One Goal for 2015: Read the Bible Everyday!

One Goal for 2015: Read the Bible Everyday!                      by Kelly Durant  12-28-14

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

2. How many people do you know when they go to a buffet fill their plate until it’s over flowing only to discover that they were not able to eat but half of it? Go to Golden Coral sometime and look around at all the plates of people with leftover food and you might conclude that the majority of us as human beings always believe we are capable of more than what we actually are! It stems from pride and greed in our sinful nature. We really should never waste food, but many people are not taught the virtue of considering others. I try to not over serve, not overeat, and not waste food just because I can! The lesson: People should never commit to something and then not finish what they accepted.

This concept, of having eyes bigger than your stomach I am applying to the goals you set for yourselves this new year of 2015. Many people propose losing weight this time of year and gyms make a lot of money in January but by February the New Year’s resolution goals are totally forgotten.  I was reviewing the past goals that we had set for ourselves as a Corps in the past and it seems that even though we may have chosen 5 goals in 2014 or 2013, which seemed reasonable, in reality we all know we really only have been getting one done! So this year let’s make only one goal! The goal will be to read all the New Testament of the Bible in one year!

How many of you have read all the New Testament all the way through? It is a contradictory to claim to be a Christian yet never study the divinely inspired Word of God. It is our instruction manual for life. It is our light in the darkness of this world. It contains the soul of God himself so we are guided to understand his love, purpose, and direction for our lives.

3. I recall when I was a kid I had an aunt who had a big Bible on the coffee table. One time I asked her, I see this here all the time do you read it? She replied, “Well, not really, I have it there to bring us good luck!” Sounds crazy, right? That is like buying a new TV because all the neighbors say they are informative and then never turning it on! The Word of God is only as effective as it is put into use! In South America I recall many people saying, never start reading the Bible, it will make you crazy! What bad advice! The Bible can lead oppressed people out of government control, out of sin, out of poverty, but only if collectively everyone lives by it!

How does the Word of God work after you read it? It sticks in your memory and the precise verse needed comes to the front of your brain when you are in the situations life throws at you. For example, how many of you have ever been cut off in a line, or in traffic, or been insulted by an aggressive person? Knowledge of the Word could save your life! Reacting carnally and not spiritually can get you killed! Just last week two guys at a convenience store started arguing and one man full of anger turned around and did a surprise punch in the face to the other. The sad part is the punched man fell down knocked out cold and his skull cracked after he hit the floor and died soon afterward! So this 2^nd degree murder charge means the man who was an aggressive fool will spend the rest of his life in jail and another man’s life was sadly lost over foolish arguing. Had one of them been a practicing Christian, with emotions controlled, this would not have happened!

I can’t tell you how many times the Word of God has come to me in my head reminding me of verses, ones like Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. People are ignorant, arrogant and insulting at times but our mission from God is to respond in His way as taught in the Word, not in our own way. Always as yourself, what would Jesus do? Do you do what Jesus would? To know what he did, you have to know His story frontwards and backwards! There is a time to be silent and a time to speak up and God’s wisdom reveals what to do when you need it. Today, Biblical minded people are a rare breed!

4. There are so many things of wise counsel that people are ignorant of because they do not know God’s word. After learning God’s word you and I, are faced with the dilemma of changing our rough, mistake prone human nature way of doing things to fit God’s ways. It is hard but not impossible to practice Jesus’ words like in Matthew 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Some people argue that we only have 2 cheeks so on the third one you can get them back, but that is not how it works. It is the spirit of the statues that dictate. But before it getting to the point of someone getting hit we should recall, Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

What is the general point so far? That the knowledge of the Word will give you wisdom in dire situations, so that it protects you from adding fuel to the fire of evil, and when God’s Word with peaceful ways are practiced then you live in peace with God and with everyone else! Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The practical part of following the Word of God is of great importance to live a blessed life full of wisdom but there is more to it than that. God’s word internally motivates us encompassing our emotions as well. The deep feelings we all harbor but have a hard time dealing with are the hard questions in life like, who loves me? Who really does love you anyway?

5. You should also ask yourself, who do I love? How have you expressed love lately? A real Christian will take in love and reflect it back to you like a mirror, but a person of darkness will just suck up your love like light disappearing into a black hole. So many people in life get burned out because they miss the mark of loving God and others with all their hearts, minds, and souls, so their love, energy, and time all gets wasted on worthless Godless fools! What frustration and depression people live in because they are ignorant of God’s word concerning relationships!

