Issue 1283 – Does It Say That? – October 27, 2023
The common, ordinary, everyday garden variety ostrich. There isn’t anything that makes this one stand out from millions of its kin around the world.
They are flightless but can attain speeds of 100 km/h for short distances. Those powerful legs can give a kick capable of breaking bones. Of course, everyone knows that if frightened, they simply bury their heads in the sand.
Only ostriches don’t actually do that. It’s a myth that probably originated from someone seeing one with its head down on or near the ground.
There are plenty of misbeliefs or myths out there about animals that are wrong. Bats aren’t blind. Frogs and toads don’t give you warts. Bulls don’t hate the colour red. Goldfish don’t have short memories. Porcupines can’t shoot their quills. I could go on and give many more examples, and I am sorry if I have contradicted a long-held belief of yours.
Similarly, “everyone knows” that the Bible says certain things. Some well-known verses or phrases simply don’t appear in the Word.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.
God helps those who help themselves.
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Freely we serve because freely we love.
I am blessed and highly favoured.
God will bless you when you claim your promise.
An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
Charity begins at home.
Honour is the reward of virtue.
Our sins are buried in the sea of God’s forgetfulness.
Like the animal myths, I could go on and list many more. Some of these “verses” may contain profound wisdom (or be equally silly), but none shows up in the Bible.
The problems with things that everyone knows are, firstly, they are often not based on Scripture. Secondly, they are not always true, and thirdly, not everyone actually knows them.
How do we know what the Bible says? The answer, of course, is to read it. We know that, but do we put into practice what we read?
According to a recent survey by Pew Research, 35% of people read Scripture at least once a week,10% once or twice a month, 8% several times a year, 45% seldom/never, and 1% didn’t know.
Another source gives these numbers:
- Only 32% of Americans read the Bible regularly.
- 60% of American Christians rarely or never read the Bible.
- Less than 20% of millennials read the Bible on a regular basis.
- Only 9% of teenagers read the Bible daily.
- Women are more likely to read the Bible than men, with a 40% higher participation rate.
- Only 12% of churchgoers read the Bible daily.
- Over 50% of Christians struggle to understand the Bible when they read it.
- Less than 10% of Christians have read the entire Bible.
- Only 25% of Christians engage in any form of Bible study.
There are differences between the results, likely the result of different questions or methodologies, but the critical truth is that Christians are largely biblically illiterate.
My friends, that should not be so.
The Bible doesn’t give a specific command for followers to read the Bible for themselves. Yet we see hints…
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 1 Timothy 4:13
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16
See also Job 23:12, 3 Timothy 3:16. Psalm 119:18, 1 Peter 2:2, Ephesians 6:17. Psalm 12:6, Matthew 4:4 and others.
If we don’t read it for ourselves, how else will we know the truth.? There are over 31,000 verses in the Bible; if we hear a preacher expound on ten of them a week, it would take 69 years to listen to the Scripture in full.
In contrast, there are plenty of plans that will take you through reading the Scriptures in 90 days, a year or 3 years. You can do it at your own pace.
The Word is a gift from God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, washed by the blood of the saints who have tried preserving and translating it. It is a beautiful heritage. Let us use it to the full.
READ THE WORD. Read the Word. Read the Word.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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