Have you ever felt like the discipline of Bible reading was beyond your grasp? Have you started and stopped more times than you can count? Do you feel like you’ve failed as a follower of Christ because of your Bible-reading record?
I know how you feel!
That’s part of the message of my book, Together: Growing Appetites for God. For years I tried—and failed—to read the Bible. Then God prompted me to cry out to Him, and in the process, gave me a hunger to know Him through His Word.
That doesn’t mean it was suddenly easy. I still had all the baggage that prevented me from reading the Bible in the past:
- I wasn’t a morning person.
- I wasn't a fast reader.
- I tended toward the undisciplined side of life.
- And . . . I was busy!
At that point I was mothering three small children. How could I possibly have time to become a student of the Word?
Then God gave me an idea: Read the Bible with your kids.
Now, almost eleven years later, we’ve just completed our third reading of Scripture.
What has made the difference?
- This time my urge to read the Bible was motivated by a desire to get to know God rather than by guilt.
- Also, this time I had company.
God has used (and continues to use) my children to teach me about Him in ways I would never have imagined. Their enthusiasm makes me excited about Scripture. The questions they ask challenge my thinking. The belief they express grows my faith. God is working on my heart through the lives of my kids.
I’ve learned many things from this experience:
- God loves me. He does not give up on His children.
- God speaks through His Word (to adults and children). His Word is living and active.
- My kids, at a very young age, can understand far more of the Bible than I would have thought.
- And it’s important to teach our children all of God’s Word.
My kids need to encounter Jesus firsthand. They need to hear the great redemptive story of Scripture. As a mom, I have a unique opportunity to make this happen . . . and so do you.
Empowered by the Holy Spirit, you and I can be tools God uses to get His Word into our kids, just like Eunice and Lois did for Timothy:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.” (2 Tim. 1:5)
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 3:14–15)
I’m encouraged as a mom to read that Timothy was evidently following God and leading His people as a young man:
“Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:11–12)
Imagine, with me, a generation of children acquainted with Scripture since childhood (Deut. 6:7; Ps. 78:4). Envision our kids learning what it means to rightly fear the Lord (Deut. 31:12-13; Prov. 1:7). Imagine them encountering the Word that is able to bring them to faith (John 1:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:15; Rom. 10:17).
Join me, please, in reaching the next generation with the living and active Word of God (Heb. 4:12).
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