about Jesus.

B. Anna, a teacher/prophetess who worshipped at the temple and fasted and prayed daily, gives thanks to God about Jesus

8) Wise men (Magi) search for King Jesus to worship Him; Matt. 2:1-12
 

Some wise men from the east follow an unusual star they believe points to the Messiah King. The word ‘Magi’ comes from the Greek word here translated wise men. They are magician or astrologer types who were also familiar with Hebrew Scripture. When they find the king, baby Jesus, they worship Him and give Him three gifts. The quantity of wise men is not stated but because of three stated gifts, some believe there were three wise men.

9) An Angel warns Joseph to take his family to Egypt, away from King Herod’s danger; Matt. 2:13-18

Herod had his soldiers look for and kill all the male children in the region under two years of age because he was seeking to get rid of this baby king of Israel he felt threatened by. But Joseph was warned by an angel to relocate his family.

 

10) An Angel tells Joseph to leave Egypt and they eventually settle in Nazareth; Matt. 2:19-23

After Herod’s death, an Angel tells Joseph it’s okay to return to Israel and he was later directed more specifically to north of Jerusalem in the region of Galilee where Jesus grew up in a town called Nazareth.

 

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40

 

Key Characters involved:

- God, the Father (i.e. praised and blessed by people and angels; favored Mary)

- God, the Holy Spirit (very active in these events related to Christ’s birth)

- God, the Son, Jesus (God became flesh in the form of a baby, born of a human mother; He is the Son of God, Messiah/Christ/Savior, Holy One, Immanuel: “God is with us”)

- Angels: Gabriel; the angel of the Lord; and a multitude of the heavenly host (very involved in these events)

- Mary (mother to Jesus)

- Joseph (engaged to Mary when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit; married her soon after)

- Zacharias (Jewish Priest; husband to Elizabeth; father to John the Baptist)

- Elizabeth (wife to Zacharias, mother to John the Baptist; relative/cousin to Mary)

- John the Baptist (son to Zacharias/Elizabeth; anointed forerunner to Christ)

- Wise Men/Magi (searched for baby Jesus to worship Him and give Him gifts)

- Shepherds (whom angels told about baby Jesus so they went to see Him)

- Simeon (righteous man at temple)

- Anna (temple prophetess)

- King Herod (unrighteous Jewish king who sought to kill baby Jesus)

- Caesar Augustus (Roman Emperor who ordered a census of everyone in the region)

- Archelaus (Herod’s son; Joseph was afraid to return to Judea with this man in charge)

 

Note: Most of the Bible details of the events related to the birth of Christ are found in the first two chapters of the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke. The Gospels of Mark and John do not record details of the events surrounding the birth of Christ.

Read the above Bible passages and you will have read the true Christmas story; that God came in the flesh to save His people from their sins. His name is Jesus Christ!

What are your thoughts about these ten key events related to the birth of Christ? What do they mean to you? Who is Jesus Christ to you?

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Mike