The Bible is not an ordinary book. It is the only revelation of God’s nature and will; it alone is "profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteous" (2 Tim. 3:16). It can make us wise unto salvation, and the Word is able to save our souls (2 Tim. 3:15; Jas. 1:21). In this week's penpoints, Jason Jackson discusses the importance of reading God's Word, and he offers some proven methods to boost your Bible reading.
Who needs to read the Bible? Kings were commanded to read the Scriptures all the days of their lives (Deut. 17:19). The Scriptures have been read aloud for the benefit of the various groups of people (Ex. 24:7; Deut. 31:9-13; Josh. 8:34-35; Neh. 8:1-3,8,18; Lk. 4:16-21; Acts 15:21; Col. 4:16). God’s word needs to be taught to families (Deut. 6:4-9; 2 Tim. 3:15). It must be read individually as well (Ps. 1:2; 119:11,105; Acts 8:28-32).
Standing alone amidst the world’s literature, the Bible especially ought to be read. The skills for Bible reading are identical, mechanically, for reading a secular document. But a keener appreciation applies to the Divine Revelation, and additional considerations for the Heavenly Message are required. Our devotion to the Sacred Word must be as special as the Book itself.
We ought to read the Bible regularly. John Stott was right when he wrote to preachers, "Sporadic and haphazard dipping into the Scriptures is not enough" (Between Two Worlds: The Art of Preaching in the Twentieth Century, Grand Rapids: Eerdmanns, 1982, p. 182). Neither is it enough for any Christian. Any child of God who needs convinced that he ought to read the Bible regularly is in spiritual peril already.
We need to read the Bible analytically. God intends for us to understand the Bible, and we ought to analyze the Word’s component parts to better understand it as a whole. For example, the Bible student needs to understand the two major parts of the Bible - the Old and New Testaments. The differences between the Old and New Testaments are critical to "rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).
A good Bible dictionary will facilitate this rule. For instance, if we plan to read the book of Genesis, we ought to consult a Bible dictionary article on "Genesis." An introduction to the content increases our ability to understand and retain the material. Give the mind an advantage by knowing as much as you can about your reading before you read. This is true with respect to the Bible as a whole, and in connection with chapters and verses. Halley’s Bible Handbook is a useful tool for this; its chapter summaries are a helpful reader's guide.
We would profit more, I believe, if we read the Bible systematically. A well-organized plan facilitates any objective – even Bible reading. Reading calenders, study aids, and valuable suggestions are numerous (note: See Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s (1813-1843) calendar for daily Bible readings, which averages four chapters a day from four different parts of Scripture. Download it in PDF format at http://web.ukonline.co.uk/d.haslam/mccheyne/FAQ4rmm.htm#Q1).
Take advantage of a method and use it. Devise your own and tenaciously work through it. The most prolific Bible readers, with whom I am familiar, are people who are systematic in method and time. A designated pattern and time of day, interrupted only because of absolute necessity, establishes a way of life; there is no need to "fit it in" to one’s schedule. Other things may be postponed. We have our Bibles to read!
We must read the Bible persistently. Bible reading can be discouraging for some, especially the new Christian. He or she may be distracted by what is not readily understood, rather than absorbing what could have been easily grasped. I recommend that you keep a notebook nearby while reading the Bible. Write down the reference of a verse that perplexes you, and keep on reading. Schedule another time for a more exhaustive study to research the difficult text. Avoid interrupting your plan, as a general rule, to ponder about an obscure thought to the neglect of much that could have been understood. Don’t allow discouragement to set in. Keep reading, and press on.
I do not imply that the Bible should be read sloppily. We ought to devote separate time and proven methods for deeper study (see Effective Bible Study – An Urgent Need For Everyone). This is indispensable to our growth as well. Such projects, however, usually cannot be accomplished in short periods of time. We need an entire morning, evening, or Saturday afternoon, to devote uninterrupted hours for these special studies. With perseverance and planning, we can devote ourselves to persistent Bible reading with thirty minutes to an hour per day.
The previous guidelines help us accomplish this one: Read the Bible completely. A plan best accomplishes this, and it certainly ought to be our resolve. Some books of the Bible captivate our attention more than others. Some are more immediately relevant to our spiritual needs. Yet neglect none of them. Read it. Read it all – 1,189 chapters. And read it over and over again, for "Man does not live by bread alone," (Matt. 4:4).
The next several suggestions involve a mind set more than methodology. They are vital for effective Bible reading.
Continued next week
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* http://www.christiancourier.com/penpoints/effectiveBibleReading.htm