Check out these words from Martin Luther. He applies his comments to preachers, but I see no reason to stop there. We have all been given God’s Word, and it is our duty to live it and be able to talk about it as it comes up in daily life. Read and reflect (thanks to HePrayed.com for text in full), and I welcome any comments… thanks for reading!
Some pastors and preachers are lazy and no good. They rely on these and other good books to get a sermon out of them. They do not pray; they do not study; they do not read; they do not search the Scripture. It is just as if there were no need to read the Bible for this purpose…
Therefore the call is: Watch, study, attende lectioni (attend to reading). In truth, you cannot read too much in Scripture; and what you read carefully you cannot understand too well, and what you understand well you cannot teach too well, and what you teach well you cannot live too well. Experto crede Ruperto (Believe a man who has found this out). It is the devil, it is the world, it is our flesh that are raging and ravaging against us.
Therefore, dear sirs and brethren, pastors and preachers, pray, read, study, be diligent. Truly, this evil, shameful time is not the season for being lazy, for sleeping and snoring. Use the gift that has been entrusted to you, and reveal the mystery of Christ.
-Martin Luther
Posted by Mickey Friedrich 
