Tearing The Cushions Off Your Couch

 

I'm curious and therefore, I have some questions for you.
Do the scriptures seem difficult to understand?

Do you get frustrated because nothing makes sense that you read?

Are you of the opinion, as so many are, that the Bible contradicts itself?

Have you retired the bible to a dusty shelf because you've given up reading it?

Are any of these questions asked the reason you either won't read the bible or are neglectful in reading if you are named among Christians? 

The bible teaches us that Gods Word is like treasure. Read this scripture then we'll look closely at it. Luke 15: 8-9,  "What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, does not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost."

Let's suppose that woman in Luke 15 is you in 2024. And instead of losing a coin, you lose your diamond wedding ring. Or, if not married think of an item you treasure that you'd almost die if it were lost. Is it a particular picture? Grandma's antique broach she left you? A college ring? Your car keys? A diamond bracelet? Imagine now that the thing you treasure has been misplaced somewhere in your house. Or was it? Is it there or did you lose it elsewhere ... at the store? In a parking beside your car as you drove away? The first logical place you would start searching is in your house: 

the nightstand

drawers

the bathroom vanity

the last piece of clothing you wore

the laundry basket ... 

And when nothing showed up you would dig deeper: 

the driver side of the car

the passenger side

checking the floor mats

the distance from the garage to the house

you'd probably begin to calling friends to check their homes since you were there recently

you might place a call to customer service at your favorite grocery store, etc. 

Then, as your search still resulted in nothing, things would become more desperate! Your search would take you to:

crawling under tables

ripping out closets

tearing the cushions off your couch!!

Reaching underneath it, etc.

Can you imagine the desperation that would overwhelm you? You would vow to search and search and search until you found your treasured item.

THIS is how we should hunger to find the hidden manna in the word of God by reading and searching the scriptures daily.

You may ask, "why is the Word so difficult to comprehend? Why isn't it written in simpler terms for us to easily grasp?"

The answer is simple. Unless you search hungrily for your own missing treasured item, you will never find it. Likewise, unless you put forth an honest effort to search and diligently seek Gods Word, which is the true treasure of life (not material things), you will not find nor understand it. God has hidden His treasure and found only by those who read and sincerely study His Word.

A earnest person who wants a relationship with Jesus will read, study, search, and hunger for the Word of God. Remember, Jesus WAS THE WORD made flesh (John 1:14) By reading, you're getting to know Jesus just as anyone becomes curious and desires to know someone they want a relationship with.

All other uninterested people will put the bible on a shelf ignoring and neglecting it.

This, therefore, is the measure which reveals your heart and true intimacy with God!

Jesus said, Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

Or simply, what you put your heart into, THAT is what you treasure. 

Where do you invest all your time? What do you treasure? Do you make any time for God? If not, scripture says you are foolish.

Who is foolish? It is "those who lay treasure up for themselves and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21).

We are to keep our lamps burning while waiting for Jesus' return. We are to be vigilant and diligent about our salvation by keeping our lamps filled with the oil of the Holy Spirit. How do we do that? By reading the WORD which is poured out without measure to those who seek. We are advised to keep our minds fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, we will be better able to resist the devil and his constant attempts to bring us down. If we become slack in reading or neglecting Gods Word altogether, our light will begin to dim until it no longer gives light. Then, it is rendered useless.

For me, this means don't fizzle out. I must refresh and renew my mind daily in His Word so that in this dark world I run this race with endurance so others also will see my light and be drawn to God as a moth to light. Another example Jesus gave is found in Matthew 15:13. Jesus is teaching His disciples and also all who would follow including you and me, "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it season? It is then good for nothing but to be cast out and be trodden under the foot of men." We are to be 'lights' as well as 'salt' to those around us, pointing to salvation and eternal life by sharing the Word of God. But how can you shine or season anyone, including yourself,  if you do not read? 

"Blessed is the man who meditates on His law day and night" (Psalm 1:2-3) Reading the Bible is the best investment in life. 

Reasons:

"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, or correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God (that's you) may be complete, equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16-17."

 "Every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him."

 The Word of God is the source of faith ... "Faith comes in hearing, and hearing by the word of God" 

There's more! Gods Word is the source of salvation, truth, freedom, discernment, spiritual food, growth, victory over temptation, a source of happiness, joy, and blessedness, a source of purity/holiness, a means of self-diagnosis, correction, guidance, comfort, a source of answered prayer, victory, healing, assurance, a preparation for good works, a source of warning, and a glimps into future events.

Won't you pick up your Bible and read today? Strengthen your relationship with God. Top off your lamp with oil so that you are not ashamed at His coming.

Until He comes,

-Pat-