Why (The Core)
This is your gut feeling, your purpose, your reason for existing. It's not about making money or getting ahead - that's just the result. Your why is deeper. Maybe it's "I want my kids to know they can overcome anything" or "I believe hard work and integrity still matter" or "I want to show other men it's okay to struggle and still be strong."
Some have a false belief and misunderstanding about who can or should read the Bible. It is believed that only scholars, pastors, priests, seminary students, graduates, and the super righteous, prophets or saints can and/or should read the Bible and only they can understand it properly.
Let’s unpack those misbeliefs.
The Lie.
The religious leaders are the only qualified to read the Bible.
The Truth.
The Religious leaders (pharisees and Rabbis) of the day were considered Sons of Satan, whose hearts were whitewashed tombs and could not understand.
Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44-45
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like
whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23:27-28
The Lie.
Only the prophets and righteous men should read the Bible.
The truth.
Many prophets and righteous men desired to understand the word of God and could not.
17For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:17
The Lie.
Only those who performed miracles and cast out demons are allowed to read the Bible.
The Truth.
To those who performed miracles and cast out demons, Jesus stated, “I never knew you.”
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in Your name, and in Your name
cast out demons, and in Your name
perform many miracles?’
23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
Matthew 7:21-23
So, you see, there is
no excuse for you not to be in the Bible and reading it for yourself. If you still feel unworthy, unqualified or inadequate to read it on your own; perfect! You are exactly who God is looking for!
Because: “None are righteous.”
as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; Romans 3:10
And:
Not many wise, mighty or noble, rather
they were foolish, weak, base, despised and “things that are not.”
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29so that no man may boast before God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
The real question you need to ask and answer is this:
Who are you? What is your identity?
And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I
recognize Jesus, and I
know about Paul,
but who are you?”
Acts 19:15
If you answered with some form of
“I want to believe, or I do believe; help my unbelief”
you are exactly who God is looking for!
“And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
24Immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
Mark 9:23-24
Belief is simply what you understand to be true. To help your “unbelief” you must either increase your understanding or increase your exposure to the truth. Both of those come through spending time in the Bible. It is what truly delights the LORD.
The same way a father delights in a child who wants to spend time with him. Our Heavenly Father, who has adopted us as His children, loves it too.
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
24but let him who boasts boast of this,
that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Do you see now? Your
IDENTITY, who you think you are, is the key that unlocks the door. It is also the reason why the enemy attacks you so hard in that area.
The big lie of “you are not allowed, skilled, mature, wise, etc. to read the Bible for yourself is to keep you out of the Bible entirely.
The only way to delight God and please Him is to understand and know Him. That is best found in dwelling in the Word on your own.
If your identity and perception of who you are has you believing that you are not worthy of reading the Bible for yourself, you won’t.
This is why identity, self-concept and perspective are so important. And this is also why the enemy, Satan, attacks it. He knows that your identity is the key, and belief is the engine that drives action. He wants you “sitting on the shelf” for God. He is very happy to just have you “saved and satisfied” because you won’t do any more damage to him and his realm if you are not engaged and aligned with God and His army.
Every action you take is a direct reflection of your thoughts, and specifically your identity of who you are.
Not sure what to do? So, what? Do something anyway! Take the next logical step in front of you. It doesn’t matter if it is right or wrong. You will find out soon enough and if it’s wrong, correct it quickly. Early detection leads to early correction.
But Jesus said, “Get going!” I don’t care what or where, good or bad (hot or cold), just don’t be lazy and lukewarm. Move!
‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will 1spit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:15-16
