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WEEK 1 CHALLENGE - READ THE BIBLE
This week your challenge is to begin a 28 day reading plan through the book of Luke. Use our simple reading plan that has chapter a day schedule and reflection question. This plan works great with our Sunday series, “The Book of Luke: Miracles Everywhere.”
Click here for the full 28 Day Luke Reading Plan or find the link at the end of the devotional. 🙌
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WEEK 1 DEVOTIONAL - “Read”
For those who’ve been in the church for a long time, reading the Bible becomes a thing that you’re supposed to do. We think, “good Christians read the Bible.” Yet, for many it easily becomes a religious action or duty that’s more about something we’re supposed to do rather than truly desire to do. We know that reading the Bible should not become a religious obligation, instead the Bible must be an integral part of our relationship with Jesus and our love for God! We read it because we love God…we read because we want more of Him!
Believe it or not sermons will not teach you everything (okay maybe that’s not so hard to believe, 😂!), but they aren’t supposed to teach you everything. Podcasts, books, and the opinions of your friends will not teach you what you need to know. The one source of truth that you can rely on is the Bible. It is necessary in things such as; deepening your understanding of God’s nature, learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, and how to love like Jesus. It also teaches us about sin and what we must rid ourselves of and how we need to think about our money, marriages, and neighbors. More than anything it reveals God to us!
If you read the Bible it will reveal so much that it will literally change your life. Because the Bible does not contain God…it reveals God to us! It’s not just a book that fills your head with knowledge or serves as an instruction manual. The Bible actually awakens something inside of you that gives you new eyes to see. It awakens the eyes of your heart!
That is what the disciples said after Jesus opened up the scriptures in Luke 24:32, They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” The disciples were deeply moved by the scripture, they asked, ‘were not our hearts burning?’ Jesus wants to open our hearts to be able to see and feel the realities of his kingdom!
So what’s the big idea to start 2022…
Read.
Your.
Bible.
♥️📖 🙌 🔥
TWO IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR YOU!
1. Choose a Time and Be Consistent!
This is important. Consistency will be huge in your ability to stick with it. The next 28 Days can be the start of a new habit! Mornings work best for most people. Start your day prioritizing time with God which includes reading the Bible. if we can win the morning…then we can win the day. In other words, start your day right and there’s a great chance it will go right. You may be an evening/night person, that’s great — do whatever works best for you, but choose a time and stick with it! The more time the better, but the main idea is start somewhere and start now. Start with 10 minutes if that works for you and eventually you can grow into more time each day. The key is consistency!
2. Remember - Every Meal Matters.
Have you ever had a really amazing meal? You know those meals that we tell other people about. We use words like unforgettable, mind-blowing, unreal, and exquisite. Those times are etched in our memories because of the delicious food, surreal environment, or perfect community and conversation. Not every meal is like this though. The truth is we have a lot of forgettable, boring meals that in the end all they did was provide what our bodies needed. The truth is we wouldn’t be alive if we didn’t eat boring meals.
Similarly, sometimes we read the Bible it is one of those unforgettable, mind-blowing, powerful meals and sometimes we read the Bible and it’s just a plain ol’ boring meal. That’s okay, because every time you open scripture it does not have to be the best revelation you’ve ever had in your life. Sometimes you’re going to have times when you read the Bible and you’re like, “Hmmm…I don’t what I got out of that.” That’s alright keep feeding yourself scripture. Even if you aren’t sure what it’s accomplishing you can rest assured it is feeding and nourishing you! Every meal matters!
As you begin the next 28 Days of Renewal, may you meet God in his Word and may you find fresh revelation and blessing. Amen. 🙏