“Read the Bible, study God’s word!” You hear preachers talking about this all the time. We do it because it is so essential in our walk with God. However, it can be challenging task. “I don’t understand what I’m reading; it’s such a big, hard book; I’ll never master it” are some of the things people think. Let me give a few suggestions that may help in your reading and study of God’s precious word.
Make time every day! You simply won’t get very far unless you develop a consistent discipline of reading. Most things that are valuable to us take work; this is no exception.
Start somewhere. Maybe you don’t understand much right now. But if you prayerfully and consistently seek God in His word, it will come. You’re building a little at a time.
One way of reading is to master a book. You might take a short book like Philippians or Colossians. Start by reading it through several times to get an overview. Read a Bible encyclopedia or handbook to get some of the historical background of the book. Then go through focusing on each verse, taking notes, looking up word meanings, and maybe consulting some Bible commentaries. It is very rewarding to study this way. When you get done, you really can feel “acquainted” with that book.
It is also very important to read the Bible through. This is to get a big picture. I like to always be reading some in both the Old and New Testament at the same time. Right now, for example, my personal reading has me in Psalms and Acts.
-When you do this, notice the different genres of what you’re reading. For example, the Samuels, Kings, and Chronicles are historical books. Isaiah, Jeremeiah, Ezekiel, Micah and many others are prophetic books. The Gospels are historical narratives while Romans, Galatians, I and II Peter, etc. are letters (epistles) to churches or individuals.
Revelation is a symbolic, apocryphal book.
Always look for a personal application. What can I learn from this passage? How can this principle apply to my life today? What do I learn about God from this verse? About man? You get the idea. The word of God should not just be theory and abstract, but also practical and applicable.
Years ago, my dad told me, “Son, use the nickels and dimes of your time.” Maybe your lunch break would be a good time to read or pray. Some people like to hear a sermon or Bible on CD in their driving time. Perhaps you might use a good portion of your Sunday afternoons and evenings to review the sermon or do you own study. The time is there if we make it. Maybe you ought to get a partner to help keep you accountable to sticking with it.
Don’t be afraid to ask Bro. Bobby or myself questions. We may or may not be able to answer them! But, we’ll certainly try to help as we are able.
Be encouraged! You can, with God’s help, grow in the greatest knowledge of all: God, through His word.
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