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“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Christians, in some ways, are like anyone else. We all have a tendency to become lax about matters that should be basic and indispensable. It is like eating well. Anyone can learn how proper nutrition works and can even begin to do what it requires. But, there is always the human characteristic to revert back to old behavior, even when it is not good for us.
Daily Bible reading is like this. Within the heart of every Christian we know that the life-stream of our faith is the Word of God. If we did not know that, we would not even be a Christian. Somewhere in our history we had to have read or heard the Word or we would not have come to believe in Jesus and His gospel. Like so many other healthy behaviors however, over time, we become careless.
Do we remember how important faith is? Can we recall that it is “the victory that has overcome the world (1 John 5:4)? Do we still know that it is the very foundation of all Christian virtues (see 2 Peter 1:5-8)? Do we still live by the rules, “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6) and “the righteous man shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17)?
From the opening of the Bible to its closing, faith is at the core of everything we are and do as Christians. All would have to agree.
However, do we not have a tendency to forget how faith is constructed within us? It does not happen solely by prayer. We cannot conquer the world just by spending time on our knees. Faith is not supernaturally poured out upon us nor does it come by simple force of will. We have to “learn” faith. It comes only by a continuous flow of the Word into one’s mind. No other way.
Those reading this article might think that a preacher like me will always be strong in faith. Not so! To build faith I have to read and listen to the Word as a purposeful effort toward self-growth and not just to prepare a sermon. A preacher has to build faith just like any other Christian. He too has to spend time in the Bible when his own faith wavers.
Will you begin a Bible reading schedule today? Searching the internet will provide you with numerous free aids that will keep you on track to go through the Bible in a year. If you want to read more than that (I hope you do) you can find other schedules to achieve also any goal you want to set.
Will you commit to spending at least 30 minutes a day to reading and meditating upon the only way that faith can be built?
Floyd Kaiser
Southwest church of Christ
Ada, OK