IT SHOULD REALLY COME AS NO SURPRISE when you hear a lot of emphasis put on reading the Bible. But many of us wrestle with the reality that we don’t read as much as we “should” or “ought” to read. What concerns me about those kinds of statements or self-evaluations is that I’m not sure they are measurable. How much is “should” or “ought”? No, I think a better question is, “Am I reading as much as I want to read?” Because in most of life, we only put forth the effort necessary to accomplish something if there is sufficient desire to motivate us.
So what might be the motivation that would spur us on to make spending time reading the Word a regular holy habit in our lives? Let’s be honest, guilt and obligation won’t get the job done. It may motivate us to get going, and for a few, it might keep us going. But for most, it just isn’t enough to sustain the discipline.
Let’s take a moment to examine a few encounters in Jesus’ life where He talked about the Scriptures. To one group, He said that they were diligently reading and even studying the Scriptures because they believed them to be the source of eternal life (an idea Jesus didn’t contradict). But they were missing the point because Jesus said the Scriptures testified of Him (John 5:39). After His resurrection, Jesus encountered a couple of His followers that didn’t understand what had happened with the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus then started with “Moses and the Prophets” and showed them how the Scriptures all pointed to Him (Luke 24:13-27). Jesus says in John 17:3 that eternal life is knowing God and knowing His Son. He tells His disciples in John 8 that if they remained in His word, they would know the truth, and that truth would make them free. Later in John 14, He says “I am the truth.”
The point of all this is that we are not reading the Bible for information, but for relationship. J.I. Packer, in his book Knowing God says,
“Here, therefore, is a further reason why God speaks to us: not only to move us to do what He wants, but to enable us to know Him so that we may love Him.”
What if we started reading the Bible like that, as if we were encountering a person and getting to know Him better? Would that be enough motivation to get us to do the work necessary to make it happen? What if we didn’t see the Bible as just some ancient writings by some guys “long, long ago and far, far away” but instead given to us from God Himself to let us look into His heart and mind and begin to know who He is?
That is the point that Packer was making. The Bible just doesn’t tell us about God, it is a place where we can “meet” Him and get to know Him. So as you work on developing the holy habit of reading, studying, and applying the Word in your life, it may take some effort to get it going. But keep reminding yourself that in the Word, you are getting to know Jesus. And He is worth the effort.
Here are some additional thoughts and resources that will help you go even deeper this week:
PROCESS:
Here is a Scripture devotional and a key quote or two to help you consider the spiritual rhythm of the Word this week, individually and with others.
Read Psalm 19.
What are the ways God reveals Himself to us in this passage?
What value does God’s Word in creation and Scripture add to life according to this passage?
What good results come from internalizing God’s Word?
How have you experienced what the Psalmist describes with God through His Word?
What is a description or two that you would like to experience as you explore and engage this spiritual rhythm more in your life?
PRACTICE:
Here is a daily Scripture reading plan with some practical suggestions to help you get started in your next step of growth in holy habits (spiritual disciplines). Consider this Scripture reading plan and suggestions this week.
Consider this Scripture reading plan and suggestions this week.
- Read Psalm 19. Assignment: Ask God to assess your value of His Word and ways.
- Read Psalm 119:1-88. Assignment: Write a Scripture to carry with you through the day.
- Read Psalm 119:89-176. Assignment: Thank God for His Word and its good effects.
- Read John 1:1-18. Assignment: Reflect on how Jesus reveals God and clarifies Scripture.
- Read 2 Timothy 3. Assignment: Commit to living and sharing God’s Word in love.
Consider these resources for further study.
- Introductory: Rick Warren’s Bible Study Methods by Rick Warren and The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Warx
- Intermediate: Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, and Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks
- Advanced: Grasping God’s Word by Scott Duvall and Daniel Hayes
Here’s a great resource for further study about habits: The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
PROGRESS:
Remember! The goal is that all of us would choose one or two spiritual rhythms to take a step of growth. Progress is the goal, and all of us can take another step forward together.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
FREE RESOURCE:
Here is a FREE copy of the book, How To Read the Bible for All Its Worth, for you to download. To download the book, click on the embedded PDF file to bring up the menu on the bottom of the file then click on the download button (the square with the downward=pointing arrow):