HEALTHY READING

My devotional today was from one of my favorite preachers, Dr. David Jeremiah.  It brought tears of shame to my eyes. 

Here's an excerpt.

"recently comedian Jay Leno asked his television audience to name one of the Ten Commandments. One person ventured: "God helps those who help themselves." Leno asked if anyone could name the four Gospels. No one could; but responding to another question, almost everyone in the audience could name the four Beatles." 

If that wasn't enough Dr. Jeremiah goes on to say that "only 16 percent of Christians say they read the Bible daily."   

Are you part of that 16 percent?  I hope so!  But if you're not, you can help to increase that percentage today. Begin tomorrow, read your Bible every day. You don't have to read chapter upon chapter.  Read a few verses in the Psalms, or begin reading the book of Matthew or John. You can read the whole book of Jude in a short 5 minutes! 

We take vitamins and exercise to stay physically healthy, we eat three meals a day and snacks in between to keep up our strength, we read magazines and newspapers to keep informed. What are we doing for our spiritual health?  God speaks to us through His Word.  

How often do we say we want to "hear" from God, yet we don't open His Word and listen to what He has to say.  It's there in the Holy Scriptures, answers to all of our questions, but we have to open and read.  Do we begin to make a wonderful dessert without opening the cookbook? Open His book, read His words of instruction, encouragement, guidance and love.  The words are beautiful and you will fall in love with the Author. 

"Listen , Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.  These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart.  Repeat them to your children.  Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:4-9