And other news briefs from Christians around the world. We need to receive the Scriptures regularly to be ready to meet those who refuse to receive the Scriptures. What Does the Bible Say About Distractions? May 26, 2016. But if I want more just to buy bigger and better stuff that I really dont need, I may be drifting into greed. Pastor John, thank you for this podcast. (John 17:17), Sanctification is the process of becoming holy that is, becoming more like Christ and like God, who is perfectly holy. Id definitely recommend this to anyone who is struggling to read the Bible consistently, who could use a little outside help. Publisher: OpenBible.info. If I care more about making money than about being a witness for Jesus Christ, Im being greedy. 6:19, 33). for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.. If I were studying for an exam in a class, I would start with a list of essential topics to be tested on. Today I want to answer four questions: (1) What is greed? Drowsy ( 2 instances) Gape ( 3 instances) Yawning. It seems ever since I have started to become more into Christianity when I pray or read the bible, I will By the way, one of the biggest reasons you find yourself distracted during Bible reading may be that you dont actually enjoy reading your Bible enough. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (2 Peter 1:2). When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. This is a question about motives. For my final column, I would like to share my favorite Bible verse: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. Even unborn infants yawn in the Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Am I valuing souls above earthly things? If I rejoice when I win a raffle or door prize, but I yawn when I hear about a soul being saved, Ive lost the eternal perspective, which is a sign of greed. Put it to death! Salvation has happened to Gods people, salvation is at this moment happening to Gods people, and salvation will happen completely at the resurrection of Gods people, and it is happening now by means. If this is the case, the yawning isn't what's distracting you; it's your response to the distraction. I think its dangerous. How fitting it is, then, that we be ever growing now in what will be our final joy in the age to come. B Is there a situation in your life right now that you need to get taken care of and stop procrastinating on? For my final column, I would like to share my favorite Bible verse: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (1 Timothy 1:15 ESV). 7:7), means desire. It often refers to lust. With regard to things, it means wanting what belongs to someone else. Its okay to have short quiet times! Suddenly his investments didnt matter quite so much! (Pro 24:33-34). When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. This site uses cookies to serve you better. And theres nothing wrong with working hard to succeed in your career. When you're more used to studying, you'll be better at staying focused on it. They built the high places of Baal in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. And what I mean by this is that full understanding, full enjoyment of the truth of Scripture, will be experienced only in heaven. I been so distracted with work and other things lately but thank God for the tips shared, I believe that from now, I do better in studying the word. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Preaching about greed is not easy. What is the first and most essential thing I need to know to follow Christ by reading his word?, Well, my answer is probably going to be a little bit frustrating, because hes asking for a particular truth in the Bible, and Im going to say, Bible, Bible, Bible, Bible.. None is righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10). This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared? Jesus concluded (Luke 12:21), So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. The man wasnt content, even though he had plenty. The Bible is help, not oppression. Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake., Jesus said to him, You have said so. And the context is that Jesus is showing the Jewish leaders that, though they think they are not slaves, You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your fathers desires (John 8:44). If the real answer is, So that I could be rich, you may be into greed. And he began to teach them many things. The next question is related: Or, if Im considering buying something, how hard would it be for me to give this up later? https://equippinggodlywomen.com/faith/distracted-during-prayer- But we each have to stand before God someday. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It is through the Bible that we learn that God is our loving creator and constant wooer. As I mentioned last Sunday, if Christians saw greed as equal to idolatry and as serious as sexual immorality, how could we have tolerated for even one second the flamboyant TV preachers who flaunt their extravagant wealth and brazenly tell everyone that financial prosperity is their divine right? And that may seem obvious to them or to others, but it isnt obvious, because I know fairly well-along Christians who dont do this. I would just like a little bit more (and more, and more!). This might sound really weird. . I also yawn, interestingly enough, singing hymns in church. However, comments that are rude,hateful, malicious, or spammy will be immediately deleted without warning. Then, Im sharing seven techniques that work great for me Maybe one of them will help you too? If greed was a problem for them in that culture, then surely we who live in this prosperous nation, must come to grips with greed. And what a wonderful opportunity to be pleasing to the Lord. When I did this at one church, a staff member whom I'd asked for feedback between services told me to cut down on the Scripture quotations. (1 Kings 13). So he planned to build bigger barns, while he congratulated himself that he had plenty stored up for years to come. If it actually may be something or if it's in my head. Blog, A In fact, when I was researching my book, Fall in Love with Gods Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women, distractions were one of the TOP seven reasons why Christian women dont read their Bibles as often as theyd like. Do you ONLY talk to them when all of you have an uninterrupted 30 minutes to set aside? Here are nine common but wrong ways to read the Bible: The warm fuzzies approach reading the Bible for a glowing, subjective experience of God, ignited by the words of the text, whether we understand what they actually mean or not. Result: frothy reading. S Comment policy: All opinions are welcome here and friendly, edifying debates are encouraged. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For most American Christians, tithing is a cop out from our responsibility as Gods stewards. We listen like a husband and wife listen when they are in the middle of an argument: they listen only so they can have ammunition to mount a counterattack. I realize that it takes a lot of time and energy to earn a living. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. So, John writes to the young believers, I write to you, young men, ), How to Read the Bible Daily (And Make it a Habit). When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, Woman, you are freed from your disability. And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. (Num 16:32). We teachers and preachers are well aware of how easily listeners get bored. Webster defines it as excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness. It defines the synonym, covetous, as, marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for anothers possessions. The problem is, those terms are subjective. If your distractions are simply run-of-the-mill annoyances caused by tiredness or boredom, the four suggestions above should take care of the problem. When I preach, I often quote the Bible to drive home my point. WebExcessive yawning may be caused by an underlying condition. