You.

A study released in April of 2017 by Lifeway research shows that many Americans have a positive view of the Bible. Almost 90% of Americans own a Bible, according to the American Bible Society, and the average home has three copies. Americans own bibles, but how much of the Bible have Americans actually read? A according to the study, one in five Americans has read the Bible through at least once. Not quite 10% have read it through more than once. But a little more than half of those surveyed said that they have read relatively little of the Bible, and 10% have read none of it at all. An earlier study revealed that only 17% of all Christians read the Bible daily, and just 21% read at least once each week. When asked why they haven't read the Bible more frequently, people gave a variety of excuses that include it's not a priority to them, they don't have time, they don't agree with what it says, they don't think it's relevant to their lives, and they prefer other books. Overall, Americans have a positive view of the Bible, but they don't seem to have any urgency about reading it. How is it that we can claim that the Bible is such a good book, yet read it so little? Moses told God's people that they were to take to heart the words of God. These are not just idle words, he said. They are your life. Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verses 46 and 47. There is a connection between the frustrations of life and our failure to read and be influenced by the Bible. The Bible is a book of theology, of course, but it also teaches us how to live, how to get along with others, and how to find happiness as well as salvation. To live without reading the Bible is to live without God. Reading the Bible is not all there is to the christian life. Of course, we also need to worship each Sunday with other believers, help those in our world who are in need lead the lost to Christ and other things. But reading the Bible is like breathing. Don't do it and you'll die. It's not enough to own a Bible. You need to read it as well.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected] have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.