What Do You Read?

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The kinds of things that we put into our minds are important. What we read and hear and see influence our thoughts. It influences how we see the world, and how we react to it.

Paul listed the kinds of things that we should be thinking about in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:8 (WEBBE): 8Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honourable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.

Now I have some really hard questions for you. You only have to answer them for yourself in the privacy of your own head, but you have to be honest.

Please don’t leave the page in a huff once you have read the questions, then you will miss out on the exciting conclusion!

  • What do you spend more time reading during an average day – the news or the Bible?
  • What do you spend more time reading during an average day – social media or the Bible?
  • What do you spend more time reading during an average day – fiction or the Bible?

I warned you these are hard questions. You might think that I am being completely unreasonable. And you probably, just like me, came up with several great reasons (excuses?) why the Bible comes in at a distant second. Lets now look at a nice easy general question.

  • Do you think that the thing that you spend the most time reading every day has the biggest impact on your thoughts? Why?

I am sure that you will agree that the more time you spend with something, the greater the impact is that it has on you. If you decide to become a chef, and buy some recipe books, and start experimenting with different dishes, I bet you will soon start to notice food at times and places that you would never have imagined before.

John 6:63 (WEBBE): 63It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

You are probably seeing where I am going with this. Nonetheless, here is the last question. It is also my challenge to you.

  • What do you think would happen if you devoted only half of the time that you spend right now reading the news, social media and fiction to reading the Bible?