Treasure Hunt.

2 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine..”

(Yes, that really is in the Bible, friends!)

I am reading through the New Testament book by book right now. Nothing fancy, no devotional involved, just the Bible.  I haven’t done that in a long time.

Here’s a shocking thought – Growing up in the church does not make you an all-knowing Christian.  In fact, it can make you more stupid than the next.

I used to think I knew a ton about scripture.  All those stories and parables, I’ve got them down.  I’ve even taught on many of them in Sunday School sessions, Young Life Clubs, Adult Women’s Bible Studies, etc.  I can just wake up in the morning and be fabulous because I know the drill.

What a load of crap.  And what a smart disguise the enemy uses to stop us from learning so much more.

But you want to know something?  While I’m sitting on my sofa reading this book verse by verse, chapter by chapter, I’m shocked at what I never saw here before.

This year I knew I was supposed to do 2 things: read the Bible and write.  For months I’ve been hearing in my head on repeat “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” James 4:8.  It’s a verse that we Christians often pull out in conversation.  But, seriously… it doesn’t say If God draws near to us that we will draw near to Him.  Nope, the ball is entirely in your court.

I love devotionals, Christian books, Facebook posts, youtube videos, worship music, going to church, even blogs… I have full-on revivals in my kitchen while dancing around by myself in my PJ’s (and I intend to keep that up).  But if you really want to draw near to God, the absolute best place to start is pulling out your Bible and reading it word for word.  It’s not at all boring when you really pay attention.  And, when you see the scriptures that come before and after those stories you think you know so well, you will be shocked at the dots you start connecting.

I recently said to Steve, “If I were the speaker at a conference to a huge stadium of people, I’d want my book tables to have Bibles on them and nothing else.”  Nothing I write will ever be a better idea than what you will find in there.  Because those words are capable of actually coming alive in you.

Do you realize, if you’re a Christian, you have a Holy Spirit inside you who literally waits for the chance to reveal Christ to your heart in a brand new way?

HE. WAITS.

Sometimes I feel like when I actually carve out real moments to sit with the Lord, the flood gates open and I start to hear all manner of things that He’s been anxiously waiting to tell me for days, weeks, months, even years. Things that change everything from the super small to the explosively big in my life.

Draw near… Think of what treasures you can find.  For instance, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine..”