I found this delightful story somewhere:

A boy wanted to be like his granddad and decided to do everything the way his granddad did it. He got up early, drank coffee with Grandpa and ate rusks. When Grandpa opened his Bible, the boy did that too.

Later that morning the boy asked his granddad: “Grandpa, what use is it to read the Bible? Very soon afterwards I’ve forgotten what I’ve read. Is it worth it to read the Bible?”

Grandpa didn’t speak a lot, but he was very wise. He told the boy to take the empty bag that had been filled with coal and that was stained black, and to go and fill it with water from the river.

The boy must’ve thought his grandpa was going crazy, because how can you carry water in a bag? But he really wanted to please his granddad and went to fill the bag at the river.

Just as he thought, the bag was completely empty when he got back to his grandpa. Grandpa looked a bit disappointed in the boy and said he should try again. This time the boy ran back as quickly as possible, but when he got back to his grandpa, the bag was empty again.

Grandpa didn’t back down and chased the boy back to the river to get water. The result was the same every time: The bag was empty. Eventually the boy, close to tears, burst out, “Grandpa, it’s not working!”

Then the grandfather showed the boy that something had happened. The bag had grown cleaner as the soot was washed from it. Every time the boy had filled the bag with water, the water ran through it and washed some of the soot out of the material.

The grandfather said to the boy: “Son, that’s what happens when you read the Bible. Even if you don’t understand what you read. Even if you forget most of what you read, something happens inside of you. You are washed clean.”

God’s Word is dynamic. You cannot help but be changed after you’ve read God’s Word. Yes, it may feel as if nothing is happening. Maybe like me, you can’t remember so well what you’ve read after five minutes. But through the work of the Holy Spirit, over time, something happens to you.

You are washed clean. The wrong deeds in your life are named and eventually you don’t want to do them anymore. You hear about your purpose on earth and slowly your hands and feet start working in that direction.

Therefore, the plea: ²²Friends, please take what I’ve written most seriously. I’ve kept this as brief as possible; I haven’t piled on a lot of extras.

Scripture
Hebrews 13:22-25

Reflection
Do you read God’s Word?
Do you read God’s Word enough?
What must you do to be washed even cleaner by God’s Word?

Prayer
Father, I know I have to read and live Your Word more. I know it life-changing and life-giving. Help me to make more time to get to it every day. In Jesus’ Name, amen.