Have you ever read verses from the Bible and felt as though they were written just for you? As your eyes move across the page your heart is opened in a way it hasn’t been before. Somehow the words are no longer just words. They have become living and active, able to speak into your life in a powerful way. You feel comforted, encouraged, challenged, even corrected. God has reminded you of something your heart has forgotten or He has planted a new thought into your mind. As you live into the truth that He has revealed you realize that something has changed…you have changed. The scriptures are like that…active, living, able to cut to the depth of our soul and grow us closer to God.
Personal, daily time in the word with God leads to greater intimacy and understanding. It is the cornerstone of your relationship with God. But wait…there’s more! As you dive into the scriptures and put them into practice with a community of people, it grows you closer to God and people! It is a core practice that helps you form and cultivate spiritual friendships as you journey through life. In fact, reading and practicing scripture together is the number one catalyst for spiritual growth!
As Jesus shared life with his disciples, they talked about God’s word and He challenged them to put it into practice. This is where the rubber meets the road, and He knew that this core practice would form and shape them more into His image and lead to a full and abundant life.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
You too can integrate this core practice into your regular rhythm of life. Whether it be with a small group, ministry team, Sunday school class, your neighbors, friends or co-workers, read and practicing scripture together helps you enjoy and grow in intimacy with God and each other.
- What community do you gather with on a regular basis to read scripture together?
- How do you put these scriptures into practice?
- What are some ways you could integrate this core practice into the regular rhythm of your community life?