Are things not quite like you expected in your Christian life? Yes, you’re saved and you know you’re secure in Christ and your salvation can never be undone and you can not lose Heaven. You know all that. But isn’t there supposed to be more joy associated with Christian living? You ask: “Shouldn’t I be living my life more deeply with greater meaning?”
Read the list below and see if it appeals to you. If you could find a way to obtain all seven ‘benefits’ on the list, would you seriously consider going for it?
- Revives, nourishes and restores your inner self;
- Provides insights, wisdom and direction in life;
- Generates deep joy and inner happiness;
- Enlightens your way and brightens your day;
- Anchors you as firmly as Gibraltar;
- Alerts you to the risks and dangers of life;
- Leads you to treasures and rewards.
You’ve read all seven. What do you think? Does the list appeal to you? Are the benefits obtainable? Or is it false or misleading advertising? You say: “It sounds perfect. Just what I’m looking for! It’s exactly what I need. How do I get it? Where can it be found? What do I have to do?”
King David found it. In fact, it was King David who created the list of seven based on his own personal experience. Here’s the process for me and you in this age:
Read the Word of God. Study the Word of God. Embrace and love the Word of God. Listen to the Word of God. Obey and submit to the Word of God. Follow the Word of God. Promote the Word of God. Live by the Word of God.
King David was so in love with his Bible (as we would call it today!) he wrote a poem about it. It goes like this:
The law of the LORD is perfect,
1. reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
2. making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
3. rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
4. enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
5. enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant 6. warned;
in keeping them there is 7. great reward.
(Psalm 19:7-11 ESV)
If we converted even 50% of the time we used for other things to reading our Bibles, can you imagine the outcome? Do you think the spiritual malaise and the mediocre Christian experience many seem to complain about can be directly linked to the amount of time we spend reading, studying, and enjoying our Bibles and submitting to its teachings and truths?
But aren’t we a-way-too busy to find adequate time to read our Bibles?
According to a 2006 Statistics Canada report, the average Canadian male spends 21 hours every week watching television and the average female, 26 hours a week. According to a 2006 Nielson Media Research report, the average American spends 32 hours a week watching television with more televisions now in their homes then people. Add to the ‘glued to the tube’ hours, all the time we spend online each week.
Now, if we even converted just 50% of all that time into studying the Word of God with a submissive attitude – our not-so-spiritually-thrilling lives would be transformed. We would then be able to concur with the sentiments expressed in Psalm 19. The 7 amazing results ARE attainable in 2007.
If we were honest, we would quickly confess the reason for not having a more amazing and thrilling Christian experience is ourselves, not our Lord.