Way back at the beginning of time when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, I went to seminary. Before that, I thought I had a pretty good handle on scripture and basic theology. Then, the first day of class, the professor said, “Turn to the book of Zephaniah.”
As all the other students immediately opened their Bibles, I thought to myself, “Is that really in the Bible. I’ve never heard of Zephaniah.” That was the moment I realized I had a long way to go.
That day, I made it my mission to really know the Bible. It has been a true love affair ever since.
I have found reading the Bible helps me understand more about God working in the world, gives me comfort in the midst of the storms of life, gives me guidance, hope, joy, and peace. My Bible, which is worn, beat up, underlined, and has comments written throughout, has become my most important possession.
That’s why I am so excited that today, our church begins the program of reading the Bible in ninety days, called B-90.
We did this a few years ago, and it changed lives for the better. I expect the same to happen again.
Now don’t get me wrong, if you participate in this program, it will take discipline. Because, if you fall too far behind in your daily readings, it is extremely difficult to catch up. Also, in reading books like Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, you may think you are being punished. There will also be some parts of scripture where you will need an explanation. That’s a good thing.
Our church has three pastors that are trained in scripture. And, just for the record, I intend to pass off all the hard questions to Pastor Brian and Pastor Kit. It’s just the way I roll. But know we will answer your questions to the very best of our ability.
If you haven’t as of yet, signed up, it’s not too late. While some of the in-person classes have filled up, some still have openings. Also, for most of the classes, there is a Zoom option. All you have to do is go to the church website and register. It is a very simple process.
When Jesus was facing the storms of life and the Devil was tempting him, he used scripture as his guide. Jesus said, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.” (Matthew 4:4 CEB)
Today, make it a point to rely on scripture the way Jesus did. It will give you clarity in the midst of this confusing world, peace in chaos, and guidance to see God’s plan for your life. All you have to do is read.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for letting us draw closer to you through the words of the Bible. Please use these sacred texts to open my eyes, give me direction, and let my light shine in the darkness. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Sign up for B-90 and learn that Zephaniah really is in the Bible. It will be the start of a grand adventure. I hope you will be a part of it.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 