Dear Christian,
You know you're supposed to read the Bible. You know it's the inspired Word of God and sharper than a double edged sword. But maybe you're struggling along and don't know where to start.
Well, guess what - I'm right there with you. Reading the Bible can become a tedious chore that we do every day to cross off a box and feel good about ourselves.
It doesn't have to stay that way.
Reading the Bible isn't a chore. Relationships don't work if we have a list of "do"s and "don't"s. If we live with that perspective, we have it all wrong.
Here's why: God didn't have to create the world. He chose to. He wanted to make people who willingly chose to love and serve Him. When we instead raised our tiny fists in anger, He gave us a second chance. God created a way for us to return to Him so we could be restored to Eden one day. The Bible is His letter of love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and salvation.
When we read the Bible, we're reading the Words of eternal, mighty God. It's not drudgery - it's a blessing beyond words.
That Creator wants to have a relationship with you. He wrote a long, passionate letter that tells the story of His love. It shares stories of people He loved who made decisions. Some embraced and followed Him; others treated Him with scorn.
The Bible shares the songs of praise that fellow Believers lifted up to heaven. It offers practical advice in living in His presence. It directs us to the path of Salvation. Beyond our wildest imagination, God finished His letter with a peek into the future when evil would be overthrown and we would return to Eden to live in His presence.
It's a love letter. Because He wants to be your Best Friend.
Some people make rigid structures in how you need to read that love letter. You start here and read until there. You highlight these verses or underlines those ones.
That's all good in and of itself. If you need a schedule to motivate yourself to keep being in His Word, use one by all means!
That's all good in and of itself. If you need a schedule to motivate yourself to keep being in His Word, use one by all means!
I haven't found a verse or chapter in the Bible that tells me how to read it. But it does tell us that His Word should always be in our hearts.
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Go find yourself a quiet place. Turn on soft music or push away the noise. Pull out pens, highlighters, notebooks, dictionaries, or concordances. You could study original Hebrew or Greek text through online sources such as this one.
You could sing. You could dance. You could pray, or memorize, or read.
But dear Christian, be in the Bible. Read from cover to cover. Pray through verses and hide God's Word in your heart.
Sometimes I read chapters end upon end. I race through books and then sit back, soaking in the beauty of the overarching story.
Several weeks ago, I decided to see what it's like for so many of our brothers and sisters across the globe. I took four loose pages of a book of the Bible that happened to be Romans. I then spent my time digging through these few chapters as if that was all the Bible I had. For some people, it is all they have.
My friend, read and write and pray away! Sweep through entire books or chew on every word. How you read the Bible or where you start doesn't matter. Just do it. Don't put it off for later, because, if you do, you'll never going to start.
Being a Christian is so much more than reading an old book and going to Church. It's a relationship. Let's seek after Jesus.
If you've discovered a Bible reading plan or method that works for you, please share it in the comments. This is the most important Book we'll ever read. I want to receive it with gladness and embrace the message God wrote for us. I hope you do too.
How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
- Psalm 119:9
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
~♥~
Reading the Bible is so important. A while back I thought reading most of the Old Testament books were boring or didn’t really apply to me, such as the books of prophecy. But then I started reading through them. I started in Hosea and read Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and more. Those books are dear to my heart because they shine through the character of God. In those books we see His just nature, and His grace, mercy, love, and faithfulness. One verse that always comes to mind while reading those is 2 Timothy 2:13 which says, “For even if we are faithless He remains faithful; for He cannot dent Himself.” And throughout the Old Testament (and throughout the whole Bible) then we see Him remaining faithful. He gives us chance after chance. Mercy and grace and love.
ReplyDeleteThe Bible is such a beautiful story, a beautiful love letter. And even more beautiful as a whole. You wouldn’t read just one or two chapters out of a book. No, you’d read the whole Bible. I have to admit that I haven’t read every book in the Bible - yet. There are read the Bible in a year plans but for some reason I chose to skip around.
Anyways, thanks for sharing this Hosanna and for that important reminder.
