Reading all kinds of literature has long been a part of my life. I love to read all kinds of literature whether it be inspirational or informational materials. As a Pastor and preacher for the last fifty-two years of my life, I have found it necessary to be informed and inspired since I was responsible for three different sermons a week. Sunday morning and evening as well as Wednesday evening prayer service were all times that I opened the Bible in an effort to inspire and inform our people about what it said about living life the way that would please God.
All kinds of information are needed for a sermon to be valuable, interesting and inspirational. One can read Readers’ Digest and be entertained and informed. There are very good short articles in that publication as well as some good, clean humor. I always wanted to see what was contained in the little article, “Humor in Uniform.” Then there is “Laughter, The Best Medicine” and that is always good for a chuckle. Then there are other magazines and articles. I like to read bout the Old West and the personalities that inhabited that era of our history. The articles about certain people are, for me, a case study of certain personalities. I like National Geographic for many reasons not the least is the photography and the articles about the earth and its peoples. I like to read all kinds of articles and sources. Much of what I read was used in sermons to make a point and to make them more interesting.
But, there is one source that I read over and over and it never gets old and that is the Bible. It is stated in 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 that “ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof , for correction, for instruction in righteousness, That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” In other words, every man who is called of God to preach the word, will find all that he needs to succeed in his work for God.
One can read a book on math which will inform them but dos not have the inspiration that will lead a person to Christ. A work on medicine is good but it has no inspiration from God unto salvation. History books are most interesting to me but when I am led to preach to the people God has placed under me, I always find that I have to go to the Bible. Other things may be included in a sermon or written work, but to lead people to Christ one must have the Bible.
Everyone wants to go t heaven when they die and leave this old planet earth. They want to be found acceptable to God when that time comes. One can find out how to do that from God’s Word, the Bible. No other work is inspired by His Spirit to get the job done but the Bible.
Let me make this suggestion: Have a time and place for the reading of God’s Word. Set it aside and don’t let anything deter you from spending some time listening to what the Lord says about living a life pleasing to God. Read it slow. Chew on the words for a few minutes. Give yourself some time to digest what is being said to you because a verse of scripture may mean something to you and something else to another person. The meaning will not have changes but the application into another life may be discovered. Discipline yourself to go to your place at a certain time every day if possible, and consume some of the meat of the Word of God.
Someone might say: “well, I don’t know where to start.” Start anywhere but I would suggest that the New Testament book of John is an excellent place to begin. Read it several times and be sure not to “skim” over it. Give yourself some time to feast on it. Go slower and “listen” to what the Holy Spirit has led John to write. Then realize something….realize that God had a reason for you to read that scripture. He wanted you to read it so that His Word can do some certain thing in you so that you will be acceptable to Him when you leave planet earth. Listen to the Bible and employ it in your life.
Another good place to start is in Psalm 1. My good friend, Dr. Warren Burnham, in his book, “How to be Wise and Successful”, (Amazon) says that the first Psalm and the Book of Proverbs in particular will help a person live right before God.
I have just finished reading Psalms again and every time I read that book, I find something new that the Lord wants me to see. The same is true for Proverbs and anywhere I read in God’s Word. There is something there for you and your unique situation in life. If a person would live according to the “good” man in Psalms 1, he would live a life pleasing to God and he would be assured of spending eternity with Him because they would also be the kind of person who would believe Him about Jesus and become saved. Another very good Psalm to read is Psalm 119. The whole Psalm is about God’s Word and its value to us. It is very inspirational and you will enjoy it the more you read it. The magnificence of the Bible is highlighted in Psalm 119. Enjoy it.
This is something that a person who reads the bible should not forget: The Bible was written primarily to lead a person to make a commitment to Jesus Christ by faith. The Old Testament contains Jesus Christ throughout and the New Testament tells us the story of His life, death, resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God. It’s all there for you. Be “Wise and Successful” and read it regularly. It’s inspired by God’s Spirit and it is the only book that is. It will tell you how to live a holy life and it is the only inspired book that will. It will lead you into His presence when He calls you home, and it is the only book that can and will do so. It is Inspired Information just for you.
