I Can Read

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2nd Peter 1:3-8 NLT

I really don't like to cook. Never have... except for Thanksgiving or holidays. People I have worked with over the years hear me say that and they think I'm kidding. I'm not. I really don't like to cook, but I really do like people and people like to eat. They are worth the effort. So, while I don't have any particular talent for cooking, and I don't always know what to do, I can read and I try to find recipes with ingredients that people like.

Have you ever followed a recipe and missed an ingredient? You had it, but you overlooked it because you didn't read it in detail. Or you've made it so often, that you think you don't need to read the recipe. That's happened to me - I get in a hurry - or get distracted and the next thing I know it comes out wrong. If I've done it ahead of time, I can start over. If not, I end up either buying at the store or they do without.

Over the years, I've learned that the Christian walk can be much the same way. If we take the time to read the recipe for the Christian life (Bible) and follow the directions, it comes out alright and we can offer people the Bread of Life. If we get in a hurry or get distracted, there is NO going to buy it at the store... those precious people whom God has given to us wind up doing without. Can we afford that?

2nd Peter 1:19b-21 NLT, tells us this about the written Word of God...You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts. Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God. 

So while WE may not know the answer to whatever's going on in our lives or in the lives of those we care about, we CAN read the words of the One who knows all things.

Prayer:

Father, 

             Birth in us a new desire to read Your Word and please give us a fresh anointing to be able to rightly divide and understand it. And the wisdom and courage to properly apply it and share it with others. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen