Mark 9:14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them.

I’ve said before that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself. This is one of the reasons why I love to teach the Bible in an expository fashion. I believe that when we study the Bible together God’s word changes us. God says:

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

When we gather together, as we do Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, and we hear together the teaching of the Bible, God uses His Word to do a work in us. The Bible does more than inform us, it transforms us.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Bible reads us and rights us, so to speak. Have you ever looked back at old photographs of yourself and thought, if I had only known then what I know now … Well, the Bible shows us a current picture of ourselves and gives us an honest and trustworthy evaluation. Quite literally, God knows where we are (physically and spiritually) and what we need to receive from His Word. It’s the only book you will read where the Author is always present when you read it. He knows your problems, troubles, trials, struggles, and His Word will speak to them.

The Bible is simple, living and powerful and will always change your life without fail. Yet the Bible is often so neglected. I’ve known so many Christians who have read the whole Left Behind series from beginning to end but have never read the Bible from cover to cover. Do it and you will be blessed beyond measure! A lot of the issues we see in Christianity are because of a failure to study God’s Word. A Bible in the hand is worth two on the shelf.

God’s Word, studied within the context of itself reaches beyond the pages and into our lives, affecting change in areas we didn’t even know about. God’s Word will always elicit some response. It may challenge you and it may convict you. It may encourage you. Are you willing to start your day out following Jesus? I want to encourage you to spend time every morning reading the Bible and praying … before breakfast, before work. Start the day in personal, private time with Jesus.

The disciples were disciples not because they fancied the title, had special suits or wore colored hats, but because they made the decision to follow Jesus. They were not disqualified from being disciples when they spoke wrongly. They were not more qualified when they spoke rightly. They were simply disciples because of Jesus. There were people who came to Jesus for healing and received it, but they left. There were people who asked to be disciples, but wanted to do so on a part time basis, dividing their allegiance between God and the world … and they went home. There were multitudes who wanted to follow Jesus but who left when the teachings got personal. Those who are now known as His disciples made the decision every morning to follow Jesus.