I've been in the same place, Sarah! I'm currently reading through the Old Testament, but I also thought of many of the books as not applicable or interesting. How wrong I was! I find myself back in Isaiah time after time again. It's such a good book of the Bible (how funny to say that - all them are such good books, inspired by God Himself!). Sometimes we get stuck in a dry spot that doesn't feel as powerful. Right now, I'm in Micah, and I struggle to find God in all the judgement at times. But He's there when we search for Him with all our heart.
DeleteThat's a beautiful verse from 2 Timothy. He remains faithful. ♥ That's the sweet message of the Bible. He gives second chances. He is so loving.
Thank you for sharing your heart, Sarah! Whether you're skipping around or reading straight through the Bible, it is powerful in our lives. I'm encouraged to hear how God's used it in your life. Keep pressing on, my friend!
Beautiful post, Hosanna. When we see the Bible as God's letter to us, it gives us a whole new perspective and makes us want to read it! Thank you for sharing this post Hosanna!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Ashley! I'll admit that I often forget that truth and read the Bible as a task to check off the box. Yet it's supposed to be so much more! How sad that we often forget that. I hope both of us are able to turn our vision onto our Savior and read because of love. ♥
DeleteThis is beautiful and absolutely true! Our commitment and fellowship with King Jesus shouldn't be that we HAVE TO but rather that we WANT to. Otherwise, we are no better than the Pharisee's who did worship, simply because it was the law requirement, rather than by grace and love for our creator.
ReplyDeleteLivvy
Yes, Livvy! Jesus should be the most important part of our life. It's sad that we often organize Him around our schedule when He should be the center of it all. I hope this post encouraged you to seek Him by making your time with Him a priority. It's something I need to work on as well. How beautiful when we live a life that's focused on the One Who gave breath to us!
DeleteHey, I loved this post! It was so inspiring! It made me want to get back my Bible and read through some books of the old testament again :) I am typing from Brazil. Nice blog you have here! I will follow you constantly!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouraging words, Resenhas! Reading our Bible is so important, because that is how we get to know our Savior. I hope this post inspired you to seek after Jesus. Keep pressing on towards Him! =)
DeleteI love this post, too!!! It made me stop and think when you mentioned that you took four pages... only four... and used them to study like Christians in persecution/countries without many bibles. Like, that is how they have to live... imagine how precious those pages are to them. I have heard of these people before, but somehow it stood out more when somebody who had a choice did it?
ReplyDeleteI like to flip-flop how I do my bible study. Sometimes I read from cover to cover in 3-6 months, and sometimes I stay in one chapter for 1-2 months (I use doorpost's guides, but unfortunately, they aren't public anymore, you have to have a subscription) and then sometimes I do bible studies my Mama has suggested :). It keeps me from getting into a routine that I don't think about, but each one has clear guidelines for the planner in me :).
Rejoicing in Hope,
Bri
forget-not-his-benefits.blogspot.com
Thank you for sharing some of the ways you've studied the Bible, Bri! I like how you vary the way you read as well as doing Bible studies. Typically, I read 1-2 chapters every day, and I'm working my way through the Old Testament. But now you've inspired me to try a Bible study too. It's good to get out of our routine sometimes. =) Have there been certain Bible studies that have encouraged you? Where are you right now in your Bible-reading journey, my friend?
DeleteI think Bible reading is something we fail to realize the importance of (myself included). It was an interesting experience to read only a handful of pages and imagine what it would be like if it was my only Bible. We've been given a hug blessing; do we treasure it?
My siblings and I just finished John this morning; we have less than a month left of this read through, and then I am torn on what to do next! I kind of want to read the bible chronologically.
Delete"Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss was a wonderful bible study! I am working my way through "Grace Laced" by Ruth Chou Simons... I chose to focus on "Resting in the Lord" as my "resolution" this year... the first section is on just that, though I didn't know it until I started, it was so neat!
Oh no! I took so long to respond here. =( I imagine you've finished your Bible read-through with your siblings now! Hopefully, God has lead you to your next Bible schedule. =) And thank you for the recommendations. After I finish the one I'm currently in (by Beth Moore), I'll have to look them up. =)
DeleteThank you for your patience in my responding, Bri. I pray God continues to lead you forward through His Word. ♥