#devtions

What We WORE 2 Church #ThrowBackThursday 2015

Today we are starting a series about the Bible, more specifically, how we read the Bible and understand it. If you know me well, it’s not a secret that I love the Bible.  I get giddy about Bible Study, I look forward to reading it during my breaks at work, I enjoy writing about it (if you couldn’t tell) and I love to teach it to other people. If you know me well enough to know that I love the word of God, you will also know that I get slightly irritated when people think the Bible is all about us, or they twist the Bible to make it say what they want it to say or if they (…drum role) use it out of context. Now, before I continue on, I should tell you that I am not the best Bible scholar in the world. I’m not the authority, but I want to do all that I can to make sure that people are at least using the word properly so that God is glorified and so that we learn who He really is. This series aims to improve our understanding of the Bible and to enhance how we read it.  It’s worth it to get this right. This week, I want to bring up some of the mistakes that we make while studying and reading the Bible in our devotions as well as point us towards solutions. If we had all the time in the world, we could address many more mistakes that we (myself included) make, but that list would be an exhausting and every growing so we will keep the list to 6 for right now. So what are some of the ways we hurt our devotions and study of the word?

1. We make it work and not a joy

Most of us probably work a good portion of the day or we go to class all day, which in and of itself can feel like work sometimes. Often we even make our time in the word work. It very easy to do because it has everything to do with your approach and attitude. Simply put, “Why do you read the Bible”?

One of the ways that we grow in our relationship with God is by reading His word and understanding it. In a way, it’s the same as you talking to your spouse or significant other. If you love that person enough to call them your spouse then you will talk to them not just to have conversation, but to know them at a deeper level. From experience, it’s a lot of fun to begin to know all the little details about your spouse. Our relationship with God is no different. If we want to know the God of the universe that loves us, has shown us grace, mercy and is patient with us, then one of the best ways (including prayer) is by reading the Book that is all about Him. Learn the promises that He has made to you. Let Him comfort you and bring you peace. Allow your time in the word to be motivated by joy and gladness for God.

2. We punish ourselves if we miss a day

Overachievers can really be hard on themselves for missing a day of devotions. Let me be frank: God is a lot less peeved at you then you are at yourself. In fact, He is not likely to be mad at you at all. Reading the Bible each day just to check off the box  isn’t how you build a relationship with God, it is actually called religion. What’s more important is doing something with what you have learned, maybe you read a text one day and you think and dwell on it for a day or two. There is nothing wrong with that, in fact I encourage it. Don’t sweat missing a day. 

3. We jump to commentaries and study notes too quickly

Both commentaries and study notes are incredibly important and useful, but as we continue to interact with God’s word, it also important for us not use them immediately. We need to be able to think for ourselves without the help of other people. Now this does not give you a license to be irresponsible. We are to be careful with it. If we get the Bible wrong then you will develop a view of God that is perverted. However, I don’t believe that our God wants us to simply just form correct views of Him by reading what other people have said about Him. I believe that He wants us to use the brain that He gave us and allow His Holy Spirit to direct our thinking. Next time you want to reach for a commentary or look at the study notes at the bottom of the page, stop and think about what you’re reading for a second. Maybe write down a short note and then, if you wish, go and read some study notes or a commentary on that text. If your response to the text differs from theirs, use wisdom and consider how  the scholar came to his conclusion, he may have thought about it and researched it more in depth than you have. Commentaries are useful but not the end all be all, sometimes we should learn and consider text from the Bible for ourselves.

4. We read too much at one time

I was guilty of this for a long time. I would think that I needed to read 10 chapters a day to be sufficient.  There is nothing wrong with reading a lot in one sitting, but if you are looking to get as much out of what you read as possible, reading a bunch of chapters isn’t the way. Instead, if we want to get a lot out of what we read, we only need to read a few verses and think on those verses as you go throughout the day.  When we only read a few verses at a time, we can digest it more and are less likely to miss something important. Right now, I am reading through the Gospel of John and after 3 days I’m only to verse 15 of the first chapter. I read maybe a paragraph and try to be attentive to the Holy Spirit as He points me towards a verse or two. Less is more.

5. We leave out prayer

This is the one I have to remind myself of all the time. Bible study and devotions are simply just acts of intelligence if we don’t have prayer. With prayer, they are time of spiritual growth that deepen our relationship with God and helps us grow in our knowledge of God. Start your next time of reading or study with prayer asking God to show up, give you understanding and help His living word come alive to you.

6. We don’t let the Bible read us

The word of God is not just something for you to read, but something that changes you. If you are a believer and have spent even just a little time in the Bible, I’m sure that you have had a time when you felt as if the Bible was speaking to you. When it hits an area that you struggle with or points out to you an area that you never knew was dishonoring to God. Leave your heart vulnerable to the word of God and His Holy Spirit, it’s a valuable part of your sanctification.

Hope this helps!

Grace and peace to you,