Last week during my daily devotional time I came across these few verses that come near the end of John chapter 5. In Jesus’ rebuke of the religious leaders of Jerusalem who are challenging him, he says the following.
36″I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. 37And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39You diligently study[c] the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:37-40
Several questions immediately came to my mind after reading that verse.
- Why do I study scripture?
- What is the primary goal that guides me in this important task?
- How is it possible that one could diligently study the Scripture and miss the essential truth that lies within them?
- What am I doing to make sure that I do not make a similar mistake?
To stay focused on the right goals, here are a few things I would recommend incorporating into the time you spend reading the scriptures.
Write down your thoughts and questions while you read.
I think one of the best things you can do to enhance your time spent reading the Bible is to buy a journal and start writing down your thoughts and questions while you read. I have found that there is something really valuable about the process of taking the time to put the thoughts in my head down on paper. During that process I find myself reflecting on that idea in a much deeper way that often sparks further reflections. Plus, it helps you to create an archive that will allow to see how God might be forming you over the course of weeks, months and even years.
Get curious about the text.
As you think about what you might write down when you are reading the Bible, I encourage you to get curious about the text. Write down all the questions that come to your mind. Why did Jesus say that? What’s the significance of this particular event? While you may not discover the answer to those questions immediately, I have found that developing that sense of curiosity helps us tease out what God is trying to say to us in our reading. It also provides you with some great questions for further study and to discuss with others.
Name the application.
As important as I think it is to get curious about the section of the Bible that you are reading, I think it is also important to name at least one application each and every time. What I mean by that is that you should choose one thing that you are going to chew one and try to apply in your life each day. Sometimes that thought can be really simple. For instance, you might say, today I need to think about how I am sacrificing for others. The key is to name something. You may finish your reading with your head filled with questions, but make sure that you have one thing you are committed to applying in your life.
[By the way, if you are a regular reader of our GPS guide, I try to incorporate these last two ideas into each and every day of our reading and reflection. I try to give you something that sparks your curiosity and gives you an application as well.]
Be consistent with the practice.
I think the main idea behind consistency is that it keeps us steady through the ups and downs of life. When I get inconsistent with my daily reading, I get more anxious about making sure that when I do set aside the time, I get a lot out of my reading that day. The truth is that somedays you are going to be really overwhelmed by what you have read in the Bible, but most days you are going to leave with a simple thought or possibly a reminder that will stick with you that day. It will not be life changing every day, but when you stick to the practice consistently, it will keep you headed in the right direction.
So what’s the goal?
Here’s a few ways we might describe it… You might write these in your journal and read them before your time of study.
- The primary goal of reading the scriptures is not information, but transformation.
- I don’t want to simply read the scriptures, I want to allow the scriptures to read and test me.
- When I read the Bible, I want to grow in knowledge, but even more, I want to grow in deeper love with God.
For more info…
I previously wrote a four part series on how to start a daily Bible study time. You can find those posts via the links below.
| Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV |
If you are still looking for a daily Bible reading resource, I encourage you to check out www.growpraystudy.org.