This stack of books contains all the books I am currently reading.
Books about mothering.
Books about the names of God.
Books about education philosophy.
Books about juggling life’s responsibilities.
Books I have read almost to the end.
Books I have barely started.
Some I read a chapter a month. One I am reading for my mom group twice a month. Some I try to read a chapter a day. Some I read only a page at a time.
But reading all the books in the world doesn’t matter a single bit, if I’m not reading the book on top of the stack.
I may be reading books about the names of God, but those are not the Word of God.
I may be reading not one, not two, but four books authored by Sally Clarkson and one written by her husband, but Sally, as much wisdom as she has, isn’t the Wonderful Counselor.
I may be reading books about life management, but those are not the Giver of Life.
I may be reading fantastic devotionals that point to me Christ, but those are not the Bread of Life.
You see, we can fill our minds with all the knowledge and wisdom God has given his people, but no book we pick up is a substitute for reading God’s Word for ourselves. To read a book written by someone else about what the Bible says is akin to drinking watered-down juice—it doesn’t have near the flavor or potency as the real deal.
God’s Word is the key to knowing him.
God’s Word holds the answers to our parenting questions.
God’s Word guides us as we make life choices.
God’s Word tells the marvelous story of Christ’s love for us from the beginning to time to eternity.
To read the Word of God is to meet with God himself. And if you go into a meeting with God open-hearted, it is impossible to walk away unchanged. The Word will wedge itself in your mind and become the filter through which you view your world. You will begin to see as God sees and love as God loves. Reading the Word of God will transform your heart, your motherhood, your life.
And that is why the Bible sits on top of my stack of books. Yes, I love to read and gain knowledge from others. As a writer, I enjoy seeing the way authors put words together. As a mom, I look for ways others have applied the Word to parenting. But no book will ever do for me (or you) what the Good Book does, and we can’t live on watered-down wisdom—we need the full-strength Word!
Have you been in the Word today? Why not move it to the top of your stack?
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 Timothy 3:16-17
Just in case you want to check out any of the books in my stack, here they are.
Wow that is quite the stack of books! And you are currently reading them all….I’m impressed. There are so (so!) many good – actually, great – books that I love to tell myself I’m going to read. But I am miserable at following through. I DO however read the book “at the top of the stack” daily. Regularly. 🙂 And, then, I work through one more. Slow and steady…one at a time.