Day 5: Maturity/Reading the Word Daily

Thoughts for Further Reflection

It’s been said that two types of people read the Bible: those who read what they believe and those who believe what they read. As the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” You must know for yourself “all scripture” is true and “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16). You must “examine the scriptures daily” for yourself “to see if those things [are] true” (Acts 17:11).

I encourage you to research and understand the validity of the Bible—not your feelings, not your experiences, but the facts around the Bible’s authorship. Let facts from historians, and even atheists, external to the biblical narrative and its participants solidify that truth exists. Then, when you’ve settled the authority of the Bible, run hard after truth. “For physical training profits a little, but Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life now and for life to come,” (1 Timothy 4:8).

Prayer

God, I thank you that truth as a person (Jesus) can be known and that objective truth can be grasped. I thank you that you can be trusted and are worthy to be followed and obeyed. In this world of post-truth, your truth, my truth, their truth, I thank you that you already told me the end from the beginning and gave me a map (the Bible) to show me how to live in these times. I thank you that I can believe what I read, even if I don’t understand it all, trusting your character and the Holy Spirit to lead me in each step. Amen.

Main Idea

As an athlete, I compete to win the eternal prize and a legitimate earthly prize, one not marred by harming myself or harming others.