Time with God - Week 1, Day 1

Day 1 - This Is a Test (Importance of Bible Study)

This is a test. Without using your Bibles or other related materials, answer the following:

List the names of the 12 disciples:

Please write out the 10 commandments:

How did you do?

Were you able to complete the two test questions above? Did you know how to answer those tough questions? Believe it or not, some people have been Christians most of their lives, and they still don't know the answers. It has become a commonly known fact in our society today that Christians don't know what they are talking about. It's true! Think about it. Most Christians can't fill in the blanks to the two questions above, and yet they think they know the Bible and what it has to say about life. I don't think so. And here is more proof. Several months ago, syndicated columnist Ann Landers reprinted some answers students had given on an exam to test their Bible knowledge. Judging from their answers, I wonder what "Bible" they have been studying. Here's just a sample of some of their answers.

• Noah's wife was Joan of Ark.
• Lot's wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.
• Moses went to the top of Mount Cyanide to get the 10 commandments.
• Joshua led the Hebrews into the battle of Geritol.
• The people who followed Jesus were the 12 Decibels.
• The epistles were the wives of the apostles.
• David fought the Finklestein's, a race of people who lived in biblical times.

Pretty pathetic, huh? I agree. Most students either don't read the Bible or don't retain much of what they have read. You are missing out if you don't study God's Word daily.

Notice I said missing out. If you don't read the Bible daily, you:

1. Can't find out God's plans and direction for your life.
2. Can't understand how to live your life God's way.
3. Can't rightly define what real truth is. Which means you will end up making bad decisions.
4. Can't hear God talk back to you. It is through God's Word that God speaks to us. If you don't read it, He won't speak.

If you committed to reading God's Word daily, a chapter a day, you would be so surprised at the difference it would make in your life. Differences like:

1. You will become a more effective witness for Christ. You will actually know what you are talking about and can share God's answers with others.
2. You will grow spiritually. You will go God's way more and your old sinful way less. God's Word will serve as a reminder to you in which direction you need to go.
3. You will be encouraged every day in your relationship with the Lord. If you feel distant from the Lord or find yourself struggling in your relationship with Him, by reading your Bible, God will open your eyes to His love and the commitment He has for you.

So, what are you waiting for? The choice is yours. You can be Biblically illiterate, or you can get to know the God you claim to love and serve. I'll take the second choice; I hope you do, too.

Time Out

1. Let's take a look today at what the Bible has to say about itself. Look up the following verses and write down what God's Word is like or what it is used for.

Psalms 119:18-20: 

Psalms 119:25: 

2 Timothy 3:16:

Hebrews 4:12:

Psalms 119:105 the Bible says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Why do you think the Bible is called a lamp and a light in this verse of scripture?

One of the keys to reading the Bible is applying the Bible to your life. It's not enough to just read the Bible for knowledge. We must apply the Bible to our lives. James 1:22 puts it this way. "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

2. Why do you think it is not enough just to know a bunch of facts about the Bible?

3. In what ways in the past ten days have you applied the Bible to your life?

4. How has applying the Bible in your life made a difference?