Find Your Best Friend in Books (Part 3)
Reading is essential to become a great individual, resolve conflicts, and deepen your relationship with God.
K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the transformative power of reading, particularly the impact of good literature and Scripture on personal growth and relationships. He shares compelling stories of couples and individuals who found healing and hope through reading, illustrating how books can lead to forgiveness and a renewed perspective on life. Yohannan encourages the audience to cultivate a daily reading habit, focusing on uplifting materials and dedicating time to God's Word, as it is essential for spiritual nourishment and personal development.
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Think about it; it is really necessary to nurture a habit of reading. Philosophers emphasize that through reading, a person becomes a great individual. reading-86070_1280 Let me share with you an incident which happened to a couple some years ago. Both husband and wife were doctors working in a medical college. They had a bungalow, an expensive car and a well-settled family. But they were on the verge of divorce due to family problems. Both of them met attorneys, and all the papers required for the divorce were prepared.
The dates to appear in court were also decided. At the same time their lawyer called them and said, "Anyway, we have one week to appear in court. Spend some time and read this book." He gave a copy of Forgive, published by Athmeeya Yathra, to each of them. They were living separately. You don't believe this, but after reading that book they both came back to the lawyer and said, "Sir, we don't want a divorce." The book helped them to accept their mistakes, to apologize to each other, to forgive, to start a new life.
I want to tell you about the story of a family who planned to commit suicide. They bought poison and mentally prepared themselves for it. Meanwhile, somebody give them a book called Is Suicide Your Last Hope? They read that book. Their life changed forever and they were relieved from suicidal tendencies. St. Paul the Apostle wrote like this to Timothy, "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching." (1 Timothy 4:13) Famous speaker Jill Briscoe once said, "When we get to heaven, we will not say to God, 'Did You read my book?'
Rather, God will say to us, 'Did you read my book?'" I'd like to give you some tips which you can follow every day. Find some time to read good books daily. Keep a book with you always while traveling, or standing in queue. Decide firmly that you won't read books which contaminate your mind and thoughts. Set apart some time to read God's words.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Importance of Reading
- A. Reading helps a person become a great individual
- B. Reading can change lives, as seen in the stories of the couple and the family
- II. The Power of Scripture
- A. St. Paul emphasized the importance of public reading of Scripture
- B. God will ask us if we read His book in heaven
- III. Tips for Reading
- A. Find time to read good books daily
- B. Avoid books that contaminate your mind and thoughts
- C. Set apart time to read God's words
Key Quotes
“When we get to heaven, we will not say to God, 'Did You read my book?' Rather, God will say to us, 'Did you read my book?'” — K.P. Yohannan
“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” — K.P. Yohannan
“Find some time to read good books daily. Keep a book with you always while traveling, or standing in queue.” — K.P. Yohannan
Application Points
- Make time to read good books daily to change your life and deepen your relationship with God.
- Be intentional about selecting books that uplift and inspire you, and avoid those that contaminate your mind and thoughts.
- Set apart time to read God's words to prepare for eternity and deepen your relationship with Him.