Sorry, Not Sorry

 

 

Many Christians start the New Year with a “Read Through the Bible in a Year” plan.  The more ambitious may choose the plan that takes three months.

How many finish these plans? Our hunger for God’s Word seems to get satiated in a few chapters. No worries, we will try again next year.

Reading through the Bible in a year is not a requirement of God. However, He does have expectations that we will “hide His Word in our hearts” (Psalm 119:11) and “keep His precepts diligently” (Psalm 119:4).  If we keep reading in Psalm 119 we see that we are to “take heed according to His Word” (verse 9) and “love His law” (verse 165).  All of these things require us to know and apply God’s Word to our lives.

We live in world that dismisses the admonitions and encouragements of Psalm 119 regarding God’s Word (also referred to as His laws, His statutes, and His precepts). For many Christians this has intruded into our own lives. In an effort not to offend anyone with the Word of God we have begun to suggest that we can speak of His Word without speaking of Him. We are told that we do not have to “preach” at people in order to tell them what the Bible says.

In other words we have been advised, and in many cases have agreed, to take God out of our conversations unless, of course, we’re talking about His love. Even some Christian speakers have been taught to “tone down” the Bible verses and give people something less accusatory.

This leads to “teaching” that sounds like this; “I’m sorry to tell you this but adultery is sin.” Or, “I hate to tell you but abortion is murder.”

This is an unbiblical approach for teaching professing Christians (or anyone else) about the Lord and His salvation. God’s Word is, indeed, our most useful tool. Consider Isaiah 55:11, God has just said for them to incline their ears to Him (Isaiah 55:3). He goes on to say, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

We also need to consider Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

If people feel “accused” when they hear the Word of God taught or preached, we should be praising God because  it means His Holy Spirit is at work in that person.

Why would anyone be sorry to tell a person what God requires of us or that confession and repentance bring forgiveness? We can say hard things without being harsh. And, we should not be apologizing for God’s Law.

Sadly, many Christians do not have enough Bible knowledge to confidently talk to people (even other Christians) about obeying God’s Word (after getting the log out of their own eye). In Romans 10 the Apostle Paul is talking about people coming to faith in Jesus Christ. He says, that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).  Then, in verse 14 he asks, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (emphasis mine).

If we, as children of God, want to see true and lasting change in our nation we need to work to do better first, at learning the Word and second, telling others what He says…about everything. There is no sphere in life that God does not teach us to address from His Word.

He requires that we listen to His Word (Deuteronomy 4:1) and do what it says (James 1:22).

When Israel refused to listen God eventually sent a famine of His Word on that land. (Amos 8:11  “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD.”). We are not there yet. We have His Word everywhere we turn. If it is not in our churches, we should find a new one. If it is not in our homes, we should get it out, dust it off, read it, study it and do what it says.

If you are among those who have set up a 2023 Bible reading plan, stick with it. You won’t be sorry.