Trash in Trash out

When I was working at Moore PD, we had a officer, who I think could drop the F bomb at least 3 times in every sentience.

Now I would love to say that I never use any cuss words and I do my best to keep them out of my vocabulary.

But I have discovered that the more I am around others, like this officer, who like to use them proficiently the more likely I am to use them.

When this other officer was around I had to either find a excuse to excuse myself or completely tune him out and not give what he was saying any credit.

I think we are all this way. Society and esp Hollywood is convincing the world that ungodly things are OK by showing it to us over and over.

We need to take these things from our lives. Turn off that channel.

The better proposal is:

God in God out

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness”

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

Psalm 119:105 ESV “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

So my question is. Since the word of God should be the most important book to help us every day of our lives. How much time do you spend reading and studying it?

Do we just open our bibles for Sunday service and for Wednesday bible study?

Or do we occasionally open it when we have a issue the arises and we need some guidance on something?

In a study done by the Center for Bible Engagement it was discovered that Christians who read or listen to their bibles at least 4 times a week it makes a significant difference in their lives.

Lets look at the numbers theirs study found. Notice that 2-3 times a week, although better, did not have the significance that 4 or more times a week does.

This chart show the percentages

And look at the numbers for our teenagers.

And here is the percentages for our teens

Hebrews 4:12 ESV “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”

James 1:21 ESV “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

A lack of scriptural engagement produces several consequences. Disengagement from God’s word has left American believers ignorant of basic Bible facts and truths, vulnerable to false teachings, and, in many cases, spiritually immature

Unfortunately, today many Christians fail to tap into that power regularly.

As a result, our spiritual growth stagnates.

We rely on only our own strength to deal with daily trials and temptations, making it more likely that we will fall.

Those falls hurt us and they hurt our witnessing. 

This C.B.E. study showed that only 1 out of 4 CHRISTIANS regularly study their bibles to find direction in their lives.

How can we expect God to lead us and guide us on the path he has for us if we are not immersing ourselves in his word.

The C.B.E. discovered through their research large behavioral differences between Christians who read or listen to the Bible at least four days a week and those who engage with scripture less often.

These differences include both moral behavior as well as how prepared the individual is to serve God and impact the world. 

As expected, scriptural engagement rates were higher among those who identify as born again Christians.

However, considering that these are believers, the rates remain disturbingly low.

In fact, most people who claim to follow Christ do not read or listen to the Bible on most days of the week. 

More scripture engagement also produces a Christian who is more involved in spreading the Good News.

When controlling for other factors, those who read or listen to the Bible at least four days a week have higher odds of participating in these behaviors:

Sharing their faith = 228% higher odds

Disciplining to others = 231% higher odds

Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds

So in conclusion:

Trash in Trash out

We need to turn off the distractions in our lives that involve things the bible teaches us to stay away from

God in God out

We need to keep ourselves embedded in his word and study it daily.

So our next question is, What is a good way to accomplish this?

How many of us say “I don't know where to go in the bible to read or study”

So let me help you with that.

For those of you with iPhone here is a free bible app that will provide you with 77 different bible translations

And for you android users here is the link for you

I am not sure about the android store but I do know that the iPhone store has a fake app that is very similar to this YouVersion app so make sure you get this one and not that app.

Most of the translations will also read the bible to you, so when you don't have the ability to physically read you can have the app read it for you.

Works great for those commutes to work and back home.

Get yourself focused on God before work

The app also has 100’s and possibly even 1000’s of bible reading plans.

So if you say to yourself that you don’t know where to start, find a plan that sounds good and get started.

The plans usually have a devotional at the start of each day and then a certain number of scriptures to keep you online to complete your reading plan in the number of days it says.

If for some reason you end up missing a day you can also have it “catch you up” to get you back on track with your plan.

They even have plans to take you through in entire bible in a specific number of days. Usually 365 days.

I have completed the whole bible once and the new testament another time.

Now let me challenge you.

Whether you use the app or just use your printed bible (and I suggest using both), for the next month read Gods word at least 4 times a week.

Let his Word speak to you.

If you can set aside the time for every day of the week, even better.

When your reading and come across something your unsure of get a study bible and dig a little deeper into what Gods word is saying.

Two excellent resources for that are:

Faithlife Study Bible App

Blue Letter Bible App

And then in one month look back and see how God is working differently in your life.