by Johnathan Arnold
In the digital age, Charles Spurgeon’s words still seem timely: “There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write ‘damnation’ with your fingers.” Spurgeon’s words carry a certain weight: it is a great wrong to neglect the Word of God; however, fear is not a sufficient motivator for the kind of Bible reading that God wants us to enjoy. What will it take to make someone a Bible reader?
The Heart of a Bible Reader
“O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God!” Bible reading plans and accountability are helpful for some; what we really need is a heart for God’s Word. Early in my life as a seeker, I vainly tried to make myself a Bible reader. I finally prayed, “God, if I’m ever going to read the Bible, you are going to have to help me.” God worked a miracle; He changed my heart. Before, I found reading difficult and laborious; after, my thirst was unquenchable. For weeks, I read as many as 20 chapters each day.
A heart for God’s Word is a gift of grace. We are too weak and too time-conscious to be prolific Bible readers and Bible lovers; we must first experience a heart change. Pray, “O God, burn a love for your Word upon my heart” — and then read! Read until you kiss the Book.
Delighting in the Word
When will the Word of God be the topic of our conversations, both inside and outside of our homes, from morning to night? Surely this will never happen if we view Bible reading as a “discipline” or talk about “taking time” for the Word; no! We do not struggle to “take time” for Facebook or “take time” for a show because we delight in earthly things. We must delight in heavenly things.
“Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his book.” I will delight in the Word of God!
“I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalm 119:16)
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
“Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that fears the LORD, that delights greatly in his commandments.” (Psalm 112:1)
“Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellers.” (Psalm 119:24)
“And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.” (Psalm 119:47)
“Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.” (Psalm 119:77)
Go to See the Glory
Dig deeply. Spend a whole hour in a single passage. Linger long. Hang on every word. No hour will be better spent! Pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Read the passage in multiple translations. Think about its context. Highlight key verses. Circle key words and phrases. Send questions to your pastor or consult a commentary. Dig, dig, dig. It is a mine that can never be exhausted!
Dig often and everywhere. Sometimes you won’t dig “deeply”; that’s okay. Pray a Psalm. Skim a long passage of law, genealogy, or history. Slow down and enjoy a story. Hop along through the Proverbs. With the enthusiasm of a child or the suspense of a mystery novel reader, explore the great Book of Books.
In a sermon on the Bible, Spurgeon observed that “God may be seen in the stars. His name is written in gilt letters on the brow of night. You may discover His glory in the ocean waves, yea, in the trees of the field. But it is better to read His glory in two books rather than in one. You will find it here more clearly revealed, for He has written this book Himself, and He has given you the key to understand it, if you have the Holy Spirit. Ah, beloved, let us thank God for this Bible. Let us love it. Let us count it more precious than much fine gold.”
In all of your Bible reading and Bible study, keep an eye for God’s glory. Dig deeply to discover the deep things of God; dig often and everywhere to see the big picture of God’s love, wisdom, justice, and sovereignty over history. This is the key that sustains Bible readers for lifelong exploration.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8, ESV).
“O give me that book!”
Resources
Wesley, John. Wesleyana. New York: Lane & Scott, 1852.
About the Author
Johnathan Arnold is Associate Pastor at Newport God’s Missionary Church and serves as Director of Media Ministry. You can connect with him on Twitter @jsarnold7 or email johnathansarnold@gmail.com.
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