Christians Should Be Good Readers

Reading should be a very important and indespensable aspect in the life of every Christian. Walking in the Christian faith does not grant anyone the leeway to be ignorant. Readers are blessed by God. Jesus declared concerning the Book of Revelation, that anyone who reads it is blessed.

"Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near." Revelation‬ ‭1:3‬‬ NKJV

There is a special package of blessing that comes with reading. In John's vision of the revelation of Jesus Christ, the absence of a worthy reader in the Bible caused him to weep profusely. Here's what Revelation 5:4 says:

"So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it." Revelation‬ ‭5:4‬‬

Everyone in heaven was looking for a man who was worthy enough to open and read the scroll. John could do nothing but cry profusely because there was no one found worthy in all of creation to do so; up until one of the elders consoled John with a solution.

"But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.'" Revelation‬ ‭5:5‬‬ NKJV

There was one. Only one who was worthy to read that book. That person was Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Everyone burst into rejoicing and worship when a worthy reader was eventually found. That is how highly important a good reader is regarded by God and all in the Heavens.

It's not surprising that the prolific readers of the Bible were noted to have great impact in the lives of so many around them; and us too. Their influence still carries a lot of weight in this day and age. I will name a few great people who were considered prolific readers.

1. Daniel

Daniel was indeed a great man and prophet of God. He was considered to very wise, highly advanced in knowledge and understanding, interpretator of dreams, and solver of the hardest riddles and problems. Even as an exile from Judea in Israel, he was promoted to so great a rank in the great Chaldean (Babylonian) Empire that the only one above Him was the great monarch himself. The Book of Daniel is also known in recent times as one of the most prophetic book of the Bible. In this book, the history of the rise and fall of the great world kingdoms were allegorically listed with such a degree of accuracy that can be considered nothing short of divine.

His prophecies were highly accurate, even to the birth of the messiah Jesus Christ, many many years later. This book became a great gem to Christians and theologians everywhere, because it solidified the truth that the Bible was indeed inspired of God and true. How did all these prophecies begin? It all started through reading.

"In the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem." Daniel‬ ‭9:2‬‬ NKJV

Because Daniel studied the books of Jeremiah, series of events and divine encounters set in to not only answer his questions, but gave him so much more than he bargained for - a look way into the future.

2. Jesus Christ

The great and amazing messiah. The ultimate mediator of God and mankind. God in the flesh to man; reveals not only to Christians but all of mankind that reading is very important. Jesus loved to read. He loved to study. What does that say about all created in God's image and after His likeness?

"Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers." Luke‬ ‭2:46-47‬‬ NKJV

Reading made him so knowledgeable and wise that he asked really hard questions from what he read (The Torah). There were many instances that he answered questions brought up by people with phrases like, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?"(Luke‬ ‭10:26‬‬); “Have you never read what David did..." (‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:25‬‬); "Have you not even read this Scripture..." (Mark‬ ‭12:10‬‬).

This reveals how much He read. It also shows the way Jesus tested the reading level of those who came to him with questions. If they had read more, they probably would have found the answers they were looking for. He was expecting them to be persistent readers.

3. Paul

One of the greatest apostles of Christ in history, Paul loved to read. He was so knowledgeable and wise. He was a man of much learning, this was one of the reasons why He was much influential than the rest of the disciples in his day; even till now. He was such a reader that Festus referred to him as crazy.

"Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, 'Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!'" Acts‬ ‭26:24‬‬ NKJV

Paul so loved reading that when he was placed under house arrest, he asked his mentee Timothy to bring him books.

"Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments." II Timothy‬ ‭4:13‬‬ NKJV

Not only did He love reading, he advised his mentee, Timothy to do the same.

"Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." I Timothy‬ ‭4:13‬‬ NKJV

Reading exposes you to different worlds. It allows you access into the minds of others. It feeds you with loads of information and enables you to generate new ideas and concepts which can be of great help. Now when I mention reading to a believer, the first thing that will come to mind is studying the Bible. Studying the Bible is very important.

The Bible has within it, inspired solutions to personal and spiritual problems in our day-to-day living. However, I urge you to go beyond that and read as many useful books as you can; every time you are free to do so. Successful people are prolific readers. You can never be too busy to read. Endeavor to be a great and influential instrument for God by giving attendance to reading. How many books do you read in a month?