clcgh.org Building The Capacity Of Christian Leaders, Equipping The Saints For The Work Of Ministry, Redirecting Straying Christians To The Sound Knowledge Of Christ
By James Quansah, Pastor
“If you want to hide something from Africans, put it in a book…Africans don’t like to read,” says Malcolm X.
HEARING GOD’S Word preached or taught to you by means of video or audio is good, but reading the Bible and other Christian books or articles is best. Reading is really important. That is why students, all over the world, are advised to read their books personally.
The Lord Jesus Christ spent good quality time to read the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44-45). Our Lord was an avid reader of the Scriptures. In Luke 4:16-17, we see Jesus standing up to read. God has always wanted His children to read. See below:
“When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
He must always keep that copy with him and READ IT DAILY as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees” (Deuteronomy 17:18-19).
It is sad that, today, many people including some Christian believers, have developed hatred for reading and have focused their attention on watching only videos on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, WhatsApp, and so on.
These people have gradually been deceived into thinking that reading is difficult compared to listening or watching audiovisual contents. Thus, they do not make time to read without considering the great benefits they lose.
In this short message, I wish to share with you some of the real benefits people get from reading. I have no doubt that Christ Jesus knew about these benefits.
An article published by Healthline Media explains the impact reading makes on a person’s physical and mental health. It says that reading strengthens the brain, increases knowledge and increases vocabulary.
It also helps to prevent age-related cognitive decline as well as reduces one’s stress level. Reading goes as far as to help alleviate symptoms of depression and prepares one for a good night’s rest.
The article also states that those who cultivate a steady habit of reading increase their empathic abilities since they develop those skills when they relate with the characters in a book.
Indeed, reading has many benefits. Personally, it has sharpened my writing skills, enhanced my vocabulary and exposed me to diverse cultures and ideas.
God inspired the books of the Bible and other Christian books and articles to be written so that His children from generation to generation can read and interact with the writers; they will also know among other things the will of God, how He must be worshipped, the mandate of man and God’s plan for man’s eternal salvation through Christ Jesus.
James Quansah is the Executive Director of Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre (CLC) and lead Pastor of End-Time Christ’s Commissioners (ECC), Kumasi, Ghana. James is also a journalist by profession. He is married with four children.
