Is Your Bible Making You FAT?

It should.

F.A.T. = Faithful, Available, Teachable.

Faithfulness, availability, and teachableness are important qualities in a disciple. Disciples are faithful to follow their teacher or mentor, they make themselves available to the schedule and calling of the teacher, and are willing to adopt the teaching of their mentor.

As you read your bible (your true Teacher’s words), are you finding you want to be more faithful to the truth you are discovering? Do you want to be more available to God’s leading? Are you developing a more teachable spirit when you see areas you need to change?

Did you make a resolution to lose weight this year? Well, while you are loosing weight physically, how about gaining some spiritually. Let’s look at some examples and scriptures for getting F.A.T.

On being Faithful

The bible tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith and faithfulness go hand in hand. We can be faithful by spending time with God everyday through thanksgiving, prayer, bible reading/study, and then walking out what we read and learned. We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only to live by faith.

Carve out some time each day to spend with the Heavenly Father. I recommend the morning, otherwise He may get left out once your day really gets going. You may need to get up a bit earlier but it is worth it. As we draw close to Him, He will draw close to us. You can’t have relationship unless you are close.

This is how you walk with God: talk to Him in prayer, learn from Him through His word, and then put it all into practice each day. Let His word guide your actions as you walk the straight and narrow way.

Consider and meditate on these verses about being faithful:

Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 (ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5: 22-23

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. Luke 16:10

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21

On being Available

We are called to be available as servants as our Savior Yeshua (Jesus) was. He came the first time as the suffering servant. We are not better than our master, we should follow Him as disciples and serve God and others.

We can make ourselves available to His urging by staying in contact with Him. We stay in contact by reading and meditating on His Word. By fostering an attitude of prayer.

Being available is not about looking for big, impressive things to do for the Lord. Yeshua said that when we give a cup of water to the thirsty or visit the lonely, we are doing it to Him. Be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit even if the action seems small. Obedience is what He is looking for.

There are no scriptures containing the word available. However, there are several that have synonyms and the idea of being at the ready, furnished, fit.

All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

On being Teachable

We need to be yielded enough that when we are confronted with inherited lies or errors in our understanding, we can let go and embrace the truth. We should be willing to let go of our idolatrous thinking – holding onto our favorite myths about Christianity and adopt the truth portrayed in the Word.

Sometimes we hold too tightly to things we were taught that can’t stand up to scrutiny of the scripture. We are not to believe every wind of doctrine, but neither should we hold fast to the traditions of men when they conflict with the Word of God.

Are we willing to let go of things we hold dear when we see in scripture that they are not true? Meditate on these verses about being teachable.

Now these Jews (the Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11 (ESV)

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:9 (ESV)

Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17 (ESV)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV)

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Proverbs 15:31

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs 19:20

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Your Turn

Ask yourself (and be honest) – Does my Bible make me look FAT?

If not, review the list above and add some biblical calories to your daily diet and gain some spiritual weight. It is a good thing to get FAT on the Word.

If you are not sure where to start, try the Verse of the Week for inspiration on incorporating the Word into your daily life by concentrating on a single passage each week.

If you are taking the Scripture Memorization Challenge, you can use the the verses above to jump start your memorization. Let’s get FAT on the Word this year!

Postscript

This post is directed at me probably more than anyone. Please do not think that because I started this blog that I consider myself as better than anyone or as having arrived. I am just trying to look F.A.T. too.

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Feature Image Photo by i yunmai on Unsplash