What does it take to grow?Day 3

Good morning and welcome to today’s Daily insights. This is day 3 of our episodes, What does it take to Grow. On behalf of Pastor Lucy Paynter daily insights, this is Jane Lenny. 
Yesterday we saw that as maturing Christians, we need to take our cross daily and follow Jesus. Today we look at Habit number 1 of what it takes to grow. As we look at these habits the Goal is; that l will commit to the habits necessary for spiritual maturity. 
Habit 1. In order to grow we need to eat - our food as Christians is the Bible.
There are some reasons why we need our Bible
1. The Bible is like an instruction manual for a car owner. Without it life is hard at best, impossible at worst.
2 Timothy 3:16-17. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. 
If you have a new car, one of the first things you do is read the instruction manual. Find out how often the tires need to be checked, rotated. Find out how often the oil needs to be changed. Find out how often it needs to be serviced. Find out how fast you should drive it for the first 500 miles. If you fail to do this, you can ruin the engine and wreck the car.
Someone has said the Bible stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
God cares enough about us that he didn’t just plunk us down here on the earth and say, “Do the best you can! Hope you figure it all out! Good luck!”
He gave us an owner’s manual. It tells us everything we need to know about Him, about us, and about life. But it doesn’t do us a bit of good unless we read it! Read God’s instruction manual!
2. Why do we need the Bible? The Bible is like a flashlight for a camper. Without it you’ll stumble and get hurt, or wander and get lost.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path. 
You’re in a new campground. It’s the middle of the night. You feel the call of nature. You step out the back door of the camper without a flashlight, and bang into the picnic table. Trip over tree roots, fall into the stream. Without a light, you stumble and get hurt or wander and get lost.
Life can be like that. You feel like you’re stumbling, you’re wandering. You’re hurt, you’re disoriented. God didn’t intend for life to be like that. He gave us a flashlight. But it doesn’t do us a bit of good unless we use it! Turn on God’s light!
3. The Bible is like a weapon for a soldier. Without it you’ll be captured or killed.
Ephesians 6:17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 
In a Bible class, some students are eager to learn, excited, motivated. Other times students who are bored, disinterested, detached, unconcerned.
I’ve often thought, “They don’t realize that they’re in a battle. They don’t realize that this book is their only weapon. They don’t realize that unless they learn it, and learn how to use it, they’re history. They’re dead. We’ll read about them on tomorrow’s casualty list.”
We’re in a spiritual battle. If you’re a Christian, you’re a target. And unless you know how to use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, you’re dead! God never intended for you to be a casualty. God wants you to be a conquering soldier, not a casualty. God gave you a sword, but it doesn’t do a bit of good unless you use it! Master the use of God’s sword!
On behalf of Pastor Lucy Paynter daily insights, this is Jane Lenny taking you through What Does It Take To Grow episodes. Today was day 3 of our episodes. Tomorrow we  continue to explain Habit 1 in the 10 Habits of Maturing Christians. In order to grow we need to eat - the Bible. God bless you, Shalom Shalom.