BIBLICAL ILLITERACY

Have you noticed how the sound of a phone notification instantly grabs your attention and triggers a rush of excitement? Some of us, when sitting somewhere and needing water, might call our spouse, children, or someone else in the family to bring it to us. But the moment a phone notification goes off, we jump out of our seats to grab the phone. I hope you can relate to what I’m saying. Unfortunately, this is a sign that technology—especially our mobile phones—has hijacked our minds and lives beyond our control. It literally controls us every day, though our ego may not allow us to admit that truth.

When we drive on the highway, we often see signboards that say, “They can wait — don’t text and drive.” Those signs exist because many distracted drivers have ended up in disastrous accidents, prompting authorities to install them for passenger safety. The bottom line is that smartphones have the ability to control us because we are so heavily influenced by them.

Now the question is: as believers, do we have the same adrenaline rush when the Holy Spirit reminds us about the dusty Bible sitting on the corner shelf in our house? How many times have we brushed off God’s reminder to read the Bible by saying, “I’m tired; I’ll do it tomorrow”?

"The breakthrough you have been waiting for is sitting in the corner of your house, ignored."

We are living in the most advanced generation ever. We have access to so many versions of the Bible, and with just one click, we can read the entire Bible on our phones. Yet, we still struggle to consistently study God’s Word. We have lost our longing for the Word of God. We no longer feel convicted, even if we go many days or weeks without reading it. The unread messages from God in our Bibles keep piling up day by day, and it doesn’t even bother us. Then we wonder why we are spiritually dry.

Biblical illiteracy is a dangerous virus that is slowly eating away at the soul of Christianity around the world, and we must do something about it before it is too late. From my personal experience, I can tell you that if you study the Bible consistently, you will experience the presence of God more deeply than you might even at a fire conference. There were times when I started reading the Bible intending to finish just one chapter, but I ended up continuing until I finished an entire book.

The Bible says in Hebrews 4:12 (ESV):

“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.”

The Bible is not a dead religious book. Often, the reason we struggle to spend time consistently on Scripture is that we lack an understanding of what it can truly do in our lives. Despite countless persecutions and opposition throughout history, the Bible is still transforming the lives of billions around the world because it is not merely a religious book, but the living and active Word of the sovereign God.

It is sharper than any two-edged sword. It has the ability to pierce the soul and spirit, joints and marrow. His Word can even bring healing to your soul and physical body as you meditate on it and believe it with all your heart. It can discern the thoughts and intentions of your heart. The breakthrough you have been waiting for is sitting in the corner of your house, ignored. When you truly understand the change God’s Word can bring, it will lead you to meditate on it daily. More than any podcast or sermon you listen to, through Scripture, God speaks personally to His people.

If you have a Bible in your mother tongue, you are truly blessed. Even today, many people around the world do not have access to the Bible in their own language. Often, we do not realize the value of what we have until we lose it. Over the past fourteen years of ministry, God has given me the opportunity to travel to many nations and meet believers from different backgrounds. I have witnessed the passion and zeal of believers in developing countries who, despite intense persecution and poverty, hold tightly to the Word of God. It is amazing to see how deeply they embrace Scripture and experience the beauty and life-changing power it brings into their lives.

At the same time, there are so many people still suffering in the darkness of this sinful world. My heart aches for them, and I often think about how wonderful it would be for them to encounter the saving grace of Jesus Christ and experience the light only He can bring. These experiences were both eye-opening and deeply convicting for me personally. They made me realize how often I had taken for granted the privilege of having the Bible in my hands. Now, my heart longs for His Word every day. If I go even a single day without spending time in Scripture, my heart feels heavy and convicted because I know I have allowed the busyness and cares of life to override my time with God’s Word. Know the power of God’s Word and understand the privilege of having a Bible in your preferred language.

As you read this, if you are a believer, from the bottom of my heart, I encourage you to take your personal Bible study to the next level from this moment onward. Nothing in your life is more important than learning and meditating on the Word of God. You will be surprised to see how much it can bring peace and solutions to the problems you face in your life, and above all, experience the presence of God intimately. 

It is not your own strength or efforts that will sustain you through the storms of life, but your deep roots in the Word of God that will anchor you in the midst of every storm. Our forefathers endured great trials because of their deep knowledge of and trust in the Word of the living God.

As believers, the Bible is our refuge and foundation in the uncertainty of this world. So prayerfully make this decision today: “Lord, from this day onward, I will not let my Bible sit untouched while it holds the unread promises, wisdom, and truth You have given me through Your Word.”

How Biblical Illiteracy Impacts the Life of a Believer

1. When you do not know the Word of God, you become vulnerable to deception and false teachings.
2. Biblical illiteracy weakens your spiritual life over time and eventually leads to spiritual dryness.
3. If you do not develop a passionate habit of reading Scripture, you may pass the same spiritual neglect on to your children.
4. Every time you ignore the promises of God found in Scripture, you become more vulnerable to believing the empty promises of this world.
5. Biblical illiteracy produces powerless Christians who lack spiritual strength, discernment, and stability.

How Biblical Literacy Impacts the Life of a Believer

1. Biblical literacy helps you discern false teachers and recognize teachings that are not rooted in God’s truth.
2. It strengthens you to become a mature disciple of Jesus Christ who can make a lasting impact in the lives of others. Instead of becoming a slave to the values of this world, you learn to live according to the will of God.
3. Biblical literacy also helps you become an example to your children, guiding them to grow as deeply rooted Christians grounded in the Word of God.
4. When you know Scripture deeply, you are less likely to be deceived by the empty promises and temporary pleasures this world offers.
5. Biblical literacy produces spiritually strong believers who can endure and remain faithful through every circumstance of life.

“It often astonishes me that I did not see the importance of meditation upon Scripture earlier in my Christian life. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time unless he eats, so it is with the inner man. What is the food for the inner man? Not prayer, but the Word of God—not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe. No, we must consider what we read, ponder over it, and apply it to our hearts.” — George Müller

I pray that your turning point with the Word of God begins at this very moment. Never waste the precious time God has given you in this world to fellowship with Him and grow through His Word. Seize every moment with a passionate and grateful heart, invest your time in Scripture, and you will grow into a mature and fruitful disciple of Jesus Christ.