Be Ready
Recently I was asked a simple question, “Where should a new Christian start reading in the Bible?” It was a fascinating question, mainly because it is one that no person will ever hear the same answer. In my younger years I would have said Revelation, other times I would have said Romans or 1st and 2nd Samual, and even today I would have a different answer. However, this question got me thinking, and today I wanted to have that dialogue with you.
What book of the Bible would you recommend? Simply asked, but a loaded question. I cannot find one book of the Bible that gives any argument for “READ THIS FIRST” but rather each has it’s own uniqueness and is suited differently. God’s word is clearly ready for anything the human can find themselves in, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Yet where do we start? When we observe three attributes of Christ, we are given direction on what we should answer when confronted with this question.
As always the answer is viewable in Jesus Christ.
Rule Number One: Jesus gave unique answers to each question asked of Him, all sounded in scripture. Thus we should recognize that we should never tell someone to read a commentary or a Bible study book or some “Christian Theologian book.” I personally love C.S Lewis, but I would never give out his book to anyone who was asking how to get closer to God. If someone asked me about how to study the attributes of God, I would not take them to A.W Tozer; I would take them to scripture. I believe both men mentioned would agree. We are warned in scripture about those who would ignore the Bible but in the guise of studying God’s Word, 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
Rule Number Two: Jesus observed before answering. Look at any of His interactions within the Bible, and you will see He observes the individual first. This might be by listening to them or watching them run up to Him or even allowing them to grab Him before He does anything. We likewise need to listen to the individual who is asking the question. Why are they? Is there a specific need that they are asking God to help with?
Rule Number Three: Jesus is to the point. Jesus goes deep in many of His interactions with people, but He is always to the point. If someone asks us for advise on where to start reading we should not tell them “Let me think and pray about it and come back tomorrow” or “I am not qualified to answer that you need to go to the Pastor.” If the person felt comfortable enough to come to you, then give them an answer. Even if you are a new believer tell them the parts you have read and go from there. Proverbs 14:23 states, “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” We need to be ready to talk to about Christ at a moments notice, 1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
If we follow Jesus’ example we will be ready to answer any question brought before us; but most importantly where to start reading. All we need to do is make sure it is the Word of God we recommend not a published book by man, identify where the person is in life, and finally be direct to the point by giving a reason. We need to be equipped with the knowledge of the Word to be ready to identify which book is needed for the moment we are to answer.
So let us be ready to answer such an amazing question at any point by following the actions demonstrated by our Heavenly Father Jesus Christ.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL