Opening illustration: Back to school! How about “Back to the Bible”
Surveys show that 94% of Americans own a Bible; 90% of us believe it still applies today—yet only half of us read it weekly (including church), and only 29% read it weekly outside of church. There is a disconnect here.
Most people are not completely opposed to the Bible, they are simply apathetic toward it. They have it, but they won’t read it. They never go to church. We need to get back to Bible living.
Americans have easy access to the Bible, and because of that, we are all accountable. There is no excuse for the sins in our nation. Jesus tells us in Luke 12:48, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” We have been given God’s Word, and we are accountable to keep it.
The nation of Israel in the Old Testament had the same problem. They had God’s law and God’s prophets. The Law told them what they were required to do, and the prophets warned them of coming judgment because of sin. Yet the nation disregarded the Law and the prophets!
II Chronicles 34:21, “Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.”
Jeremiah 16:11, “Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law.”
Israel was accountable to God because they had God’s Law. Their error was that they did not live out the Law in their lives.
Imagine if every person in America who owned a Bible read it, went to church faithfully, and lived the Bible. We wouldn’t be having all the problems we have right now. We need to get back to Bible living!
It was Martin Luther who said, “You may as well quit reading and hearing the Word of God, and give it to the devil, if you do not desire to live according to it.”
James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
In February 2010, a man named Nathan took this verse to heart and started a blog called “The James 1:22 Project.” The assignment was to observe 40 commands of the New Testament in practical ways, focusing on one each week for 40 weeks.
The commands included such verses as this: “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.” “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” “Confess your sins to each other.” “Serve one another in love.” “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” And many more.
For the first week, which had to do with caring for widows, Nathan told the story of his grandma, who lived alone in a nursing home. He told how he visited her and read Scripture to her even though she did not remember who he was.
For week four, entitled “Work with all your Heart,” Nathan told us the honest truth about his job, that of a lawyer, and that he had become disinterested in it over time. But he took Colossians 3:23 to heart and worked as hard as he could for the Lord without complaining.
The weeks went on, and Nathan was faithful to keep up with the commands. For week six, he confessed his sins to his pastor and received counseling. For week ten, he stepped out of his comfort zone to encourage people. For week 15, Nathan took time away from baseball (his passion) so he could focus more on eternal things. For week 23, taking Ephesians 4:25 to heart, he decided to speak truthfully and be more transparent about his flaws and sins. For week 29, Nathan honored his parents by inviting them to dinner and showing them love. For week 35, he gave his anxieties to God so he could practice Matthew 6:34 and “Take no though for to morrow.”
Finally, in March 2011, Nathan finished his 40 weeks. It took a little longer than expected, but he became a doer of the Word. His blog was not only an example of what we should all be, but also a challenge. We should all be willing to take the commands of Scripture and purposefully put them into practice in our lives. If we don’t, it will be easy to hear, and not do. We must be deliberate doers of the Word.
When it comes to being a doer of the Word, God’s Word should be in three specific places:
1. In Your Mouth
Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”
The best thing you can talk about is God’s Word. Share God’s Word, encourage with God’s Word, teach God’s Word, and find ways to get out God’s Word. Even share the Word on Facebook—it’s the best thing you can put on there. More than anything, we should love to talk about the Bible.
Is the Word of God in your mouth?
2. In Your Mind
Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
When the Bible talks about the heart, it is often referring to the mind, will, and emotions. God’s Word needs to be in your mind. Set aside time each week to memorize verses or passages from the Bible. God’s Word is a guard against sin.
Illustration: you mind is like a blender; what you put in will come out.
Is the Word of God in your mind?
3. In Your Walk
Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
God’s Word should impact your everyday life. Your life should be overflowing with blessings because of the Bible. You should delight in God’s Word, and that delight causes you to live it out in your life. Living according to the Word is not a burden, it’s a blessing.
This walk takes you to church, and it takes church with you wherever you go. This walk means you’re always ready and willing to share the gospel with whoever it is you have that opportunity. This walk also means you don’t go to certain worldly places, places where the ungodly thrive in their sin (verse 1). In other words, the Bible has direct control of your life! This is what it means to be a Bible-living Christian.
Is the Word of God in your walk?
Joshua 1:8 puts all three of these points together.
Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth [mouth]; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night [mind], that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein [walk]: [results:] for then [1] thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then [2] thou shalt have good success.”
Do you want to be prosperous? Do you want a successful life? Then God’s Word needs to be in your mouth, mind, and walk. The Bible can do you no good sitting on a shelf. Read that Bible, and let it read you; let it change you. Memorize God’s Word. And then, put it into practice. God requires much of you, Christian. You have the Bible; now what will you do with it?