Many people say they love God and Jesus but they really know little about Him because they have read little of His teachings. Again, many people have never read the Bible even once in their lives, so how can God believe they love Him when they do not care to know much about Him? In this country of freedom where Bibles are everywhere there is no excuse either. I have discovered that when you love God and His Word, God does love you back by sending strange warm emotions to you through the Holy Spirit. When one studies the history of the disciples, their stories and lessons come alive in our lives and we get moved and awakened to be bold and do new things. The Word makes us wiser, more convicted to live right, and this brings us peace and blessings. Love, which we absorb through God’s word, is an emotion and it causes you and me to react and reach out and do something good! People then want to serve!  

Not being deep with God is not God’s fault but rather ours. Not spending time in God’s word is like having a friend that every time you want to talk about something of the heart they shut you up by changing the subject or leaving. How many of you know people like that? They are good for superficial talk but they are worthless for connecting with the things of the heart. Don’t be that way with God! God was the first to give you and me love, it is a recorded fact and written down, and He would like a whole hearted response of love back! So fall in love with God, Jesus, the Word, and go deep into the Christian life of walking in the spirit in holiness! You will start living above the clouds and be victorious! You may have bad days, but God’s word will lift you back up!

6. So, for your practical and emotional well-being, and maturity, each of you in the Corps must have one goal for this new year of 2015, to read the Word of God! And is this goal just my vision only? No it is not! I try to march in step with what the rest of the Christian world is doing so we have unity with our brothers and sisters in the spirit.

The Salvation Army has printed a booklet on guiding us through the New Testament in one year and every regular member here will get one of these. It is a part of the 150 year mark celebration of the SA and the General, and the people organizing the Congress, proposed this challenge to the SA around the world. Let’s do it, the rest of the world is doing it; just one goal for the year is doable! 

After all, to understand the whys of what motivates Christians, Officers, and volunteers worldwide about 3 million strong (1 million Soldiers, 2 volunteers) to keep doing what they do for the good of all and just for the love of God, with little or no pay, you and I must understand what the Word of God teaches. The Word of God changes hard indifferent hearts into beautiful loving compassionate ones!

7. Christmas just passed and what do people do on Christmas? They share time together and give gifts to each other. Think of this, what did you give Jesus for Christmas? I know a few people went out to serve food to the poor, some visited the sick and some of you did serve the Lord recently, but what could you and I give Jesus anyway?

I want to reiterate that this year you and I must take the opportunity to give Jesus our time daily by reading His word. Just think how much better life will be if we all could just study, learn, and apply better what God has recorded for us. It is only a sacrifice of about 10 minutes a day to read through the New Testament. People who want to read through the Old Testament as well need to add another 10 more minutes to that. That is just an extra hour or two a week for God! Everyone should want to do that!

8. A finally, we should want to know the Word of God so we do not sin against God and get ourselves into reaping the consequences of retribution and suffering.  Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Whatever is in our hearts is what is going to govern our actions. People act out what they think about, and if they have a single mind with God’s light, everything they do becomes rewarding and meaningful. But if not, the contrary happens: everything turns into frustration and meaningless-ness.

Matthew 6:21-23 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! The things of earth bring darkness, God’s word is light!

One goal, one promise this year! Who is with me? Will your friends and spouses ask you if you have read to keep you accountable? Who will swear now to do it? If you do promise then recall as in the verses of James today that you must not be proud and loud and then not do it. Just say, “I will read the Word of God everyday”, and then just do it. Let your yes be yes and nothing more. By the end of the year 2015 you will have grown spiritually without a doubt.

9. If questions do arise from you Bible readings, then take note of them to ask us or a knowledgeable leader later. For those of you who are retired and have more time in the day, take time to study even deeper as Nikki Pantoja and several of you do. Get full of the Word to gain wisdom so you can teach it. When you give a Bible class, the Word impacts even more!

This time when you read the Bible, take into account the historical cultural setting. Try to notice details, like how and where the story is told, and notice what is being highlighted. Try to imagine the speaker’s emotions, being Jesus’ or Paul’s, and envision the crowds and their reactions. Do you see how it all can come alive? Jesus words are spirit and life!

But most of all this commitment to God of reading the Bible daily is for you and your own good! Don’t miss a day! Let the Word of God guide you like a light and mold and shape you into a new person! Read the chapters with your spouse or a friend when possible. Psalm 119:130  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. We all are too simple in this world where snakes govern and we all truly need more wisdom, love, light, and inspiration! This year, God’s Word is the priority! By each of you reading, growing, and connecting to God like never before, collectively we will all holistically progress and this year of 2015 will be great one!