Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 30, 2015
Guest Writer: Meet my son-in-law Tripp Prince. We are blessed to have him as our guest writer.
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 complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Is it hard for you to read the Bible? Do you find yourself squeezing it in at the last minute or as an occasional afterthought to an already busy and hectic day? And when you do read, does it seem to go in one ear and right out the other?
The Scriptures have always been at the heart of our faith, revealing God’s love for us and for all that he has made. Yet we so often forget this great truth and instead reduce the Bible to a collection of good ideas or a list of do’s and don’ts. It can feel like a book of ancient stories that have little or no connection to our daily lives.
We must remember, however, that the goal of Scripture reading is not simply to gain more head knowledge but to reveal to us a God who loves us and wants us to love him in return. The Bible is not a textbook meant for a classroom but a signpost that faithfully leads us into an encounter with the living God. As Kierkegaard said, “Christ has not appointed assistant professors, but followers.”
Take time to enter into the practice of prayerful Bible reading. Don’t simply rush through a reading so you can check it off like an item on a to-do list. Don’t treat it like a dead letter or ancient, irrelevant book. Instead, stand in awe that the creator of heaven and earth promises to speak to you through these words! Approach them with a spirit of awe and wonder, prayerfully asking the Lord to reveal to you the Living Word (John 1:1). As we do this, the Lord will not only deepen our knowledge of him, but will also empower us to live lives of faithfulness and righteousness, “equipped for every good work.”
Prayer: “O Lord Our God, teach us to seek you, for we cannot seek you unless you teach us, or find you unless you show yourself to us. Let us seek you in our desire, let us desire you in our seeking. Let us find you by loving you, let us love you when we find you. Amen.” (Anselm of Canterbury)
Related Readings: Psalm 119:17; Proverbs 4:4; Matthew 4:4; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23
Prayer Practice: Want to learn more about the practice of prayerful Bible reading? Click on Lectio divina (“divine reading”) to learn an ancient form of prayer.
Post/Tweet this today: The goal of Scripture reading is not simply to gain more head knowledge but is to reveal to us God. #livingword #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: 3 minute music video- Gaither’s: Whispering Hope
Get ready for Two Minutes in the Bible Through Proverbs: You’ll soon be enjoying the benefits of a storehouse of wisdom in your heart. Pre-order Boyd’s newest devotional book coming August 1st! (Learn more about our friends at Harvest House Publishers)
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