06/11/2020
We read the Bible, and study God’s Word, but is doing so a joy? Reading the Bible can be a daunting task because, depending on the translation, the language can be challenging, the meaning behind certain passages (such as parables and stories) can be difficult to interpret, and quite honestly there are lists, and long genealogies, in the Bible that put many readers off. Let’s be truthful... reading the Bible is not as entertaining as reading “The Arabian Nights”, or “Aesop’s Fables”, but no other book can have such an impact on who we are, thrill us with its revelations, or save our souls. The joy comes when we open our hearts, minds, and souls, to God through His Word.
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Psalm 119:103 ESV
When children are first learning to read we don’t begin their lessons with “War and Peace”, or some nonfiction law book; we start them off on something elementary, easy to understand, and typically very entertaining. The idea is that as they grow in skill they will seek out the more difficult books to read. This principle holds true of the Bible as well. There are many people who profess their belief in God, and have faith in Christ, but have never read the Bible. Oh, They started to read it, but because of its difficult language, or other challenging aspects they never quite made it through. They never found the joy in God’s Word, and thus depend on stories, sermons, and such things as movies, and videos for their salvation.
Let me ask you a question... would you allow someone to perform Open heart surgery on you who had learned how by watching a YouTube video? NO, because they might kill you, so why would we trust our eternal soul to such things, place our ability to understand and obey God in someone else’s hands? This is like marrying a person by proxy... we say we are married but have never really met them, or come to know our spouse for ourselves. Everything we learned about them comes second hand... we never consummated the marriage ourselves... but were told it was amazing. These thoughts are ridiculous, and yet so many of us treat our faith in this way... We never experience the totality of God’s Word for ourselves.
“and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:15-17 ESV
So reading the Bible is more than just a nice thing to do, and not just “Faith 101”. It leads us into a real relationship with God, understanding who his Son is, how He secured our redemption, and teaches us all we need to know about faith, life, and who God is. It is not just an instruction manual... it is the essence of life itself. Listen to how Jesus described it as He resisted Satan...
“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’””
Matthew 4:4 ESV
So how can we overcome our issues with reading and understanding God’s Word? Well let’s start as we would if we were a child... with a few simple tips...
First, pick an easy to read translation in your own native language to begin with. It is always easier for us to understand our native language, and we don’t spend mental calories translating it for ourselves. Also, if one is available, try reading a translation that is modern, and simpler to understand because it is how we think and talk every day.
Pray for guidance and understanding from the Holy Spirit. We were sent more than just a comforter when the Holy Spirit arrived, he came complete with the ability to give us recall, and understanding... so pray for that. Pray that God will not only give you the patience and persistence you need, but fill you with a hunger for Him, pleasure, and joy as you read His Word.
Understand that the Bible is not one book but a compilation of books, so let’s cherry pick which one we will read first, and choose something interesting to us like Genesis, or a gospel, then continue to read others until we have read them all.
Don’t read at bedtime. If we are like many people we read a book at bedtime to help us go to sleep... well that is not the reason we read the Bible, we read it to wake us up spiritually, mentally, and as it excites us we will be awakened physically as well. A good time to read is in the morning so that you can contemplate what you read all during the day.
Finally, when we have read through the entire Bible let’s celebrate our accomplishment by praising God, thanking Him, and thinking back on how far our relationship with Him has come as we read His Word. Maybe even go out to dinner with some Christian friends, and discuss what God revealed to us about Himself, and how it has affected our spirituality, and love for Him.
You see, reading the Bible is not a check mark on some religious checklist of things to do before we are considered saved, or a spiritual bucket list... no, it is salvation itself; an explanation of righteousness, holiness, and God’s love for us in His own Words, and it is our guide to an eternity with God. Through it we learn who God is, How to love Him, what our relationship with Him should look like, and the importance of obeying Him. By reading we have taken the thought of having a relationship that we once learned from someone else, and have made it personal... we have become seekers rather than listeners.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Holy Word, and for giving us the desire to know you personally through it. Thank you Father for every individual Word, and how each one gives life to our relationship with you. Open our eyes through our reading, and show us the importance of our own journey of faith through your scripture. Teach us the importance of not merely hearing or reading the journal of another’s understanding, or interpretation, but hearing your voice with our own ears, and reading of our lives as they come alive in your Word. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose Word is life, truth, and eternal. Great are you who walks with us, and speaks His Word into our hearts and minds. Powerful is the scripture which forms our relationship with you, and seals us with the promise of your eternal presence. Praised be your name for your Word in our hearts, and the understanding you lead us into. Hear our prayers Father as we ask to receive your joy as we search your Word for the miracles of faith in our own lives. Show us, teach us, give us understanding, so that on the day we stand before you we will know your voice, and receive the reward of life eternal... the wreath laid on the head of those who live in your house forevermore.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
Philippians 2:12-16 ESV
Rich Forbes