by Alan Langstaff

When we first started school (in some cases many years ago). We were taught “reading and writing and arithmetic.” As time went on, we read all sorts of things – newspapers, magazines, textbooks, and the like. Some people like reading while others do not. I want to discuss the importance of reading if we are to grow in our lives.

In this letter, I want to look at 3 aspects of reading:

a) Reading books;
b) Reading the Bible;

c) Passing it on to others.

A) READING BOOKS

Some people are avid readers, others are not so drawn to reading, but there is a definite value in reading.

Let me share some of my own experiences, bearing in mind that often we are drawn to a particular kind of book.

I grew up during the time of the Second World War, and in my teenage years I was drawn to reading books about that war. Now, as I am much older, my interests are about different things. The last few years I have been reading books about eschatology – books regarding the end times, about what leads up to the return of Christ, about heaven, etc. Probably because I expect to be in heaven soon.

But as I look back on my life, there have been books that impacted me greatly. Let me give you a couple of examples. 

When I was in my late twenties and was studying to be an architect, I was working late one night when I decided to take a break. I noticed a book lying on a table. It was a Reader’s Digest magazine, and it included a version of a book. I don’t know how that book got into our house, as we didn’t subscribe to it. As I glanced through this condensed book, I couldn’t put it down. It was based on the book “A Man Called Peter” – the story of Peter Marshall, a Scotsman who ended up pastor of a prestigious church in Washington, D.C., and the chaplain to the U.S. Senate.

It was the first story I ever read that challenged me about going into the ministry, which I eventually did. Peter Marshall was the first minister I ever came across who made such an impact.

There were many other books that also ministered to me, and I will share another story later on.

READING BOOKS TOGETHER

Dorothy and I were married for a number of years when this happened. We were having a holiday at a friend’s cabin on a lake in Sandstone, Minnesota. I took some books to read, and during that time I read some of those books to Dorothy, generally in the evening. That began a new habit for us. Since that time, I continued to read books to Dorothy, and we discussed what we read and prayed together. Altogether, in the years that have passed, I probably have read over 100 books. We found that the best ones were usually biographical books, etc. Thus we were introduced to many great Christians. We found this reading habit to be a blessing to our marriage, something we did together.

B) READING THE BIBLE 

When I grew up, I grew up with the original King James Version. In 2 Timothy it reads:

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (Verse 15, KJV)

Other versions start off with the words “Be diligent.” An exhortation to consistency and perseverance. All in all, we are encouraged, challenged to “study” with perseverance.

There are many other references in Scripture to the need to study God’s Word. Take the case of Joshua. In chapter 1, he is told to be “strong and of good courage,” and then he is told: 

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.” (Verse 8, NKJV)

Likewise, in the instructions given to future kings as recorded in Deuteronomy chapter 17 verse 14-20:

“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book… And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes.” (Verse 18-19, NKJV)

Notice the call “he shall read it all the days of his life” – i.e. daily Bible reading.

So the challenge is for all who would consider themselves Christians to read and to study and then apply the Word to our lives on a daily basis.

Consider the following:

a) Do you read the Bible every day, or is it now and then? You may do it in the morning or in the evening when life has quieted down. Doesn’t matter when. Just read it. 

b) Have you ever read the Bible right through? That is no small task. It is actually a big challenge to read it through. Now I know that certain passages do not relate to life now, like the book of Leviticus. But it has all been put together into one book, the book of books. 

In previous years, I have accepted the challenge to read the whole Bible, and with the help of a Bible reading plan, I have spread it over the whole year. I found it very fulfilling. At the moment I am reading through the New Testament. I take one chapter a day and read it through twice. I found I get more out of it the second time. 

c) There are plenty of Bible Reading Plans you can get off the internet.

MY OWN STORY

Sometimes, indeed many times, we need the help of others to study the Bible.

While I was quite young, I was influenced by the pastors I heard preach who didn’t always believe the Bible to be true. After we were married, we moved to another part of the city. In the first year it was the same. The pastor didn’t always believe the Bible. Then in the second year there was a change and a new pastor came to our church. He wasn’t an intellectual, but he knew the Lord, and he accepted the Bible as true and trustworthy. He gave me a book to read by an English writer who later came to live in Canada. It was called “Fundamentalism and the Word of God.” The author was Dr. James Packer. I must confess that I read only two chapters he wrote on Jesus and the Scriptures, but he completely changed my mind about the Bible. He pointed out that Jesus never questioned anything in the Bible, but accepted it as true, even references to the likes of Jonah and the whale (big fish). Something happened, and I said to myself, “If it is good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me.” Since that day, I have accepted the Bible as the Word of God and decided that it would be the foundation for what I believe. I believe the Bible is true and trustworthy.

C) BOOKS FOR OTHERS 

One of the ways we can share Jesus is through books – books that we give or loan to others. At the moment I am 91 years old. The government has taken away my driver’s license. So I am dependent on others. I am housebound, but I can still share my faith with others who come to the house, and quite often I give a copy of either my book “The Best Is Yet to Be” or my wife’s book “Called Together.”

For example, this morning I had a visit from a new neighbor. She was looking for someone but he was at work. I invited her in, and we had quite a talk. Discovered that she was a reader and gave her copies of our books, which she gladly accepted. Who knows what might happen. You can pray for her.

You can give books as a present either at Christmas or at Birthdays. A present which will last a lifetime.

FINAL WORD

So there you are. The case for books. In a time when people spend so much time on computers, the internet, and TV. This is the challenge to read.

Let me finish with a story.

After the resurrection, there were two disciples going to Emmaus. On their journey, they were joined by Jesus, who, after a few comments Jesus “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27, NKJV)

Later on, they made the comment, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Verse 32)

I suspect that from that day forward they always remembered what He said. Our lives can likewise be touched by the Scriptures we read and the books that we read.

Be a reader!