AMY, a melancholy fact by R.T. Kendall First Baptist Church, Hendersonville: Most Christians do not have a Bible reading plan. Most Christians do not read their Bibles regularly. And some church leaders do not read their Bibles. I happen to know more than I care to reveal about how many famous Christians and leaders have not read the Bible through at all. Bethan Lloyd-Jones, wife of the late Martyn Lloyd-Jones, made a gripping observation about C.S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters, a brilliant satire that includes among other things how the devil tempts new Christians. She lamented that one huge thing Lewis left out was how the devil wants to KEEP PEOPLE FROM READING THEIR BIBLES.
Why??? “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to THE WORD OF GOD, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he WHO READS and those WHO HEAR the words of this prophecy, and KEEP (do) those things which are written in it; for THE TIME IS NEAR.” (Rev. 1:1-3) For you see there are many, “…false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.” (2 Corin. 11:13-14) Now we know that Satan, “ …has always hated the truth, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and THE FATHER OF LIES.” (John 8:44) Oh, how we need the truth! “…You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in MERCY AND TRUTH.” (Psa. 86:15) Jesus said, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Then Jesus did a miraculous thing AMY, “…the Word (the Word of God) BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of GRACE and TRUTH.” (John 1:14)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham