Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

crying. In the same way, the Christian recognizes his Father's voice when he reads the
Scriptures.
A city farmer went to his first auction of cattle. He couldn't understand a word the
auctioneer was chanting. He asked a friend to bid for him and told him the limit. "I suddenly
understood every price the auctioneer quoted," the farmer observed. "The auctioneer was talking
about my money." When our eternity is invested in God, we understand what He is promising in
the Bible.
But what about the unsaved? What is his response to the Bible? First, the Scriptures
work in his heart to bring conviction (Jer. 23:29). But many unsaved per-sons don't respond to
God's call. What about them and the Bible? They corrupt the Bible (II Cor. 2:17), use it
deceitfully (II Cor. 2:17), disobey it (I Peter 3:1), add to it (Rev. 22:18) and take away from it
(Rev. 22:19).
You take on the characteristics of Jesus Christ as you study the Bible. Paul tells us, "We
all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image
from glory to glory" (II Cor. 3:18). This verse illustrates a man standing before a mirror, which
is God's Word. In the mirror he doesn't see his image, but a reflection of Jesus Christ. The more
he studies the mirror (the Bible), the more he becomes like Jesus Christ.
Some bad habits will disappear immediately after conversion. Others will linger. The
Bible is your source of help-to overcome all habits. As God's Word becomes a part of your
thinking, in turn you will think like God and overcome undesirable habits. The Word of God
will change your life if you give it an opportunity.
Take Christianity seriously. Set aside a time each day to read, study, meditate and
memorize the Word of God. These ' four words are stepping-stones to master the Bible, hence
overcoming bad habits. The Bible gives you new desires, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature" (II Peter
1:4).
First, read the Bible daily. Don't leave Bible reading up to your inclination or don't wait
until you are ready to study the Bible. Some days you won't feel like reading Scripture. You will
have to discipline yourself if you are to grow in Bible knowledge. General Douglas MacArthur
claimed, "Believe me, sir, never a night goes by, be I ever so tired, but I read the Word of God
before I go to bed." Develop a daily Bible reading plan. You can read the entire Bible in one year
if you read four chapters a day (see Appendix for daily Bible reading plan. Check off each
chapter as it is read.)
Second, Bible study is more than reading Scripture. As a young Christian, you are like
those in the first grade. You don't know the material nor how to study. An effective plan is to
begin with a basic Bible study book, one with questions that will make you think your way
through each verse. This guide will give you a systematic approach to personal study. Reading
will give you breadth, study will give you depth.