Spiritual Disciplines & Evangelism ಮಾದರಿ

  

DAY 2: BIBLE READING

It is not a coincidence that the longest chapter in the Bible is about God’s Word (Psalm 119). Every one of the 176 verses refers to God’s commands and laws. It’s a meditation which has at its heart the deeply-held belief that without God’s Word and guidance, we are aimless. According to Wycliffe Bible Translators, there are an estimated 160 million people without access to any scripture in their heart language and at least 1.5 billion people are without the full Bible in their first language. Even of those who have scripture in their heart language, in many places of the world, like various Islamic-dominated areas, it is nearly impossible to access the Bible. 

So we begin with this very basic fact: having the Bible, and being able to read the Bible in our heart language, is a tremendous gift. 

We begin the discipline with gratitude for God’s Word, which is available to us. Scripture accessibility. 

Next, we recognize that the words we read are God-breathed. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God works through His Word. How many of us have found passages come alive at certain times, when previously we just skimmed right over them? That’s God’s Spirit at work. 

We ask God to reveal His heart to us as we engage His Word. What does He want for our world? Why did He even come in the first place? We ask, He answers. It’s a back-and-forth communication, just as Habakkuk spoke of: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give...” (Hab. 2:1).

As we go deeper into scripture, we continually push into this reality: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His whole purpose for creating us was for fellowship with Him, but how are people to be in fellowship with Him if no one tells them how to be in fellowship with Him (see Rom. 10:14-15)? We cannot get more than several chapters through scripture before we are again and again confronted with the reality that our world is dying and in need of a Savior. 

As we encounter this, we finally stop and ask God, “So what is my role in offering Your light to a world that is drowning in sin?” We begin to really seek personal responsibility and personal accountability. We spend space with God, open to His Word, about next steps. As Psalm 119:11 says, we have hidden God’s Word in our hearts. We store it up for the moments when God opens doors to gospel conversations. As God’s Word fills up more and more space in our lives, our transformation begins: the very DNA of our salvific God is transferred to us; we desire to show & share His life in more and new and exciting ways. 

Questions for Reflection: 

· How does your Bible reading impact your desire to spend more time with God?

· When you approach scripture, do you do so with a heart posture of expecting to hear from God?

· How has your Bible reading impacted your personal evangelism? 

· What passages can you carry with you that would equip you to better share your faith?