The Word of God. Nothing could be more powerful, live-giving and sensational than the book of books that has survived and thrived through the ages. It is the power that reveals Jesus Christ to us and magnifies God through His spoken word. If this be the case, then why does it sometimes feel that I could fall asleep five minutes into my Bible reading?
Bible reading, meditation and study can often be stale and boring to many Christians who would rather have a good time of fellowship, watch a good Christian movie or listen to an ear-tickling podcast sermon. Doesn't it seem like we should tack something exciting onto our Bible reading time rather than just, well, reading the Bible?
I admit that there are times that I do not value God's Word as much as I should, but I also admit that those times are not my best times. They are times when I am complacent, tired, wavering, faulty and even faithless. When we truly understand and know God's Word for all it's worth, we find that there is more excitement and power to Bible reading than we think. Here are a few pointers that may grow your excitement for the Bible.
Look past the surface
At the surface, the Bible contains literature and chronicles that are a mix of age-old near-east and Greek culture, many of these cultures being old and obsolete. But under that surface is a powerful pool of principles that govern our way of life and give meat to the concepts of blessing, growth and edification throughout our lives.
The Bible is more than just a collection of old stories. That's just the surface of it. Under all those genealogies, lists of laws, stories, psalms, songs, wisdom literature and prophecies is the character of a loving, unlimited, holy and powerful God that wants to reveal Himself to us through His word. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
Realise the power and value
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
Hebrews 4:12 also says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Do we truly see God's word as powerful, active, living, God-breathed and profitable for our lives? If we did then we would want to dig through it as if our lives depended on it. God's Word is more than just a book. It is a user manual to this life that was created by a powerful God for a great purpose. When we read the Bible, we expose ourselves to the power of God's written Word and the value of the person of Jesus Christ.
Ask for the Holy Spirit's revelation
In some way, the Bible is truly just another book. That's why many people read it and just find fault and inaccuracy in it. That's because without the Spirit of God and His inspiration, the Bible is like a an uncharged smartphone. The Bible's power and life comes out solely through the revelation and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
When we ask the Spirit of God to empower our Bible reading, we open ourselves to the true essence of scripture. Let us catch the attitude of the psalmist as he writes in Psalm 119:18, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
