When I think of this topic, I'm reminded of the children's song "Read Your Bible, Pray Every Day." If you know it, you already started humming the tune in your head. If you don't, let me give you the lyrics. It's quite the easy chorus.
Read your Bible, pray everyday,
Pray everyday, pray everyday;
Read your Bible, pray everyday,
And you'll grow, grow, grow
And you'll grow, grow, grow,
And you'll grow, grow, grow.
Read your Bible, pray everyday,
and you'll grow, grow, grow.
The song continues to with the effects if you don't read your Bible. You'll... guess what... shrink.
This song is always a hit with kids. They get as tall as they can when they "grow," with their voices screeching at the end, and the curl themselves up in a ball when they "shrink."
Isn't it true though? When we're in the habit of coming to God's Word every day and communicating with Him through prayer, we're able to infiltrate Biblical thinking into all the crevices of our lives. When God's Word isn't daily on our hearts, our tasks and reactions become selfish heaps of pursuing our own truth, which never works our well.
So maybe you're reading this post because you're waiting for a 1-2-3 step process that works. I'm sure it's out there, but you won't find it here.
But there's a bigger question at hand: Why aren't you reading your Bible?
Only you can answer that question for yourself. Maybe you feel like you're too busy. Maybe you think that only pastors or "really spiritual people" read and study the Bible (Spoiler alert: There are no overly spiritual people without the help of the Holy Spirit, which all Christians have access to). Maybe you've had a hard time finding a resource or have never felt accountable to anyone. Maybe, you simply don't deem it necessary.
For myself, it wasn't a priority. I was either in Bible college or going to church three times a week or *gasp!* even teaching the Bible. I was having enough Bible that I didn't need to spend my *personal* time to do so. Yes, I have had seasons in my life of teaching the Bible but never actually personally gleaning daily from It.
Whatever your reason for not doing a good job of keeping up: Why do you want to start now?
If it's because you're supposed to as a Christian, you'll stop again after a week. If it's because you want to see the checkmark next to your Bible reading plan, that won't cut it. If it's to be able to teach someone else, you may or may not be on the right track.
If your reason is because you realize the treasure that God's Word is, and you want to get to know HIM better so that you can delight in Him and glorify Him... Then, my friend, you're at the right starting point.
What is the Bible?
The Bible is God's inerrant and authoritative Word. It's what He wants us to know about Himself. He used humans to write the Scriptures, but they are "God-breathed" words. The Bible has an overarching theme throughout, and it can be summed up in four different parts: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration/Consummation. (Listen more about the Story of Scripture at The Daily Grace Podcast, Episode 4)
Jesus wasn't an idea that God had after Adam messed up. Jesus was the plan of the ages before the "foundation of the world" and, get this... so were we.
God gives us a small painting of Himself throughout Scripture - His attributes, His love for mankind, and his desire for the ultimate completion of His New Jerusalem, where He will reign forever.
What the Bible is Not
- It is not dead.
- It is not part of a religion.
- It is not a checklist.
- It is not a rulebook.
I think those reasons are truly the reason that we don't read the Bible daily and bathe ourselves in It. Those views bring the Bible to a superficial level that we, yes, understand better and maybe even make us feel better. I mean, it really is easy to follow a rulebook. It may be difficult to obey, but everything is black and white. Religions, checklists, and rulebooks are manmade. We are in the midst of discussing something that isn't manmade.
So, Why Read the Bible?
The Bible is God's Word. (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Bible gives faith. (Romans 10:17)
The Bible leads our Christian lives. (Psalm 119:105)
The Bible protects us from Satan. (Ephesians 6:17)
The Bible is wonderful to read. (Psalm 119:103)
Reading the Bible is nothing short of amazing. I can read my favorite fiction book 10 times and even notice different perspectives or a piece of the character that I missed before. I may still get excited about the most intense part of the tale and cry during the saddest chapter. But no other book that I can ever read speaks directly to me, though. No other book can convict me of sin or guide me in making a specific decision or provide hope in a seemingly hopeless situation.
Scripture is a deep breath of fresh air, a light in the dark, and a deep well that never runs dry. A love for God develops a love for His Word. Daily reading and studying is simply the heartbeat of a Christian.
Take your daily Bible reading off your checklist and put it into the heartbeat of your daily life.
Enjoy Part 2!
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