Better than Beans and Broccoli

Here is what I believe to be a self evident, Biblically supported, blatantly obvious truth:

If you are a Christian, you must spend time in the Word and you must spend time in Prayer. It is non-negotiable, imperative, no exceptions.

It is not legalism. It is simply necessary. Some may say 'overstatement'. I say 'Essential'. There are some in this easy-going Christian culture of ours that would say that requiring anybody to do (or not do) anything is legalistic narrow-mindedness. After all, we are free in Christ. Don't stifle freedom by requiring people to read the Bible.

Here is why making a requirement of regular time in the Bible and regular time in prayer is not legalism at all:

1. The reason we are to be in the word and in prayer is not to win or to secure our salvation. Jesus does that through His death and shedding of blood and resurrection.

2. We would never consider it legalism to require our children to eat or to drink. Nor is it legalism to require our children to eat or drink certain things and to refrain from eating and drinking other things. Some kids would eat only sugar and candy until they barf. Jelly beans and chocolate will always be more exciting than beans and broccoli. However, the fact remains; a person will eat almost anything rather than die - even if the thing that's eaten will kill in the end. It is not legalism to require your soul to feed on the word of God. It is food. It is 'more to be desired than gold - yeah than much fine gold, and it's sweeter than candy (honey and the honeycomb). It is not legalism to prohibit your soul from feeding on other things (movies, music, books, etc.). I am not here to tell you what kinds of things which should or shouldn't feed your soul (that's another Blog for another day, perhaps). I am saying that if you don't feed on the Word, your soul will seek satisfaction in a million other things that are more interesting or more exciting or more titillating than the Bible. It is not legalism to lay down some things that are not healthy in order to feed on that which is "perfect and revives the soul". (See Psalm 19)

3. It is not legalism to spend time every day getting a greater vision of the One who is your Redeemer. The Scriptures reveal God. God reveals Himself in the scriptures. The main action of the Christian life is to know and love and enjoy God. There is no way to do this apart from the Scriptures. The issue here is that for your flesh, the Scripture is an acquired taste. Like certain foods or exercise, it is something that you must partake of in order to love. Read the Bible with a worshipful heart, looking for God and the attributes of God as you read, trusting the Spirit of God to reveal Himself to you and you will 'delight in the law'. You will long for it, like a child longs for nourishment. That longing is not legalism. It is evidence of Christ's righteousness.

4. It is not legalistic to seek out encouragement and hope. (See Romans 15:4) I want to have hope and I want to have encouragement. It is not the least bit legalistic to lay aside things and to sacrifice time or to get up earlier or to not work as much or to rearrange my time and my schedule and my entertainment in order to spend ample time in the Word. This Word will be far more eternally encouraging than "Survivor" or an MP3 player or MSNBC or a romance novel or the million and a half other things that I could do instead of reading the Bible and spending time with God. So, to say "no" to myself and my need to be entertained and to say "yes" to spending that time in the Scriptures is actually and ultimately saying yes to my own personal joy for now and for all of eternity. That's not legalistic. That's growing in grace.

My prayer for the new year is that we will embrace our walk with God through Jesus Christ and that we will absolutely order our lives around the Word and prayer. That's a challenge. But it's worth it.

Here are a couple of helps for those who'd like to take the plunge and read more of the Bible this year:

Try the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plans.

I prefer the traditional plan. However those who are more linear than I may like the Book-at-a-time plan. Check it out!