In Other Words

"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian."
~ A.W. Tozer ~

Spiritual growth, Sanctification, becoming more like Christ, or whatever you want to call it is a path that we Born-again, Bathed in the Blood, Saved, Followers of the One and Only Son of God are always trying to follow. It is such a hard thing to do, though. I mean the daily process of taking off the old and putting on the new seems like such an illusive process. With all that seems to be involved you would think we would need some kind of instruction manual. I mean how do we get rid of that awful sin and accept the cleansing power of Jesus? How do we seek forgiveness from others we have hurt? How do we honor our husbands and raise godly children? Geez! The list is endless. I need some HELP! Aaaaahhhhh!!!

Oh, wait! There is an instruction manual! Whoo! I thought I was about to lose my mind...or at least what's left of it. ;-) We have the BIBLE!!!!

It is amazing to me how so many people, me included mind you, that always seek out "spiritual perfection" through every discipline other than faithful reading of the Bible. We may journal (my most recent one), read devotional books, study theology, serve in the church, evangelize, fast, etc. all in the name of seeking sanctification. Now, all of those things mentioned above have their time and place as spiritual disciplines. But, why is it so easy to forget or avoid sitting down for a few minutes and reading the Bible? And yet all the answers we will ever need are right there...between the covers. It is the "shortest route to spiritual perfection."

I have read the entire Bible once in my life and that was during my years of seminary when reading it cover to cover was required reading. Imagine that! Since then I have made many attempts to follow a reading program and read it through again. I get about a quarter of the way and I burn out. I find that I have no time to pursue other spiritual disciplines and I find that reading my "assigned chapters" becomes another thing on my To-Do list. I am not convicted or built up by the reading.

I want to know the "whole Bible" and not just "a few favorite passages." I want to be that "whole Christian." Being that I believe this is a journey that I will always be on till I die or am raptured, I will continue to pursue it through the reading of my Bible. Except this time I will dedicate some time each day to reading a section of Scripture or a chapter a day so that I can soak it all in. I pray it won't be another thing on my To-Do List but a much anticipated appointment that won't ever be bumped by other things. I pray that God will birth in me a love affair with Scripture that I have never experienced before.

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