A Special Invitation

”Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?“ ‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I’ve been reading the Bible for as long as I have been able to read. This was one blessing of growing up in a Christian home, connected to the church.  

In the Southern Baptist Church of my childhood, every year we would receive a new box of offering envelopes. On these envelopes, there was a checklist that apparently was tracked by someone keeping church records. As I think back on that, today I’d say that the checklist would feel a bit intrusive. But as I have always been a bit achievement-oriented, I am very thankful for that intrusion. I credit those little offering envelopes with helping me develop some valuable spiritual disciplines.

I can still remember the items on the checklist:

• Present
• Bible Brought
• Bible Read Daily
• Lesson Studied
• Giving
• Worship Attendance

As a child, I wanted to be able to check off every single box every single week. On some level, I still find myself checking that list in my head.  

I LOVE going to church. On the occasions that attending a Sunday morning gathering is not feasible, I feel so very out-of-sorts. 2020 really challenged me for this reason. While I am thankful for the availability of services to watch online, it’s just not the same. There is something very grounding in the act of going to a specific place to gather with other believers to worship God and to hear His Word.

I have the Bible app on my phone. I love that I can always have Scripture so easily accessible at any moment. But I love having my printed copies of the Word. I sometimes notice that I seem to be the only person still carrying a physical Bible to church, but I love having my Bible in hand. I don’t have a box on an envelope to check off anymore to get credit for having brought it. I bring It because it has become a valuable discipline.

Having been connected with the church since the “cradle roll,” I remember the little pink baby Bible with my name stamped on it. As I learned to read, I began to read that little copy of the Scriptures. I remember times where I would try to read through verses, chapters, and books of the Bible, underlining everything as I read it. I think I still have that little New Testament somewhere. It’s kind of a mess thanks to all of the underlining and highlighting I did, and at one time that bothered me. As I look back on it, though, those actions were so useful in building in me a habit of reading the Scriptures.

I completed my first journey through the whole of Scripture on my 18th birthday. I considered that my gift to myself. Interestingly, though I had professed faith in Christ as a child and been baptized, it would not be until the following spring that I would come to understand what that truly meant. My Christian walk through those first 18 years had been habit and obligation. An amazing shift occurred in my life when I moved from habit into relationship, and I believe that reading of Scripture was key in bringing me to that shift.

For many years, I looked to my experience as an 18-year-old college freshman as my “salvation experience.” Over the years, I have been able to see that my childhood profession of faith was an important part of my faith journey. I cannot say with certainty at what moment in time I became “saved.” To some that will sound like sacrilege. I know that both my childhood experience and my 18-year-old encounter were both vital to my spiritual development. (Throughout his writings, Paul speaks of those who are “being saved,” which is a theological discussion for another day.)

I’ve been reflecting on some of these things today, huddled under a blanket with a heating pad, just trying to get warm on this chilly morning. I’m nearing the end of my annual read-through of the Bible, preparing to start all over in just a couple of days. I’ve been considering how to turn this daily/yearly discipline into something deeper. I was talking with a friend just a couple of days ago about this very thing.

The Lord brought to mind a plan I’d heard about before, and as I’ve been investigating it this morning, I believe it is a direction that He is leading me to in the new year. Using a combination of resources, including the YouVersion Bible app, YouTube videos, and podcasts, I plan to work through “The Bible Recap” this coming year. I’m here today to invite you to join me on this journey in 2024.

That’s what I’m thinking about today - not just A THOUGHT, but a whole bunch of thoughts…