As the year is coming to a close,
and people begin to ponder the year that has past that rumination invariably
results in pledges to “do better” in the coming year in the form of New Year’s
resolutions. And for Christians, often,
among the things we make pledges to ourselves to “do better” in is the
discipline of bible reading.
If you are like me, you have made
this resolution many times, and if you are like me you even tried to discipline
yourself through employing various read through the bible in 90 days or one
year plans. And if you are like me you
have had varying success sticking to these reading plans. For many people these plans are great, but
for me, even though I love reading my bible, and even though Leviticus, which
is where most read the bible in a year plans go to die, is one of my favorite
books if the bible, reading plans have not been too effective.
Then one day it dawned on me that I don’t
need a reading plan, I needed a reading philosophy, and since I hit on this
approach It is a pretty rare year when I don’t read every book in the bible at
least once, and many more than that. My
bible reading philosophy is simple, I don’t want to read through the bible
every year, I want to know my bible and what it reveals about my God better
each year. And if that sounds better to
you than a reading plan I want to share some practical ways to do that.
1. Bible reading needs to be intentional
and regular. I am aware that everyone’s
life looks much different, and so the time and place when you read your bible
might not be the same as mine (which can be in first thing in the morning, but I
more often read devotionally in the late morning or the early afternoon because
I am too easily distracted by the wanting to take care of the days urgent
business) but it should be regular, occurring on a regular if not every day
basis, and intentional, viewed as a priority and not relegated to being a
simple task completed in the left over time of the day.
2. A hefty portion of my devotional reading
is in the book that is being preached in church, and I read through that book
once a week (or if it is a long book the section of the book correctly being
preached, and by section I don’t mean chapter I mean the macro literary unit,
say Jesus’ Galilean ministry if your pastor is in that section in one of the
Gospels). I believe you would greatly benefit from this practice. I know
that may seem simple because these days I am the one doing the preaching, but
this has been my practice for several years.
It helps you not to lose the big picture and to be able to apply the
greater understanding you are getting through the exposition of the Word in
your life. Remember the New Testament
Epistles were written to be read in one sitting, Deuteronomy records just three
discourse of Moses, the Gospels tell one meta-narrative etc. This leverages all
of the hard work your pastor is doing (or should be doing) in his study to help
you better understand your bible.
3. At least one day a week, read in one of
the Gospels. As a sinner saved by grace,
you need to constantly look to your savior, and the best way to know Him is
through reading and studying the Gospels.
4. Spend time reading books you don’t know
well. If your goal is to truly know your
bible and your God better you need to spend some time reading books you either
don’t think about very often, or that you purposely avoid. All of Scripture is God breathed and
profitable for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy
3:16). That includes Ezra, 2 Chronicles,
Leviticus, Ezekiel, Nahum, Revelation and all of the other books that are
commonly skipped over because they are too hard or seem not to be applicable in
the believer’s life. To ignore them is
to ignore part of God’s revelation to man that He inspired for your own good.
5. Have a commentary or a study bible
handy. While I personally don’t do my
devotional reading in a study bible because I tend to read every note, which
can be distracting to me, I do think it is invaluable to have one or a simple
one volume commentary nearby at all times.
After all what good is it if you read a verse or a chapter and have no
idea what it was talking about. I
heartily recommend the MacArthur Study Bible and his one volume bible
commentary as aids to devotional reading, as well as Matthew Henry’s Commentary
on the Whole Bible.
6. At least once everyone should read
through the Old Testament in the order of the Hebrew Bible. Although not inspired, the Hebrew order presents
the OT as a coherent unit. For example
in the Hebrew bible Ruth is counted among the writings, rather than as an
historical book and is preceded by Proverbs and followed by the Song of Songs. So when you (from a male point of view) read
Proverbs 31 and you are left wondering if such a woman ever existed and just
what does a “Proverbs 31 woman look like anyway” that question is answered by
the Book of Ruth. And if after reading
Ruth you are wondering what to do if you do spot such a woman you turn the page
to the Song of Songs and you learn that you need to marry, love and cherish
her. Trust me, if you read through the
OT in this order you will gain new scriptural insights and see connections you
may have missed before.
7. Read what you need. If you are suffering spend time in the
Petrine Epistles or Job, if you are struggling with loving your spouse as you
know you should spend time in the Song of Songs, if you need to cultivate a
more worshipful attitude read the Psalms, if you are experiencing the consequences
of bad decisions read proverbs and James.
Don’t be afraid to deviate from your “plan” to concentrate on areas of
the bible that will help you be more Christ-like in areas you are currently
struggling with.
8. Finally and most importantly approach
scripture reading as an act of worship.
Reading your bible is not a box to check, it is an act of love and
devotion to God. Read His Word because
you Love Him and want to know Him better.
Read prayerfully and with a sense of awe that God has chosen to reveal
Himself to us in such an intimate and understandable way.
