Beyond Common Sense

“It looks like you’re getting charged,” I said to Tom as he sat in his rocker. His phone’s charging cord was draped over the arm of the rocker, and it looked like he was plugged in.

“I feel like I need to be recharged,” he quipped. The holidays are over and we are back into the grind. We are so excited to have a new pastor, but that also adds more onto Tom’s plate until things get settled. So, he has been feeling rundown and tired. We’re not getting any younger!

Charged and ready to go— that’s how we like to feel in the morning, ready to face the new day full of energy and vitality! But some days it just ain’t so. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just plug into the wall like our phones and suddenly be charged up to 100%? It doesn’t quite work that way, and, just like our devices, the older we get the faster our charge depletes!

What about spiritually?? This morning, because of circumstances, I didn’t get to read my Bible, and I said to Tom, “Wow! I’ve so much extra time if I don’t read my Bible.” It’s true, isn’t it? Bible reading takes time, especially if you are digging deep into God’s word and mining out those nuggets of gold. But is it really necessary? Perhaps the better question is, is it required?

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

The English teacher in me feels a need to point out that there is no subject in this sentence. It starts with the verb, be. The you is understood, which makes it a command. God commands us to be good students of his word, not because he’s a taskmaster, but because he knows what’s best for us. (Psalm 19 gives a wonderful list of blessing the Bible has to give.) I will get through the morning without a deep dive into God‘s Word. I did listen to a devotional as well as several wonderful Bible verses that blessed my heart. And if we are consistently doing our devotions, it’s like that phone which gets charged regularly. It may not make it through two days without another charge, but it might get me through till noon.

So, what’s your Bible reading plan for this new year? I was reminded why it’s important to read though the Bible. On the way home from our church’s children’s club, I started talking  to my grandsons about the lessons they had learned as well as other stories in the Bible. What a joy to be familiar enough with God’s Word to be able to share God‘s Word with grandchildren! We need to read it, not only to charge our lives, but to keep it fresh in our minds to share with others.

So, read up, pray up, tank up, and be ready for face the day, 100% charged!