A few months ago, I hit a wall. I wasn’t in a position where I was questioning my faith, or going through a “what does it all mean” thing or anything like that. I was just tired. Completely and utterly wiped out spiritually. My tank was empty, and I needed to refuel and recharge.
Part of the problem was I hadn’t been reading my Bible consistently enough. This is why I started a Bible reading plan in January, which I’ve thankfully adhered to consistently through this year (so far). And what this renewed practice has done has reminded me of the importance of prioritizing this one book above all others.
I love reading, and I always will love it, but if I only had one book in the world to read, it needs to be my Bible. As Charles Spurgeon said,
All other books might be heaped together in one pile and burned with less loss to the world than would be occasioned by the obliteration of a single page of the sacred volume [Scripture]. At their best, all other books are but as gold leaf, requiring acres to find one ounce of the precious metal. But the Bible is solid gold. It contains blocks of gold, mines, and whole caverns of priceless treasure. In the mental wealth of the wisest men there are no jewels like the truths of revelation. The thoughts of men are vanity, low, and groveling at their best. but he who has given us this book has said, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Let it be to you and to me a settled matter that the word of the Lord shall be honored in our minds and enshrined in our hearts. Let others speak as they may. We could sooner part with all that is sublime and beautiful, or cheering and profitable, in human literature than lose a single syllable from the mouth of God.[1. C.H. Spurgeon, from the sermon “Holy Longings,” as quoted in Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke, pp. 27-28]
