Christian Living

Make it a Choice

by paul hoffmaster
05/12/26
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There are a number of excuses people give for not reading their Bibles.  One is that it is hard to understand.  A second excuse is that the Bible is read for them through their pastor’s teaching and preaching. Another reason that dust gathers on Bibles is that it is not a priority.  For discussion sake, let me suggest that the Bible remains dormant because some people do understand what they read.  In other words, even though they take a leisurely stroll through the white pages, they are bound to run across a Scripture that makes them uncomfortable. To make the reading even more unsettling is knowing they have a responsibility to act on that Word.  Instead of guilt by association, they adopt the saying, “Out of sight, out of mind.”  As long as they don’t expose themselves to the Word, they feel they are not responsible for acting on the Word.  This reasoning might stand up to human opinion, but not to God.

The Bible is not mandatory reading; rather it is a personal decision to understand what the Christian faith is all about.  It is not a question of you having to read the Bible, but you have the opportunity to read the Bible if you want.  There is a reason that mechanical objects or devices have owner manuals.  They are there to help the purchaser understand the workings of the product.  If you don’t want to read the “unclear” directions, you can use your own ingenuity through trial and error to experience the potential of the purchase.  In a similar way, you can read the Bible as it outlines and describes God’s Kingdom from its beginning to its Heavenly destination.  It shows the starting and the ending of the creation of humanity, from the historical actions of man to his new birth and the glorious reunion with his Creator.  As you follow the “diagrams,” the directions are given to help you maneuver through life’s challenges.  The Bible outlines how God came unto His creation in the form of Jesus to show the reader the road to eternal life.  The Bible does not pull any punches, but shows the reader how to roll with the punches on the way to victory.

To read or not to read the Bible is left up to the person.  Can a person be a Christian without reading the Scriptures?  Yes, but it makes one’s journey very difficult.  You can respond to the Word through pastors and evangelists, and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, but it’s more than hearing; it’s understanding the Words of Life.

In the ending of Jesus’ course on Ministry 101, also known as the Sermon on the Mount, He makes an analogy of building houses on sand or rock with the Christian life.  When storms came upon these two houses, the one built on the sand crumbled as it faced the challenges of nature. The one built on a rock withstood the atmospheric assaults.  The Christian who reads the Believer’s Manual will be better equipped to lead a God-directed life.

The decision to open the Bible rests on how much we are willing to learn and follow Jesus’ teachings.  It is not a question if I have to, but whether do I choose to read about the Words of Life!  If you are willing to open the Books and Letters of the Bible, a good start is the Gospel of Luke, followed by the Book of Acts.