A New Year’s Resolution - Bring Your Bible with You
As the new year is approaching I want to suggest a simple resolution that could shape your life in a major way in 2020.
In the new year resolve to bring your copy of God’s Word with you when you gather for corporate worship on the Lord’s Day.
I told you it was simple.
While I have a personal preference, I’m not particular about the bible you choose to bring. It doesn’t matter if it’s one that that you turn the page or scroll the page, open or turn on. Bring God’s word with you to worship.
Here are six reasons having your copy of God’s word with you in worship matters:
You’re expecting to hear from God - If you want a word from God, it will come from the Word of God. Bringing your bible with you to worship testifies of your belief in this. You’re longing and expecting to hear God speak through his Word.
You’re expecting your pastor to preach the word – As a pastor who preaches each Sunday, there is nothing more encouraging to me than to see a congregation full of worshipers with their bibles in hand. It lets me know that’s what they want. They are hungry for the word and ready to feast upon Scripture’s truths. They aren’t present to hear my opinions or clever musings. They’ve come to have God’s word opened and expounded.
You’ll grow more familiar with the Word – Having your bible with you as it is faithfully and expositionally preached will help you become more familiar with the Word. As you turn to, follow along, and look at the Word of God during the sermon you’ll become more acquainted it and with the God of the Word.
You’ll retain more from the sermon – With your copy of God’s word before you during the sermon you’ll retain more. Certainly you’ll be listening, but with the Word present before you can also look. Doing both will allow you retain more of what you’ve learned that day from God.
You’ll learn how to study the Word – Following along in your copy of the Word as the pastor is explaining the text will help grow in your personal study of God’s Word. As he points out the particulars of the text that help us discover its meaning, you’ll learn what to look for when reading and studying the bible in your own personal study.
You have the privilege of doing so – I’m afraid we don’t understand how privileged we are to have such access to God’s word. Countless believers across the globe would love to have a full copy of Scripture. Many gather with only fragments; access for others is completely denied. Over history many brothers and sisters in Christ have paid with their blood to have God’s word in hand. Today in our culture we know no such cost. God’s word is a great treasure that has been graciously given to us. Let’s not squander such a privilege.