Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
Psalm 119:18 ESV
It’s that time of year when New Year’s resolutions become convicting reminders of what we’re not getting done. So let me ask you: how is your Bible reading going this year?
It’s okay. I’m not here to condemn, but to encourage you and, Lord willing, to help you on your journey. Reading the Bible is spiritually vital to the Christian soul — as vital as food is for the body. So please, dear friend, do not starve. Feast on Christ in His word.
You need a plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Pick a Bible reading plan, and don’t be too persnickety about which one. If you’ve got one and you’ve fallen behind, just pick up where you left off — it’s okay. No one is keeping score. I have done the 5-Day Reading Plan and the M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (that’s what I’m doing this year), but there are many to choose from. Just pick one or roll with the one you picked but haven’t kept up with.
So you have a plan, and you’re sitting at your kitchen table in the morning with your Bible open and a cup of coffee. Now what?
Ask for God’s help. Pray and ask the Lord to help you read His word. Pray for help to understand it, and pray that He would speak to you through it. Pray Psalm 119:18 above. Just ask for help, because the Spirit is eager to help you.
Read the text. Take your time, and read every word. There is nothing more important than the word in front of you, so read it. Avoid the urge to look up every confusing word or idea; there is time for that later. Read it like a poetry lover, not an engineer. (The Bible is not all poetry, but what I mean here is let the words wash over you instead of stopping to figure out what everything means all at once.)
Linger and pray. If you’ve taken your time reading, something will stand out to you. Maybe it’s a person, an idea, a commandment, or a promise. Stay there, and assume the Spirit is showing you something. Eugene Peterson called prayer “answering speech”, so as God has spoken in His word, just answer back. The word of God gives us fuel for prayer: truths to consider, encouragements to embrace, or conviction to ponder.
Okay, one more thing. This is the key to unlock the Bible: it’s all about Jesus. That’s what Jesus says in John 5:39. It’s not a book of hero stories, it’s a book about a Hero. Take a moment to watch this video, and let the late Tim Keller blow your mind with the Christocentrality of the Bible. When I learned this, I began to see Jesus everywhere and my Bible reading became more vivid and enjoyable.
Our souls awake hungry for the spiritual food of God’s word. If we starve them, we will be deficient in the hope, joy, and purpose God has for His children. On days when I just fall into my day without spending time with the Lord in His word, I certainly feel that. A wordless Christian is like a waterless fish. The Bible is our ecosystem.
Press on. Don’t lose heart. Pray, read, pray. It’s pretty simple but nothing is more important.
Christ is all,
Brad Larson
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