Today I bring you the final tip, Tip #10, in the “How to Read Your Bible” series. Scroll to the end for a full explanation of each previous tip.
TODAY’S FOCUS—
TIP #10: BE A rEADER FOR lIFE!
Far more important than reading through the Bible in one year (which is a wonderful goal) is to continue to make God’s Word a book of life for you forever. Read it fast sometimes. Read it slowly sometimes. Read sections of it repeatedly sometimes. Read from different versions sometimes. But make the Bible a staple in your life.
Two scripture truths I would point you to:
- In Matthew 4 when Jesus was tempted in the desert at the beginning of his ministry, Satan tempted him to no longer listen to and trust the Father in heaven but to give in to his humanness. Go ahead, Satan said, turn the rocks into bread! You’re hungry! Jesus’ response was critical for us to understand. Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
- Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. The whole chapter of 176 verses is all about living and leaning only on God’s Word. Psalm 119:105 says it so well: “Your word is a lamp unto guide my feet, and a light for my path.”
Many years ago, when one of my grandmothers was almost 100 years old and having some obvious failing of her health, I went to see her. She had been a Bible teacher all her life and had pored over the scripture for 10 decades. She knew her Bible well. When I walked into her room for a visit, I found her sound asleep. But the image seared into my mind, of what she had been doing before falling asleep, was marvelous. She had fallen asleep with an open Bible in her lap. This woman had spent almost 100 years in this book, and yet she still was opening it up, reading those same pages, letting God speak to her and be a lamp for her feet and a light for her path.
Why are we readers for life? Because God’s Word is always fresh, always guiding, always truthful, and always straight out of the mouth of God.
May God help you become a reader of his Word for the rest of your life.
TIP #1: READ SYSTEMATICALLY AND SLOWLY
How to Read Your Bible (Part 1)
Don’t worry about reading for speed. Learn to set a reading habit for the rest of your life.
TIP #2: CHOOSE THE LOCATION OF WHERE TO READ
How to Read Your Bible (Part 2)
Read the Bible in four locations:
- Old Testament
- Gospels
- New Testament
- Psalm
TIP #3: USE A STUDY BIBLE AS YOUR PRIMARY BIBLE TO READ FROM EACH DAY
How to Read Your Bible (Part 3)
Choose one of the many study Bibles, and make that study Bible your primary PAPER Bible to read each day until you have read the Bible through—then choose another one and start the process over.
Tip #4: Choose your Bible Translation
How to Read Your Bible (Part 4)
Choose from the reliable list of translations—but pick one and start reading! Over the years, read from other English translations.
Tip #5: Mark up your Bible! Take notes!
How to Read Your Bible (Part 5)
This is one of my personal favorites. I love to mark up and write in my Bible.
Tip #6: Treat weekends as worship and preparation
How to Read Your Bible (Part 6)
Read your Bible in one pattern for the five days of the work week, then treat the weekend to read as worship preparation.
Tip #7: uSE bOOKMARKS TO gUIDE yOUR rEADING AND pRAY FOR THE wORLD
How to Read Your Bible (Part 7)
Use your daily Bible reading as a bridge into praying around the globe for God’s work.
TIP #8: rEAD aLONE
How to Read Your Bible (Part 8)
Allow God to speak to you personally as you sit with the Bible alone. There’s nothing wrong with reading with others, but this time is for God to speak to you.
TIP #9: It’s All About Jesus
How to Read Your Bible (Part 9)
The Bible, all of it, points to Jesus. The simple truth is that no matter what reading plan you follow to dig into God’s Word, you must keep your eyes focused on the essential point of Jesus.