Today's Devotional

September 29, 2004

Subject:  Devoted To Reading 

Acts 2:5 - "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."

1Timothy 4:13 - "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."

1Timothy 4:15 - "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all."

In the early church there was no personal bible to carry around and read on your own, so the people attended readings.  The readings were to build the believers up in the knowledge of God.  In hearing and listening to the word of God on frequent occasion, the believers became focused, empowered and of one accord.  So it would be of us today if we were truly "devoted" to reading.  

If we are to have the mind of Christ, it can only be through our knowledge of Him.  Reading focuses us properly on Him.  Reading God's word also empowers us because as we read of Him and come to know Him more intimately, we experience His awesome ability to control every aspect of life.  Nothing is too small for Him and nothing is too big for Him.  Reading and hearing what God has said also unites us as the body of believers.  This was particularly true of the early church and was key to their growth.

When we are devoted to reading, we are not stopped by what's happening at the job, we don't let family and friends take priority over it and we don't allow the circumstances of life to prevent us from "getting around to it."  When we realize it's significance to our lives, we have no problem being "Devoted To Reading."    

 Carlen