Daily Devotional For Friday, January 5, 2024

I was reading an email from a Christian organization, the Bible App, that does research on Christian growth. Most Christians knows they should read the Bible and according the lastest Gallup Poll on this, here is the link https://news.gallup.com/poll/2416/six-ten-americans-read-bible-least-occasionally.aspx#:~:text=In%20terms%20of%20frequency%20of,or%20never%20read%20the%20Bible. on how the stats break down.

• 65% of Americans believe the Bible agree that the Bible "answers all or most of the basic questions of life.
• Nearly 50% of Americans who agree with this say that read the Bible weekly.
• And the percentage of frequent readers, that is, those who read the Bible at least once a week, has decreased slightly over the last decade, from 40% in 1990 to 37% today.
• About one American in seven reports an involvement that goes beyond reading the Bible. Fourteen percent currently belong to a Bible study group. In terms of frequency of readership,
• Yet another 28% of Americans say that even though they believe the Bible has the answers for life, they rarely read the Bible at all.
• The more educated you are, the less likely you are to read the Bible consistently. 
• Bible reading has decreases significally since the 1980s from 73% to 59%.
• 16% of Americans say that they read the Bible every day.
• 21% say they read it weekly.
• 12% say they read the Bible monthly.
• 10% say less than monthly.
• And 41% say that they rarely or never read the Bible.
• 35% of Americans say they are "very interested" in deepening their understanding of the Bible and 40% say they are "somewhat interested." 24% of respondents report no interest in learning more about the Bible. Those who report the highest levels of interest in the Bible include women and people from the southern part of the United States.
• About six in ten Americans report reading the Bible at least on occasion, most of these people are exploring the text without the help of a Bible study group of any kind. 
• Only 14% of Americans report that they are currently in such a group. Women are slightly more likely than men to be in a study group (18% vs. 10%). About 43% of women say that they read the Bible either weekly or daily, compared to 29% of men.
• Marital status has little relationship with readership of the Bible. Thirty-eight percent of people who are currently married read the Bible at least once a week, compared to 35% of those who are not married.
• Older people are more likely to read the Bible than are younger people. Fifty percent of those over the age of 65 read the Bible at least weekly, compared to 27% of people between the ages of 18 and 29. Thirty-six percent of people in their 30s and 40s read the Bible that frequently.
• Political attitudes also appear to shape Bible-reading tendencies. Forty-seven percent of Republicans say they read the Bible at least weekly, compared to 32% of Democrats. Conservatives are more likely than moderates and liberals to read the Bible frequently.
• Psalms is the most popular, named by 13%, followed by Genesis (9%), Matthew (7%), John (6%), Revelation (6%), Proverbs (3%), Job (2%), and Luke (2%). The book of Mark is the only one of the four Gospels in the New Testament not mentioned by 2% or more of Americans.

Now, do you know what this tells us. The majority of Americans view the Bible relevant today. This is why discipleship groups, also called community groups, connect goups and small groups are so valuable today in the church. This is something your staff, Pastor Hunter, Pastor Steve, and myself are committed to establishing. We want to do these in homes where people feel more comfortable and the atmosphere is more inviting. We want to have a launch date of the Fall 2024. You will be hearing more from your staff about this in the upcoming months.

The Bible says this in these passages:

• Romans 15:4, "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope" (ESV).
• Psalm 119:11, "I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You" (ESV).
• Hebrews 4:12, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (ESV).
• Colossians 3:16, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (ESV).
• 2 Timothy 3:16, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (ESV).

There are some great benefits you get from reading the Bible as well. Look at these stats posed by LifeChurch on their web site:

• 59% less likely to view pornography
• 74% less likely to gamble
• 407% more likely to memorize Scripture
• 228% more likely to share their faith with others
• 231% more likely to disciple others
• These same people are 30% less likely to struggle with loneliness.

How about you? What is your level of reading God's Word? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Rarely? Never at all? The Bible is the best source for us to learn about God, salvation, life, Jesus Christ, marriage, parenting, spiritual maturity and an infinite list of other topics. It's a New Year -- 2024. Why not this year commit to reading God's Word every day? If you do not know where to start, you can "Google" Daily Bible Reading Plans. Pick one. Most of these are very short as well. Your Scripture to mediatate on comes from a prayer Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane hours before His arrest, trial, scourging, crucifixion and death. Thank you.

Scripture to Meditate On: John 17:17, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth" (ESV).

Prayer to Pray: "Dear Jesus, I need and want to get into Your Word -- the Bible -- on a daily basis. Just like I need physical food everyday to survive, I need spiritual food everyday to survive. Convict me to go to Your Word for growth, knowledge, answers, trust, growing my faith and a witness to others. I commit to do this starting today. In Jesus' name, Amen!"