One reason I am grateful to be a Baptist is that we have traditionally been considered “people of the Book”. We see the Bible as not only containing the Word of God but that it is the Word of God. When we read the Bible today it is no different than when God spoke to Adam in the Garden, or when God spoke to Moses through the burning bush, or when Jesus spoke to the Apostles during his earthly ministry, or when the Lord spoke to Saul/Paul on the Damascus Road. When we open the Bible God opens his mouth!

1- Reading the Bible without hearing from God

All great relationships are built on effective communication and all good communication is a two-way street. For a dialogue to take place there must be mutual exchange of ideas, thoughts, facts, and feelings. Nobody likes to be talked at but everybody enjoys being talked with. This principle is applicable in regard to our conversation and communication with God.

We talk to God through prayer and God talks to us through His Word. When we are reading the Bible, we should also be in prayer. Pray before you start reading by asking God to speak to your heart and mind. Ask God to help you understand what you read. Then as you are reading the goal is comprehension not just completion of the text. We should pray while we are actively reading the Bible. Don’t hesitate to stop and pray about the principles and precepts that God illuminates throughout Scripture. Finally, we should conclude with prayer as we ask God to activate His Word in our life and as we ask God to help us apply what we have learned into our daily practices.

2- Not reading through whole books of the Bible

The top 3 rules of Bible interpretation are “Context, Context, Context”. This means we should have an intentional and systematic plan of reading through books of the Bible… starting with chapter 1 verse 1 and reading through the end of that specific book (shorter books can be completed in one sitting while other longer books may take you numerous days). This will help you to understand the individual verses within the context of the literary unit… you will understand the micro truths within the framework of the overall macro narrative.

Too many Christians make a habit of just reading snippets of Scripture. This can easily lead to misunderstanding and misapplication. This concept should not be too surprising… we know that all books regardless of the literary genre have an authorial intent that can only be truly grasped through following the train of thought in the presentation, development and conclusion (beginning, middle, and ending). Just consider reading a novel. If you only read a sentence or a paragraph per day, it would be very challenging to comprehend the grand idea as a coherent story.

3- Reading the Bible but forgetting about the divine Author

The Bible contains 66 books. There are 39 in the Old Testament and there are 27 in the New Testament. Each of the books possess “Dual Authorship”. This means that God used a human author to pen the material. These authors were people like Moses, David, Solomon, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul and others. However, each of these human authors were inspired (led by) the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[a]instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who ^[a]at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ^[b]worlds;

 

2 Peter 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private ^[b]interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but ^[c]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

Knowing that God is the ultimate author of the Bible gives us great confidence and assurance that it is not like any other book. All books have the potential to inform us but only the Bible has the power to transform us! Don’t forget to think of the Author as you are reading His love letter to you!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

If this blog post has grabbed your curiosity and you would like to know more please pursue any/all of the below options:

1-              Contact me at pastor@missionchurchlex.org

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5-              Continue to read this weekly blog- “Find your Why with Pastor D”