Power of Bible Reading

Why make it a habit to read the Bible? Especially when there are lots of great Christian books to read, Bible studies to attend and sermons to download, all of which seem more readily digestible and practical than reading a bit of the Bible each day? Here's Dallas Willard's thoughts on the unique effectiveness of the Bible incorporated into your daily life....

The Prophets and the Gospels share with the Law this vital function of enabling human beings to know God--to know what God is doing and what we are to do. For in that knowledge lies our true well-being....

The law of the Lord gratefully received, studied, and internalized to the point of obedience is "perfect" as Psalm 19:7 says. There is nothing lacking in it for its intended purpose. It therefore converts and restores the souls of those who seek it and receive it. It is a living and powerful being, capable of distinguishing soul and spirit in man and dealing with them appropriately and redemptively (see Hebrews 4:12).

If we want to see real change in our lives we have to start with reading the Bible. Even when it seems tedious or difficult, it is at work restoring our souls and renewing our minds.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple." Psalm 19:7

Quote from Revolution of Character by Dallas Willard with Don Simpson.

Small Steps to Spiritual Transformation

I'm currently reading Revolution of Character by Dallas Willard and Don Simpson, so, as always when I'm reading Dallas Willard, expect a lot of quotes:

I believe one reason so many people fail to immerse themselves in the life described in the New Testament is that is so unlike their own experience. This is true even though they may be quite faithful to their church and really do have Jesus Christ as their only hope. But the New Testament presentation of the life they are offered in Christ only discourages them. Instead of inspiring them, it makes them feel hopeless.

Why is this? Surely the life God holds out to us in Jesus was not meant to be an unsolvable puzzle! I suggest that for all our good intentions and strenuous efforts, we don't approach and receive the life Jesus offers us in the right way.
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Jesus invites us to leave our burdensome ways of heavy labor--especially our religious ones--and step into the yoke of training with him. His is a way of gentleness and lowliness, a way of soul rest. His is a way of inner transformation in which carrying our burden with him is easy and light (see Matthew 11:28-30). What we thought was so difficult about entering fully into divine life is entirely due to our failure to understand and take the small steps that quietly but surely lead to our transformation.

What are these small steps? In large part they are simply the habits we have been talking about in this blog. So don't get discouraged. Keep reading. Keep praying. Keep attempting to create oases of quiet in your life. These are the little things that will quietly but surely lead to your transformation into the image of Christ.