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. If I feel myself drawn to some easy, instant way to making a fortune, I probably need to deal with my greed. 2. How to Study the Bible for Yourself (Easy Beginner Method), How to Stop Getting So Distracted During Prayer and Bible Study, Struggling to Read the Bible Consistently? Not only will it help you get more involved in the text, but it will grow your friendship too. Are we being greedy when we have nice cars in our driveways and expensive toys in our garages? And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Think about it this way: The Bible isnt just a bunch of lifeless words on a page. (2 Timothy 4:3). If you struggle to focus while reading your Bible because you feel like its boring or you arent getting a lot out of it,Id love to invite you to check out my brand new book: Fall in Love with Gods Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women! {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Hello! One of the most beloved broadcast preachers was also a dear friend and spiritual father to my family. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. The Christian life is a life of many afflictions. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christby grace you have been saved And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. The Bible Helps Us To: 1. well, is it any surprise then that youre distracted? I have never met a mature, fruitful, strong, spiritually discerning Christian who is not full of Scripture, devoted to regular meditation on Scripture, and given to storing it in the heart through Bible memorization and thats not a coincidence. The causes of yawning are not well understood (See wikipedia). The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. Byron Yawn is the senior pastor of Community Bible Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Do you need extra motivation to read Scripture? If you dream about winning the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, you need to ask, Why do I want to win? Be honest: Is it really so that you can give away most of it to the Lords work around the world? All wealth comes from God as a gift entrusted to us to use properly for Him. PLOS ONE just completed a thorough study about contagious yawning . And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. No one comes to the Father except through me. Here are a few additional posts you may enjoy: How to Read the Bible (Easy Instructions for Beginners! Its How God Reveals His Character And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The LORD, the LORD, the Paul says to hold fast to the teaching and thereby save yourself. Undefined cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Overcome 7 common obstacles preventing you from spending time in Scripture, Discover the personalized Bible-reading routine that works for YOU, Learn 15 easy ways to make reading the Bible more meaningful and enjoyable, Use Scripture to conquer sin, false beliefs, and negative thought patterns. But yeah, anybody else deal with this? 3:8) are more precious to you than all the riches that this world has to offer. And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.. One day he finds it, but rather than bringing him the happiness he had hoped for, it brings him one problem after another, because everyone is after his pearl. Jesus Brought Relief. After class, the moderator for the class suggested that, for the following week, the teacher make room for questions; he suggested the teacher cut down on the reading of so many Bible verses as this would save time and, it was strongly implied, would better hold people's interest. start reading my latest book, Follow God's Will, for FREE! I said, You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. Its like a loaded gun. Visit our About Page to learn more about EGW and how we can help you. N Browse 60+ years of magazine archives and web exclusives. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. What do I do about calling a priest father at my Catholic University? Do I want more to provide more adequately for my family? For example, Paul says that if I dont provide for my own family, Im worse than an unbeliever and have denied the faith (1 Tim. Set an alarm on your phone (maybe two!) Now for the convicting part of this message: Before we look at these signs, let me warn you that we need to be careful to judge ourselves and not others (Matt. Mark Galli is senior managing editor of Christianity Today and author of A Great and Terrible Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Attributes of God (Baker). Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. But a loaded gun is always dangerous, especially if its in the hands of a five-year-old. We all know the right answer. The frustrations of our present limitations of understanding and enjoyment will be removed. P This made me realize that during church services as a kid, and the few times I have recently gone, I could yawn over and over and over again the whole time. (that is what makes you feel tiered) It does not nessesary mean that you are bored of God, or that you I want to be knowledgeable about Scripture so that it can guide me and so that I can use it to guide others in the future. This is not optional. Those are strong words! But God said (Luke 12:20), You fool! So we need to face these matters personally and honestly on the heart level before Him. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In other words, where do I start? But there is so much. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. But lately I'm beginning to question that move, and wondering, Why have we become so impatient and bored with the Word of God? OpenBible.info Im overwhelmed at how much I dont know about the Bible. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Greed is a serious sin to be avoided! John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. Think about the conversations you have with your husband and children. It seems ever since I have started to become more into Christianity when I pray or read the bible, I will yawn a whole lot more. Is God putting something or someone on your heart that you need to pray for? Im not talking about that. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. God saves us daily by Scripture. *This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. In a world of suffering and pain, of doubt and despair, of questions about the meaning and purpose of existence, we are about to hear of God's glory, forgiveness, mercy and love, of his intention for the world, of his promise to make it all good in the end, of the way to join his people, of the means to abide with him forever! The good news? Are you trying to spend time with God right in the middle of your busy day (when your mind is going a million miles per hour) or last thing at night (when youre tired and likely to fall asleep)? When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Then Jesus told the story of the man who had too many crops for his already-full barns. For example: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christby grace you have been saved, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. 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