Jump Start # 700

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

Our Jump Start today hits another milestone for us—# 700. We continue to gain more readers and we are thankful for that. Each time we have hit a milestone, we have paused, reflected, and made a few comments. Originally we started this for the folks at the congregation where I preach. Through many of those incredible people, our readership grew and grew. Today, nearly 1,000 people are reading these. That amazes me! So many of you have sent  kind words to continue writing these Jump Starts. These Jump Starts have been used in church bulletins, sermons and classes. They have been sent to people who are struggling and having hard times. They have crossed the ocean and are read in other countries. For all of that, I am thankful.

What’s next for our Jump Starts? I plan to continue writing, at least for now. I hope to do more mini-themes with these. I appreciate so much hearing from you. Many have sent in suggestions for me to write about and those have been helpful. For our new readers, our Jump Starts are not intended to be an exhaustive textual study. You won’t find many quotes or references to scholarly writings. This is just a quick, easy and reflective read to help us start our day. I am a firm believer that how the day begins often sets the tone for that day. If I start it running behind, in a bad mood and grumpy, by the end of the day, I just need to be put out with the trash. However, if I can start with a verse, and reflect upon that in a personal and positive way, then that will help me. Throughout the day, I may go back to that verse that I began the day with. As I dwell upon it, chew on it, meditate upon it, it has a way of working on my heart.

Our verse today, from Solomon, reminds us that the excess devotion to books is weary. There are too many things to read. We can spend all of our day reading and still not touch all that we want to read. A walk through a major bookstore can be expensive and overwhelming. But there is one book that draws our attention above all others, and that is the Bible. Nothing replaces the Bible.

Reading the Bible connects us to God and it opens our eyes to His will for us. The words that God chose, the way in which He states things is amazing. I especially like seeing how Jesus interacted with various people in the Gospels. He was brilliant. He knew just what to say and just how to say it. Look at those things. Reflect. In time and in a limited manner, you too, start interacting that way. The Bible has that affect upon us. After a while, it molds and shapes us and we find that we think differently, we react differently and that we are a different people than what we were just a few years ago. That’s the living word working in a good and honest heart. We can spend so much time reading things about the Bible, including these Jump Starts, that we fail to read the Bible itself. Don’t fall into that trap. Read His word. Know His word. Before long, you’ll be able to quote some verses. That is amazing! Before long, you will know exactly where things are found. Becoming so familiar with the word that it is like spending time with a dear friend. You never grow weary of the time you are together, and so it is with God’s word.

We are living in times when too many folks simply do not know God’s word. That is shaping our country. Attitudes, definitions of life, choices people make all reflect an ignorance of God’s word. It is hurting our country. We must continue on, staying on course. That is the only hope. God’s word is what is right. Become a people of the book!

Roger