16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. 17It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.
- Some of hardly read anything as adults that is serious literature
- Some of us find it hard to get anything from the bible that is meaningful to our daily lives
- Some of us feel we just do not have time to read the bible
- You can add your reason here __________________________________
The truth of the matter is that the Bible is the most important book in the world. It is the only book that is the God breathed and perfect revelation of the mind and will of God. The content of the Bible is true and it is a channel of the Holy Spirit to bring to us supernatural insight and strength to live the Christian life. God gave the scriptures to prepare us for the mission He wants us to do on earth and for the life we will live in heaven. So finding ways to overcome our struggle with Bible reading and study would be critical.
First, let us recognize that there are three types of reading of the Bible that we need to make time for in our lives.
- A general reading of the Bible that is done daily to keep us in touch with the Word and opens our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We should dedicate not less than 15 minutes a day to this type of bible reading. There are several on-line resources that make this type of bible reading easy and can be found at such sites as http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/
- A study of the Bible that is done about once a week. This would be where you choose a specific topic or book and carefully look at a particular passage. In this study you would use books called commentaries that can help you know what the best and the brightest have thought about the passage. Notes should be taken and questions written down to take to your pastor. This type of study should take at least 30 minutes a week. There are again on-line resources that can help you with this goal such as http://bible.crosswalk.com/
- A Sacred Reading of the Bible that is done at least once a week. This is reading a very small section of the scripture in a very prayerful attitude in which you are seeking the Holy Spirit to speak directly to you in your life right now. This reading is focused on being prayerful and focused by repeating the scripture out loud in the presence of the Lord. Here we should have a journal in which we can record our impressions and thoughts. A guide on-line that can help you learn this type of reading of the scriptures can be found at http://www.thedome.org/SpiritQuest/ListenHeart/Lectio/ways.html
By having this mixture in our approach to the Bible it can make it more interesting. Having groups that are dediated to any of these types of bible reading can help. If a group wanted to meet somewhere weekly to just read the bible for fifteen minutes and have each person read one verse as they went around the circle it may help some of us read more than we normally do. Perhaps some people work at the same office and they could do this daily before work. Sometimes it helps to dedicate ourselves to others in a fellowship so that we can study the scriptures as we should. See if you can find a couple friends who want to improve their reading of the Bible and you can encourage each other in this goal.
Remember what God has given you the Bible for your good. The Bible is the gift of God to you. It is a way by which you can accomplish the purpose of your life. It is truth that you can count on at the most difficult of times. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you develop a practical plan to improving your reading of the Bible. I doubt you will ever regret that prayer.
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