Another Good Reason to Read the Bible
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up (Romans 15:1,2a).
Paul saw this as the way a Christian lives. We are called to serve, not to be served. We are called to lay our lives down for others. Our determined purpose has to be building others up. This is what Christianity looks like.
For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” (Romans 15:2b,3).
Jesus came to show us, among other things, what God was really like. He also came to live the model life God wanted for every person on earth. This was a selfless life, a giving life. His perfect life drew the taunts of the world. Living a godly, giving life will always turn the world against us
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope (Romans 15:4).
So with the world against us, we need encouragement to keep living a self-giving life before God. He gives us that encouragement through the Scriptures. He wants us to hang in there for our whole life. That means enormous endurance. Encouragement to endure to the end comes through our constant reading of the Bible. This is God’s way of nourishing and feeding us. Make the reading of Scripture your number one habit and your life will never be the same!
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