You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 3:15

The Bible is like a library. It has a historical section, a poetry shelf, and a collection of wisdom literature. There are practical helps for daily living. If you are musically inclined, there is a section just for you. If you like human interest stories, there are lots of biographies and autobiographies. There are even books that look into the future!

When you visit a library, you need to know how it is arranged so you can quickly select the material of your choice. Take some time to sit down with God’s Word and familiarize yourself with its layout. Then try to read something from each section in the course of the year, so you will have a balanced view of the whole.

The Holy Spirit is like the librarian. His job is to answer your questions, see to your complaints, and encourage you to become an accomplished reader. In the end though, you have to sit down and read the book. The librarian cannot do that for you; neither can the other people who use the library!

Many of us treat our Bibles as we treat our public libraries. Some of us never even bother to get a card. Others of us start a book, never finish it, and find ourselves fined for keeping it too long. That’s a shame! It will always cost you if you make a habit of doing that! It will cost you the encouragement, wisdom, and instruction that are available to you. Become a book lover. Read in God’s library today.

For Further Study: 2 Timothy 2:1-17

Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.

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