I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I’m a pastor of a church.  I’m a Bible reader.

I want to discuss that latter descriptor for a few moments.  If you’re ready, here are a few confessions of a Bible reader.

Confession #1: I didn’t start reading the Bible until I was 18.

The Bible was unknown mystery to me growing up.  I was familiar with the stories.  We had a few Bibles laying around the house.  Yet, I never picked one up.  Well … let me clarify that last statement.  I can vividly remember picking up a Bible a  handful of times in high school – but it seemed odd, unfamiliar, and distant.

That all changed when I entered a local Baptist church toward the end of my senior year of high school.  It did not take me long to realize this particular group of people were singing to a God I did not know, speaking of a salvation I did not have, and loved a book I did not understand.

Confession #2:  My Understanding Of The Bible Has Increased As I Have Increased My Understanding Of God.

In the early years of Bible reading I drew many conclusions that now seem childish to me. After 13 years of Bible reading my views on certain things have changed dramatically.  I often ask myself, “In 13 years from now will I look back on what I believe today and think it’s childish?”  After some thought my answer often is “probably not … but maybe.”

You see, I don’t agree with many conclusions I came to 13 years ago because I had a very shallow understanding of God.  I came to wrong conclusion about the Bible because I did not understand the character of God.  I still can’t wrap my feeble brain around the true character of God – but I understand God more now than I did 13 years ago.

The more I look to Jesus, the more I see how Jesus views the world,  the more that I deny myself, take up my cross daily, and follow Jesus – the more I understand God.

CONFESSION #3:  I Still Have A Long Way To Go. 

I spend a significant portion of each day studying the Bible because I have a passion for God.  Why?  I’m powerless without him.  I’m hopeless without him.

No matter how many Bible studies I lead, no matter how many sermons I preach, no matter how many discipleship meetings I attend, I will never master the Word of God.

It must always master me.