I have a confession to make—I’m a book nerd. That wouldn’t surprise you if you knew me or you’ve been to my office, as I have five large book cases and one small book case in my closet. Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved reading.
When Jesus talked about loving Him and loving our neighbor, He included a most interesting phrase, namely to love Him with all of our hearts, mind, and strength (Luke 10:27). Christians throughout the history of the Church have started schools, hospitals, churches, and many other good and noble ministries because they have loved the Lord and sought to serve others. To love the Lord means to take Him at who He says He is in all of His infinite and unchanging worth.
Christians are to be a people of one book, the Bible which is inspired, inerrant, sufficient, and authoritative for all of life under God. Christians are to have a love for God’s Word because it is God’s love letter to man. Since God loves His Word, Christians should have a love for reading, studying, and meditating on His Word. Not only this, but Christians should also read godly books that will aid them in their growth in Christ.
I encourage you this month to fall in love not only with reading the Word of God but also other godly books. Challenge yourself to start with daily reading your Bible and reading one book a month. By doing this, you’ll find that you are growing in your understanding of God and His Word, as well as developing a desire to love and serve your neighbor.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
