 | "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... By which also ye are saved... unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) |
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The Importance of Reading
By Henry Morris
"Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." (1 Timothy 4:13)
In this video age, Christians are in grave danger of forgetting the importance of reading. The word translated “reading” in this verse is the Greek anagnosis, a compound word meaning essentially “renewed knowledge.” A sermon or lecture is knowledge heard; an educational film or video is knowledge seen; but reading is knowledge that can be read, rehearsed, reviewed, and renewed again and again, until fully and securely learned. In fact, it is necessary for students to take notes, even when hearing a sermon or seeing a film, if they expect to retain any knowledge received by such means.
The importance of reading is also pointed out by the verb used in the verse. “Give attendance” means, literally, “continue steadfastly.” It is so translated in Acts 2:42: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine.”
Reading and studying the Scriptures are especially necessary for a fruitful Christian ministry, but even this is not really enough. The Bible also commands us always to be ready to give an “answer” (Greek apologia, a systematic defense) to everyone who asks a “reason” (Greek logos, a logical explanation) for our Christian hope (1 Peter 3:15). To do this requires steadfast continuance in the study, not only of the Bible, but also of other sound literature as well. A truly effective and influential Christian is an informed Christian, armed with facts and sound counsel, prepared and capable both in his own professional field of practice and in his spiritual service as a Christian witness.
It is significant that Paul, just before his martyrdom and while imprisoned in a damp, cold, Roman dungeon, still desired his books to read (2 Timothy 4:13). The conscientious Christian must never cease to study and to grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). HMM
From the Daily Devotional Guide, Days of Praise, a ministry of The Institute
of Creation Reasearch.
For information, write: ICR, Box 2667, El Cajon, California 92021;
or call: (619) 448-0900.
So important. Many Christians today, for some reason, think that reading their bible is not important because "God knows their heart." Well yes he does and Jeremiah tells us that God says " The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" But God knows everything about us. He doesn't need a book to know us. But WE need a book to know him and to hear the things he has to say to us... to show us his nature, to guide us in right living, to test the spirits of teaching and especially in these days, to study the prophecies that have been left for us and how to overcome them. The word is the the Sword of the Spirit, the only offensive part of the armor of God. When Jesus was tempted in the desert he answered satan with the word. We must do the same, but how do we do that unless we know the word of God? It is also filled with so many encouraging and loving promises to us from our Abba Father. I hope to never be separated from the Word of God until I am in the eternal presence of the Word that was in the beginning and is God himself! Hallelujah!
