Morning Moments

There are so many things I have wanted to do in my life that I have either not done or not been able to do. I have always wanted to take my wife to Rome, Italy. I was there years ago, before I was saved and married, but I remember how romantic and beautiful it was. I certainly don't live with guilt because I cannot take her, but it would be so nice before we get too old to travel.

Another thing I have always wanted to do is read through the Bible every year. To be sure I have read through it and studied through it. I have even tried the read through the Bible in two years, but that hasn't worked either for me. "Oh my," I can hear someone say, "You are a preacher of 45 years and have not read through the Bible?"

I have studied every book, outlined almost every book, preached through every book, but nope, I have not read through the Bible in a year. "Why not?" you may ask. Because I can hardly get through a chapter without seeing a hundred things I want to study about it. I find myself writing a page of notes on a single verse. Everytime I read I become so enthralled I could and often do spend hours in study of the passage.

I love the Word of God and have found NO WHERE in it that I am to read it through once a year. I make this point and share this truth because there are those of us Christians who make a big deal of some minor thing like reading the Bible through every year, but fail to understand that it is not how you go through the Bible, but how the Bible goes through you.

So, here's the deal - don't let your heart or anyone else condemn you for not following a rule God hasn't made. Don't allow others to make you march to their music when God didn't write the score. I am convinced that many Christians let others saddle them with burdens, even good things, and miss the point of doing things God's way.

I know, I know, for those of you who do read it through every year, I know that there is no Bible verse in this devotional today, but I could give you a thousand. Keep your shirt on, and ponder the point. If you do it fine, if not don't condemn yourself nor let anyone else condemn you for it. PRAY AND OBEY!

BLESSINGS!