Ps. 119:18 – ‘Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.’ (NASB)
Do you have a desire to get tucked into the Scriptures? To get your notes and materials and just dive in to search out the revealed mysteries and endless treasures that are in the Word of God? The unbeliever might have some desire for this (if nothing else, to try and prove some notion of error or to satisfy unbelief), but the believer redeemed by the blood of Christ and walking in newness of life has a genuine desire—however little that might currently be—to live Coram Deo (in the presence of God); this kind of living is largely fuelled by a grasp of the revelation of God in His Word.
We can all raise a hand in admission to the fact that we do not treasure or spend time in the Bible as we know we ought to, so if you feel like that too, you’re not alone. My prayer for all the children of God is that we will grow in love and reverence for the Word of God, as it is often a good measure of our love for God.
The aim of this post is to share some thoughts on a peculiar struggle or mindset that some people have (as I often do too). As funny as it sounds, I used to get discouraged from just picking up the Bible and reading, because I wanted to have deep, dedicated times of study but I couldn’t carve out the amount of time I felt I needed to do so. I would postpone getting into the Bible until I felt I was able to ‘get at the meat’ of the things of the Word. I didn’t want to be ‘superficial’ and read the Bible ‘for the sake of it’—to tick off a box, so to speak.
While this idea sounds noble and righteous, I have become wary of the insidious elements of spiritual laziness, procrastination and pride that might be in the background, masquerading as righteous motives.
In light of this, I would like to propose two reasons why you should take up the Bible and read, even if it is not a ‘deep study’, and I will close with a couple of suggestions that hopefully might help.
1 – Get Familiar
If the Word of God is likened to a sword (Heb. 4:12, Eph. 6:17b), then I would suggest that it is vital to get familiar with this blessed weapon in our spiritual arsenal. In one of my previous posts, ‘The Storehouse of the Heart (Part 2)‘, I included a quote from J. C. Ryle talking about the need to read the Bible regularly, and this is true. In the quote he likens becoming familiar with the Scriptures to feeling the Sword of the Spirit ‘fitted to your hand’, which is essential for the Christian. While you might not yet be a skillful wielder of the Sword, and while you might not yet perceive or understand the intricacies, details and Divine craftsmanship of the weapon you possess, that will come with time; first employ yourself to grip it in your hands, become familiar with the weight of it, and know Who it is that has given you such a treasure.
A warrior who has seldom taken up his or her weapon to practice, however awkwardly it might be at the start, should not reasonably expect to one day pick it up and fend off those better prepared.
What I am suggesting here is not a skim or glance through the Scriptures here and there; no matter how busy you might be, you can seldom find little to prioritize over reading the Bible, if indeed you realize that, ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ (Matt. 4:4).
Of course this is to be done prayerfully, seeking the help of the Spirit; for the Bible is not just any book, but one of spiritual words. (1 Cor. 2:6-16)
2 – It’s Better Than Not Reading
This goes without saying, but a plain reason to read the Bible even if you can’t partake in a deep study of the Word is, well, it’s better than not doing it. There is no need to suggest a deep theological reasoning for this, because it is not a profound thought. If you forsake the simple reading of the Bible for a hypothetical ‘opportune’ moment for study, then not only are you basing your actions on an unfounded assumption that such a time would indeed come, but simpler still, you will be substituting reading the Bible (however little) for something else. Need I say more? Chances are you are probably witnesses to these two points playing out yourselves.
We painstakingly seek to be deeply rooted in the Word and to have the Word deeply rooted in us (Col. 3:16, Eph. 3:16-18), and sometimes this means opening up the Word of God before our eyes in prayer, pleading for Him to make His Word appear to us how it already is: alive.
The Application
My main audience for this post has been believers who genuinely want to get more into the Bible. So at this junction I would challenge you that if you are simply just reading the Word of God as any other book or begrudgingly, then plead with Him to make His words more than simply letters on a page to you, for it is ‘inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.’ (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
Of course, if you are not a believer, I will urge you to humble yourself before God and give up your rebellion. His call to repentance is not a suggestion, but a command (Acts 17:30-31). Ask Him to make you aware of your sin and need for a Saviour, and to reveal His mercy and grace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Feel free to contact us or leave a comment about this; we would be more than happy to walk through the Scriptures with you.
Now, as I mentioned I will conclude with possible applications that you might find useful in your quest to better immerse yourself in the Bible:
1 – If you are unable to get into a prolonged study of a particular book/chapter/passage/verse, then why don’t you use that time instead to read through a book or passage in the Bible you wouldn’t normally turn to? It is common to be in the Gospels or the letters from Paul or the book of Psalms, but how about taking a look at Esther, or Amos, or Jude? Remember, every book in the canon of Scripture makes up God’s Word, and no book is pointless—there is much to be gained from going through all of it.
2 – Maybe consider a reading plan to supplement your in-depth studies. This does not necessarily have to be one of those ‘read the Bible in so-and-so length of time’ plans; a possible plan could be reading through Paul’s missionary journey in Acts alongside his letters in order to frame a background to what you are reading. Or perhaps read through the various prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament, and read the New Testament accounts to see their fulfilment.
By making use of topic-specific or theme-specific reading plans, you can supplement your study with readings—which contribute towards a type of study in itself by the way—without overly pressuring yourself.
I hope this post is helpful to someone, or at least causes pause for thought. Continue to strive faithfully after the Lord!
