You pray. You help others. You’re generous with your time
and talents. Most likely you’ve attended church worship services with fellow
believers. But, if you have not read the Bible cover to cover and continued to
read and study God’s Word, your writing will lack spiritual depth and accuracy,
and your readers will _____. (Fill in the blank.)
Many of us grew up in a Christian environment and heard
Bible stories from a young age. Those stories helped to shape us into people with character,
but sometimes they left us thinking we had to be perfect. They weren’t! Male or
female, every biblical giant had some flaw, but most Bible stories for children
don’t mention that part! And so, we endlessly strive or think we’ll never be
good enough for God. If, however, we read the full stories as an adult, that deeper
acquaintance with the Bible will remedy a skewed perspective.
Other young Christians heard about God’s wrath, but seldom (if
ever) heard about God’s forgiveness and love. Out of context, an abundance of
God’s punishment might make anyone think the Lord is downright mean! He’s not.
It’s just that what we knew – or thought we knew – about the Lord came from a
childhood view.
When, as an adult, you read the Bible for yourself, you’ll
see how patient and, yes, hurt God was by the flagrant disregard of His people
for His word, and eventually, He said, “That’s enough!” The idea was to
discipline and gather up His people to Himself, so they could live under His
guidance, wisdom, protection, provision, and healing grace. But, often, they
just wanted to do what they wanted when they wanted without restrictions, even
if that meant turning their backs on God’s kind, good, and loving intentions.
Are we any different? I ask because I’ve been involved with various
groups of Christian poets and writers and frequently see self-help influences
instead of godly principles. For example, think positively, picture success,
and it will come. Really? If that were so, who would need God? We’d be our own
gods, but I don’t want to be!
I don’t know what the future will bring, but I trust God to
work it out for good. I don’t know how to restore Christians to loving
fellowship instead of back-biting or polarization, but with God, nothing is
impossible. I don’t know how to heal people, but God does, and our loving
Heavenly Father knows when it’s time and when it’s not and why.
As you read the Bible again, notice the many, many promises of God and pray in agreement, knowing you’re agreeing with God’s will. Notice how patient and long-suffering and merciful God is. Get to know Him well from His word, and you’ll be able to speak beautifully, bountifully, and powerfully on His behalf in all you write.
And get to know, really know, Jesus.
You do know, of course, that God sent His own Son to bring all peoples back to Himself, for, through Christ, forgiveness restored our relationship with our Heavenly Father and resuscitated our spiritual lives. As we read the Gospels again and again, we get to know God more intimately through Jesus Christ, which then enables us to represent the Lord reliably and accurately in the Name of Jesus.
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