This morning when Scott was on his way out the door to work, he was telling the kids goodbye. Judah was crawling along the couch, and got to the end where Scott and my Bibles were. Judah grabbed for one, and Scott said, "Judah, don't touch the Bible". Over the years, we've told both Olivia and Judah that. "Don't touch our Bible". Olivia has a habit of writing/coloring in them, and Judah loves to destroy anything paper. Most parents say the phrase, "Don't touch that" without even realizing it a lot of the time. "Don't touch that glass." "Don't touch the TV." "Don't touch those papers." But this morning, as Scott gave warning to Judah, it made me think. We don't want our kids to grow up having never opened and eventually read a Bible. Now sure, that's not what Scott meant by telling Judah "No", but I began to think about it.
Scott, being a pastor, does a lot of his reading and studying at his office. We have different translations of the Bible all over the house and at the church. When at home, Scott enjoys a lot of his reading in our living room, which is where he will leave his Bible. I mostly read mine on the couch as well, so you can usually find one or two copies there. Both of our kids see plenty of Bibles, but what's most important is both our kids see us READ them. I want them to be interested and curious about what we're reading. I don't want them to grow up and have a bunch of Bibles (or even just one) but have it sit in a corner or on a shelf somewhere collecting dust.
The other day, Scott and I were talking about small group studies. We were sharing experiences from books we'd read as part of a group study, and started talking about studies of certain books in the Bible. He was telling me about one particularly successful study where they read through a book in the Bible. I agreed with him, and said how so many Christians are lacking the most important knowledge and tool of BEING Christ-like, and that's knowing God's Word. Scott made a great point when he said how easy it is for Christians to grab for the Joyce Meyer or Joel Osteen book. Don't get me wrong, love both of these writers, but these kind of "life application" and devotional books can't be supplements to God's true and holy Word. Some of you may know my favorite writer and speaker is Lisa Bevere. I think I have all but one of her books. She is so anointed and I am always blessed by reading her work. Sometimes it's easier for me to go for one of her books than pick up my Bible. However, these books cannot become a supplement to reading and studying my Bible.
Of course, we don't want our kids to destroy any of our belongings, especially any one copy of the Bible. However, Scott and I both desire for them to grow up reading, discovering, and loving God's Word. I want them to know how important it is in the life of a believer. That short conversation between my husband and our youngest child this morning made me think and then made me smile because I know we are trying to set good examples for our children in the importance of daily time in the Bible.
Scott, being a pastor, does a lot of his reading and studying at his office. We have different translations of the Bible all over the house and at the church. When at home, Scott enjoys a lot of his reading in our living room, which is where he will leave his Bible. I mostly read mine on the couch as well, so you can usually find one or two copies there. Both of our kids see plenty of Bibles, but what's most important is both our kids see us READ them. I want them to be interested and curious about what we're reading. I don't want them to grow up and have a bunch of Bibles (or even just one) but have it sit in a corner or on a shelf somewhere collecting dust.
The other day, Scott and I were talking about small group studies. We were sharing experiences from books we'd read as part of a group study, and started talking about studies of certain books in the Bible. He was telling me about one particularly successful study where they read through a book in the Bible. I agreed with him, and said how so many Christians are lacking the most important knowledge and tool of BEING Christ-like, and that's knowing God's Word. Scott made a great point when he said how easy it is for Christians to grab for the Joyce Meyer or Joel Osteen book. Don't get me wrong, love both of these writers, but these kind of "life application" and devotional books can't be supplements to God's true and holy Word. Some of you may know my favorite writer and speaker is Lisa Bevere. I think I have all but one of her books. She is so anointed and I am always blessed by reading her work. Sometimes it's easier for me to go for one of her books than pick up my Bible. However, these books cannot become a supplement to reading and studying my Bible.
Of course, we don't want our kids to destroy any of our belongings, especially any one copy of the Bible. However, Scott and I both desire for them to grow up reading, discovering, and loving God's Word. I want them to know how important it is in the life of a believer. That short conversation between my husband and our youngest child this morning made me think and then made me smile because I know we are trying to set good examples for our children in the importance of daily time in the Bible.
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