journey onWord with us

It was one of the most profound illustrations of waste that I can remember. Two weeks ago on a return trip from South Carolina, the pilot told all the passengers that he had good news and bad news (that’s never good). When the plane was serviced, double the fuel had been added and would not be removed. One option was to ask twenty people to de-plane. Our creative pilot decided that wasn’t fair. So he gave his airline a plan that though expensive and wasteful kept everyone on the plane. Rather than take the 17-minute flight to Charlotte, we headed west to burn fuel off. I was thankful for a creative pilot, but I couldn’t believe how much someone’s simple mistake must have cost the airline. What a waste! As I review 2011, I’ve probably had too many instances of wasting time, money and valuable opportunities.

One of the greatest opportunities afforded to any of us is to hear from our Creator. God has chosen to make Himself known in various ways, but none greater than through His revealed Word. We all have people in our lives that care for us, and would gladly give us their best counsel. However, any human advice pales in comparison to hearing from God. Yet most Christ-followers readily admit that their time in the Word is sorely lacking. My 2011 consisted of good days and not so good days in reading Scripture. There were times that I did my obligatory reading distracted or at a fast pace, and gained virtually nothing. You can probably relate. Oh, what a waste to have the very counsel of God at our fingertips and not glean from it.

In just one short day, we will all turn the page to a new year, and I would guess that you and I will still miss some opportunities to listen to God’s counsel. But with careful preparation and good discipline, 2012 can be a year of knowing God better and enjoying Him more. And remember, His counsel can always be trusted! II Timothy 3:16-17 is probably familiar to you, but let the words resonate with your goals for the new year.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

What an opportunity!

My passion for challenging you to start 2012 focused on Scripture cannot be overstated. God has chosen to make himself and His counsel known through our intake of His Word. Admittedly, it takes discipline and submission to consistently avail ourselves of His wisdom and guidance. But there is no other place on earth to get the very words of God. Let’s don’t waste the opportunity.

At Journey on Word, we have tried to make it easier to stay focused for 2012. Use our reading plan, and the tools we are providing. We’ll all fail some, but I am looking for each of us to have a great year of knowing God better and enjoying Him more.

And thanks to a creative pilot, I got home on time!