It is very easy in our faith life to become “surface-surfers” and nothing more. Life is busy. There are many distractions. And, more often than not, going beyond simply is not a priority we consider.
The Detroit Tigers have some interesting young players, Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, Hao-Yu Lee, and Jackson Jobe, just to name a few. Their ages are 21-24 (the oldest one turned 24 in July) and all are very talented. However, what I find particularly pleasing is the fact that they all are always talking about what they are working on to improve or confessing their mistakes. McGonigle – the odds-on favorite to be the AL Rookie of the Year – needs to field ground balls with one hand on a more regular basis. Max Clark – after hitting a game-winning two-run homer the other night – mostly wanted to discuss the base hit he misplayed into a double and a run. Lee – a natural opposite field hitter with great bat-speed – is working on learning how to pull inside pitches. And at Jobe’s last start he talked about how he had played with some different finger spacing on a pitch that was now more effective. It sounds like none of these guys are going to be “surface-surfers.”
The other day while driving I heard about a very extensive, multi-year survey that produced a very interesting result (unfortunately, since I was driving, I cannot remember any clearer specifics than what I am giving here). Individuals who spend time in God’s Word four or more times each week have exponentially greater peace and hope than those who hear it only one or less times each week. By “time”, they were not talking hours or anything like that. Five minutes in the Word five days a week is all it takes. That time can be spent reading (or listening to) scriptures, reading a devotion, or something similar.
So, I guess the question for each of us is “Are we content being surface-surfers or might we be better off if we started going deeper and longer into God’s Word?” We know that it is the Holy Spirit who both gives us God’s Word and promises to be at work in it. The Bible also tells us, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5.22-23). I find the next line very interesting: “Against such things there is no law.”… or, as I like to paraphrase it: “No-one ever says these things are bad … in fact this is what everyone claims to be seeking.”
If you find yourself identifying with the “everybody” in my paraphrase, they I suggest you do a little survey of your weekly time in God’s Word. Going deeper and longer does not mean one must become a biblical scholar. In fact the goal is not to learn information. The goal is to have the Holy Spirit at work in us … producing his fruit … renewing our hope … assuring us that our sins are forgiven (Try this promise on for size: “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” – Psalm 103.10-12) … helping us understand his will and ways.
I don’t want go any deeper or longer here today, so I’ll just offer you one more Holy Spirit inspired word from Jesus, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6.19-21))
Deeper and Longer
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