10. The Bible keeps us from being conformed to this world.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
The world bombards us with sinful and foolish temptations. The world screams for conformity to its systems and ways. We desperately need to be people who fix our eyes on Jesus, and meditate on all his words, so that we are not conformed to the world, but transformed to be more like him.
If you want to be average and irrelevant, ignore the word and fall in with the world. If you want to make an eternal difference for the world, be transformed by God’s word.
11. The Bible teaches us to pray.
If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Proverbs 28:9)
Without the Bible, our prayers too easily drift into our own fleshly, sin-driven complaints, desires and pity-parties. With the Bible, we can see reality, see our sin, even see the sins of others against us, and approach the throne of grace for help, with deep and lasting truths ringing in our ears.
12. The Bible spurs us toward genuine and healthy fellowship and accountability.
Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)
The Bible helps us in our families and churches to make God’s glory the goal, sin the enemy and perseverance in our faith the priority. It gives us the courage and wisdom to humbly and lovingly admit our own wrongs to others and to confront sin in one another.
Make this next year a quest to find joy in God by hearing from God. He’s worth all the effort.
