Why do I NEED TO ...........read the Bible...?

The best way to put in words is by means of an analogy, -that will take us the long-way to "oom daantjie in die kalwerhok" & back ........

An old man lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson.

Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible. 

His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could.

One day the grandson asked, 'Oupa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't  understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book...... 

What good does reading the Bible do?' 

The Grandfather quietly turned  from putting coal in the stove and said....., 

'Take this old wicker coal basket  down to the river and bring back a basket of water.'

The boy did as he was told,  even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the  house. 

The grandfather laughed and said, 'You will have to move a little  faster next time,' and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the old basket was  empty before he returned home, out of breath, he told his grandfather that  it was 'impossible to carry water in a basket,' and he went to get a bucket instead. 

The old man said, 'I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough,' and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew  it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all.  

The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather  the basket was again empty. 

Out of breath, he said, 'See Oupa, it's  useless!'

'So you think  it is useless?' The old man said, 'Look at the basket.......'  

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different.  

Instead of a dirty old wicker coal basket, it was clean.
 'Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. 

You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out.' 

Therefore.......Take time to read a portion of God's word each day; it will affect  you for good even if you don't retain a word...! 
My-selves,  don't retain things too well anymore...old age may have something to do with it but I just figure my brain just gets overloaded! 

God isn't concerned about our brain anyway......, 

He's more concerned about our heart..

Shalom