Dan, "I Don't Get Anything Out Of Reading the Bible"
Years ago I was driving with my mentor and it was a long trip late into the evening, and I had been fighting falling asleep; you know the tired when your eyes close for a second or two (or three) before you jerk back to life. Keith, who had been sleeping woke up and asked me where we were.
I had no idea.
Not because I was lost, but because I couldn't tell you where I'd been for the past hour. It's like it didn't exist. I was so tired, that I lost focus. I wasn't paying attention to the signs, the weather, the exit signs. No recall whatsoever.
I think for many of us, this is what reading the Bible is like. With eyes glazed over, fatigued, and with a casual glance we see the words but little registers with us. We get to the end and realize that we don't know what we just read; and if asked, we'd be stumped.
Sound familiar?
I can't remember who said this, "70% of living the Christian life is getting a good night's sleep" but there's a lot of truth to it.
If you want to "get something" out of reading the Bible, then it might start with simply being rested. In other words, not relegating it to the margins of our time and energy, but giving it our best time. For most this means morning. When you read the Bible rested you are more likely to be able to slow down, pause, pay attention, and actually absorb what you are reading. You can notice words and ideas. You begin to see themes and passages that sound familiar to others that you have read before. You will see things you just never can with a casual glance.
Philippians is another letter written by Paul from prison and a very personal communication to those he had met in the past, perhaps more than once. You can read more about this in the book of Acts ch 16.
Yesterday I read chapter 1 including this...
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Phil 1:9-11
If you read this casually, you would miss so much. So let's take a closer look.
First, Paul prays that the Philippians will grow and mature in love. This isn't a sentimental or subjective kind of love, or a love that shrinks from telling the truth, but a love rooted in knowing, and understanding, probing and discerning, making wise decisions.
Knowing the Bible is not for knowledge sake. It's to guide us in how to love & live.
Do you see it?
Paul prays that at the day of Christ (when He returns) that they would be pure and blameless. That's God's end game.
Do you see it?
There is no room for pride and this isn't something we can boast in, because our righteousness (being in a right relationship with God and living out His moral standard) comes from being in relationship with Jesus Christ.
Do you see it?
For the glory (God's character) and praise of God. All we have in Christ, and all we become in Christ, is for God's glory and praise (not our own).
Do you see it?
In just a few lines Paul explains why we're hear, how we are to live and who we are to live for; he basically sums up the Christian life in 3 verses.
A casual glance will miss this. But when you slow down, pay attention, see the words, and let them sink in, they can be life-changing.
Five lines
Three verses
That answer the who, what and why of life and give us purpose, meaning and hope.
No other book on the planet can do this.
What about you? Is reading, retaining or understanding the Bible a challenge for you? What's your biggest hurdle? Where do you struggle the most?
Let me know, I'd love to hear from you.
Until next time - Dan