Well it has definitely been a while since I have sat down with the intention of writing for my audience of probably only 2 or 3 people. Either way, for you 2 or 3 people who may or may not be reading this I believe you will get at least a little something from this post today. Since I don’t really edit my writings on here, rather I just put on paper what I feel the Lord has placed on my heart, I cannot make any promises at this time whether or not this is going to be a long post or not. As it stands right now I am not planning on being long “winded” in this particular post and also do not plan on citing any bible verses. The irony of the fact that I am not citing verses comes from the topic itself. Today I have been doing a bit of thinking. Thinking about what, is what you are probably thinking. For those of you who have read my previous posts know when I have been thinking, that immediately means that I am going off on some tangent that is nowhere near the place I started. And if that is the case this time I do not apologize because I feel very strongly that when I remain in God he can, and will, use me to speak his words.
As you may know, I attend a Baptist college and every day the Bible is used on this campus in one way or another. “One way or another?” you say! Yes, indeed. The Bible can be used in things other than its purpose. First I think it is necessary to explain to you the purpose of the Bible. The Bible was written so that we, citizens of Earth, can read and actually see God’s word. Through His word we can know Him. To know Him we have to constantly seek Him. The Bible is how God communicates to us. His word IS the Bible. Everything that the Lord wants us to know is inside of it. If I am being a little redundant than my point is being made clear! I want for people to understand this. The only way to know God is to be in His word. That is the only way we can grow closer to Him, to read His word. Maybe that got my point across and if not maybe I can get it across better later in this post.
Here at a college centered on the Bible, sometimes we can use it in a way that is not actually its true purpose at all. Sometimes the Bible becomes just another text book that we only read before out test on our New Testament or Life of Jesus classes. Sometimes we only read it in the few minutes before class because we forgot to the night before. So many times we do things like this and think there is nothing wrong with it. Personally, I have done this my share of times and for so long thought that I was actually doing good because I was reading the Bible. I was reading it, but I wasn’t deep into it-trying to find out the true meaning.
This is coming straight from the dictionary of me, so please don’t criticize my personal definition. My definition of a textbook would probably be something along the lines of “a book used for a course or class, that contains information about a specific topic or topics that would benefit the reader in the course.” How kind of benefits does this mean? Benefits on the test would be a good grade, which is helping you pass the class. If we are using the Bible as a textbook, here on a Christian campus, are we really using the Bible for the right reasons. In a way, we are abusing the Bible/taking it for granted. We are only using it to pass our classes and to get a good grade. If that is the only reason we are opening our Bibles are we actually here for the right reason in the first place? I am not trying to cast judgment on anyone, because I too am jut as guilty as the next, but my answer to the question would be that we are not here for the right reasons. Too many times we allow school to come between God and ourselves, even here. If we put God first then we wouldn’t even need to “cram” in the Bible before class, because it would already be in our hearts.
With all of that said the Bible should be a textbook. But not for school! It should be a textbook for out lives. The course we are enrolled in is life. We need to read the Bible to grow closer to God so that we can really know Him. As we begin to know Him and how awesome He really is we will start to gain knowledge of how we should act in the world. We must seek God first. There is nothing that is more important than putting Him in the front of our lives.
Though having the Bible as a textbook in a classroom is not what it was intended to be for, having It as a textbook in our hearts can benefit us more than any book we purchase for our classes. I hope I made my point clear today. If not, you know what to do! Until next time, Seek Him First!!
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